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“And you said you would come back on this day, but you didn’t!” “Tyler said,”
“And I took the job here in this city just so I could meet you, but when I came to your office, they sent me back because you were too busy to meet anyone,” Tara yelled.
“Believe me, no one told me you came,” I said to justify myself, “even though I knew you and Tyler were only in FL.”
“How do you know? “
“Well, my investigators constantly brought me up to date on what you guys were doing. I know that Rick got engaged a few months ago, but the rest of you are still single.
“Wait a minute,” Tara said, and then she hit me on the shoulder. “You got married without us!” “
“I’m sorry about that. The marriage happened so quickly that I couldn’t do anything.”
“By sudden, what do you mean? You were in a relationship, right?” Rick asked,
“No.” It was a marriage that was planned.
“What?!” They all yelled, “They all exclaimed.”
“Why don’t we all sit down quietly, and then I can tell you everything?” I looked at them eagerly, and they all looked at each other before ultimately consenting.
So, I told them everything about Jaxon, starting with the day he came to my office and ending with what happened last night. I told them everything about him and how our relationship had changed over the past few months, including the details about Julia, our first kiss, and…well, you know what.
When I was done, their mouths were open in shock.
“And now you adore him? “Sam asked.
I nodded and said, “Yes.”
“But,” I replied, “did Jaxon bring you all here?”
“Yes,” they all said.
He brought them all here. That’s why he wasn’t home. He did it for me. He knew I missed my pals, so he brought them all here. Oh, Jaxon.
“Don’t tell me you’re lost in his thoughts again,” Sam grumbled, and I hurled a pillow at her.
“Did he send his jet to get both of you?” I questioned Rick and Sam, and they both said yes.
Rick asked Sam, “He also sent someone…what was his name?”
“Jonah,” Sam said.
That’s why they were both so busy.
Rick added, “Your husband called me this morning and said, ‘This is Jaxon Dante speaking; would you like to meet your old friend Clara Adek, also known as Vivian Hayes Dante?’”
She added, “I said, ‘Are you kidding?’ and he said he was serious and that his driver would pick me up in an hour with Sam, who he told me to tell.”
Rick said, “He was very bossy,” which made me laugh. “I know.”
Tyler remarked, “And…” “You won’t believe he came to my flat this afternoon.”
“Did he go to your house?” I questioned.
“Yes. Can you believe it? I opened the door, and he was there. He reached out his hand and said, ‘Hi, I’m Jaxon Dante.’ I almost passed out; I was about to fall down, but he grasped my hand before.’
“And his voice is so deep and husky, oh God. It made me want to jump at him,” Tyler added in a dreamy voice.
“Do you dare to do that? He is mine,” I hissed.
“Are you getting jealous?” she said in a mocking tone.
“Yes! Because he’s my husband, and you can’t talk about him like that.”
But they all laughed at what I said, which made me even angrier.
The doorbell rang, and Jenny opened the door. Jaxon, who looked exhausted, went in with a big white package in his hand.
As soon as they all glanced at him, they started to talk to each other.
Jaxon walked over and put the box on the table in the middle of the room. He remarked gently, “Your birthday cake. And, of course, it’s better than that mug cake.”
“Thank you,” I answered with a smile.
“But where are Kena and Jona?”
“They wanted to give you some time alone with your friends because Jona is very tired. You can celebrate with them later.”
“Okay…”
“Now, go cut the cake. I’m ready to eat it.” I kissed his cheeks and laughed before opening the box to show him the beautiful cake.
Everyone said, “Whoa!”
I looked over at Jaxon and saw him standing there with a smile on his face. I grabbed the knife and sliced the cake, and everyone clapped.
I cut off a little piece and ate it first. It was extremely good, with chocolate and strawberry flavors, my fave.
I then grabbed a tiny portion and gave it to Jaxon, who then gave it back to me, brushed his lips against mine, and said, “Happy Birthday, wifey.”
I became red and said, “Thanks.”
He grinned at me and added, “They can stay here for the night.”
I heard Sam say, “Aww…love is in the air!” and I whirled around to give her a deathly scowl. Then I shifted my focus to him and saw that he was staring at me with amusement.
Then he kissed me on the forehead and said, “Have fun.”
He then exited the living room and walked upstairs.
My friends were lying on my old bed and talking to each other. Most of the time, they were asking me questions, and they still weren’t forgiving me. They were still mad, but since it was my birthday, they put their anger aside for now.
I said goodbye to everyone at midnight and walked to Jaxon’s room, which was also our bedroom.
I believed he was unhappy again when I saw him standing on the balcony and looking at nothing in particular. But when I got closer, I realized that he was smiling.
I was glad to see him smiling.
“How many cigarettes did you smoke while you were standing here?” I asked.
He turned his head towards me and said, “I know you’re not here to ask how many cigarettes I smoked, Mrs. Dante.” He made fun of me the same way I made fun of him in my office.
“Stop making fun of me, Jaxon,” I complained.
“I can’t believe how angry you made me with what you said that day.”
“But that was a long time ago, and I hated you then.”
“You don’t hate me anymore?”
“Not at all.”
“Okay…just tell me how many cigarettes you smoked?” I said again.
“None.”
“Really?”
“Yes, dear.”
“That’s a lot of progress.”
“Go have fun with your friends,” they said.
I sighed and said, “I just came to thank you for today. Thank you so much for inviting them here.”
“It’s your birthday gift,” he whispered quietly. “That’s the only thing you didn’t have, and I know you missed them a lot.”
I put my arms around his body and buried my head in his chest. He put his hands around my waist and set his chin on top of my head.
I whispered “Thank you” against his body, and he kissed the top of my head.
Even though we were leaving, we remained staring at one other, and I didn’t notice we were both leaning in for a kiss. He was ready to kiss me when his lips brushed against mine, but one of my insane pals yelled, “Clara?!”
I grumbled, which made him grin. “Go, have fun with them.”
He kissed me on the lips, and I asked, “Are you sure you won’t miss me?”
He held back a giggle and said, “No.”
I got on my toes and held myself up with my hands on his shoulder. I murmured in his ear in a husky voice to taunt him, “You sure you won’t miss me when you’re alone in bed?” Then I kissed him beneath the ear. I kept kissing him lightly, moving from his ear to his neck, and then I moved my lips up to his jaw and kissed him very near to his lips.
His eyes got darker, and he was going to grab my head and kiss me, but I drew back right away and said, “Did I leave you all hot and bothered, Mr. Dante?”
I winked at him and walked away, but not before I heard him growl in anger.
We all sat down at the dining table for breakfast, and I mean Rick, Sam, Tyler, Tara, Jaxon, Kena, Jona, and myself, of course.
And because there wasn’t enough room at the dining table, Jaxon and I sat on the kitchen counter. Rick and Sam will be traveling to Alaska in a few hours because tomorrow is Monday.
I grinned as I saw everyone talk to each other like they were old friends.
I muttered “thank you” into Jaxon’s ear and placed my head on his shoulder.
He grinned down at me with love, kissed the top of my head, and put his arm over my shoulder.
I noticed Kena flirting with Tyler while she flushed. I shook my head a little. He won’t change.
I was so exhausted that I closed my eyes and rested my head on his shoulder. I recognized that the sounds in the kitchen had ceased when I opened my eyes a minute later. Then I heard Kena exclaim, “Look at those two lovebirds!”
I opened my eyes and saw everyone gazing at us. Jaxon was giving Kena a murderous scowl.
I sighed and pulled my head away from his shoulder, which made everyone, even Jaxon, laugh.