I can’t agree to move in with the man and tell him I love him on the same day. That would be too much.
“I’ll pay you rent.” Though would that make Jackson mylandlord? Gross.
“Absolutely not. Your money is your money and my money is your money.” He shoots me his trademark smirk and I tug at his shirt.
“Jackson, be serious. I have to contributesomething–”
“If you even think about offering to pay rent, I will transfer it straight back into your account.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.” He grins. “I might even add a bit extra to the refund each month.”
I roll my eyes as his infectious smile pulls at his lips.
“So, is that a yes?”
I take a deep breath, collecting my thoughts. Can I dothis? Move in with him, let him take the burden of housing me and the baby?
His smirk transforms into a soft smile as he takes my hands and places them over his heart.
“Rosie, I have the means to support you, to support both of you. Please let me. Let me take care of you.”
Well. I don’t have an argument for that one. My fingers caress his soft t-shirt, and I swear I can feel the strong beat of his pounding heart.
“If you insist.”
I squeal as he wraps his arms around me and sweeps me into his arms. “Jackson! I’m too heavy.”
He growls playfully into my neck as he spins and carries me out of the office. “Never.” He presses a kiss to my lips as his confident strides march down the hall. “I have another room to show you.”
Turns out I like the bedroom too.
28
JACKSON
The reliefI feel at Rosie’s reaction to the house is indescribable.
We spent the first night eating takeout and watching Strictly Come Dancing in the bed I’d ordered for the bedroom. I meant it when I said that she can change whatever she wants, but the new mattress is a hundred times more comfortable than her old one, and it doesn’t squeak whenever we move.
The sun blares through the windows that we don’t have blinds for yet and when I wake up the first thing I see is her. Rosie’s hair is sprawled across the pillows as she lies propped up on some pillows and staring at the ceiling.
“Morning,” I say, my voice thick with sleep.
She turns her head and sends me a sleepy smile. “Morning.”
“What are you thinking about so hard?”
“Smudge woke me up a while ago. Here.”
She grabs my hand in hers and places it on her belly. My heart races until I feel a small flutter against my hand.
I bend on my elbow and press a kiss to the spot. “Hi, baby girl, do you like the new house?”
A flutter behind my hand in response.
I glance up at Rosie with a smile, and she grins. “She must like it, she’s been celebrating all night.”
