She swiped at the tears.“No.We can’t tear it up.Never.”
His heart dropped and got lodged somewhere between his nuts and knees.She was turning him down.
Jill shuffled until her legs landed on the floor on either side of him.She reached forward and cupped his face.“Without that contract, we would not be here and I would not be giving up adoring fans for one.That’s all I need, Lex.One adoring fan who gets me.And that’s you.”She kissed him.“I plan to frame that crazy contract and look at it every time you—”
He pulled her down, crushing her to him.“There’s so much I need to tell you,” he said gruffly.“About me and my friends.”
She grinned.“The same friends who risked their reputation to rescue you?I like them already.Well, there’s one I particularly dislike, and another I’d seduce if you’re ever mean to me.”
Lex groaned.She was going to complicate his life, but what a life they were going to have.He scooped her up, threw her on the bed, and joined her, trapping her with his leg.“Try it and I’ll bury him six feet under while you watch.You are mine.You’ll always be mine.”
She evaded his lips before he could kiss her.Cupping his face, she repeated, “Just like you are mine, Lex Fitzgerald.You’ll always be mine.”
Thoughts of his friends and her grandmother ceased to matter as they got lost in each other.
“Tell me again who will be there,” Jillian asked as they approached the mansion.Sunday had arrived too soon.She wasn’t ready to meet the rest of Lex’s family or to get married next week.
“Everyone.”Lex gripped her hand.“They’ll see how crazy I am about you and welcome you with open arms.”
Crazy about her wasn’t love, but it would do.As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she remembered her father’s reaction.He hadn’t bought their engagement despite what Lex had gone through for her.He probably wouldn’t until she was with child.
Her mind didn’t just go there.She and Lex might have agreed to give this marriage a try, but theirs wasn’t a conventional relationship.Yesterday’s visit with Father O’Malley—the Fitzgerald family’s priest—had been equally weird.She knew nothing about pre-wedding counseling, but she hadn’t minded answering personal questions.She was proud of her family and her upbringing, and she was confident about her future with Lex.Whether Father O’Malley believed that she and Lex were perfect for each other was another story, though.Not that it mattered.They were getting married in six days.She, Jillian Finnegan, was getting her fairytale wedding after all.
She glanced at the ring Lex had given her, and her throat closed.Lex had surprised her with it two nights ago and proposed again.It was gorgeous, a center stone surrounded by smaller ones set in platinum.
Jillian stopped admiring the ring when Lex entered the gate and she saw the cars lining the driveway.She had to clear her throat before asking, “How many are here today?”
He chuckled, brought the Bentley to a stop, and hurried around to open her door.The Bentley was nice, but she missed the Phantom.She finally got to see his collection of cars.Some were vintage, while others were custom-made just for him.He had a thing for foreign cars.
“Will you stop worrying?Look at them peering at us.They’re eager to meet you.”
Jillian glanced behind him and saw a few faces at the window, mainly kids.At least there were children.If the adults proved to be too much for her to handle, she’d join the kids.She was great with kids.
The walk to the door was the hardest she’d taken, but as soon as the door opened, there were cries of “Uncle Lex is here” as girls and boys, ages anywhere from three to seven, converged on him.
Lex was right about being a favorite uncle.They all wanted his attention.He touched cheeks and heads, complimented the girls’ cute princess dresses, and shook hands with the boys.Their parents weren’t far behind, some of them carrying younger kids.
“Jillian, I’d like you to meet Miss Raelynn Fitzgerald and Ella Fitzgerald Noble.”He indicated the older girls.
“This is for you, Miss Jillian,” Ella said, giving her flowers, which Jillian hadn’t seen in all the hugs.They looked hand-picked.
“Thank you, Ella,” Jillian said, going down to her knees to accept the sweet gesture.The little girl was adorable with straight black hair and bright blue eyes.“They’re beautiful.”
“I picked flowers for you too, Miss Jillian,” Raelyn said.She was equally adorable with blonde curls.She glanced at Ella and grinned.Serious competition there.
“They’re lovely, Raelyn.Thank you.”
A boy pushed the two girls.“Move for Shif, Ella,” a boy said.
“Sean,” both girls protested.
“Shif wants to give her a flower, too,” Sean said.He was clutching the hand of a girl around his age.Jillian put their age to be around three.They looked like twins with dimples and curly brown hair.He was already watching out for his sister, who was trying to hide behind him.She extended a red belladonna lily.
“Thank you, Shif,” Jillian said, completely captivated by the twins.“Nice to meet you, and you too, Sean Fitzgerald.”
Shif giggled, but the brother said, “It’s Shif and Sean Fitzgerald Knight.”
“And Shif is short for Siobhán,” a woman said.“She’s named after our aunt.I’m Jade, Lex’s sister.This is my husband, Vince.”She pointed at a man who reminded Jillian of Dom.They had the same intensity.“The twins are ours.”
