I take it from him and tear open the paper. Inside is a brand new reverse harem novel that I haven't read before—Manixby Grace McGinty. I flip it over and read the blurb, which sounds awesome, and now I can’t wait to dive in. Out of it tumbles a piece of paper, and when I pick it up and read it, my mouth drops open. It’s a voucher to one of the biggest bookstores in LA for twenty grand.
“I figured that would help you start filling the shelves. They’re happy to order in any indie authors you may want. I remember you saying you like to support the smaller less-well-known ones. Jacinta helped me pick that one out.”
My heart fills. How did all of these men pick such perfect gifts? Each one is a way of connecting us, showing that they care about what’s important to me.
“This is amazing, thank you! I can’t wait to make a list of all the books I want. Oh, and I want to get some nonfiction and some children's books, too. Its never too soon to start introducing a love of books to children. I can’t wait to read to our daughter.” His hand rests on my stomach, and a wave of butterflies tickles me inside. He gives me a squeeze before he shoves me off the bed, and I can’t help the shout that escapes as I try not to hit the ground.
Hands on my hips, I glare at him. “What the fuck?”
“Sorry. I have instructions to send you down to the garage. Jaxon is waiting there for you. We better not keep him waiting, He’s still not moving too fast, and I don’t want him on his feet for too long. I’ll walk with you.”
He takes the hand that isn’t occupied and escorts me downstairs, leaving me at the door that leads to the garage with a kiss.
“When you’re done here, we’re meeting back in the common area of our wing for movies. I’m going to order us some food.” With that, he walks away, and I place his gift beside the one from Kai before opening the garage door.
The lights are on, and I can see Jaxon on the other side next to where he keeps his bike. He looks up and waves when I enter.
“Hey, sweetie, come over here for me, will you?”
I move around the parked cars, a prick of worry niggling at my mind. Jaxon sounds tired. I’m going to force him to sit down when we’re done here.
When I get to him, he’s standing next to something covered in a black sheet. “Happy birthday. Tada!” He pulls the sheet aside, wincing with the movement.
“Jaxon, be careful,” I scold him, but my attention is quickly caught on what he revealed. Under the sheet is a brand-new, shiny eggplant purple Suzuki Hayabusa, with a matching helmet and black bike leathers sitting on its seat.
“Oh my god. Is this for me?” I ask him, running a hand over the cold metal and leather seat. He’s beaming when my gaze moves away from the sexy machine and back to him.
“Yup, now we can go for rides together.” But then his face falls as he runs a hand through my hair. “Crap, I think I fucked up. Now I won’t have you riding behind me, pressing your delicious body against mine.”
I laugh and gently wrap my arms around him. He’s mostly healed, but I know things still ache. “Don’t worry. I’m sure we can still do that too. Thank you. I love it and can’t wait to take it for a spin. I have something for you as well, but it’s in my backpack upstairs. How about we head inside? You get comfortable on the couch while I run upstairs and get it.”
“You have something for me?” he asks, sounding surprised but pleased.
“Of course, silly. I have something for Jazzy too, but we’ll have to give it to her another day.”
We head back inside, and I leave him getting comfortable while I get his present. We chose to do movie night at Dad’s because the theater at our place most definitely needs an upgrade.
I pick up Jaxon’s present and carry it downstairs. When I get to the common area, I stop and look down at where Peter’s blood had stained the carpet. I had wanted to keep it to memorialize that bastard's death and my hand in it, but I was outvoted by Jacinta who told me it was all hers now so there was no way we were leaving it. The carpet was replaced, but Declan made a deal with the carpet layers. When they removed the old one, they cut out the blood patch and gave it to him. He had it preserved somehow and framed, so it’s hanging up in our office at our new place.
Holden got sick of us all calling it the count’s and decided the estate needed a name. Kind of like Tara fromGone with the Wind. It took him a while to come up with something we all liked, but he finally did—Willow Castle. He had a lovely sign built, and it now graces the front gates.
Sighing, I step over where I know the patch was since it feels kind of wrong to step on it. I’m the first to arrive, so I make myself comfortable on the couch next to Jaxon.
It’s not long before the other guys join us, making themselves comfortable, except Oli.
“What are you doing?” I ask him, a little suspicious of the grin on his face.
“Time for my present.” He claps his hands like a child.
“We don't do presents for one another anymore,” Holden explains to me. “So Oli is super excited about the fact that we can get them for you.”
I struggle to sit up and shake my head. “You all know you didn't have to get me things. ” A hand over my mouth stops my argument.
“Sit back, babe. We all definitely wanted to do this for you,” Kai says as I gently shove Jaxon’s hand away.
“We don't do it for each other because we have enough money to buy ourselves what we want, but we still love to spoil Nana, Jacinta, Hope, and Mrs. H on their birthdays. We’ll probably do the same for Emma and Molly too now that they’re in our lives,” Declan explains.
“Go and get the thing, Oli.” Thomas chuckles as his brother does a little dance on the spot like he needs to pee and can’t control his enthusiasm. Oli runs away as Jaxon strokes his hand over my head.
