by Elisa Leigh
I pass by my brother Theodore who is standing with one of our new hires in the tech department. She’s an eighteen-year-old genius that needed a shot, and we gave it to her. The way he’s holding her tells me she’s his, interesting.
I spot my cousin Truman, our Head of Security for the entire company, standing with a curvy redhead looking more relaxed than I’ve seen him in years. The things he saw in the war, messed him up good. He dealt with it by going to therapy, but the scars still linger and haunt him still.
I can’t find my cousin Quincy though, he’s our Vice President of Marketing and is usually at these get-togethers since they are mandatory for the family. I’m sure I’ll spot him later.
I called my Mom earlier today so she wouldn’t make a big deal when I introduced her to Belle and Oliver at the party. When I told her I found the woman I was going to marry she screamed into the phone. She’s talked with Belle a few times on the phone, but she hasn’t been into the office lately to have the opportunity to meet her.
“Mom, I’d like you to meet Belle, and her son, Oliver.”
Her eyes light up with wonder and she pulls Belle into a huge hug and squeezes her tight. “I’m so happy to meet you, darling girl. I’ve been waiting years for my firstborn son to introduce me to the woman he plans to marry.”
Belle’s eyes fly to mine and I shrug, giving her a cocky smile. I told her she was mine. Her life is about to turn upside down and change in a matter of days and she has no idea.
“And who his this handsome young man?” My mom asks.
Oliver looks up at me for reassurance and my heart swells that he trusted me to tell him if she was good people or not. “Oliver, this is my Mom and Dad. They are very nice people.”
He waves at my parents. “My name is Oliver.”
“Hi, Oliver, you can call me Peggy and this is my husband John. It’s very nice to meet you. How old are you?”
“I’m five, but I’ll be six soon.” He says with pride.
“Oh really? When is your birthday?”
“April eighth.”
“Wow and you’ll be six? You’re going to start getting grey hair and wrinkles like me soon.” She gently laughs.
His eyes get big and he looks up at me. “Is she serious, Jefferson?”
I rub the top of his head and laugh. “No, she’s just being silly.”
He laughs, like a fully belly laugh and grabs onto my hand. “You’re silly, Ms. Peggy.”
I look over at Belle and she’s got a soft smile on her face.
“Had did the interview go, young lady?” My father asks Belle.
“How did you know I had an interview?” She asks my dad.
“I might have had to talk my son off the cliff when you told him you were interviewing somewhere else.”
She smirks at me. “Oh, did you now?” She turns back to my father. “The interview went well and they offered me the job on the spot.”
“Why didn’t you tell me they offered you the job? Did you take it?” I ask loudly.
Belle rolls her eyes. “No I didn’t take it. I told him I would have to think about it. And I didn’t tell you because you didn’t ask.” She sasses me.
I smile at her smugly. “Are you going to leave me all alone in my office? You’ll force me to hire someone who can’t do the job?”
“Sounds like if you want her to stay, son, you should ask her.” His father says.
“Well of course I want her to stay. I never want her to leave.” I exclaim. What is it these people don’t understand. “Belle, you’re the perfect personal assistant. Will you agree to take a permanent position with me?”
She smiles wide. “Only under certain circumstances.”
“Which are?” I’m curious.
“I’m going to think about it and let you know.”
“Just as long as you promise not to go anywhere else, I’ll give you anything you want, Angel.” I say and kiss the side of her head.
“Agreed.” Belle says.
“Mommy, can we go on the bounce house now?” Oliver asks, pulling on Belle’s hand.
“Come on, buddy, I’ll take you.” I tell him.
“Really, Jefferson. Thank you!” Oliver bounces up and down in place.
“You sure? You don’t have to. I can take him.” Belle tells me.
I shake my head at her. “Let me do this, Angel. I want you both to be able to trust me. I plan on being in both of your lives for the next sixty plus years.”
“Okay,” She leans up and gives me a soft kiss.
“Be good for Jefferson, Oliver.”
“I know that, Mommy. I will.” He says and hugs his mom around the waist.
Epilogue
Jefferson
Two months later
I’m sitting in a private meeting room in an Illinois state prison waiting for the man that did his part to bring my son into the world is serving his sentence.
A man walks in with his hands shackled to the chain around his waist in a beige prison uniform.
“Who the fuck are you?” He sneers.
“Please have a seat.” I say pointing at the chair in front of me.
“No, I think I’ll stand.”
“Per our agreement, you don’t get the thousand dollars for your commissary account until we’ve had this conversation. So sit the fuck down.” I say is evenly as I can.
He sits down. “You happy now?”
“My name is Jefferson Cox. I married Belle Maddox about a month ago.”
“This is about that bitch?” He starts laughing. “I’d be careful if I were you. You know she’s the reason I’m in this fucking place?”
I’m on the verge of hitting the mother fucker, but I need to play nice to get what I want, so I nod.
“Well have fun with that. She’s a nice piece of ass though. Great fucking lay. At least she was before she got pregnant and got fat.”
I slam my hand on the metal table. “That’s enough!” I roar, losing my cool.
“What the fuck do you want, man?” He raises his hands showing me his surroundings. “It’s not like I can fucking leave. I’m not going to bother her.”
I take the papers out and slide them in front of him. “I want you to sign over your rights of your son, Oliver. I’m going to adopt him and give him the father he deserves, and my last name.”
“Bull fucking shit!” He stands and looks at the guard that brought him in. “Take me back to my cell.”
“Sit the fuck down, asshole.”
“Fuck you.” He says and waits at the door.
“What do you want?” I say through clenched teeth.
“Ten thousand in my commissary account.”
“Done. Sign the fucking papers.”
“That will be eleven thousand dollars.” Oliver is worth more than all the money in the world, so if this is what it takes, then fine.
“I said I agreed. Now sign them.” I say, shoving the paper toward him and handing him a pen.
He smirks at me. “Pleasure doing business with you, Cox.”
As soon as he is taken out of the room I make a call to my lawyer. “It’s done, file the adoption papers. I want this finalized as soon as possible.”
Seven years later
Belle
“Angel, I’m on the way home from picking up Olly from football practice, is there anything you want me to pick up for you on the way home?” Jefferson asks.
“No I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? I know you haven’t been feeling well.”
“There’s nothing you can do for me, Jefferson. I’m eight months pregnant and I just want to sleep. But I have three crazy children running around me making all sorts of noise.” I grump. “I’m sorry, I just want a nap.”
“I’m going to call Mom to come pick up Izzy, Binks, and Jordan.”
“You don’t have to do that. Izzy is actually playing with the boys in the playroom. I think she put a movie on for them.” I say yawning.
“I’ll be home in an ho
ur and then you can nap.”
“Thank you.” I tell him as I sit on the couch. “See you soon.”
I close my eyes and hope no one needs me. I wake up to Jefferson shaking my shoulder. “Come on, Angel. Let’s get you to bed.”
Jefferson helps walk me to the bedroom and lays me in bed. He covers me up and is about to walk away when I reach out and grab his hand. “Thank you, Jefferson. You gave me everything I ever wanted.”
“No, Angel, it was all you.”
“You’re not mad that I quit?”
“Angel, you ask me this every time you’re exhausted. You quit years ago and Martin does a great job. Not as good as you did, but I need you more at home than in the office.”
“I love our life together and I love you.”
“I love you, too, Angel, now get some rest.” He rests his hand my large pregnant belly. “You’re baking my son in there and he needs his momma to finish the job. So go to sleep.”
I watch as he walks out of the room and turns out the light.
Damn, I was blessed with a sweet beast of a man.
About the Author
Author of the Panthera Security series, the Steel Daggers MC series and the Daddy Knows Best series, Elisa Leigh writes steamy love stories about men who know exactly what they want from their lady love, that being everything and forever.
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Also by Elisa Leigh
Panthera Security
Finally, Our Forever
Keeping Our Forever
Fighting Our Forever
Book 4 Cash Owens - coming soon
Book 5 Adam Kingston - coming soon
Steel Daggers MC
PRES
ROCK
RASH & JESTER
PRINCE
TRITON
Holding On
Holding Onto Kinsley
Holding Onto Becca - coming soon
Kennison Ranch
Roped Into Love
Lassoing Her Heart - coming soon
Daddy Knows Best co-written with MK Moore
Daddy Captain
Daddy Lawyer
Black Hills Shifters written with M.Merin
Cole’s Salvation
Slate’s Surrender (M. Merin)
Ruby’s Strength
Gabe’s Destiny (M. Merin)
The Lions will be getting their books soon.
Clearwater Curves Novella Series
(Created with M.K. Moore, C.M. Steele, and KL Fast)
Sweet Curves
Forever Safe Romance Series
Loving Summer Co-Written with MK Moore
Sweet Love
Acknowledgments
Jeb, thank you for believing in me.
Claire, thank you for reading my book and offering your help. You’ll never know just how much it means to me.
MK Moore, thank you for always being there for me. This has been such a fun project to work on with you.
KL Fast, Thank you for creating this great cover! I love it and I’m excited we got to work on another project together.
Ember Flint, thank you for being part of this project. You had so many great ideas and were super sweet. I can’t wait to do it again soon!
ARC readers, thank you for taking the time to read Red, White, & Mine. Your reviews mean a great deal to me and I look forward to reading all of them.
If you loved this book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or Goodreads.
xoxo,
Elisa
