by Jordan, Skye
The thought made Miranda’s chest tight. “It’s been a long time since I was around babies, but maybe it will come back to me when this one is here.”
Gypsy smiled, and the sight settled Miranda’s nerves. “Between the two of us, I think this kid will do okay.”
Miranda laughed. “More like the four of us. Marty and Elaina are going to dote and spoil.”
“You still want me to live here?”
“More now than ever. And, if you have the money for materials, I’ve now got the time to build you and the baby a home.”
Miranda stood and Gypsy followed. They hugged. Relief, sweet and warm, flowed through Miranda. “This is going to be good, Gypsy. Really good.”
Gypsy nodded, and when she pulled away, there were happy tears in her eyes.
Miranda sighed, and her stomach unknotted. “Now, I’ve got to find Jack and straighten a few things out with him.”
Gypsy gave her arm a squeeze. “Good luck.”
Miranda had already tried him at his hotel, but he hadn’t been there, so she drove toward his father’s home across town. A little less stress weighed on her shoulders now, but her emotions were riled up and toiling. By the time she pulled to a stop at the curb, nerves peppered her skin.
This would be a more proper goodbye than the last time she’d left him, hurt and angry. She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly before climbing from the car and approaching the house.
She was surprised a man with Jon Taylor’s money lived in such a simple, traditional home. It was an older, well-kept Craftsman style with a big, covered deck on the front of the house, complete with swing and rocking chairs. The neighborhood was modest, but nice.
At the door, Miranda pulled back the screen and knocked, then moved back to the edge of the porch again. A turbulent clatter preceded a young voice yelling, “I’ll get it.”
The door opened with a flourish, and Miranda looked down at a little boy. An adorable, blond-headed mini version of Jack.
“Jacob,” a female voice called from somewhere close. “You never answer the door without me.”
A woman turned into the foyer, and Miranda realized she’d seen her before.
“Hi,” Miranda said. “You must be Jen. We haven’t met personally, but I’ve seen you at different jobsites over the years. You’re a project manager for Pinnacle, right?”
“Right.” The warmth in her smile surprised Miranda. She’d expected to be shunned by Jack’s family given what she’d been accused of. “You must be Miranda.”
“Yes.” She was ashamed of what they must think of her, and really just wanted to get this out of the way and leave. “Is Jack here? I just need to talk to him for a minute.”
Jen stepped past Jacob and pushed the screen door open. “No, but come in and wait. He’s on his way home from the airport.”
Miranda hesitated. “Um…” She looked toward her truck, thinking that would be a more comfortable location to wait.
“We’re making cookies,” Jacob said.
“Well, I’m making cookies,” Jen amended. “They lost interest when I wouldn’t let them eat the dough.”
Her warmth surprised Miranda. She’d expected more animosity.
“They’re playing on the floor at my feet,” Jen continued. “I’ve stepped on so many Legos, I wouldn’t doubt I have prong imprints on the soles of my feet.” She tipped her head toward the house. “Come on in. Jack won’t be long.”
Miranda followed Jen into the kitchen, with Jacob skipping behind. Two more boys were here, a baby in a high chair with Cheerios spread out on the tray in front of him and an older toddler right where Jen said he’d be, on the floor playing with Legos and plastic cars.
Jacob dropped to his butt on the floor near the center island and focused on a small Lego building he was putting together. “Wanna help?”
“Sure.” Miranda crouched, then dropped to her butt and crossed her legs. “I’ve always been better at Legos than cookies.”
32
When Jack turned the corner and spotted Miranda’s truck parked at the curb across the street from his father’s house, his heart took a triple beat. He’d planned on checking in with Jen before heading straight to Warrior Homes, sure that was where she’d be spending her time.
But Miranda had come to him. He wasn’t sure if he should be excited or unnerved.
He entered the house, ears perked for her voice. It was coming from the kitchen, and she sounded happy. Upbeat. Then he heard Jacob, and Jack realized she was talking to his nephew.
As soon as he closed the door, Jacob and James whooped, called his name, and ran down the hall. The only thing better than coming home to this would be coming home to his own boys.
Jack scooped them up, one under each arm, and carried the giggling boys sideways into the kitchen. He found Miranda sitting cross-legged on the floor, Legos in her hands.
God, it was good to see her. His heart ached, and his stomach floated. As he set the boys down, Miranda pushed to her feet in one fluid move.
“I was just about to call you,” he told her.
She gave a nod. “Have a minute?”
“Let’s talk on the porch.” He let Miranda lead the way and shared a smile with his sister before he followed. “Dad asleep?”
“No.” She lifted her brows with a big smile. “In his garden.”
Jack nodded and started down the hall. When he stepped out onto the porch, Miranda had her arms crossed, her butt against the rail. As soon as Jack closed the front door behind him, she started talking.
“I just have to get this out while I can.” She braced her hands on the rail behind her. “I realize I didn’t give you a lot to believe in. I still have a hard time dealing with my past, so I don’t talk about it. Looking back, I know that made it hard for you to know whether or not you could trust me. I never intended for this to… For us to…” She shook her head as if she couldn’t find the words. “Anyway, when I looked at things from your perspective, I could see why you might doubt me, and I see my contribution to the perception that I might be less than honest.”
“Miranda—”
“Just let me finish. Please. I promise to let you say whatever you need to say when I’m done.”
He pushed his hands into his pockets and nodded.
Miranda took a deep breath and started again. “I told you that my mom abandoned me and that I stayed with Marty, but I didn’t tell you what happened in between. After my mom up and left, I stayed in the apartment until I was evicted. I escaped to the streets before I could be put into foster care, and I lived there for about a year, until Marty found me.”
Jack envisioned a younger, rougher version of the woman in front of him making her way on the streets every day, and his chest tightened. He crossed his arms over the discomfort.
“It was a really rough year. I was caught stealing food from a corner market, and I found a gun in an alley and kept it for protection. Never fired it, but I showed others I had it when I needed to.”
She paused but kept her eyes on the porch floor. “I met up with a guy who stole things and sold them, and I really needed money, so I did a few jobs with him. It was trashy stuff from small businesses—a laptop, a cash register, that kind of thing. But it gave me money to buy food and keep warm. We were caught and arrested. When I got my one call, I called Marty.”
With an exhale, she shifted on her feet and finally looked up. “I never stole after that day. Marty was the first real parent I’d ever known. I got my GED. Marty taught me to weld and got me a welder’s assistant job. I eventually got my welding certificate, and I’ve been welding ever since. I swear I didn’t steal that wire. I’ve never stolen anything from Pinnacle. Not a freaking nail. But I understand why you think I did.”
By the time she stopped talking, Jack felt raw. “Are you done?”
She shifted and shrugged. “I just wanted you to know I don’t blame you, and I’m sorry I’m so…difficult.”
That made Jack laugh. “Difficult you are. No argu
ment there.” He sighed and sat on the edge of the swing. “I know you didn’t steal the wire. Alex did.”
Her head came up. “What?”
“He found out about us through friends of friends who saw us together—”
“At Warrior Homes. Alex and I had a fight about it the morning he was arrested.”
“He never could stand to see me happy,” Jack told her. “Even as kids, no matter what he had, it was never enough. He always thought I had more—more attention, nicer things, better grades, more opportunity. He couldn’t stand seeing me with you. You were just one more thing I took from him.”
“He framed me for the wire to get back at you?”
Jack nodded. “And I’m so pissed I didn’t see it. I should have trusted my gut and believed you. I hate myself for everything—for doubting you, for suspending you, for fucking up your investor funding. You’ve worked so damn hard to get where you are, and I tore it all down in a day.” He shook his head. “I’m so sorry, Miranda.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Did Alex tell you all this?”
“Only when I offered him a lighter sentence. He was all too pleased to explain just how completely he’d fucked me over.”
She released a heavy sigh, dropped her head back, and closed her eyes. “Oh my God. That is such a relief.”
Jack stood and pulled Roman’s check and the contract from his back pocket. “This will be an even bigger relief.”
She unfolded the contract, looked at the check, and her mouth dropped open. “What…? How…?”
“I went to see him. Explained everything. He wants to invest—in you, Miranda.”
Her dark eyes flooded with tears. “Jesus Christ.”
She flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him so tight, he couldn’t breathe. Jack welcomed her, wrapping her close.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry, and I want you, Miranda. I want us.” He released her and cupped her face in both hands, wiped at her tears with his thumbs. “I will never doubt you again. Can we try? I want this more than anything.”
He didn’t wait for her answer. Jack lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers, pouring his love for her into the kiss. All the pain inside him evaporated, all the wounds healed.
When she finally pulled away, they were both breathless. “Yes.” She laughed, and more tears spilled as she nodded. “Yes, we can.”
Epilogue
Miranda waited just outside security at Nashville International Airport with her arms crossed, trying to hold back the excitement ready to bubble out of her. She hadn’t seen Jack in three weeks, the longest they’d been apart since they met six months earlier.
A rush of people approached the security area, headed toward ground transportation and baggage claim. Miranda bounced on her toes and scanned each face, looking for the handsome man who belonged to her.
She didn’t have to wait long. With all his frequent flyer miles, Jack was upgraded to first class on a regular basis. Miranda caught the glint of his blond hair, then the thousand-watt smile directed right at her. He must have boarded the plane shortly after a business meeting, because he was still in a suit, sans the tie, which was probably stuffed into one of his pockets.
As soon as he passed through the exit, he dropped his bag and a roll of blueprints, and Miranda jumped into his arms. They had this greeting choreographed to perfection.
They hugged long and hard. “Damn, baby,” Jack said. “I’ve missed you.”
Miranda didn’t bother repeating the sentiment. Instead, she pulled back just far enough to kiss him. Jack moaned, the sound a combination of relief and pleasure.
When she finally drew away, she cupped his face, grinning so hard, her cheeks hurt. “I have so much to show you.”
They’d developed a pattern of driving around to all Miranda’s jobsites as soon as Jack touched down. She’d launched her business the day she’d received Roman’s check and now had three large-scale developments underway for seniors, single parents, and the physically disabled. Then they returned to Miranda’s trailer for long, leisurely hours of lovemaking and catching up.
They walked toward short-term parking hand in hand, while Jack talked a little about the project site he’d just come from in Hong Kong and Miranda told him about her time with his family. She’d become extremely close with Jonathan, Jen, and Jen’s boys. Jack’s father often visited Miranda’s building sites, and Miranda occasionally babysat for Jen and her husband.
At the truck, Jack tossed his bag in the bed, and they took another few long moments to properly reconnect. By the time they broke apart, Miranda was sizzling hot and Jack was pressed against her in all the right places.
“I have something to show you too,” he said. “And I want to go first tonight.”
Miranda rocked her hips against his. “I hope it has something to do with what I’m feeling right here.”
He stepped back and curled her hand into his. “I’m saving that for later.”
She only half-faked a pout as he pulled the passenger’s door open for her, then put out his hand for the keys. When she dropped them into his palm, she was rewarded with another soul-melting kiss.
In the cab of the truck, she scooted next to him and snuggled close as he drove.
“How’s Gypsy doing?” he asked.
“Ridiculously miserable, but you won’t hear even one little gripe come out of her mouth. I don’t know how her little body could stretch so much, poor thing. Maybe she’ll have the baby while you’re here.”
“Man, that would be cool.”
“You’re the only man I know who’d say that.”
“I’ll ask Jen what she did to induce her own labor. Maybe Gypsy could try Jen’s methods.”
“I’ve already asked her, and she said sex was her activity of choice to get the baby moving.”
Jack made a face. “Ew. Sister, remember?”
Miranda laughed. “But we’ve finally got Gypsy in her new house. That’s one of the things I can’t wait to show you. I made all kinds of adorable little add-ons in her place, even built a baby swing in the yard.”
“How’s business at the bar?” he asked.
“Insane. And she’s doing an amazing job of running the whole thing without killing herself.” Miranda sighed. “I hope she has this baby soon. Just looking at her makes me uncomfortable.”
She lost herself in the sheer joy of his presence, kissing his neck and breathing him in. She had no idea where they were when she said, “Pull over. I need you. Like, last week.”
He lifted his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders. “We’re almost there.”
Miranda groaned and turned her head, resting her cheek against his shoulder. When she focused out the windshield, she didn’t recognize the road they were on. She lifted her head and looked around. The leaves were just starting to turn, and the air had a nice crisp edge.
“Where are we going?”
He pulled her in and kissed her head. “What part of ‘it’s a surprise’ didn’t you understand?”
She pulled away to look at him a little closer, as if she would be able to read his mind. But he had a poker face on, so Miranda just sank into place beside him and enjoyed the feeling of being so utterly complete.
“Are we headed toward Hillwood?” she asked.
“Not telling.”
Miranda sat up, her mind ticking off possible reasons he would be taking her to this ritzy neighborhood. But nothing stuck. They were both so invested in their individual careers that they hadn’t given any serious thought to the idea of one of them moving. And they worked at spending their time together while being completely present, talking about what was happening in the here and now, not what might happen someday. Which was when Miranda realized that people who weren’t satisfied in the present fantasized about the future. People enamored with their everyday life stayed present.
“Jack,” she complained as they wound their way up a hillside. “Come on. At least giv
e me a—” They topped the grade, and Miranda’s words evaporated. She looked through every window to a spectacular three-hundred-sixty-degree view. “Wow. Just…wow.”
Jack shut the engine down, got out, and rounded the truck. He took Miranda by the hand and walked her to the center of the plateau.
“How could I have lived and worked here my whole life and never known this existed?” she asked.
“It’s not just you. Took four different real estate agents to find just the right spot.”
She turned her head to ask what that meant, but Jack wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on her head. “As you can see, there is an amazing sunset toward the west.” He took a quarter turn to face northwest. “There’s the Cumberland River.” Another quarter turn. “Then we have the Nashville skyline you’ve helped build, literally.” Another quarter turn. “You can see the sun rise over the airport this direction.” A final turn to face south. “And hill after beautiful rolling Tennessee hill as far as you can see.”
Miranda stroked her hands across his arms. “This is amazing. Feels like we’re on top of the world, doesn’t it?”
“We are.” He bent his head and kissed her neck. “When I’m with you, I always feel like I’m on top of the world.”
Miranda squeezed his forearms and tilted her head back to look up at him. “It’s so good to have you home.”
He grinned. “Hold that thought.”
Then he released her and ran to the truck.
“Jack…?” She laughed. “What are you doing?”
When he grabbed the tube and started back toward her, Miranda’s stomach took a thrilling, terrifying roller-coaster ride.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the truck, where he rolled plans out across the truck’s hood. Miranda was so dumbstruck, Jack had to physically pull her hand to a corner of the plans to hold them flat on one side. He held them flat on the other.
Her gaze jumped to the border, where the project name was always printed. It read “Taylor Home.” She refocused on Jack. “You’re building a home here?”
