Destined to Change by Harley, M. (top android ebook reader TXT) 📕

Loralei

On the short drive to my house all I could think about was the look on Jaxon’s face when he realized I was pregnant. He didn’t look like a guy who thought he was going to be a dad. He looked like a guy who had been sucker punched. We hadn’t used protection when we had sex. I really thought he would be happy when he found out. Maybe I was just delusional. I didn’t know. We had to talk this out. We had to do what was best for all of us...and that included his family back in Richmond.

What made him come here? Did he miss me? Did he realize he couldn’t live without me? Or did he think we needed a real goodbye? I didn’t know, but I couldn’t wait to find out.

I pulled up and parked next to Jaxon’s bike. I was hesitant to go to him. I didn’t know why. I wanted him with everything in me. But I think I was scared. What if he wasn’t here because he loved me?

Oh my God, Loralei Harper, get your ass out of the jeep and go talk to that man.

I got out of the jeep and started walking toward the front porch. His gaze met mine, and I couldn’t look away. Those beautiful brown eyes with the golden flecks were mesmerizing. I took a seat in the rocking chair facing him. We both started talking at the same time.

He said, “Lor, let me explain, please?” He took my hands in his and started rubbing circles with his thumbs on my palms. “I never should’ve left here. Never. I don’t know what the hell came over me. I couldn’t believe that Stacy told you Jaz wasn’t mine and you still wanted me to leave.”

I couldn’t believe those words came from his mouth. I pulled my hands away from his and jumped out of my chair. “What the hell do you mean, she isn’t yours? Stacy told me the test came back and you were the dad.”

He stood up, stepped toward me, and grabbed my hands again. “She is a lying bitch, Loralei. Jaz isn’t mine. I thought you wanted me to be with them. I couldn’t understand why, but I thought that was why you were telling me to leave. Stacy and I tried for years to have a baby and it never happened. We don’t need the DNA test. Your baby can’t be mine. But I will raise it like it is.”

This was all too much for me. I fell back in the rocking chair. Jaxon was still holding my hands and he dropped to his knees in front of me. I said, “So, this baby can’t be yours? Are you sure?”

Jaxon looked down to the ground. After a long silence he looked up at me with a tear in his eye. “You have no idea how much I want that baby to be mine. But no, it’s his.”

Both of my hands immediately flew to my belly. I was having Cade’s baby. But I loved Jaxon. I couldn’t be with Cade. He said he understood, but would he really, after the baby came. Cade was going to be a part of our lives forever. Could I handle that? I didn’t know the answer to that yet.

“I still want the test Jaxon. I want to know for sure. I can have it in a couple of weeks. What is happening with Stacy and Jaz?”

He stood up and took a seat in the rocking chair he had been sitting in. “She signed the divorce papers. My mom is letting her stay there until she gets on her feet. My mom fell in love with Jaz, so no matter how she feels about Stacy, she will make sure that little girl is taken care of. Stacy is out of my life Lor, and Jaz is not my daughter. I want that future that we talked about. I want us to grow old together. Will you have me? Can we please try again?”

I wanted that more than anything. But I was having another man’s baby? I didn’t know what that would do to Jaxon and I. Jaxon may have said it wouldn’t change anything, but that would all change when Cade started hanging around all the time to be with the baby.

“Jaxon, we have been through so much. I just...I just don’t know. I want to be with you, but I’m so scared that some other secret will come out. Is there anything else I need to know? Please don’t tell me you have another wife somewhere else, or that you’re wanted by the law. I really don’t think I could handle it!” He hugged me and we laughed together. It felt so good being in his arms. I had missed him so much.

Chapter 16

Loralei

Jaxon and I decided it would be best for him to stay with Uncle Jake until we could figure things out. We loved each other and wanted to spend our future together. Now we needed to figure out how to do that.

I told him we needed to sit the kids down and talk to them about what was going on. We didn’t need to mention the baby yet, but we needed to let them know that Jaxon was back and here to stay. I didn’t want them to be surprised when they saw him around the farm. And I hoped to be spending time with him, lots of time, and I didn’t want that to upset them.

We decided Jaxon should come over for dinner, so we could have this conversation with the kids. Why was I so nervous? This was crazy. This part shouldn’t be so hard...should it? The kids loved Jaxon. But they knew how hurt I had been over the past few weeks. They could tell how much I missed him and I knew they missed him too.

When Jaxon got there and walked up to