It wasn’t until after we got back from Vegas for Violet’s quickie wedding to Remington a few weeks later that I was finally able to talk to them about it.
Apparently the dads hadn’t told them about what was discussed at our luncheon. While Mia squealed and whispered, “I told you so,” the moms just sat there in gaped-mouth silence. As the silence continued from them, I realized what I needed to do, and my nervousness at asking Uncle Axton for his blessing was nothing to how anxious I was right then.
I scooted back my chair and grasped both of Aunt Dallas’s hands. “I’m sorry. I should have done this before now. Aunt D, I love your daughter more than anything. She makes my life worth living, and all I want to do is make her happy for eternity. Will you please give me your blessing?”
She smiled, causing her dimple to flash at me, and she turned her hands over to grasp mine in return. “Jagger, of course you have my blessing. I never pictured Shaw spending her life with anyone else.”
Tears stung my eyes, and I quickly blinked them back before I turned to Ma. But when I opened my mouth, she held up her hand, trapping anything I might have said in my throat. “All I want is your happiness, baby boy. No matter what or who that is with, you don’t need my blessing because you already have it.” Her chin trembled, but she clenched it for a moment and then cleared her throat. “Now, what do you need me to do?”
“I need the perfect ring,” I rasped out. “Can you help me find it, Ma?”
She smiled. “I think between the four of us, we can come up with something.”
The three of them pulled out their phones and flipped through some of the most beautiful engagement rings I’d ever seen—and some not so beautiful. Money was no object. I didn’t care how much it cost, and I thought that would make it easier, but it didn’t.
Long after our plates had been cleared, we were still sitting there, and I was feeling beyond frustrated.
“I think you should have a ring custom made,” Mia suggested.
“I agree,” Aunt Dallas confirmed. “And if we get in with a designer in the next few weeks, it should be done in time for the Christmas Eve party if you’re sure that’s where you want to propose.”
Ma was already typing away on her phone. “Jagger, what works better for you? Monday afternoon or Thursday morning?”
I wasn’t surprised Ma already had options for appointments. I told her whatever was best for them was fine with me. I would make anything work.
If only the actual proposal went as smoothly as creating that three-million-dollar piece of perfection.
Chapter 37
Jagger
I pulled the car up in front of my parents’ house. My palms were sweating, and I quickly wiped them on my slacks before reaching for Shaw’s hand. Leaning over the console, she brushed her lips over mine. “Love you.”
When she started to pull back, I wrapped her hair around my wrist and kept her trapped. Thrusting my tongue deep into her mouth, I devoured her. She was going to say yes, I reminded myself. She loved me, and after the way she’d been dropping hints lately, I knew she wanted me to ask her to marry me. It had been so hard not to just pull out the box and beg her to say yes the moment the ring was done, but I’d held back to make sure I got this right.
Shaw deserved the best of everything, and that included the perfect proposal.
After tonight, I’d have my ri
ng on her finger, and then the moms could start helping her plan our wedding.
Moaning, she pressed her hands against my chest. “As much as I want to continue this, we need to get inside.” She licked her kiss-swollen lips and grinned wickedly up at me. “But let’s not stay long. I want to head home and celebrate our first Christmas in bed.”
I dropped one more kiss on her mouth then released her. “Whatever you want, Dimples.”
Stepping out of the car, I walked around and helped her out, before grabbing the wrapped gifts out of the trunk for Emerson. Shaw had gone shopping with Violet over the last few weeks, and each time they went into a shop, Shaw would pick out something for my niece.
Soon, she would be Shaw’s niece too.
That put a smile on my face as we entered my parents’ house.
Shaw said she was going to go say hello to Violet, and I took the gifts upstairs for my sister to deal with later. When I finally joined the party, it was to find all eyes trained on the small group in the middle of the room.
Violet, pregnant and glowing. Remington. Shaw. Lyric and his heavily pregnant wife, Mila. And then there was Luca.
I was surprised as hell that Violet’s ex was keeping his shit together while talking to her husband, and I wondered if Christmas miracles really did come true.
Spotting me, Mia frantically waved me over to where she was standing. “Hey,” I greeted, bending to kiss her cheek. “What’s up?”