Worth the Risk (Carolina Rebels 5)

“We took advantage of our time together while you were on your date with Collin. He did everything all on his own, too.”

Raelynn shakes her head as she stares at the wrapped present in wonder. “I’m going to ugly cry, aren’t I?”

“Maybe.” She will. If she cried just seeing that he got her a present, she’s definitely going to cry when she opens his gifts. I take the present and place it on my nightstand for now. “We should lay her back down.”

“I’ll do it.” Raelynn leaves the room with my daughter and returns a minute later to crawl directly on top of my body. “Thank you for my gifts. You’ve spoiled me, Elias.”

“You deserve it as my nanny, my friend, and my girlfriend.”

She grins. “You’re being handsy, Elias.” Just a little. My hands glide from her shoulders, down her back, along the curve of her ass, down the back of her thighs, and back up again. “I don’t mind, though, because guess what?”

“What?”

She leans down, kisses my jaw, my neck, and then whispers in my ear, “I locked the door when I came back from Bree’s room.”

My hands freeze where they currently are on the back of her thighs. “You did?”

Raelynn nods, her hands slipping underneath my shirt and roaming over my chest and stomach. She kisses me with such need, all thoughts collapse and I match her feeling for feeling, movement for movement. It’s moments like these when I know Raelynn is perfect for me just as much as I’m perfect for her. When words don’t have to be said. When together, we react seamlessly without thought to pleasure one another, exacerbate our already heightened senses, and to use this sensual manner to tell one another how we feel.

Afterward, she places a sweet kiss on my cheek and curls into my side. Raelynn hides her face in my shoulder, her lips brushing against my skin as she whispers, “I think my gut is finally trusting and believing in everything here with you.”

“About time,” I whisper back, causing her to laugh a little. I can officially go to sleep with a smile on my face.

In the morning, I hold Bree in my arms and lean against the doorframe while Raelynn crawls into bed with a grouchy Jackson. He’s feeling worse today; good thing she’s taking him to the doctor as soon as Henry gets here. In the meantime, she opens her presents from him. My family is downstairs cooking breakfast, but no way am I missing this.

“What if you don’t like it?” Jackson asks with fear just as Raelynn reaches to tear the wrapping paper.

“I will love it because the best son in the world gave it to me.” She kisses the top of his head and tears into the present.

The gift box holds a homemade picture frame that was an absolute bitch to make, but Jackson had fun making it. Jackson also wanted to give his mom a necklace and we were able to order one online. It is the typical heart with “mom” inside, but it’s what he wanted to get her. Lastly, Jackson painted her a picture, but there’s also a “painting” from Bree. She had an absolute blast getting messy with finger paints, but it was not fun cleaning up or making sure she kept the paint only on her hands and away from her face.

Raelynn’s tears are steady and her smile is huge. “I love it, Jackson. Thank you so much.” She sets the items aside to bear hug him.

Asking him if he wanted to give his mom a present that day we were tree shopping was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Her smile proves it.

Jackson did have strep. Elias’s family went home. I trusted Henry to take care of Jackson while Elias and I went car shopping, where we did find a new vehicle for me. Elias left for a game, returned, and now, today, I have an appointment with that lawyer Sylvia recommended. It’s Friday and there’s a game tonight. Jackson feels better and he’s excited because not only are we going, but Henry is coming as well. But first, I have to meet with the lawyer.

And I do. Not with his assistant. Not with someone else in the firm, but with the head honcho. Color me impressed. Not only impressed, but I really liked him. He’s everything I could want in a lawyer. He seems ready to fight, if needed, for what I want in this situation, what’s best for Jackson, and while lawyers may not have the greatest rep in the world, he has an almost honest air about him. I want him.

Too bad it won’t happen.

“How did it go?” Elias asks the moment I walk into the living room. I feel bad for leaving the kids with him when he’s supposed to be having his pre-game nap, but he didn’t mind.

“It won’t work out.”

“Why?”

I sit next to him, smile a little as Bree crawls into my lap, and kiss Jackson on the top of his head since he’s on the other side of me. “He’s great and I really liked him.”

Elias frowns. “Then what’s the problem, Raelynn?”

“You pay me well, Mr. Bertuzzi, but you do not pay me anywhere near enough for me to afford him.” Elias stares at me for a moment, so I look at Bree, who grins. She talks her baby talk and a Wey slips out.

“Call him and tell him he’s hired, Raelynn,” Elias says, garnering my attention once more.

“But—”

“Call him,” he repeats.