Drake turns around and plasters a fake smile on his face. “I'm sorry, Emily.” He swivels on his heels and pushes past Jake. I shake my head at him and return to what I was doing.

“Why didn't you tell me he's been like that towards you?”

“You weren't exactly playing nice either, Jake.” It comes out harsher than I intended, and I immediately apologize. “I didn't mean to snap at you, but maybe you should see what's going on with him,” I add.

“I will. How was dinner with the girls?”

“It was good. Can I ask you something?” I turn on the washing machine, and I'm thankful for the low hum. Who knows how Drake will react if he finds out that Jake wants to move or of his baby plans. “Why now with the wedding, the house, and the birth control? Why does everything need to happen right now? We could have been building a house before this or at least wait until after the wedding. It feels like you're rushing us, Jake.”

“Well, why not? Don't you want those things?” he questions with a slight frown.

I walk over to him and rest my hands on his shoulders. “Of course, I do. We're starting to plan our wedding and you want to add a house and baby to that list? Are you trying to kill me with stress?” I smile playfully, hoping it will lessen the blow.

He pushes my hair behind my ear, his features still serious. “I just thought-” Jake shakes his head and wraps his arms around me. “I'm sorry.”

“Love, no. Don't be sorry. Talk to me.” I bunch his shirt in my hands a little.

“As far as the house goes, I've been thinking about that for a while even though I haven't mentioned it to you. I want a place to officially call ours, Sweetness.” He rests his forehead against mine. Those green eyes pierce me to the core. “I didn't mean for you to think that I want you pregnant right this second. It doesn't have to happen any time soon at all. I figured we could simply get the barrier out of the way and wait for us to work our magic.” When he wags his eyebrows, I laugh.

“Okay. How about this? I'll manage the wedding. You can manage the house. And we'll both oversee the magic making.” I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss his chin. The course hair against my lips is hot. It's so different from his usual clean-shaven face, but I'm enjoying it.

“Are you sure? I don't want to rush you,” he smirks, teasing.

“Mhm,” I hum, pressing my lips to his. Once he has returned my kiss, we go into the living room and sit on the couch where I curl up next to him. “What kind of wedding do we want? I know it's on the beach, but that doesn't mean it has to be beach themed. Or did you want that? Or hockey themed?”

“Can we stay away from themes like that? Can't it be elegance and simpleness? Didn't you say something about colors too? Your favorite color is blue, so just do blue colors.”

“That sounds perfect.”

“I talked to Mike today,” Jake begins.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah. Since we're getting things underway, he called. I managed to convince him to let us cover the wedding and the reception. He wants to send us on our honeymoon though and said Drake could stay with him while we're gone.”

I tilt my head to look at him. “Honeymoon, huh? Where do we want to go?” I ask, sliding my hand from his knee further up his thigh.

Jake chuckles, grabs and lifts my hand to kiss each of my knuckles. “That's for me to know and you to find out.” He smirks and then adds, “Later, much later.”

I climb into his lap, straddling him. “Three questions,” I say, kissing his neck.

“What's that?”

“Why do you get to know where we go and I don't?” I kiss his upper jaw and work my way to the other side by my next question. “Does this mean you already know where we're going?” I press my lips to his and then rest my forehead against his. “Are you keeping the beard for the big day or are you going to shave it off?”

Jake laughs at my subject change with that last question. “I get to know because I want it to be a surprise. I have a few ideas. No decision yet. And do you want me to shave it?”

I lift and drop my shoulders, running my fingers over the hair on his face. “Kinda like it, but I don't know if you should have it when we get married.”

“Kinda?” he questions, raising a brow.

“Actually, it's very sexy. I like it a lot.”

“Oh yeah?” He pushes my hands away and grabs my face. He turns my face to the left and rubs his scratchy cheek against mine swiftly, causing me to laugh.

“Jake, you're going to give me whisker burn,” I giggle as he switches cheeks.

“You can't seem to keep your hands off my beard, I'm just trying to help you out.” He leans back, and his hands drop back to my waist and dig into my skin. I rest my head on his shoulder and sigh with happiness.

“I love you,” I whisper.

“I love you too, Sweetness.”

Tags: Lindsay Paige Bold As Love Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net