Livie’s shaky hands came up to her lips. “Is that true?”
“What?”
Her hand dropped to her side. “Will you keep everything separate?”
With a shrug, he answered honestly. “I have to. I won’t make things more complicated for you.”
Livie stood there for a moment, then busted out laughing. “Complicated? Do you want to know what’s complicated? I wanted the COO position for years. I’d worked on nothing else but gaining the attention of my superiors. I busted my ass and turned down dates, missed social events with my friends, and lost sleep over that damn promotion. But nothing was as complicated as when I came into town and you put your greasy hands all over my ass.”
He wasn’t going to apologize for that, either.
“Complicated is knowing that when I get back to Atlanta and walk into my condo, it will feel empty. I’ll be alone and I’ll be wondering what you’re doing here. I’ll want to know if you and Piper are having movie night, I’ll wonder how she is the next time a storm comes through. And I’ll get that urge to fly again with nowhere to turn.”
Jax fisted his hands at his sides because he wanted so badly to reach for her again. But he waited, listened, as she seemed to be working out her internal battle.
“Complicated is also right this moment,” she went on, looking up at him. “I need to leave, but when I’m with you, I realize there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. Not in my condo, not in the big city, and not even in my brand-new cushy office.”
For the first time since she’d declared she was really leaving, a sliver of hope slid through him. But he remained silent and still.
“I’m scared,” she whispered as she reached for him. Her fingers curled in his and she brought their joined hands between them. “What if I go and I’m miserable without you? What if I stay and wonder what it would’ve been like in the job I’ve always wanted?”
“The answer is simple,” he told her. “Only you can know which one you want more. You’ll have a career either place, but your lifestyle will be vastly different.”
She glanced to the suit she’d tossed onto his desk. The feel of her delicate hands in his had him wanting to continue to hold tight and never let go.
“I’ve worked so hard to be a COO.”
“I understand that,” he replied, urging her closer until she fell against his chest. He disengaged their hands and wrapped his arms around her. “But know this: If you stay, you’ll be the only COO here because I hate numbers and I don’t want that title.”
A slight smile formed on her lips.
“I told myself I wasn’t going to ask you to stay because I wanted you to make up your own mind. But, damn it, Livie. I need you. I don’t want to run this place without you. I don’t want to do anything without you. But if you need to go to Atlanta and figure things out, I won’t stop you.”
Her bright eyes brimming with unshed tears stared back at him. “I’m not sure leaving would make things more clear. I love you, Jax. Whether I’m here or there, that won’t change.”
Crushing her against his chest, he closed his eyes and inhaled her. “Finally,” he murmured against her ear.
Her arms wrapped around him. “Will you still take the plane? Because it’s kind of legally done and I don’t have anywhere else to store it.”
Jax laughed and eased back, framing her face between his hands. “I’ll only take the plane if you’re here to fly it.”
“Are you sure about this?” she asked, worry lacing her voice. “You want me? You want us?”
He nipped at her lips. “Have I ever given you the impression I don’t want you? I want the hell out of you and I don’t just mean on this desk. I want you, I want us, I want a family.”
Livie’s eyes widened. “What will Piper say?”
“Considering she’s been hinting again about a mommy, I’d say she’ll be just fine with you staying in our lives.”
“Is that what you want me to be? Piper’s mommy?”
Happiness consumed him and he slid his mouth across hers, lifting her up off her feet. With his arms banded around her, Jax feathered off the kiss, but didn’t put her back down.
“I want you as my wife first.”
Livie smacked her lips to his. “If that’s a proposal, then yes.”
She kissed him again, then kissed across his jawline and up to his ear. “Are you going to clean off the desk or should I?” she whispered in his ear.
Jax’s body stirred. “I think for this celebration, we need to go home.”
“Which home?”
He eased her down and looked her in the eye. “Mine, ours.”
“Take me home, Jax. And love me.”
Lacing his fingers through hers, he tugged her toward the door. “Always.”
