Page 58 of Her Diamond Deal with the CEO

‘The party!’ He shook his head. ‘That’s all down to Martha’s Farm Friends.’

‘I’m not talking about the party. Well, I am. But I’m talking about why we can have a party with both our families. I’m talking about you reaching out—’

‘And I could only do that because of you.’ His hands firmed around the swell of her stomach. ‘You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, and I don’t know where I would be now if I hadn’t met you.’

‘You’d be fine.’ She touched his face lightly, letting him see her love and belief in him, and her gratitude for the life they made together. ‘You’re the best man I know. The best husband. The best dad, best CEO.’

His mouth curved slightly, acknowledging her words. He believed them. And there were no words for the way it made her feel to know that he did believe them. Getting to this point had been hard. He’d had to confront his past, his parents. And it was still a work in progress. But it was like swimming. You had to start with the basics and practise. Before you knew it, you were swimming triathlons for charity, she thought, her gaze snagging on the medals that were knotted casually around the bedpost. And she was proud of him for that too.

Jack looked down into Ondine’s beautiful blue eyes, his heart beating in time to the distant waves. Most days he woke up and gave thanks to the ocean for bringing Ondine into his life. She had breathed, not just life into his lungs, but love into his heart. She had given him faith in himself. A beautiful daughter.

Speaking of whom...

‘Do you think we should get the birthday girl up?’ he said, stroking Ondine’s hair. ‘We wouldn’t want her to miss her first party.’ Their eyes met as, on cue, the baby monitor by the bed gave a squeak and then a satisfied kind of gurgle.

Esme Candace Walcott was standing up in her cot, her tousled blonde curls framing her face like a halo, a giraffe clutched in one chubby hand, the other reaching for Jack.

‘Dada—’

Watching his daughter’s wide blue eyes light up with delight and amazement, Jack felt his heart tumble in his chest. He gave thanks for his daughter too. If Ondine had cracked him open, Esme had pushed the crack apart and that was the thing when you opened up. You let the love in, and out. So much love.

He glanced at the row of soft toys lining one wall. Less room, though—

Tucking Esme against his shoulder, he turned to Ondine. ‘You know, we should probably think about getting a bigger place when we get back to New York. Before this one arrives.’ His hand reached out automatically to touch her stomach again. He couldn’t stop himself. This was the part he’d missed out on before through fear and doubt. But he wasn’t scared any more. And his doubts were normal, transitory, easily resolved.

‘Or we could keep the apartment. Get some place upstate. With a bit of land. Kidnap some of Martha’s animals.’

Ondine smiled. ‘New Jack meet Old Jack.’ And she loved both. Leaning into him, she wrapped her arm around his waist. ‘I don’t care where we live as long as we’re together.’

They stood there for a moment, their bodies touching, both of them certain that wherever they lived, whatever was to come, it would all be just detail. What mattered was in their hearts and souls. There was no need for anything else.