A Christmas Wish: Dane by Liliana Hart Read Free Book Online Page B

Jayden.
    “You really worried your mom taking off like that without telling anyone.”
    Jayden’s lip quivered, and he busied himself pouring cocoa into the thermos so Dane wouldn’t notice.
    “I didn’t mean to,” he finally said. “I just thought—” he stopped talking and Dane waited for him to go on, but he stayed silent.
    “Tell me what you thought,” he said. “Whatever you say is just between the two of us.”
    Jayden shrugged. “It’s stupid. I just thought that maybe if I was the one who found the gold—“ he paused and looked up at Dane. “Then maybe it would make me a real MacKenzie.”
    Dane felt his heart swell in his chest . “I hate to break it to you, but you are a real MacKenzie. You’re mine in every way possible. I could show you pictures of me at the same age you are now and you wouldn’t be able to tell us apart.”
    “That’s what Uncle Riley said. He said you were hell on wheels w hen you were a kid and that I shouldn’t lead with my left like you do because it’ll leave me wide open. I’m not really sure what that means.”
    Dane arched a brow. “Uncle Riley needs to watch what he says.”
    Jayden smirked, but his expression turned serious once more. “If I’m a MacKenzie, how come that’s not my last name?”
    “Do you want it to be your last name?”
    He shrugged again. “I was just thinking it would be easier if it was the same as everyone else’s, ya know? Less confusing.”
    “I see.” And he did see. “What do you think we should do about it?”
    “Do you love my mom?” The question was asked with innocent curiosity. “Because I think she needs someone who loves her a lot. She’s a good mom.”
    “ She is a good mom. You’re very lucky you have her. And yeah, I love her a lot.” His voice was hoarse with emotion. “Is that the reason you haven’t really wanted me around these past months? Are you afraid your mom might love me and stop loving you?”
    Jayden shrugged again and Dane almost smiled, remembering how frustrated his mother used to get when he did the same thing.
    “I can tell you with certainty that your mom will never stop loving you. Don’t you think it’s possible to love more than one person at a time?”
    “I guess so.”
    “Well, I know so. There are a lot of MacKenzies, right? And I’ve got room to love them all. But you and your mom are special. I love you guys more than I ever thought possible. Just like I know your mom loves the both of us.  And she may not know it, because your mom likes to handle things on her own and she’s a little bit stubborn.” Jayden snorted out a laugh and Dane smiled. “But she needs the both of us to help take care of her and love her too.”
    “So what do you think we should do?” Jayden asked, repeating Dane’s earlier question.
    “I think I should marry your mom and you should be my best man. MacKenzies always stand up for each other.”
    His face brig htened a little. “If you marry Mom, am I supposed to call you Dad?”
    Dane’s throat tightened but he tried to pla y it casual so Jayden didn’t know how badly he wanted it. “Only if you want to.”
    Jayden nodded and changed the subject. “How are you going to get Mom to marry you? She can be pretty stubborn about that stuff.”
    Dane remembered the rin g he’d stuffed in his pocket and maneuvered around until he managed to dig it out. He opened the box so Jayden could see the square-cut emerald surrounded by tiny diamonds. It was delicate and beautiful, but also sturdy and made to last. 
    “What do you think?”
    “I think she’ll get grease all over it when she’s working on cars.”
    Dane laughed and snapped the lid closed. “Hopefully she’ll take it off before she works on them. Maybe I should get her a chain so she can wear it around her neck.”
    “Good idea.”
    “Are we good here, Jay?” Dane asked, holding out his hand for the boy to shake , man to man. He stared at it a few seconds, unsure what to do, and then