All I Need: Rod & Daisy (All Of Me Duet Book 2) by A.D. Justice (books to read to improve english TXT) 📗

“I’m more than okay.” I take her hand and press a kiss to the back of it. “This is perfect.”

Her smile lights up my soul.

“Good. Eat up. We’re opening one present after breakfast.” She waggles her eyebrows, and her sweet grin turns instantly mischievous.

“You weren’t supposed to buy me anything. You said only the kids get presents.” I arch one eyebrow in challenge, knowing it’ll do no good.

She shrugs her shoulder. “This one is important. A law, really.”

The kiss she presses to my lips disarms me, giving her the upper hand again. Who am I kidding? As if she ever lost it.

“A law, huh? This should be fun. But I still feel bad I didn’t get you anything.” I could kick myself for this.

“You shouldn’t feel bad, really. You’ll see why this time is different after breakfast. Besides, you’re like a big kid, so technically you fall in that category. Now eat up so we can open presents.”

“Ha. Ha. Very funny.” Regardless, I do as she commands and scarf down the rest of my breakfast.

Daisy’s extended family streams into the kitchen until the cacophony of voices from multiple conversations overtakes the room. Sitting in the middle of this family circus, all I can see, hear, or think about is Daisy. Even if Hunter and Jase were in my face, ridiculing me for being wrapped around her little finger, I wouldn’t try to deny it. I have no reason to deny it or wish for the circumstances to be different.

She’s all I need.

After breakfast, we move to the den where immediate family members automatically sit together in smaller, tightknit groups. When my eyes drift over the people surrounding me, I realize this is my family. My sister, my niece, the love of my life, my best friend, and the love of his life—these are my people, my clan, my tribe.

Daisy settles beside me, then I wrap my arm around her and gently pull her closer. She angles her body toward mine, slides her arm around my waist, and snuggles her head into the crook of my shoulder. The kids migrate to the tree, staring at the presents in wonder. I’ve always been part of Isa’s Christmases, but this one is so much different. We have an extended family now, and this house is full of warmth and love. Now I can’t wait until late tonight when they catch a glimpse of Santa arriving with a bag full of presents. For the first time in all the years since losing Mom, I’m excited about Christmas.

“Is it time, Mom?” Landen looks up at Daisy with hopeful eyes.

“Yes, baby,” she replies with a chuckle. “It’s time to open one present—but that’s all. The rest of the gifts are for tomorrow morning. Deal?”

“Deal.” He nods while wearing the biggest grin I’ve ever seen on his face.

Daisy moves to the floor and looks through the packages, intentionally making Landen and Isa wait on bated breath. Others join in, passing out a single gift to every member of their family until everyone has one to open. Then the low roar of ripping paper and tearing cardboard boxes overtakes the room. Daisy looks up at me from her spot on the floor as if her Rod radar alerted her to my hesitation.

“Open your present.” Her smile is both contagious and mischievous.

I love it.

After tearing off the yards of decorative ribbon and ripping off the paper, I open the box to find something I never expected. But I’m having a hard time keeping my emotions in check, nonetheless. The weight of her stare is a literal sensation on my skin, but I can’t bring myself to return it just yet. I swallow past the lump in my throat and lift the T-shirt out of the box.

Christmas pajamas don’t normally evoke this kind of response from me. But the front of the shirt has “We Are Family” written in giant red letters. There’s no mistaking the message she’s sending. When I’m finally able to glance around, everyone in my clan is holding up matching shirts with the same slogan. Their smiles are bright and their faces beam with happiness. Juliana and Kevin watch me with a hope-filled intensity I’ve never seen before. But Daisy’s expression is different. She hopes I like the gift, obviously, but that’s not what’s driving the fear hiding behind her smile.

“This may be the best present I’ve ever received. Thank you, babe.” I pull her into my arms and press my lips to hers in appreciation.

“I’m glad you like them. It’s a tradition in our family. We wear matching pajamas for Christmas as a reminder we’re all in this life together. No one faces troubles alone unless it’s by choice.”

My gaze drifts around the room and the magnitude of her words strikes me hard, and what she didn’t say hits me even harder. One family has pajamas with reindeer on them, another with Santa, and yet another with striped onesies—but no one else has our specific pattern. She chose the family message specifically for me, confirming she loves me and understands what I need better than I do.

“All right everyone, let’s go put them on and make sure they fit.” Tracy jumps to her feet and tugs Kevin’s hand, prompting him to follow suit. The rest of the room takes her directive to heart, and soon everyone in the house is rushing back to their bedroom to change.

Once we’re all decked out in our new clothes, we regroup in the den to mingle and share a few good-natured laughs at each other’s expense. Brian turns the TV to a Christmas movie, and we all migrate back to our original spots to enjoy a lazy day around the tree. Daisy snuggles into my side and I pull her closer when I wrap my arm around her. With my lips barely grazing the shell of her ear, I whisper the only sentiment that’s in my heart and mind.

“I love you, Daisy.”

She gasps, inhaling quickly, but then she just stops breathing entirely. In one fluid motion, she pushes up and jerks her head around to look directly at me. Her lips are parted, and her eyes search mine, but she doesn’t reply. Knowing her, and how well she knows me, she’s probably wondering if I actually just muttered those words. I can’t help but smile at her bewildered expression. She couldn’t hide her beauty if she tried.

“My heart is yours, Daisy. My whole heart. It’s been beaten, battered, and left with deep scars, but I’ve never given it to anyone else before