Chapter 101

ASHER

The second Knox and I stepped off the plane, I felt a rush of excitement. It had been days since we last saw Isabella in person, and while we had kept in constant contact, there was something irreplaceable about being there with her. Jax had set up a surprise dinner, and though we were exhausted from the trip, the thought of seeing Isa’s face when she realized we were there made everything worth it.

We took a car straight to the restaurant where Jax had arranged for the evening, a private room tucked away to ensure no interruptions. The moment we arrived, the anticipation built between Knox and me as we waited for them. I glanced around the softly lit space, candles flickering and casting warm shadows over the elegantly set table. Everything was perfect for the surprise.

Knox leaned back in his chair, a smirk tugging at his lips as he folded his arms. “Think she’ll cry?”

I let out a low chuckle. “She’ll definitely cry. You know how she gets with surprises.”

We didn’t have to wait long. Jax had texted that they were on their way, and moments later, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door. My heart quickened, anticipation thrumming in my veins. Knox’s grin grew wider.

The door opened, and there she was—Isabella, her arm linked with Jax’s as they stepped inside. Her eyes lit up the second she saw us, her mouth falling open in surprise. The long dress she wore was breathtaking—a deep, rich color that made her glow, the plunging boat neckline showing just enough skin to make it impossible to look away. She looked radiant, her pregnancy only adding to her beauty.

I exchanged a glance with Knox, and we both silently agreed on one thing: we were in trouble. How were we supposed to keep our hands to ourselves when she looked like that?

Her lip trembled, and as expected, the tears came, spilling down her cheeks as she brought her hands to her face. “I... I didn’t know...”

She barely managed to get the words out before Jax nudged her gently toward us, his grin as wide as ours. “Surprise.”

I stood and closed the distance between us, pulling her into my arms without a second thought. The feel of her warmth, her soft scent, immediately calmed me after the long journey. She pressed her face into my chest, her hands clutching my shirt as she tried to stop crying.

“I missed you so much,” she whispered, her voice shaking with emotion.

Knox joined us, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close from the other side. “We missed you too,” he murmured, his voice softer than usual. He placed a kiss on the top of her head, his eyes never leaving her. “You look beautiful, Isa.”

I nodded in agreement, pulling back just enough to look at her properly. Her eyes were red from crying, but there was a smile on her face now, and that dress... God, that dress. “You’re stunning,” I told her, brushing my thumb across her cheek. “I don’t know how we’re supposed to behave ourselves tonight.”

She laughed through her tears, wiping at her eyes as she looked between the two of us. “You’re not supposed to behave yourselves.”

Knox chuckled low in his throat, exchanging a look with me that made it clear we were thinking the same thing. This was going to be an interesting evening.

Isabella was on a roll, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she continued to describe every last detail of her day, the shopping bags, the adorable baby outfits, and the endless list of things she couldn’t resist picking up. Her energy was infectious. Knox and Jax were both leaning in, smiles stretching across their faces as they listened to her with undivided attention. It was rare to see her this animated, especially after all the stress that had come with the pregnancy and everything else.

“And you should’ve seen the blankets I found! They’re so soft, I almost wanted to get one for myself,” she said with a laugh, turning toward Knox. “You’ll love them, I swear. I got them in neutral colors because, well, you can never have too many options.”

Knox gave her an indulgent smile, the kind only he could manage. “I’m sure they’re perfect.”

“And then there were these tiny little shoes. Oh my god, they’re so small! I can’t wait to see our boy in them.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle under my breath, even though I had only been half-listening. Her excitement was like a tidal wave, sweeping us all up with her. I didn’t mind; in fact, I reveled in it. There was something incredibly grounding about seeing her so happy, so focused on building our future together.

“Rebecca was such a help,” Isabella continued, now shifting topics to her day with her friend. “She’s so practical, you know? But at the same time, she indulged me when I couldn’t decide between two things, which happened a lot.”

Her gaze flicked over to Jax, who was still smiling. “And you wouldn’t believe it—Spencer was there with us the entire time.”

That caught my attention. I straightened up slightly, exchanging a glance with Knox. Spencer was always nearby, but I wasn’t sure how he handled a whole day of shopping. I could only imagine him standing in the background, stiff and out of place, while Rebecca and Isabella flitted around.

“He was great, actually,” Isabella went on, her voice softening slightly. “Though I think I completely forgot he was there at some points. I was so caught up in everything, and when I got back to the penthouse with all these bags, I realized I hadn’t even waited for him to help.”

A flicker of guilt crossed her face, her fingers brushing over the rim of her glass. “He seemed kind of upset about it. You know how he is—he’s so serious about his job. He really wanted to carry everything for me.”

I could practically hear Spencer grumbling in my head, though he would never say anything outright to Isabella. He took his role far too seriously for that. He wasn’t just a protector; he saw himself as something more, like a guardian whose sole mission was to ensure Isabella’s safety and well-being.

“I’m sure he got over it,” Knox said lightly, trying to soothe the small frown on her face.

“I hope so,” Isabella replied, chewing her lip thoughtfully. “He’s been such a help. Even though I know he’s not really used to this sort of thing, he’s doing his best. I’ll have to remember to let him help next time.”

I sat back, absorbing everything as she continued to talk. It was clear that Spencer had grown on her, just as he had with the rest of us. I knew from our recent discussions that Spencer’s loyalty ran deep—perhaps even deeper than we had anticipated. His instincts as a royal guard had fully awakened, and there was no doubt in my mind that he would protect Isabella and the baby with his life.

Still, I understood her worry. Spencer wasn’t just a bodyguard. He had an innate need to be there for her, to be the one she could rely on, even in small matters like carrying her shopping bags. It was a reflection of how much he cared, though he’d probably never admit it in so many words.

“And I bought so much,” Isabella added with a sheepish grin, interrupting my thoughts. “I know we don’t need everything right now, but I couldn’t resist. It’s like I’m in a nesting phase or something.”

Knox chuckled. “Sounds like you’re getting ready for the little one in full force.”

She laughed softly, nodding. “I guess so. I just want everything to be perfect when he arrives.”

Jax, who had been quiet for a moment, reached out to squeeze her hand. “You’re doing amazing, Isa. Our son’s going to have everything he needs.”

She looked down at their hands, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “Thanks, Jax. That means a lot.”

As we sat there, listening to Isabella talk about her day, about Rebecca and Spencer and the mountain of baby clothes, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for these moments. Even if I hadn’t been there to set up the nursery or carry her shopping bags, it was enough just to see her happy, thriving.

The road ahead was still uncertain, with the looming responsibilities and decisions that would shape our future. But for now, as Isabella spoke with a twinkle in her eye, all I could think about was how much we were already building together.

And that was more than enough.