Hey, Beloved!
Tomorrow is the day! Just Say You Love Me goes live tonight at midnight! You can preorder it here to have it delivered as soon as it goes live.
Here’s one last unedited sneak peek to hold you over đ
Snatching his briefcase and phone from his desk, Jaxon sauntered over to his door⌠powerful swagger in no way affected by the swiftness of his steps. In usual Jaxon manner, he was focused on one thing and one thing only â getting through his interviews as quickly as possible to meet Luana â so when he opened the door and saw his mother and Tiffany standing on the other side of it he was unable to stifle his irritated groan. Faith valued no oneâs time but her own. It didnât matter how many times he told her he had to leave, she wouldnât release him until she was done saying what she had to say.
âNowâs really not a good time, Ma,â Jaxon informed her as respectfully as he could.
âThis will only take a second,â Faith tried to assure him, but Jaxon knew that wouldnât be the case. Faith stepped in front of Jaxon, waiting for him to move aside and let her enter. When he didnât, Faith used the back of her hand in the center of his chest to gently guide him out of the way, âSpeak to Tiffany,â Faith instructed, sitting in front of Jaxonâs desk.
âTiffany,â Jaxon spoke with as little enthusiasm as he had patience.
Tiffany smiled widely and stepped into his office, finding her place in the seat next to Faith while Jaxon closed the door. Unbuttoning his suit jacket, Jaxon exhaled a long, deep breath as he prayed silently and walked back over to his desk.
âWhatâs up, Ma? I have quite a few interviews me and Kingston need to get to before a meeting.â
âI wanted to reintroduce you to Tiffany. Your new wife.â
Waiting for the punchline to her joke, Jaxon continued to stare at his mother silently. She had to be out of her mind if she thought Jaxon was going to spend the next few months attached to Tiffany in any way. Tiffany was the kind of woman normal mothers warned their sons to stay away from. Not Faith. With her, it was all about status, power, position and legacy. It didnât matter how much of a gold digging leech Tiffany was who spent her days working to secure her next sugar daddy; in Faithâs eyes, she came from good stock. And that mattered more to her than a womanâs morals and values â or her sonâs interest and happiness for that matter.
When Faith didnât continue speaking, Jaxon pulled his phone out and shot Kingston a quick text to let him know he was going to be a few minutes late before speaking.
âI agreed to the whole marriage thing, but Iâm picking my own wife, Ma.â
Faith looked at Tiffany and smiled softly, then she sat up in her seat⌠hanging over Jaxonâs desk.
âYou can pick your own wife just as long as Tiffany is your pick.â
âTiffany,â Jaxon called, âCan you step outside and give us a minute alone please?â
Tiffany stood, smiling when Faith patted her hand softly. They both watched her leave, and as soon as the door closed behind her Faith whispered loudly, âWhat is wrong with you carrying on like that in front of her? Sheâs going to think you donât want to marry her.â
âI donât!â Jaxon seethed, eyebrows wrinkling and teeth grinding. It wouldnât do him any good to be upset with his mother. It wouldnât change anything. She would stand firm behind her desire no matter how horribly matched Jaxon and Tiffany were. If anything, his anger would make Faith calmer and firmer.
âWhy not? She comes from good stock. A wealthy and political tree. Do you know how powerful a union the two of you would have? The Jeffries and Russel stock could be the combination that gets us in the white house. Tiffany is perfect for you, Jaxon.â
âNo sheâs not,â Jaxon argued, standing from his seat and peering down at his mother, âShe just got out of one marriage with a seventy-year-old man whose death almost made her a millionaire. Iâm not going to let her ride off of me to reach that point. Sheâs a gold digger whose only concern is the size of a manâs wallet. Thatâs not the kind of woman I want at my side.â
âYes, Tiffany has the sense to secure her future financially, but thatâs not a bad thing. That should let you know that sheâs going to do whatever it takes to satisfy you and help you win. Sheâs a chameleon. She can be the basketball wife, the politicianâs wife, the drug lordâs wife. The woman is ever changing and evolving her men, Jaxon. She can help you, son. Tiffany is the one.â
The only thing Jaxon saw Tiffany changing was the money in his bank account and respect he had from men who valued a higher class of woman.
âTiffany is not the one. You told me I needed a wife to soften my image. Thereâs nothing about Tiffany thatâs feminine, soft or genuine. Sheâs a known money chaser. I wonât look like a caring, big hearted family man; I will look like a fool getting played like all the others.â
Faith stood, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. Like Jaxon didnât get his stubborn streak from her.
âWeâre not finished with this conversation. Iâm going to go because I have a case this morning, but I want you to let Tiffany ride along with you.â
âMa,â Jaxon whined, feeling like a seven-year-old all over again.
âKeep her at your side while you handle your business today just to see how it feels.â
âSo you want me to rent a wife for the day?â
Faith shrugged before walking over to Jaxon and pulling his pocket square out.
âCall it what you want, son, but I want you to give her a trial run. Give her a genuine chance. I really like her for you. For this.â
Jaxon remained silent as he watched his mother fold the square and return it to his pocket. If Faith liked Tiffany for Jaxon she didnât know her son at all. What Faith didnât know was that Jaxon had already tried to secure a future with Tiffany years ago. While he was still in college lending money to other students. Getting a feel for his knack of lending and gaining money in interest in return. Before he started his business and grew a name outside of his family.
She didnât want him then.
When he was refusing to live off his parentsâ money and struggling to make his own.
When he had nothing but his love and affection to offer her.
As if that didnât hold more weight than any amount of money.
Tiffany didnât want him when Jaxon had nothing; and he didnât want her now that he had everything.
I hope you’re as excited to read their story as I am to bless you with it!
Until tomorrow,
Love, B.
