CHAPTER 1
Jackson
“We need to take down the tree and all the Christmas decorations.” Georgia sighed as she stood in the middle of the living room.
“Yeah. I suppose we should since we both go back to work tomorrow.” I wrapped my arms around her from behind.
With a slight turn of her head, a beautiful smile crossed her lips as she looked at me.
“What?” The corners of my mouth curved upward.
“I had so much fun at the cabin.” She turned around in my arms.
“Me too.” I kissed her lips.
“I honestly had no idea you were going to propose.”
“Come on, babe. You had to have had a feeling, especially since I didn’t ask you on Christmas.”
“Why didn’t you ask me then?” she asked.
“Because I wanted to start this new year off with a bang.” I smiled. “A lot happened last year, and although it all turned out to be excellent, I wanted this new year to start off very special.”
“I love you, Dr. Kind.” Her beautiful eyes stared into mine.
“I love you too, future Mrs. Dr. Kind.” Our lips met.
She stared at me for a moment after I’d said that.
“I don’t know if I’m taking your last name,” she said, and I was completely caught off guard.
“What? Don’t be ridiculous. You are taking my last name.”
“Excuse me?” She unwrapped her arms from around my neck.
“Why the hell wouldn’t you? That’s what married women do, Georgia.”
“I didn’t know you knew every married woman in the world, Jackson.” She cocked her head. “I’m not saying that I’m definitely not. I’m saying I’m not sure yet.”
“Care to explain to me why you’re so fucking hesitant?”
“I’ve built my life and my career around my name.”
“And so did Shaun and Christian, but they still changed their names!” I shouted. “It’s what you do when you get married, Georgia. You take the man’s last name. End of discussion.” I walked away.
“Excuse me?” She ran after me. “This is 2023, Jackson. The world has changed. I am Dr. Georgia Scott.”
“And you’ll be Dr. Georgia Kind as soon as we’re married.” I grabbed a beer from the refrigerator, opened the sliding door, and slammed it shut as I stepped out onto the patio.
Walking down to the firepit, I lit it and took a seat.
“Bro, what are you doing out here?” Conner asked as he sat down next to me.
I looked at him and shook my head.
“What’s wrong?”
“Georgia! That’s what’s wrong,” I snapped as I brought the bottle to my lips.
“Oh boy.” He pulled out his phone.
Within seconds, my two other brothers walked over and sat down.
“What’s going on?” Nathan asked.
“Georgia and I got into an argument.”
“About what?” Christian asked.
“Bro, we’ve literally been home a couple of hours. What did you two argue about?” Conner asked.
“Her taking our last name when we get married.” I brought the bottle up to my lips.
“What?” Nathan asked. “What the fuck do you mean?”
“She doesn’t know if she’ll take the Kind name after we’re married.”
“Hold up.” Conner put his hand up. “She actually said that?”
“Yeah. She did. She said that she’d built her life and career around her name. Then she told me the world has changed, and she’s Dr. Georgia Scott.” I shook my head.
“How did you leave things?” Christian asked.
“I told her she was going to be Dr. Georgia Kind when we got married, and then I walked out.”
“Damn,” Nathan said.
“You know. The past month she’s been off,” I said.
“How do you mean? You never said anything to us about it,” Conner said.
“She’s just been moody, short-tempered, and seems extra stressed. I don’t know. I thought maybe it was because of work and the holidays.”
“She seemed great over Christmas and New Year,” Nathan said.
“Maybe Charlotte can talk to her,” Conner spoke.
“That’ll probably make things worse.” I finished off my beer. “I better get back to the house.” I stood up.
“Choose your battles wisely,” Christian said. “You’ve been engaged less than twenty-four hours. She'll have changed her mind by the time you get married.”
“Yeah, bro. Just let it go for now,” Nathan said.
“I’ll talk to you guys later.” I walked back to the house.
When I stepped through the sliding door, Georgia had all the lights and ornaments off the tree and neatly packed away.
“I would have helped you with that,” I said.
“Really? I wasn’t just going to sit around and wait for you to finish your beer and conversation with your brothers,” she spoke in a rude tone.
“I’m going outside to take down the lights,” I spoke with irritation.
“Yeah. You do that, Jackson.”
Shaking my head, I walked out the front door. After taking down the lights and storing them in the garage, I went back inside and didn’t see Georgia. Walking up the stairs, I entered our bedroom and saw her sitting on the edge of the bed, hugging her knees.
“Come here.” I sat next to her and pulled her into me. “What’s going on?”
“I’m really mad at you,” she said.
“And I’m mad at you. You not wanting to take my last name is very hurtful, Georgia. I don’t understand how you can’t see that. All the other girls took the Kind name.”
She pushed herself away and stared at me.
“I’m not them! I’m my own fucking person, Jackson.”
“I know that, and I didn’t mean anything by it.” I stood up. “Honestly, I never thought this was something we’d be arguing about. It’s just insane that you wouldn’t take my last name.”
“Oh. So now I’m crazy?” She spat.
“I didn’t say you were,” I said. “Forget it. If that’s how you feel, fine. I’m not discussing this anymore.”
When I went to walk out of the bedroom, she called my name, and I stopped.
“I love you, Jackson, and nothing will ever change that. You’re my person, my heart, and my soul.” She walked over and placed her hand on my back. “You are the most important thing in my life.”
“I love you too,” I spoke as I left the room.
I went downstairs, poured a scotch, and took it into my office. Leaning back in my chair, I threw half of the amber liquid down the back of my throat. I loved Georgia more than anything in the world, but I felt like I’d been stabbed in the heart.
CHAPTER 2
Jackson
The following morning when I stepped out of the shower, I wrapped the towel around my waist and began shaving. Georgia walked in and set a cup of coffee down on the bathroom counter.
“I made you a cup of coffee,” she said.