I shouldn’t be touching my lawyer this way, so I pull back slightly. His arms, which weren’t around me a second ago, grip my waist and pull me in.
I lower my palms to the lapels of his suit jacket and stare at them as I speak, “No one other than family has ever gone above and beyond for me the way you did today. It must have taken so much time and money to get all of those documents.”
“You were worth the investment.”
I glance down. “Sometimes, I don’t feel that way.”
“Amy.” He brings my attention back to him. “You are bold and courageous. A spitfire with unquestionable passion. You give yourself fully to your dreams, friendships, family, and love. I’ve yet to meet someone as independent and smart, who lacks self-pity and only takes what she can return. That is why you are worth every moment of my time.”
Our eyes meet.
Flames seem to ignite all around us. His brown orbs darken, and a visceral molten lava of heat shines from them.
My chest tightens, and my breasts rise. I lick my lips, and his eyes lower at the sight.
He swallows and moves closer.
I whimper and part my mouth.
It takes point-two seconds until our lips collide in a crash of desire and passion bursting at the seams. His tongue glides against mine as my lips caress his. We’ve kissed before, but this one is different. It’s desperate and maddening. So damn needy that my head is in a foggy haze.
His fingers grip my blazer, bringing me flush against him as he deepens our kiss. I roam mine up to his shoulders and into his hair. When his mouth moves to my neck, nipping and sucking, sending tingles down to my core, I yank his hair and pull.
A deep growl escapes his throat as his mouth comes back to mine, and we kiss again, backing up until my butt hits the top of his desk.
He lifts me, and I move willingly. I shift back and accidentally knock his phone onto the floor in the process. He pushes his suit jacket off, and I start loosening his tie. The sound of a dial tone fills the room. We laugh, as it must have also hit the speakerphone button when it fell.
As he leans down to pick it up, I roll my head to the side, and that’s when I see it.
On his desk, in a silver Tiffany frame, is a sonogram—a black-and-white image that looks like nothing and everything, all at once—sitting next to his computer screen. A prime space for a photo of something you cherish and want to look at often.
Sebastian sets the phone back in its place and comes right back to me, but my head is now turned toward the photo. He must sense how my mood has changed because a sigh escapes his lips.
With a deep breath, I adjust my blazer. Sebastian does the same with his tie. He holds out his hand to lift me up back to my feet, and I take it. Once I’m planted firmly on the ground, he reaches for the picture. He holds it, running his thumb over the glass and the promise that grainy photo presents.
“Did you find out the sex?” I ask, leaning in to see it.
His smile is soft, proud. “We did. It’s a boy.”
I place my hand on his arm. “I’m really happy for you, Sebastian.”
His eyes meet mine, and they pause, almost in conflict. His lips part to say something, but nothing comes out.
I save him the trouble of finding the words. “Hey, don’t worry about it. We got lost in the moment. I should get going.”
“I don’t want you to go.”
I take in a breath. “I have to. Thank you again. Truly. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
If I could wish for Sebastian to be anything but who he is, it would be a travesty. He’s too damn good. Charming to a fault. Ambitious and inspiring. Loyal. Beautiful.
Not mine.
I look at the sonogram one more time and smile. “Make sure you spoil the hell out of that kid.”
As I turn to leave, my heart hurts when he doesn’t stop me. Not that I really thought he would. I’ve watched enough movies to want the call back, but that doesn’t happen in real life, not when one person is having a family with another woman and the other doesn’t have the balls to admit what she wants.
So, I leave without a word.
I had no idea what I was expecting when I walked into Sebastian’s law firm today, but I can say that I definitely wasn’t expecting anything that happened.
Chapter Twelve
“There you go, my sweet girl,” I say to Lady Featherington as I get her settled in her new bed in my office.
Hardin didn’t even knock when he dropped her off the other day. He tied her to the doorknob of the alleyway door and then sent a text to let me know she was there.
Since he didn’t bring anything but her, I spent the afternoon installing a gate, so she’d stay in my office for now. Then, I got her a new bed, toys, kibble, and a fancy collar with pink rhinestones because she’s regal and she deserves the very best.
“I believe you would like a treat, Your Highness.” I hand her a pooch cookie I made myself, using dog-safe ingredients.
She gobbles it up before lying down in her bed, resting her head on her new pillow.
I give her a rub on her belly and then close the door behind me. I stop at the bathroom and wash my hands twice to make sure I don’t have any dander on my skin.
In my kitchen, I turn on my music. I don’t have an order, but for some reason, I feel like making some brittle. I get the peanuts, toss them with salt and olive oil, and pop them in the oven to roast.
Norah Jones sings to me as I dance around the kitchen and gather my ingredients to bake. After I spray my baking sheet, I pour myself a glass of wine.
There’s a knock at the door, so I check my phone to see who it is. When the handsome man I haven’t been able to get out of my mind appears, my heart pounds, and I nearly spit out my wine at the sight of Sebastian standing in my doorway.
“Shoot.” I look down at my T-shirt and jeans, feeling like a scrub. “One minute,” I say into the speaker and then run into the bathroom.
My hair is in a messy bun. I stare into the mirror, pushing back a few loose tendrils, checking my makeup, and pinching my cheeks.
Before opening the back door, I shake my head, ridding myself of all the jitters rushing through my body because I’m acting like a silly teenager. Squaring my shoulders and lifting my chin, I open the door with a cavalier attitude.
“This is a surprise. What brings you to this neck of the woods?”
He holds up an envelope. “Special delivery. I didn’t want to make you come down to the office again, so I thought I’d do the honor of delivering it to you personally.”
He hands me the manila envelope, and I unclasp the metal at the top. Inside is a document with a check paper-clipped to the side. It’s a check from Blake, Fields, and Moore, made out to me in the amount of three thousand dollars.
“Wow. This is amazing. I still can’t believe you got anything out of him.”
“In my opinion, you’re entitled way more, but that’s the amount we settled on. I hope you’re pleased.”
“Beyond. Thank you. I just wanted my dog back, so this is gravy.” I’m stunned as I run my fingers over the amount. “This isn’t from you, right? Your name is on the check.” I turn to show him like he doesn’t know.
He holds up his hands in defense. “Standard procedure. After a case is settled, attorneys receive settlement funds, and then we cut the check to our clients. This ensures your money is guaranteed not to bounce.”