Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 16894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 84(@200wpm)___ 68(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 84(@200wpm)___ 68(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
After parking in the lot behind Despora Law Group, I take a deep breath. Hopefully, the new lawyer will have good news for me. If not, I have no idea what I’m going to do.
I’m so engrossed in my inner thoughts; I almost walk into the automatic glass door. The dumb thing sure takes its sweet time opening. Can’t it see I’m in a hurry to get this meeting over with? I run my sweaty palms down the front of my jeans, regretting I didn’t listen to Slinky and dress up more, and walk across the super fancy lobby. Pulling myself together, I step up to the receptionist’s desk and tell the smiling woman, “I have an appointment with Mr. Carlin.”
“And your name?” she asks, glancing down at her computer screen.
A voice rings out behind me. “This is Cora Hargrove, my next appointment. I’ll take her to my office.” Oh my. That voice. Surely, I’m imagining things. There’s no way Adam, my savior from several years ago, is the same Adam Carlin who’s working on getting my name cleared. The universe can’t be that perverse. Maybe the stress of the last few days has caused me to finally lose my mind. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before turning.
Holy momma. It is him. And darn it, he’s even hotter than before.
“Adam?” My eyes automatically roam over his muscular body. He’s way the heck hotter in the expensive gray fitted suit than he was in jeans and a polo. Over the last seven years, I’ve thought of him often and regretted my decision to run out before he finished his shower. In my girly daydreams, I’ve even imagined he’s been thinking about me all these years, too.
“Hello, Cora.” He takes my hand and brings it to his lips. As his warm lips touch my skin, I feel electricity zip up my spine. “It’s been a while.”
“Uh.” My tongue is glued to the roof of my mouth as my brain shuts down.
The automatic door swishes behind us, and Finn Taylor walks in holding Auntie 0’s arm. Adam turns to greet them, and I get a few seconds to search for my scattered thoughts.
“Are you alright, Little Spring?” Auntie O grabs me for a hug. “I’m so sorry I got you into this mess.”
I push my haywire emotions to the back of my mind and glance down at her. “I already told you, you’re not to blame.” Her eyes narrow as she stares between me and Adam.
“Why are you so flustered?” Shoot. Leave it to Auntie O to call me out. I’d hoped I was imagining the warmth in my cheeks.
“I was rushing to get here on time,” I outright lie. I was here early and sat in the parking lot for several minutes before getting up the nerve to come in. “And I just realized we’re going to take an elevator. I freaking hate elevators.” It’s the truth. “I moved to this small town because most buildings don’t have them.” Also true.
“Why don’t we take this conversation up to my office.” Adam cuts into our chat before leading us to the elevators. As we wait, he leans down to whisper, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” Those words cause bittersweet memories to flash through my mind.
We step into the way-too-freaking-small enclosure, and Adam ends up standing between me and the other two occupants. “After this meeting, you owe me answers,” he leans close to whisper, but I’m pretty freaking sure both Auntie O and Finn are listening to every single word. “You have seven years, three months, and fourteen days of suffering to make up for.” Oh, man. His words cause my heart to race while wetness drips into my panties. I wonder if Auntie O and Finn would mind if I jumped his bones right here in the elevator. I can’t believe my blown, inexperienced brain is even capable of such thoughts, but it’s working overtime on steamy fantasies right now. Fantasies that involve me and Adam bare-ass naked.
The elevator doors open, and I realize I didn’t even notice the darn thing moving. “My office is this way.” Adam places his hand on the small of my back, and the warmth of his touch permeates every molecule in my body.
Auntie O and Finn give each other looks and actually seem to hold a silent conversation with their eyes all the way down the long hall. Shoot. Scarlett is going to hear all about this before I get the chance to tell her. The Silver Spoon Falls grapevine is notoriously swift. Faster than the speed of light.
CHAPTER
FOUR
ADAM
I only thought I’d prepared myself to meet her again. But there was no way to anticipate this. Cora, Ophelia, and Finn sit across from me, and I try to get my fucking mind to function.