Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
I caress her face and kiss this woman. And then again because I fucking want to. “You’re right. I don’t need thousands of fans screaming my name. I have more than I could have ever dreamed of with you two calling me your boyfriend and Dada.”
Boyfriend? That’s just not going to do for much longer . . .
I look deep into her eyes, always finding comfort there. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” She giggles. “Now what’s in the bag?”
“Right.” I dig my hands in the bag, stretching out the empty compartment to look inside. Nothing. Running my fingers along the edge of the removable base, I pop it up and search the insides.
And there it is.
I don’t know how to feel—happy she left me her number or gutted that I had it all this time and didn’t know. I pull it out and see her smile return. It’s not smug as if she needs to rub my nose in the fact that she was right. It’s relief in seeing the small piece of paper.
“I’m not sure what to say other than I’m sorry for not calling.”
This time, she caresses my face. “The number didn’t matter. Nothing was going to keep us apart.”
39
Liv
Two weeks later . . .
When Loch walks into the coffee shop, I stand. I’m not sure why. Nerves? Yes, anxiety has kicked in today. I rub my hands down the front of my jeans, and ask, “How’d it go?”
“Uneventful.” He finally cracks a smile resembling Noah’s when caught up in the day’s business. “Uneventful is good news. All three men pleaded not guilty. We didn’t expect otherwise, so the cases are moving forward.”
I sit down, unsure how to feel. “What does this mean?”
Loch sits, setting his briefcase on the floor beside the chair. “I ran into one of the DA’s at the ballet last night. We got to talking, and they have no intention of charging you. They also have enough evidence to see how this was set up. Noah,” he says, looking away and shaking his head.
Clasping my hands on my legs, I lean forward. “What is it?”
His eyes return to mine. “I’m glad he never signed that contract. It would have led to an indictment, and we’d be fighting this out in court. The Torres’s are being extradited from the UK because of their signatures and the terms of the contract.”
“Were they in on it?”
“I have no idea. It’s hard to say. They’ll need good attorneys since there’s enough evidence to charge them.”
“I’m glad Noah’s in the clear.”
“Me too.” There’s a pause that causes a lump to form in my throat. “I need you to be prepared to testify against your father.”
“Is that a done deal?”
“It is. We have people to help you prepare for court, but I need to know where your head’s at with this.”
Taking the paper coffee cup, I spin it around with my hands. Although I barely drank any since I was too nervous to stomach it earlier, it’s too cold to consider drinking now. Memories populate my thoughts as I stare at the cup. I can still see my father’s anger when he saw me getting out of the car and the disappointment when he heard about the sailing accident. I never riddled through if he was upset that I’d survived or disappointed in me for it happening in the first place. Are either of those acceptable responses? No. But his lack of emotion when he laid eyes on Maxwell was the final line to cross for me. He stepped right over it as if he could come back from it any time.
I look at Loch, and reply, “I want justice served. I want to be free from them, and my name kept clear of any wrongdoing.”
“Okay.” His eyes are steady on mine. “Let’s do this.”
When we stand to leave, I ask, “Did you really run into the DA at the ballet or was that coincidentally on purpose?”
“Let’s just say . . .” We start for the door. He holds it open for me, and when I pass him, he says, “I have my ways, and Tuesday got a surprise night out at the ballet. Double win, wouldn’t you say?”
“I would indeed.”
No one would ever doubt Noah and Loch are brothers. Or Harbor, for that matter. But now Harbor and Loch are mine as well in all the ways that count. I’m a very lucky woman to have this family in my corner.
One week later . . .
“Babe?” I gently shake him. “Wake up, Noah.”
He looks at me over his shoulder and then rolls suddenly, tugging the sheet off me. “What is it?”
“Your phone has been going off—buzzing with calls and texts.”
Mine vibrates on the nightstand. We reach for them at the same time.
“Lark’s having the baby!” I turn so fast that our phones crash into each other.