by Sophie Stern
“And we have to go before a judge,” I say.
“Right.”
“And a jury,” I add.
“No,” Landon smiles. “This isn’t a courtroom drama, Tina. We’ll go before the judge and you’ll each say your piece. I assume your ex-husband will bring a lawyer. If he’s smart, he’ll bring a good one. The attorney will argue that he has been denied parenting rights and he’ll ask for custody of your son. I’ll argue oppositely, that your husband was neglectful during your marriage and would behave the same way with your son.”
“And that will work?”
“I’m very good at what I do,” he says, and for some reason, I believe him. I believe him when Mr. Fee says that everything is going to be okay. I believe him when he promises that he’s going to help me. I believe him, and believing in something is a good thing. It’s a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time, and I feel relieved.
“Do I pay you now for that?” I ask. “For representing me in court? Or do you bill me?”
“I’ll send you a bill,” he says.
“Is there any chance you can give me an estimate?” I ask, blushing. I hate talking about money, especially with people who have tons of it. I’m not stupid. I know lawyers charge a lot and even though Joyce did me a huge favor by getting me an appointment with this guy, I’m not expecting a free handout. Obviously, this is a nice legal office. Obviously, it’s nice because they charge a lot.
He writes down a number on a piece of paper that is much lower than I anticipated.
“What?” I ask. “This can’t be right. Is this per hour?”
“This is the total cost,” he says.
I look at Landon, confused. “There’s no way this is the total cost. The court appearance fees alone should be twice this.”
“You’re a friend of Joyce’s,” he tells me. “So you get the friends-and-family discount.”
I can’t help feeling completely overwhelmed in this moment. I can’t help feeling like someone out there is watching out for me. I can’t help feeling like everything is going to be okay. I can’t help feeling like my heart is going to break from the kindness I’ve been shown.
“Mr. Fee,” I whisper, and then I start to cry, and I know I shouldn’t. It’s not appropriate behavior for a client to cry in their lawyer’s office. It’s totally unprofessional. It’s totally uncalled for, but I can’t stop. Within seconds, I’m sobbing loudly, covering my face, getting snot everywhere.
And then I feel Mr. Fee pull me to my feet and wrap his big, strong arms around me.
“Tina,” he whispers. “Please don’t cry. Everything is going to be all right.”
Chapter 4
Landon
Considering how much shit I flipped Casa for making his mate cry during their first meeting, I should be terrified he’s going to barge in here and start yelling at me, but right now, I’m not even worried about him. I’m not worried about Joyce or Lyon, either.
No, right now, the only thing I’m worried about is Tina.
The only thing I’m worried about is making sure she’s okay, is making sure she knows everything is going to be all right.
Because if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to make sure that everything is all right for her. I’m going to take care of her. I’m going to keep her safe. I’m going to protect her. I don’t know what it is about Tina, but I’m drawn to her in a way I’ve never been drawn to someone before.
She’s your mate, my heart whispers, but I ignore it. She’s a human. She’s a human and she’s hurting and right now, she needs someone to protect her. She doesn’t need someone who is going to hurt her or throw themselves at her. She doesn’t need a complication right now. She just needs to be safe.
And I’m going to be her safety.
I wrap my arms around her and hold her tightly as she cries. Within seconds, her sobs have subsided to tiny sniffles, but it’s not enough to keep the rest of my colleagues at bay. With their super-sensitive shifter hearing, they all knew the moment she started crying, and they all barge into my office together.
“What the hell are you doing?” Lyon says.
“Making girls cry? Really?” Casa glares at me.
“What did you do?” Joyce screeches, and pushes me away from Tina. She takes her friend and holds her face. “Are you okay, baby? Are you okay?”
“I was comforting her,” I protest, and the guys start talking at the same time, so quickly that I can’t even defend myself.
“She needs help, dumbass. You shouldn’t be making her cry.”
“When you make clients cry, it’s bad for business. You should care more about our business.”
“Look who’s talking! Didn’t you just make Lara cry?”
“She’s my mate! That’s different.”
“Shut up, you guys!” Joyce screams suddenly, and everyone falls silent. “Let her fucking speak, okay?”
“I’m fine,” Tina shakes her head. “I was just overwhelmed for a moment. I’m sorry.” She looks up at me. Her tear-stained face breaks my heart a little bit, but she offers me a brave, beautiful smile. “Thank you for your help,” she says to me. “I feel so much better after meeting with you. I was really scared, and to be honest, I still am, but I feel better. I feel safer. I feel a little more hopeful and I have you to thank for it.”
She moves away from Joyce, ignores my fellow attorneys, and walks to me. She wraps her arms around me and pulls me close. Tina rests her head against my chest in a hug that’s much too familiar for an attorney and his client, but that I don’t mind at all. And Tina just holds me for a long minute. She holds me, and she listens to my heart racing.
I look down at her and stroke her hair. The gesture feels so natural. It shouldn’t feel this good or this comfortable, but it does. It feels fucking fantastic. It feels incredible.
When she pulls away, I look around the room and see that everyone else has disappeared. I didn’t even hear them leave. It’s just the two of us now, alone in my office, and the room feels hot and cold at the same time. I feel like I’m on fire and frozen in place. I feel like I’m falling and soaring.
I reach for Tina’s cheek and touch her. She leans into my hand, nuzzling against me.
“Your skin is so soft,” I whisper, and Tina lets out a soft little moan of contentment. I don’t think she knows she made it because she’s not embarrassed or shy in this moment. She’s just happy. She’s just peaceful.
Then Tina does something I don’t expect. She reaches for my cheek and runs her hand over my jaw. The gesture isn’t slutty or erotic. She’s not asking me for anything but this moment. She touches me, running her fingers over the edge of my jaw and back up the other side.
“You didn’t shave this morning,” she whispers.
“I’m not much of a morning person,” I admit.
“You got up early just for me.”
“I would do anything for you,” I whisper, letting the words slip from my lips before I can catch them. I shouldn’t have said that, but I won’t lie to her. I don’t know why I feel this strange connection with Tina, but I do. I don’t know why I feel so safe or comfortable with her, but I do. There’s something about her that just makes me feel complete, and I want to explore this feeling. I want to bottle it up and keep it forever.
I want her.
The realization hits me suddenly that maybe, just maybe, my inner-bear is right. Perhaps Tina is my mate. I’ve never really believed in the fairytales. I’ve never really bought the idea that each shifter has one perfect mate just for him or her. That’s never really been mine thing, but Tina is incredible.
She’s pretty.
She’s sweet.
She’s kind.
And she’s gentle.
She’s so, so gentle.
As a little cub, I never knew what it meant to be loved. I never knew what it meant to be cared for. My parents divorced when I was small and I ended up in a foster home. I went from home to home until I finally landed in my “forever” home
at age 12. Then, and only then, did I learn what it meant to be a family.
The family who adopted me, the Fees, were caring and kind, and they did everything they could for me. Without them, I would have ended up on the streets or in jail, but they kept me in line and they guided me to a strong future.
I want that for Tina’s baby.
I want her little boy to have a family, to have strong people who will look after him. Her ex, Chester, won’t do that for her. He’s manipulative and selfish. It’s obvious.
And now, as I let Tina run her hands over me, I realize that I really would do anything for her.
She could ask me to steal the moon and I’d fucking do it because she’s incredible.
“I’m sorry,” she pulls her hand back slowly, but she doesn’t sound sorry. “This is inappropriate. I shouldn’t be pawing all over you.”
“Don’t stop,” I whisper. My hands are on her waist and I pull her a little bit closer. I run my hand down her back and back up again. She leans into me, pressing her breasts against my chest, and the word mate echoes in my head.
“It’s not right,” she whispers, but she doesn’t sound like she really cares. “It’s wrong.”
“Are you trying to convince yourself, sweetie?”
“Yes.”
“You can do whatever you like to me. I won’t complain.”
“You must have clients throw themselves at you all the time,” Tina whispers. Somehow, the room has gone silent. It seems like whispering is essential. It’s only the two of us here, but speaking loudly seems wrong somehow.
“It’s never been a temptation before.”
“Am I tempting you, Mr. Fee?”
“You have no idea, beautiful.”
“You’re doing so much for me,” she says, “and I don’t know how to thank you. I can never repay you for what you’re doing, but can I ask you for just one more thing before I go?”
“Anything.”
“A kiss,” Tina says. “I want a kiss, Mr. Fee.”
“Call me Landon.”
“Landon, will you kiss me before I go?”
I could never turn down a request like that. I don’t know what Tina’s life has been like. I don’t know if her ex romanced her or wooed her before they were married, or if they just fell into a comfortable companionship that didn’t end. I’m not sure. What I do know is that I’m not turning down the chance to get my lips on her.
I pull Tina closer to me and I lower my mouth to hers. She kisses me eagerly, sweetly, like all the sunshine in the world. She’s perfect, and the kiss is perfect, and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life, and then it’s over.
She pulls away after a moment and smiles shyly at me.
“I should go now,” she whispers.
“You don’t have to.”
“But I should.”
I squeeze her hand and look at her for one more minute. She’s blushing, but she’s lovely, and I can’t wait until I get to see her again. I need to see her again. It can’t be just this one kiss.
“I’ll call you with updates,” I promise, and she nods. Then Tina Miller grabs her purse and walks out of my office without so much as a backwards glance.
Chapter 5
Tina
There’s a certain way single mothers are supposed to behave.
That wasn’t it.
I wasn’t supposed to kiss him.
I wasn’t supposed to touch him.
I wasn’t supposed to become aroused by him.
It’s not appropriate behavior between a lawyer and a client. It’s not appropriate behavior for strangers at all.
And yet, when I leave Landon Fee’s office and walk down the hallway, I don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed. I don’t feel upset. I don’t feel anything but happiness. I don’t feel anything but satisfaction.
The hallway is empty as I make my way back to the front foyer. Joyce appears just as I reach the front door.
“Well?” She says excitedly. “What happened?”
“Oh, Joyce,” I give her a hug. “He’s taking my case. He’s going to help me. Thank you so much. Seriously, I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t here to help me. I was completely panicking, but now, I just…I don’t know, you know? I feel better. Hopeful.”
“That’s not what I meant,” she wiggles her eyebrows at me. “Did you make out with him?”
“What?” I blush violently. Violently. For real. I feel my cheeks burning brightly as my eyes go wide. Did she really just ask me that?
“My boss,” she says, leaning casually against the wall. She crosses her ankles and somehow looks even taller, even longer. I don’t know how she stands in her stilettos, but Joyce makes every other woman in the world look like a frumpy little kid. She’s got a grace that no one else seems to possess. “Did you two fool around?”
“No,” I say, but it comes out as a whisper. Joyce just laughs.
“I’m not judging you, sweetie. You deserve to have a little fun, and Landon is a good guy.”
Now it’s my turn to look at her questioningly. “Are you two…together?” I ask suddenly, hoping I didn’t step into something I’m not ready for.
Joyce laughs loudly. “For dragon’s sake, woman! No! Are you kidding? I don’t sleep with my bosses.” She flips her hair over her shoulder and smiles. “Not that they wouldn’t if I offered. I’m very good.”
“Oh, good,” I whisper, and Joyce pats my shoulder.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” she says. “I promise.”
With that, I head to my car and get in. I have to pick up Blake from my mother’s house. I’m still nervous about leaving him with other people. I’m going to have to get over that quickly because soon he’ll be starting daycare and I’ll be going back to work. Today was the first day I’ve left him with someone, but I didn’t really think it was appropriate to bring him to the lawyer’s place.
After all, it was supposed to be a professional meeting. I’m still uncomfortable being a divorced woman. I still haven’t quite managed to make myself own the title of “divorcee” yet. I need to. I need to be more confident, but I’m not.
At least, I wasn’t until I was alone with Mr. Fee.
And then something sparked inside of me, something I thought I’d lost long ago.
I don’t know what it is about him, but some part of me came alive. Some part of me that had been sleeping for a very, very long time seemed to flicker back to life, and suddenly, I’m not as scared as I was when I walked into his office.
Suddenly, I’m not as worried.
Suddenly, I feel like everything is going to be okay.
When I get to my mother’s house, I hurry inside. She’s sitting on the couch holding Blake, who is asleep.
“Oh, good!” Mom smiles and wiggles her fingers at me, but doesn’t get up. “You’re home! I was just thinking of you, sweetie. How was your doctor’s appointment?”
I didn’t tell my mother about Chester because I don’t want her to worry. She doesn’t even know the real reason we got divorced because I was so humiliated by what he did. I shouldn’t be embarrassed. I was the wronged party, after all, but I am.
I shouldn’t be lying to my mom. I’m an adult, after all. We both are, and I should be able to tell her the truth without it being a big deal, but there’s a part of me that doesn’t want her to worry. I know she’s afraid I’m never going to find a good man. I know she’s nervous that I won’t do a good job raising Blake on my own. She doesn’t say it, but she doesn’t have to.
There’s a part of me that worries about those things, too, but I push that fear aside because right now, the most important thing is taking good care of my little guy. My baby needs me, so I need to focus on him right now: not on anything else.
“Oh, it was fine,” I tell her, sitting down next to her. I don’t take Blake from her arms. He’s sleeping so peacefully and I learned pretty quickly that it’s a bad idea to wake a sleeping baby. If I wake him up before he’s ready, he’s going to
be cranky, and no amount of nursing or rocking or singing is going to calm my little guy down. “How did everything go with Blake?”
“He was a perfect angel,” my mother says. She smiles down at him, and I feel a rush of joy. She’s an incredible grandmother. I know she’s been wanting to watch him for awhile, but I was scared to leave him. Now that I can see with my own eyes that he’s okay, maybe it’ll be easier for me to leave him again.
There will come a point, I know, when I’m going to need some “me” time without the baby, and I’m lucky enough to have a mother who is willing to help me out. Now I just have to meet her halfway and be willing to leave my son with her, even if it’s only for a little while.
The thing about parenting is that it’s not all about me. It’s not just about my relationship with Blake. It’s also about my relationships with other people, and Blake’s relationships with them, too. I want Blake to grow up close to his grandparents. I want him to feel a connection with them. My parents visit Blake as often as they possibly can, and I appreciate that so much. I was close with my own grandparents growing up, and I want the same for my son.
“Did he nap a lot for you?”
“He practically slept the whole time. Your father fed him a bottle before leaving for work, and then little Blakey just passed right out.”
“Thanks for taking care of him today,” I pat my mother’s hand. She smiles at me. She’s got grey hair and wrinkles now, but she’s just as beautiful as when she was young. She’s wiser now, smarter. She’s stronger, and I love her.
“Sweetheart, I’ll do anything for you. You know that, don’t you?”
“I know, mom.”
“If you need anything,” Mom says softly. “You just ask me.”
And for the second time today, my heart soars because I’m starting to realize that I’m really not alone. Joyce totally pulled through for me when I needed her the most. She was there for me when I called and there for me today. She helped me in a real, tangible way.