by Layla Hagen
“Should we start right away?” she asked.
“No. I’ll wake up early tomorrow and look over all the documents. But tonight, I want you to forget about everything, okay?”
“Okay. Thank you for taking the case. And for being here for me.”
“This is my place. Next to you. For the good and the bad. It’s not all going to be smooth sailing, but you can count on me through all the ups and downs. I promise you can count on me.”
“Thank you.”
Her voice was a little shaky, as if she feared the idea just as much as she wanted it. I understood her perfectly. We’d both been through the wringer before, and it had ended up in either heartbreak or disappointment, or both.
“So, how are you going to make me forget about everything?”
“You mean my natural charm isn’t enough?” I wiggled my eyebrows at her.
She grinned. “I don’t know. I think you should up your game.”
“I see. Are you sure you can take it?”
I slid a hand under her skirt, placing it midthigh. Her eyes flared, and she licked her lips.
“Hmm... maybe I shouldn’t trust such a devious man after all. Your mind is always wandering into dirty territory.”
I tilted my head. “Not this time.”
“Really? What’s your hand doing under my skirt, then?”
“The first step in helping you relax. That’s on the agenda tonight.”
“No, no. I owe you some quality relaxation time.” She narrowed her eyes playfully. “In fact, I know what would make both of us relax.”
“Care to share?”
“Nah, I think I’ll torment you for a while.”
I promptly attacked, withdrawing my hand from under her skirt and leaning closer. She leaned back at my abrupt approach, balancing herself on her hands. I saw my opening then and tickled her armpits.
Val laughed wholeheartedly. I was so proud I’d made her laugh tonight.
“Stop, stop, stop.”
“Still not sharing?”
She shook her head. I changed tactics, bracing my hands on her waist instead.
I ran the tip of my nose up and down her neck. She shuddered, and I took immense pleasure at the way her body reacted to me. Her hips slid forward an inch, as if searching for me. When I cupped her bra over her shirt, drawing circles around the peak, she arched her lower back, moaning.
“I’ll make you tell me,” I promised.
“Oh, I know you will.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Carter
I dove headfirst into the documentation, reviewing every single detail, then double-checking my own work. I did this in addition to the existing workload, which meant I worked late into the night and woke early in the morning.
Even when I’d been a broke student taking on every odd job available, I’d never had so much on my plate. The last thing I needed was the news Mom dropped on me.
I was eating lunch at a food truck close to the courthouse when she called. Seeing her name on the screen took me by surprise because she usually called in the evening.
“Mom, everything okay?” I asked the second I picked up the phone.
“Yes and no. We need to talk.”
“Did something happen to you? Or Dad?”
“No, nothing of that sort.”
“Okay.”
I was standing at one of the small tables around the food truck and placed a palm over my free ear to block out the traffic noise.
“Shoot.”
“I’ve been thinking a lot, and... I can’t come back to LA, Carter.”
“What?”
“Your dad needs me here. His recovery is slow, and he’ll need me even afterward. I can’t leave him on his own for so long anymore.”
“Do you want me to hire someone to help you?”
“No, that’s not necessary. But I really can’t jet between LA and Montana like I used to.”
“You can both move here,” I suggested. “Dad wouldn’t even have to sell the farm. I can support you both.”
“You know how stubborn he is. He wants to be here with the farm. We can always move the girls in with us.”
“The girls stay with me, Mom. It’s what Hannah wanted. What they want, and what I want too.”
“I’m sorry to spring this on you, but I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and well... the sooner you know, the sooner you can make arrangements with the nanny. I know Angela will leave in the fall.”
Actually, Angela had recently informed me that she’d be leaving a lot sooner than expected, because she’d received an internship at a center researching child psychology and she was starting next week. It put me in a tough place, but I’d released her from the contract, because let’s face it, it wasn’t an opportunity she could miss. I’d honestly been thinking about asking Mom to return sooner. I understood her decision, but I wasn’t looking forward to adding “search for a sitter” to my to-do list right now when I was stretched so thin already.
I just had to grit my teeth and come through for everybody.
I broke the news to everyone that very evening. First I spoke with Val.
“Not much will change, Carter. You’re already a big part of the girls’ lives.”
“I know.” I loved the girls with my whole heart.
“And I’m here for anything you need. In case you can’t tell, I have loads of experience. It’ll come in handy, I’m sure. I’m going to whip up dinner while you talk to the girls.”
I laughed, amazed at how she took all of this in stride. But then again, this was Val. She never complained about the cards life gave her.
I talked to the girls in April’s room. The three of us sat on her bed—up until the point I told them their grandma was staying at the farm. Then Peyton stood on her tiny legs and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“She doesn’t love us anymore?” The sound of her small, shaky voice tore at me.
“Of course she does, pumpkin. But her home is there, and Pops needs her. He can’t be alone all the time anymore.”
April was biting her fingernails. Peyton said nothing, but her little body started shaking, and then she broke out in sobs. Panic crawled inside me as I tried to soothe her.
“We’re going to do fine, I promise.”
“But what if we need Grandma?” Peyton asked after the sobs subsided. “What if we have girly questions?”
“You can always call her.”
“But she might not answer,” April said reasonably. “Can we ask Val?”
I really should have cleared that with Val before answering, but the girls were watching me with such hopeful expressions that there was no way I could say anything other than, “Yes.”
“And if Val leaves too?” Peyton pressed.
Way to stab me in the heart, kiddo. I could tell how much they feared this. Hell, I feared it too. I felt as if I was standing on quicksand, and any second now I’d sink in over my head.
“Girls, whatever happens, I promise you we’ll figure it out together.”
Dinner was a quiet affair, and the girls went to bed straight afterward.
“Are you okay?” Val asked softly once we were alone in the living room, curled up on the couch together.
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around it, honestly. I’ll have to look for a new sitter.”
“I’ll help you. And I know the girls’ schedule anyway. We can share some of the tasks until you find someone new.”
My gut clenched. “You’re sure? I’m very involved in their lives, and without my mom... they’ll look up to you as a female influence.”
“I figured that. I can be an excellent mother figure, if I say so myself. You can ask my siblings for references.”
I drew her into my lap until she was straddling me. “I don’t doubt you for one second.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
I decided to lay all cards on the table. “This is too much.”
Val’s shoulders dropped. She
shimmied further back, as if she was trying to get away from me. I could swear she’d become tinier.
“You... you want to take things slower?”
“No, Val. That’s not what I mean. I don’t want to take things slower. Sometimes it feels like I can’t even breathe if you’re not with me. But I’m well aware this isn’t what you signed up for.”
“I want to be part of your lives. Why would you think it’s too much?”
“Early on when April and Peyton moved in with me, I had some bad experiences when it came to dating.”
“Carter, if anything, the way you love your nieces, the way you take responsibility for them only makes me care more about you.”
I cupped her cheeks, kissing her forehead and then her mouth. It started out gentle, but then the lashes of my tongue became more urgent as her words sunk in. She cared about me. She wanted me, Peyton, and April.
I brushed the sides of her breasts, then stroked her nipples until they perked up. I moved one hand to her ass, pulling her to me until her center collided with my erection. On a groan, I cupped the back of her head with my other hand.
“Wrap your legs around my waist.”
She immediately did just that, and I lifted us off the couch.
She started taking off my shirt on the way. Once we were in the bedroom, I closed the door, pinning her against it with my hips, and pulled her dress over her head. She gasped when my erection pressed against the wet silk of her panties. Her fingers spasmed, then curled, her nails digging in my biceps.
I groaned, rubbing against her again, driving her crazy.
I bit her bottom lip as I lowered her feet to the ground, and then the rest of our clothes flew around everywhere. I was desperate for her and loved seeing that desperation reflected in the way she responded to my kisses and my strokes. When she was completely naked, I stood before her, kissing a straight line from between her collarbones down to her navel, then lower still. I licked her clit once before moving back up, kissing around her breasts before taking each nipple into my mouth and circling it with my tongue. Her knees weakened with every lash of my tongue. She reached between us, touching my erection. I pulsed in her hand.
Gripping her hips, I turned her around. I could see both of us reflected in the mirror on the opposite wall.
She braced her arms on the dresser in front of her as I kissed her neck and shoulders. I touched her breasts, rolling her nipples between my thumbs and forefingers. Tension coiled through my body, building and building.
“Carter, I need you.”
“I know you do, love. But you’re going to promise me something first.”
I slid my erection between her legs.
“What?” she gasped.
“You’re not allowed to doubt my feelings for you. You promise not to do that again?”
Our gazes locked in the mirror. I saw her fears and wanted to erase them. She licked her lips, clearly trying to gather her wits, but I wasn’t making it easy for her. I began moving my hips lightly back and forth, and the feel of her ass against my pubic bone was maddening.
“Val,” I beckoned, continuing the slow torture.
“I promise. I promise.”
I pulled back a little, flipping her around the next second, slipping my hands under her ass, lifting her up. My cock was pressed between us, rubbing her clit. She whimpered as I carried her to the bed. I’d barely lowered her onto the mattress when I slid inside her, giving her every inch. Her thighs shook, her breath caught in her throat.
“Oh, fuck,” I groaned.
My rhythm was hard and relentless, and she was coming apart fast. When her inner muscles started to pulse, I slowed the rhythm, bringing her down from the cusp.
She cried in frustration, moving her own hips faster—until I placed one hand on her pelvis, pressing her against the mattress.
“I’ll make you come, love. I promise.”
The message was clear. I was going to do it on my own terms, and she had no choice but to surrender her pleasure to me. I was completely still inside her as I strummed my fingers over her clit, bending to take a nipple in my mouth.
“Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck, Carter.”
Tension started spreading from the points where we were connected, slinking through my entire body. I’d never felt an orgasm form so slowly. All my muscles tightened, and when I kissed her to cover her cry of pleasure, I gave in to my own climax.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Carter
The weeks leading up to the trial were brutal. I was on autopilot most of the time, except when it came to preparing Val’s case. The night before the trial, I only rose from my chair at three o’clock in the morning.
Val wasn’t in bed, so I went to check the living room, thinking she’d fallen asleep there. I discovered her in Peyton’s bed. My young niece was cocooned against Val, who had laid an arm protectively over her. They looked so sweet and peaceful together. The sight almost brought me to my knees. I wanted to have the privilege of this sight every single night. I’d never wanted anything more.
I took Val in my arms, and she stirred, laying her head on my shoulder.
“I fell asleep in Peyton’s bed.”
“I know. I’m taking you to ours. You smell like nutmeg.”
“Mmm... the girls and I found a cake recipe and decided to test it. What time is it?”
“Three o’clock.”
“So it’s already tomorrow.” She blinked her eyes wide, and I felt her pulse intensify as I lowered her to my bed, climbing in next to her. “I’m scared, Carter.”
“Don’t be. We’re going to win. I promise.” I kissed her cheek, descending to her neck. “Go to sleep, babe. I’m sorry I reminded you about it.”
She fisted my shirt, breathing in deeply. I kept her close to me the entire night, thinking about the case. I wouldn’t disappoint her.
***
Val
The morning of the trial felt as if it was happening to someone else. I went through the motions of getting dressed and eating breakfast, and before I knew it, Carter was pulling the car into a parking lot a few blocks away from the courtroom. I was sweating bullets. My palms were damp, and so were the hair roots at the back of my head. I tried my best to listen to everything Carter was saying, but my frantic panic made my pulse jackhammer in my ears, blocking out most of his words. I knew by heart everything he was saying anyway. We’d gone through the agenda for the day many times.
“Val,” Carter said softly once we were out of the car. “Listen to me. It’s going to be all right.”
“How can you be so calm? You have a lot at stake here too. Your business partners are unhappy with you.”
“I don’t give a damn if they’re happy with me or not.”
“How? How can you not give a damn?”
“Because I focus on what’s important. And right now, you winning this case is important. You are important to me, Val. The rest is just background noise. I’m a very good lawyer. I’ll find solutions. Just try to focus on the positive side. You have your family behind you. And you have me, Val.”
I melted in a puddle at that. He was rationalizing everything. I tried to do the same, but in all honesty, I’d always been rather emotional in these types of situations. All I could think about was that if things went south, my business’s reputation would be tarnished. I stood to lose contracts and orders, and I’d be letting down my employees.
Not to mention, I would take an enormous financial hit if I had to drop the skincare line and the judge decided I had to pay damages to Beauty SkinEssence.
Carter would lose a lot too. I couldn’t believe he was putting his skin in the game for me like this.
“It’s not working, is it?” he asked.
I shook my head. Next thing I knew, Carter had captured my mouth with his, pressing my back against one of the concrete walls in the parking lot. Holy shit, this wasn’t your usual have-a-good-day-kiss. It was so sensual and hot that I nearly climbed him.
“What are
you doing?” I demanded when we paused to breathe.
“Taking your mind off everything while we still have time.”
I laughed. “I’m afraid not even your excellent kissing skills can achieve that.”
He narrowed his eyes, and then slipped a hand under my shirt, cupping me over the silky bra.
“Did you just fondle me?”
“I did. And if you keep this up, I’ll do worse.”
Oh my.... Judging by that delicious glint in his eyes, I had a pretty good idea of what worse meant.
“You are devious, you know that?” I pushed his hand away halfheartedly, then immediately wished I hadn’t, because all my worries slammed back into me. But it was time to put on the big girl panties and face the music.
Carter kept a protective hand on my back all the way to the courtroom. My family was waiting just outside, and I smiled.
“I can’t believe you’re all here,” I muttered, taking in the clan. Landon hugged me particularly tight.
“It’ll work out, munchkin,” he whispered. I pinched him playfully. That had been Dad’s nickname for me.
“I know it will,” I said with as much strength as I could muster. I didn’t want to disappoint my twin.
Again, I went through the motions for the next half hour. Inside the courtroom, I barely glanced at Beauty SkinEssence’s representative and their lawyer.
I sat as straight as possible, holding my chin high. I’d been through so much worse than this. I wasn’t going to let them sense my fear. I wouldn’t be intimidated.
The lawyer for the plaintiff spoke first. As expected, he was ruthless in the presentation of the “evidence” and depiction of my intentions. Then Carter rose from his seat. Clean-shaven, with those sharp eyes surveying the jury and the judge, he effortlessly dominated the courtroom.
While the opposing counsel questioned me, I made a point of looking him straight in the eyes and keeping my voice as neutral as possible.
“As mentioned countless times before, we all follow trends and market demands and strive to meet them. Simultaneous product development is not unusual. This has been a campaign to intimidate me from the very start,” I finished. I caught Carter glancing at me from across the courtroom.