That emptiness could be hard to shake.
****
When her bright orange car pulled up in front of his house, Orion tried his best to ignore the birds flapping their wings inside his chest. He had to remind himself to stay seated in the rocking chair on his front porch. Remind himself that Sage was merely offering her contacts to help him get Myah back. She was accompanying him to an appointment with a lawyer.
This was not a date.
He didn’t do dates. Hadn’t done one in years. What was the point? All that getting-to-know-you crap was just a performance anyway. Women rarely showed who they really were on dates. They primped and fluffed and giggled. They feigned interest and crossed their legs seductively. They did things with their eyes that made men forget sensibility. They lured in their victims and then… CHOMP! They tore their prey up into bite-sized pieces and crushed men’s souls.
He knew this from experience and he could not forget, no matter how hot Sage looked in the blue dress she wore as she climbed the front porch stairs right now. The sun glinted off her shimmery hair, and when she pulled her sunglasses up to the top of her head, her gaze pinned him to his seat.
Look away, man. Break the spell.
“Hi,” she said. How could a two letter word say so much?
“Hi.” He rubbed his sweaty palms down the thighs of his pants, wincing slightly when his hand grazed over the healing bullet wound.
“Where’s my friend Ian?” Sage asked.
“Wendie took him into town for some new reading glasses. He stepped on his old pair. It was quite the tragedy.” Orion stood and straightened the blue button-down dress shirt he’d worn over his only pair of unstained khaki pants. He much preferred his paint-splattered cargo shorts, T-shirts, and work boots, but his standard uniform didn’t seem like the type of outfit a dad wore to convince someone he deserved to be a parent. He was already counting down the minutes to when he could change his clothes.
“Are you ready to go?” Sage asked.
“Sure.” Orion picked up a file folder and a pen from a small table beside the rocking chair.
“What’s in there?” Sage pointed to the folder.
“Oh, this is my 101 Reasons Why Myah Should Live With Me list.” He waved the folder. “Edited down from the original manuscript of 1,001 reasons.”
Sage laughed then her face turned serious. “It only takes one reason. You love her.”
“More than anything. From the moment she came into this world, she’s filled my heart.”
“From what I witnessed in the hospital, I’d say Myah feels the same way about you. Fathers and daughters… that’s a special relationship.” Sage’s eyes softened.
“Are you close to you father?”
“I was, but he died in an accident when I was little.” She repositioned her purse on her shoulder and looked everywhere but directly at him.
Slowly, as his thigh was still tender, Orion walked down the steps until he was on the same one as her. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll bet you were his sunshine.”
“I hope so.” Sage looked at him now. “I remember this one time he took just me on a hike because Hope was sick. I was so excited because I never got him all to myself. We packed snacks, we had walking sticks, and canteens of water were involved.”
“You know it’s a serious hike if there’s a canteen,” Orion said.
“Right.” She smiled. “We spent the whole afternoon exploring the woods. My dad knew absolutely everything about the trees and plants and animals. I encountered my first bear on that hike. I’ll always remember the way my father drew us both back behind a grove of evergreens, making no noise whatsoever. He was like a ninja. We watched the bear scratch its back on a tree then splash around in a vernal pool before it lumbered away. I’ve seen a few bears over the years and I always feel my dad’s presence whenever they are around.” She hooked some hair behind her ear. “That sounds silly, huh?”
“Not at all.” Orion gripped the file folder in both hands to keep from reaching for her. “It’s your dad’s way of saying he’s watching over you.”
“You think so?” Sage’s eyes were full of hope.
“Definitely.” Orion went down the rest of the stairs, his hand tight on the railing as he took it easy on his leg. “I want Myah to have the same fond memories of me that you have of your father. The thought that I might not be able to see her or be able to do things like hiking, seeing her in school events, watching her play soccer, tucking her in at night with a good book…” He shook his head. “I can’t live like that. I can’t.”
Sage had walked beside him and they now stood between her pumpkin of a car and his black monster of a pickup truck. “You won’t have to. I have a good feeling about this lawyer.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I don’t make a habit of being wrong, Orion.” She arched a confident eyebrow then wiggled her car keys. “Am I driving or you?”
“Technically, I’m not supposed to drive yet.” He motioned to his right leg.
“Oh, right. I forgot you were on the injured list. You don’t look injured. You look…” She stopped and a blush colored her cheeks. Clearing her throat, she turned toward her car.
“I look what?” Orion walked to the passenger side, but didn’t take his eyes off Sage.
She dropped out of sight for a moment as she opened the driver side door and got into the car. Orion slid into the passenger seat and set the file folder on his lap.
“What do I look like, Sage?” he pressed.
She stared straight ahead out the windshield and gripped the steering wheel with her hands at ten and two. “You look perfectly healthy.”
“Is that what you were going to say?” He had a feeling it wasn’t. She’d censored her original thought. What was it? Why did he care?
“Sure.” She poked her key into the ignition and started the car. “Friday I’m in Love” by The Cure filled the interior and Sage reached over to lower the volume.
“The Cure? Really?” For some reason, the fact that she listened to The Cure made her fifty times more attractive, which made no sense.
“And what’s wrong with The Cure?” She turned the full force of her green gaze on him now and an all over heat swept through his body.
“Nothing.” He raised his hands in surrender. “I just didn’t expect it.”
“Well, you don’t know me, Orion. I’m a complicated individual. Best not to try to figure me out. You might pull a muscle or something.” She slid her sunglasses down and threw the car into reverse.
She was right of course. He had no need to figure her out. None whatsoever. In fact, after this initial lawyer meeting, he probably wouldn’t see her all that much. She’d go off and do whatever it was she did with her life and he’d continue his quest to get Myah back alone. They’d have no reason to make plans, no reason for their paths to cross.
That sucks.
He already missed her and she was sitting right beside him. Oh, hell. He didn’t like where this was going. Not at all.
“So,” she started, “what’s the story behind the missing fingertip?” She motioned to his hand.
He held up his hand and wiggled the abbreviated digit. “A simple lesson learned. Do not let your finger meet the newly-sharpened blade of your grinder. Not smart. Not smart at all.”
Sage wrinkled her nose and sucked in a breath. “Ouch.”
“Exactly. Went right through the bone and all.”
“Double ouch, and don’t tell me anymore.”
“Squeamish?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Sympathetic.”
They drove with only the sounds of The Cure between them and soon Sage pulled her car into a parking space in front of the St. Jamesbury Judicial Building. The old, faded red bricks that made up the exterior of the building suggested both history and strength.
Orion prayed that building also meant success.
Sage gathered her purse and was about to get out of the car when her phone
buzzed. She dug around and pulled it out, swiping the screen and furrowing her brows as she read.
“Everything okay?” Orion asked.
“Not sure,” she said. “I went on one date with this detective, didn’t feel a spark, and didn’t make plans for any future dates.”
Orion liked where this conversation was going. He took this to mean Sage Stannard was… available. Not that he should care.
But I do.
“He’s since sent me three bouquets of flowers, each one bigger than the one before it. Two were delivered to my mom’s place, and one showed up at my new house, which I never told him I was moving to. And now this.” She placed her phone on top of the file folder so Orion could read the text message.
r u ready 4 another date?
“Seems pushy to me.” Orion handed her phone back.
“That’s what I thought.” She dumped the phone in her purse. “Besides, I can’t be with someone who uses ‘r u’ as if it’s an acceptable form of communication.”
“Sage Stannard has high standards.” Would I meet them?
“Some would say too high. I find something wrong with every guy I date. I can’t help it.”
“What are you looking for?”
“Perfection.” She grinned and got out of the car.
Orion knew he was far from perfect. That didn’t stop him from wanting to try.
Chapter Nine
Sage was very aware of Orion following behind her as they walked into the Judicial Building. She’d been very aware of him the moment she’d pulled up in front of his house and saw him sitting on his porch in that rocking chair. She’d seen him bloody and he’d been attractive. She’d seen him in cargo shorts and a T-shirt and he’d been attractive. Now she’d seen him in probably what amounted to his “fancy clothes,” and yep, he was damn attractive in that outfit too.
One could logically assume the complete absence of clothing would also put him in the attractive category. Every part of her wanted to occupy the chair next to his.
That’s not true.
No, it wasn’t. What she really wanted was to climb into his lap and experience those spectacular lips of his again. She wanted to lead him into his house, unwrap him, and taste every inch of him. She wanted those hands—those imperfectly sexy hands—all over her. Thinking of that now had her nearly purring aloud.
Get your head back on straight.
She had to focus on where they were and why they were there. Getting Myah back wasn’t something to be taken lightly. Sage remembered how tightly the little girl had squeezed Orion around the neck in the hospital. She’d held on with a desperation a child of her age shouldn’t have. Myah deserved a happy, carefree childhood with the parent who would truly care for her. Witchy Ex-wife was so not that parent.
“Stairs.” Orion let out a soft groan behind her.
“Shit,” Sage said, glancing up the three flights before them. “This is an old building. They don’t have an elevator.” She chewed on her lip for a moment. “Wait here.”
She flew up the stairs, taking two at a time in some spots despite the dress she wore. When she arrived at the judge’s office, a secretary looked up from her computer and arched an eyebrow.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
Taking a moment to catch her breath, Sage said, “I have an appointment with Attorney Jack Benson. We’re supposed to use the conference room here.”
The secretary tapped a few keys on her computer and squinted through her glasses at the screen. “Ah, yes. Sage and Orion Finley?”
“Yes.” She knew she should have corrected the “Sage and Orion Finley,” but she rather liked the sound of her name with his.
Pathetic.
“You can go right to the conference room.” The secretary pointed down the hall.
“Right. About that,” Sage said, “Orion has an injured leg. I was wondering if Mr. Benson could meet with us downstairs somewhere instead.”
“I’m sure we can work something out.” The secretary smiled. “We’re working on handicapped access to this building, but you know how nothing is an emergency around these parts. Give me a minute.” She picked up her phone and said, “Mr. Benson, your appointment is here. There’s been a little change in your meeting place though. You’re going to use the downstairs library. Is that all right?” She paused and angled her head as she listened. “Will do. Thank you.” She hung up and looked at Sage. “All set. Do you know where the library is?” She gave Sage directions and sent her on her way.
When Sage hopped down the stairs, Orion was leaning on the railing, and she almost tripped over the last step. She shot her hand out and gripped the railing just in time to keep from smashing into Orion. Instant heat scorched her cheeks.
Could I be any less graceful? Jesus.
“You okay?” Orion asked, a tiny smirk on his lips. Those fan-freaking-tastic lips.
“Yeah.” You’re just so damn gorgeous, my knees literally buckled. “We’re meeting in the library on this floor instead.”
“Thanks for accommodating the crippled,” he said.
“No problem.” She grinned over her shoulder as she pulled open the door. “This way.”
She followed the secretary’s directions and found the library with ease. After about two awkward minutes of sitting quietly with Orion at a table surrounded by oversized law books, a tall man in a perfectly tailored suit entered.
“The Finleys?” he asked.
Damn. Should have corrected that earlier.
She was about to correct it now, but Orion stood and extended his hand. “Yes.”
Interesting.
The two men shook hands and Jack held his hand out to Sage.
“You must be Lily’s cousin-in-law. Jack Benson.” His handshake was firm, confident, and Sage was instantly reassured he was the guy for the job.
“I’m Sage.” Yeah, she left the Stannard off her name. So what? “Thank you so much for coming all this way to meet with us.”
“Hey, Lily helped me out of a real jam once with my wife. I owed her big time and thought she was going to make me pay a much larger fine than helping out with a simple custody case.”
“Glad someone thinks this case is small potatoes,” Orion said.
“Mr. Finley,” Jack started, “I didn’t mean to imply that your case isn’t important. It is. Any time children are involved, I take it seriously. I just meant that I’ve handled many custody cases and well, to be honest, I’m good at them.” He smiled and when Sage looked at Orion, he was smiling too.
“I’m relieved to hear that. My ex-wife is a lawyer too, and she always seems to have the upper hand.”
“Until today.” Jack opened his briefcase and pulled out a tablet. “Today, her luck has run out.”
Orion gazed at Sage from across the table and he somehow conveyed his gratitude without saying a word. She was plugged into him. A definite connection. She couldn’t explain it, but it was there. She’d never felt anything like it. The way he looked at her suggested he felt it too, whatever it was.
“Okay.” Jack’s voice broke the spell and Orion looked back at the lawyer. “I need you to tell me everything leading up to the point where your ex-wife gained custody of your daughter.”
“Everything?” Orion sent a quick, uncomfortable glance to Sage.
“The more information you give me, the clearer picture I have to work from. I may be able to pick up on something that will be the key to getting your daughter back, Mr. Finley. Every detail is important.” Jack tapped his tablet. “How long were you married?”
Orion shifted in his seat, his left hand tracing the edge of his file folder. “Six years.”
“Can you describe your relationship with… what’s your ex-wife’s name?”
“Adriana.”
“Describe your relationship with Adriana during those six years.” Jack’s fingers hovered over his tablet.
Orion drew in a deep breath and let it out noiselessly. His hand combed through his hair as he look
ed up to the ceiling. “Turbulent. Our relationship was turbulent.”
Jack typed then looked at Orion. “Turbulent how?”
“Turbulent as in she spent more time yelling than anything else. Yelling at me, my father, our daughter. It was as if her voice didn’t have a normal setting. Everything came out as a yell.”
Sage wanted to slide across the table and hug Orion. She couldn’t imagine anyone yelling at him or Myah or Ian. They all seemed so sweet. A tiny part of her brain told her she could be completely off base.
I haven’t known any of them for long.
Yet, she knew, deep in her heart, Orion, Myah, and Ian did not deserve to be on the receiving end of harsh words or scolding tones. Something pure and kind emanated from them. They were genuine goodness.
“Did she ever hit your daughter?” Jack asked.
“No,” Orion said. “Not that I ever saw.”
“Did she ever hit you?”
Orion shook his head. “Her abuse wasn’t physical. Verbal and emotional, yes.”
“Who asked for a divorce?” Jack asked.
“She did.” Orion studied a gouge in the library table, his shortened pinkie finger tapping on the imperfection in the old wooden surface.
“On what grounds?”
Sage felt as if she was prying though she wasn’t the one asking the questions. “I’m going to… be somewhere else for a little while.” She stood and made her way out of the library before anyone could stop her.
Not that anyone tried to stop her.
Outside the library, she leaned against the door. Orion needed some privacy to discuss his marital past. She’d love to know what had happened to break up his marriage, but it was too soon for the exchange of that information. She wasn’t ready to tell Orion about all her past relationship mistakes—and she had some beauties—so he could keep his secrets for a bit longer too.
Maybe someday, they’d swap stories. Maybe they’d be naked when they did.
****
“So Adriana won sole custody on the fact that you had a mentally unstable adult living in your home, a career that involved dangerous equipment, and you didn’t have a lawyer to fight for you the first time around, correct?” Jack asked.
More Than Cookies (The Maple Leaf Series) Page 8