Page 42 of This Could Be Us
“Oh!” I open the door and step aside for him to come in. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
Yasmen and Hendrix’s laughter drifts to the foyer.
“I mean, my friends stopped by.” I smile, tipping my head toward the living room. “But I wasn’t expecting anyoneelse.”
The foyer is spacious, but as soon as he steps inside, the walls seem closer, the air—scarce. It’s ridiculous that the future of my family is in the balance, and I’m having to remind myself not to stare at his lips. There is some major compartmentalizing happening. Potential financial ruin over here. Blistering attraction off to the side. It’s a feeling I’ve been fighting since the moment we locked eyes at the Christmas party. It wasn’t appropriate then, and it isn’t now.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come sooner,” Judah says. “I’m sure you must be anxious to know what CalPot decided.”
“It has crossed my mind a time or two hundred since our meeting, yeah. Only my life in the balance.”
“I know, but the board had to weigh all the options and decide.” He gives me a searching look. “You do realize that as soon as I told them about the drive, they and the FBI could have just demanded it?”
“I knew that was a risk, of course.” I drop my eyes to the floor and tap the bottle of wine against my leg. “Why do you think I came to you? I believed you wouldn’t let that happen.”
When I glance back up, his expression is more shuttered even than usual, but something flares in his eyes as they rake over my face, and I’m sure he’s fighting the same attraction I’ve tried to ignore.
“You were right,” he says, his voice soft, but with an edge. “I was prepared to do everything in my power to make sure you and your daughters got out of this as unscathed as possible.”
Hot emotion gathers behind my eyes at his kindness, his care for the girls and me when my own husband hasn’t shown even a measure of it. I clear my throat, testing the steadiness of my voice before speaking.
“I appreciate that, Judah.”
“Luckily I didn’t have to do much convincing. Delores insisted anyone who would tell her to her face that her pan sucked would not be incahoots—her word. I’ve never used the wordcahootsin my life—with her husband to steal millions of dollars.”
“Seriously?” I gape at him, a wide smile breaking out on my face. “That’s amazing. Delores in my corner. Who would’ve thought.”
“That’s what we get for sending you to fetch the…” Hendrix lets her words trail off and her gaze wander up and down and up again over Judah’s tall, athletic build. “The wine. Well, hello. Who do we have here?”
“Oh.” Yasmen is close on her heels. She pings a look from Judah to me a few times, interest sharpening in her eyes. “Sorry. We didn’t know you were expecting company, Sol. I mean other than us.”
She stretches out her hand. “I’m Yasmen. Nice to meet you.”
“Judah Cross,” he says, accepting her hand with a brusque shake.
“The accountant?” Hendrix demands, disbelief loud in her response. “My taxes would stay done if my CPA looked like you.”
I’m mortified, but to my surprise, the straight line of Judah’s full lips twitches.
“I’m not that kind of accountant,” he answers teasingly. “But if I were, I’d take care of you.”
“Oh, I just bet you would, honey.” Hendrix steps closer and I stop her with the wine bottle shoved in her chest.
“Here you go, Hen,” I say pointedly, nodding to the bottle and handing her the bowl of olives. “I think you were looking for this.”
Humor and speculation light her eyes. “Come on, Yas. They obviously want to be alone.”
She weighs the last word with suggestion, and I roll my eyes, silently begging her not to embarrass me any further. Blessedly, she and Yasmen return to the living room.
“Sorry about that,” I apologize, sliding my hands into the back pockets of my jeans. “They’re… well, they are—”
“Friends,” he cuts in, his voice softening, his usually cool eyes warm. “I’m glad you have people who care about you the way they seem to. The FBI will unfreeze your assets, and CalPot won’t go after your property when you turn over the drive, but you still have a long road ahead.”
“Long road ahead, huh?” I spew a sour laugh. “The father of my children most likely going to prison. Me having to figure out how I’ll support us. Divorce.”
His gaze latches onto my face. “Divorce?”
“Did you think I’d stay with Edward after all he’s done? I’m getting my divorce as soon as legally possible.”