Page 85 of The Sacrifice
I lick my lips and bite the bottom one–hard–to keep from crying or jumping into his arms. Or stealing Hadley. “I’m sorry.”
When she sees me, her eyes light up, and out go her arms as she tries to get to me.Baby, I missed you, too.Tears fill my eyes as I drink her in. She’s as adorable as ever and wearing one of her pineapple onesies with a pair of olive-colored pants.
“Not going to cut it. You’ve got some groveling to do.” He leans down and grazes his lips along my ear as his hand drops from my jaw and clasps the back of my head. “I’ve got court in an hour. You’d better be in my bed tonight where you belong.” The heat in his voice sends a shiver along my spine.
He pulls back and hands Hadley to me. I hold her out in front of me. “God, I’ve missed you so much.” She grins as her eyes dance with delight. “Come here, baby girl.” I haul her to me and inhale her scent. Baby powder and a faint hint of citrus. Heaven.
“What time can you leave?”
“I can’t leave early. This is only my second day on the job.”
“What time?”
I swallow over the dryness in my mouth. We’re in a room full of kids, parents, and teachers, and all I can think about is his hands and mouth on me. “Four o’clock.”
“I was thinking more along the lines of three hours. Ashley’s dad is a prosecuting attorney. When your green-eyed monster is locked back up, you need to thank her for convincing him to ask the judge to move up the hearing. Twice.” He shrugs. “Probably three times, but at least one of those times was for me.”
“I will. I’m sorry, I thought you were….”
“Sticking my purple-headed love snake into someone else’s velvet canal?”
I glare at him. “Yes. That’s so tacky.” But I can’t stop the smile from forming on my lips. Whether it’s because he still loves me or because he’s describing sex in the grossest possible way, I’m not sure.
“You’re welcome.” He kisses my forehead. “You should spend more time worshipping me and less time thinking I’m still that idiot kid from high school.”
“You’re right.”
“And you’re lucky.” He winks. “You’ve got a lifetime to get it right. I’ll keep coming back until you do.”
Hadley lays her head on my shoulder and yawns. “Do you need anything for court today? This is only my second day, but I can quit my job if needed. And Andrew will come too if you need him.”
“Everything is under control.” He pats his chest over the section that conceals an interior pocket. “Roxanne voluntarily terminated her parental rights, so today is a formality.”
My mouth drops open. “You’ve got to be kidding. How did you get her to do that? And so fast.”
“Babe.” One corner of his mouth raises. “You’ll be asking that same question in three hours and ten minutes. You act like I don’t have a lot of pull around here. You’re already approved to leave at noon. I need a lot of attention today.”
“You do?” Hadley pulls on my hair, and I clasp her hand.
“Yes, I do. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” Tears sting my eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to do anything that could hurt your chances of getting Hadley. And I was worried you’d decide we rushed things. Or that you’d find someone else who was more exciting than me. Someone who doesn’t worry so much.”
“Again, you underestimate me. You know I love how much you worry.” He winks. “It gives me a big head when I make you forget how to think.”
I glance around the room.Oh, screw it. If I get fired, I can find another job.I grab his shirt jacket and tug him closer. “I love you, and I would do anything for you.”
“I know.” He kisses my lips and then groans, “You’ve got three hours.”
I laugh as all the tension from the last several weeks evaporates and is replaced by happiness. He went out and solved all the things I stressed over without breaking a sweat. Lord, I waste a lot of energy fretting over shit.
“Andrew is grabbing your stuff and dropping it off at the house.”
“What if I don’t want my brother digging in my underwear?”
“Too bad.” He grabs my chin again and kisses me until my knees wobble, and I sag against him. The kids giggle, and heat fills my face. I jump back. I don’t really want to get fired on my second day. I kind of like it here. Especially if Hadley is with me.
I glance at my boss to find her clutching her chest with a sappy expression on her face. Well, at least if I get fired, she’s happy for me. “I’m not letting you get away. Even if I have to put on cowboy boots and learn to throw a lasso.”