She regards me uncertainly. “What do you mean?”

  “How much of this”—I tap the printed emails and glance down at her hand, still on my arm, keeping us connected, which I’ve missed over the weeks since I’ve seen her—“is to get you closer to your partnership? I don’t know what’s real and what’s not with you, Kailyn. I don’t know if I can trust your motivation for helping me.”

  Kailyn drops her hand to her lap and focuses there for a few seconds. “I know I broke your trust when you were in a vulnerable position and that earning it back won’t be easy, but know that everything I’m doing right now is because I want what’s best for you and Emme, and that’s for you to have each other.”

  She takes a deep breath. “I admit that when Beverly presented me with the offer for partner, I took you on as a challenge. I had a very different opinion of who you were. I also wanted to make sure that Emme wasn’t being taken advantage of. I had no idea what your reasons were, if you were just after Emme’s money like Linda so clearly is.” Kailyn meets my gaze with an imploring one of her own. “The first few years of my life weren’t good, Dax. Thankfully, I don’t have a lot of memories, but the ones I do have are the reason I’m here fighting for Emme to stay with you. I want you to know that the partnership stopped being a factor when I realized how hard you were trying to do what was best for Emme.”

  “And when was that, exactly?”

  “When you called me from CVS.” She smiles a little, maybe at the memory. “That’s when I saw the real you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Amends

  Kailyn

  I will him to say something, anything that will let me know forgiveness is possible.

  Confirmation comes in the form of his mouth crashing down on mine. For a moment I’m frozen and stunned, but my body seems to know exactly what to do even if my brain takes a few seconds to catch up.

  Dax drags me out of my chair and pulls me up against his body, tongue stroking inside my mouth, arms wrapped around me. There’s no place I feel safer than where I am right now. And I know that giving up the partnership was the right thing to do if it means I get to have this man instead.

  We have the wherewithal to make it to the bedroom before we’re frantically undressing. We collide with need and want, apologies given and accepted through touch. And when he’s finally inside me again, the ache that’s been weighing down my heart finally dissolves.

  “Dax! Are you up? I’m leaving for school in, like, fifteen, and the house doesn’t smell like coffee!”

  I bolt upright, the covers dropping to my waist. I mouth shit while Dax blinks blearily, confusion turning to heat as he takes in my bare breasts.

  He clears his throat and calls out, “Be right down!”

  A long silence follows before she finally replies, “’Kay.” A few seconds later her bedroom door closes.

  Dax gives my bare breast a squeeze. I smack his hand, my nipple already perking up from the attention. “What the hell am I going to do?”

  “Uh, maybe there’s still something of my mom’s in the back of the closet? I know Emme missed a few things when we cleaned everything out. We can pretend like you showed up this morning?” It’s more question than plan, but it’s a whole hell of a lot better than the alternative.

  I find a plain black dress that’s about two decades old and close to my size. I guess it could be considered retro. I shimmy into it. It’s tight at the hips, and the hem falls below my knees since his mom was several inches taller than me.

  I finger comb my hair because Dax doesn’t have a brush. I still have sleep lines on my face, but there’s nothing I can do about that. I follow Dax to the kitchen. Thankfully, Emme is still in her room, so I’m able sit my ass down at the island and calm my breathing.

  Dax is all smiles as he goes about making coffee. I don’t know how he can be so calm when it feels like my heart is going to slam out of my chest. The bag of doughnuts I picked up on my way over last night helps make our charade look more authentic, minus the fact that there’s no coffee to go with it. It’s not that I have an issue with Emme knowing that Dax and I are talking again, it’s her finding out because I’ve just walked out of Dax’s bedroom with a serious case of post-sleepover sex hair.

  Dax passes me a cup of coffee just as Emme appears. She shrieks and rushes over, throwing her arms around me. “Oh, hi! I didn’t hear the doorbell ring!”

  “Dax and I have a meeting this morning. We thought we’d go together.”

  She releases me and steps back, panicked gaze darting between Dax and me. “What kind of meeting?”

  “The good kind, don’t worry,” Dax reassures her. At least we’re hoping it’s going to be the good kind.

  “Oh. Okay. Can you drive me to school so I can hang out with Kailyn for a bit?”

  “Sure.”

  Emme tells me all about her weekend plans, which include a sleepover at her friend Marnie’s. I glance at Dax and he grins, clearly thinking the same thing I am. Dax runs upstairs to change into a suit before we drive Emme to school. We’ll be coming back here as soon as we drop her off, but this keeps up the ruse.

  Emme almost trips over a pair of shoes on the way down the hall. Shit. They’re my llama-print Toms.

  “You’re wearing those to work?” Emme’s nose crinkles.

  Obviously there’s more than one flaw in our half-assed plan. “I have heels at my office.”

  “Oh. Okay.” She shrugs and slips her feet into her purple Chucks—I have the same ones—and shoulders her backpack.

  “We can take my car,” I offer.

  Emme bounces down the driveway and puts her hand on the hood of my car. “What time did you get here this morning?”

  “Just before you came downstairs.”

  “Huh.”

  “What?” I ask, suddenly nervous she’s onto us, which is ridiculous.

  “Oh, nothing. Let’s go! Don’t want to be late,” she says with a big smile plastered on her face.

  I meet Dax’s WTF gaze over the hood before we get in. Emme sings along to the radio for a few minutes before she says, “Does this mean you two are back together?”

  “What?” Dax and I ask in unison.

  I catch her eye roll in the rearview mirror. “Oh, come on. I’m not dumb. I know you guys are, like, a thing, and then you wouldn’t talk to Kailyn and now you are again. So that means you guys are back together, right?”

  “Um…” I glance at Dax, because I have no idea what to say to that.

  “Yeah. Kailyn and I are back together.”

  “So my plan worked.” She has the same smirky smile as her brother.

  “And what plan was that?” Dax asks, fighting his own grin.

  “I invited Kailyn last night so you two would sit together and talk, and it worked. You’re welcome.”

  I laugh as I pull into the student drop-off zone.

  “Thanks for looking out for us, Em,” Dax says.

  Her head pops between the seats, and she gives us both a peck on the cheek. “Oh, and I totally heard Kailyn come over last night, so next time you don’t like have to pretend like you didn’t sleep over, ’cause it’s totally okay. Oh! There’s Marnie! See you after school.”

  The door slams, and Dax and I stare at each other slack jawed until the car behind us honks.

  “Well, I guess we’re not nearly as sly as we think we are, huh?” Dax laughs.

  “Apparently not.”

  After we drop Emme off at school, we go back to Dax’s to collect all the evidence pointing to Linda’s less-than-altruistic motives for wanting custody of Emme. Once we have it organized, we log into his mother’s email account and filter through the ones between her and Linda—something we didn’t think to do last night—and discover an endless stream back and forth between her and her sister asking for financial support. All fingers point to a gambling addiction that she battled on and off over the years and seems to have lost. It also seems to have been a significant part of the reason her most recent marriage failed.

  We can only guess as to how much debt she’s amassed, but it certainly explains why she’s been so intent on discrediting Dax and seeking custody of Emme.

  “Are you ready to take Linda down?” I ask once we’re back in my car.

  Dax drums on the armrest, surprisingly composed considering everything he’s found out in less than twenty-four hours. “Sure am. Want to make the call?”

  I pull out my phone, dial the school number, and wait for them to patch me through to reception. “Hi, Linda, it’s Kailyn Flowers. Do you have a minute?”

  I have her on speaker, so Dax is able to hear both sides of the conversation.

  “Oh, hi, Kailyn, what can I do for you?”

  “I have some new information that could impact the state of the trust and change how the custody hearing is managed.”

  “Oh?” I’m not sure if I imagine the nervousness in her voice or not.

  “I know it’s incredibly short notice, but I was hoping I could meet with you to discuss this in person. It’s rather urgent.”

  Dax drums his fingers on his thigh, and we hold eye contact while we wait for her response.

  “Isn’t this something we can talk about over the phone?”

  “I’m sorry, but it’s rather time sensitive and would be best discussed in a private meeting.”

  There’s silence for a few moments before she finally responds. “My lunch break is in half an hour. I could meet you at your office at eleven thirty?”

  “That’s perfect. Thank you so much, Linda. I’ll see you then.” I end the call, and Dax’s smile mirrors mine. “She’s never going to see this coming.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Just Desserts

  Daxton

  Half an hour later—after a quick stop at Kailyn’s so she can change and fix her hair—we’re seated inside the same conference room where I first met Kailyn, the folders of evidence lined up on the table. Kailyn and I are both sipping coffee, although I feel like a scotch might be warranted once this meeting is over considering what we’re about to do.

  “She’s going to drop the lawsuit, Dax. Everything will be fine.” Kailyn squeezes my bouncing knee.

  “I won’t be able to relax until it’s over.”

  A minute later there’s a knock on Kailyn’s door and her assistant appears. “Miss Flowers, Linda Thrasher is here to see you.” She gives us both a conspiratorial smile.

  “You can send her in.” Neither Kailyn nor I stand to greet her as she enters the room and Cara closes the door behind her. Linda stumbles a bit when she sees me.

  “I thought this was a private meeting.”

  “It is,” Kailyn says evenly. “Private between the people who have a vested interest in Emme’s future.” She motions to the empty chair across from Kailyn and me. “Have a seat, Linda.”

  She pulls out her phone. “I’m calling my lawyer.”

  “I would reconsider that.” Kailyn flips open the folder in front of her and reveals the email chain between Linda and the principal from the private school, and the pile of loan documents. “I feel it’s in your best interest to hear us out first, Linda.”

  Face ashen, she sinks down in the booth. She looks between us. “What is this?”

  “It’s your come-to-Jesus moment. This is where you admit the only person’s well-being you were concerned about was your own.” Kailyn taps the pile of loan documents. “It seems you owed Evelyn and Craig a lot of money.”

  “I-I-I—”

  “No need to qualify that with a response.” Kailyn presents another set of emails between Linda and Evelyn chronicling her consistent requests for financial support over the years and Evelyn’s pleas that she seek help.

  “I ran into a bit of financial trouble—”

  I cut her off. “A bit? You’ve been borrowing money from my parents for more than a decade, Linda. You know, it would’ve been one thing if you came to me asking for help, but to sue for custody so you could access money that isn’t yours is morally reprehensible.”

  “Emme is better off with me. I’ve already raised children,” she sputters meekly.

  “Enough with the bullshit, Linda. Two days after you filed the custody lawsuit, you were already trying to find a way to get rid of her by sending her to boarding school. You planted the alcohol in her locker to build a case against me, for fuck’s sake.”

  “T-that’s absurd,” Linda stammers.

  “Is it? Kailyn overheard you talking about it yesterday.”

  She looks from me to Kailyn with wide-eyed panic. “Your plans to visit Vegas, how Dax would want Emme on weekends and you’d look good by giving him what he asked for.”

  Beads of sweat dot her brow and her upper lip. “You can’t do this.”

  “Now would be a good time to drop the custody lawsuit against Daxton,” Kailyn says flatly as she pushes her phone across the table and cues up the recording.

  “You can’t prove anything. So I’ve had some financial trouble. It’s not like everyone has millions of dollars to play with—”

  “It’s all here. Documented proof that you’re self-centered and opportunistic and, worse, you were going to use a grieving thirteen-year-old to your financial advantage.” Kailyn hits Play, and Linda’s voice filters through the office.

  Linda’s horror grows as her words are thrown back in her face. She raises a shaky hand. “I don’t need to hear any more. I’ll drop the lawsuit.”

  Kailyn stops the recording and smiles icily. “We thought you might say that.”

  We file away the documents while Linda wrings her hands and gives me an imploring look. “Daxton, you have to understand—”

  “Don’t,” I snap. “Don’t try and justify any part of this to me. We’ll be waiting for a call to let us know the lawsuit has been officially dropped.”

  Kailyn and I wait silently while Linda gathers her things and leaves the office in a rush. As soon as we’re alone, I exhale a long breath.

  Kailyn squeezes my hand. “Are you okay?”

  “I think so?” I run my free hand through my hair. “It’s just been months of uncertainty and chaos, so the possibility that this could be over is sort of…jarring.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “I’ll feel a lot better when I get the call from Trish.”

  “I don’t see her stalling. She knows if she doesn’t, there’s far more at stake than not having access to Emme’s money. She planted alcohol in a student’s locker—her own niece. She would lose her job if that comes out.”

  “She should lose her job,” I agree.

  “Let’s wait until the suit is dropped before we blow another hole in her ship.”

  I nod absently. “Do you have other things you need to take care of today?”

  “Only you.”

  I thread my fingers through hers and squeeze. “Good, because I don’t think I’ll be able to accomplish anything else until we get that call.”

  “Why don’t we leave all this stuff in my office and grab a drink while we wait?”

  I help Kailyn carry the files back to her office, which is when Trish calls me with good news: Linda has officially dropped the lawsuit. I turn to Kailyn as soon as I end the call. “Well, that was fast.”

  “It’s done?” she asks, eyes soft and hopeful.

  I nod and pull her against me. Kailyn wraps her arms around my waist and settles her cheek against my chest. I drop my head, lips finding her crown as I breathe her in. It’s only then that I notice the state of her office. It’s practically empty, only a few boxes on her desk. I step back and motion to the space. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m moving offices.”

  “To a bigger one?” I hadn’t accepted the offer Beverly put on the table a couple of weeks ago, yet, but I planned to, and soon. Two days ago she called and requested to meet at my earliest convenience, but the past twenty-four hours have been a roller-coaster ride, and I’m just finally catching my breath.

  “Not bigger, just to the other side of the floor.”

  “But I—”

  A knock at the door cuts me off. “Kailyn, I—oh! Daxton, hello!” Beverly smiles at me, then turns her attention to Kailyn and gestures to the nearly empty room. “Looks like you’re almost there.”

  “Almost. I was just telling Dax that I’m moving to the other side of the floor.”

  “It’s an exciting change for you.” Beverly gives Kailyn a knowing smile and shifts her attention back to me. “Daxton, since you’re here, do you have a moment to speak?”

  “Uh, sure.” I want to know more about this change.

  “I’ll be here when you get back,” Kailyn says.

  “Okay.” I follow Beverly down the hall. I’d ask her what the change is, but I also feel like whatever the news is, it should come from Kailyn.

  “How is everything with Emme?” Beverly asks as she motions me into her office.

  It’s stark white with a black desk and chair, very little in the way of accents or color. “Great, now that the custody lawsuit has finally been dropped.”

  “I just received a call from Trish. You must be relieved.”

  “I am. It means I can move forward, now that Emme’s going to be safe and cared for, which is what I wanted.”

  “She’s lucky to have you.”

  “She’s a good kid. I’m lucky to have her.”

  She swivels in her chair. “I’m sure you want to celebrate the good news with Emme, so I’ll cut right to the chase. I have a revised job offer for you to consider.”

  “Oh?” The original offer was already pretty sweet. It included a 15 percent pay increase, reduced hours, the option to work from home on some days, and a slew of other benefits.

  She rests her elbows on the desk and steeples her hands. “I’d like to offer you partner.”

  It takes a few seconds for the words to sink in. “I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”

  “With Kailyn moving into family law and not accepting the partner position, it’s left an open position, and I felt you would be an excellent candidate. All of the terms from the original agreement still stand, there’s a buy-in, of course, but we can negotiate that if you choose to accept.”