Page 25 of A Way Out (Rock Star #2)

Chapter Twenty-Three

A s soon as they returned to the lodge after the show, they profusely thanked Stephanie’s neighbor for watching Riley, sent the woman on her way, and Oz ushered Maria upstairs.

They checked in on Riley, who was sound asleep, spread- eagle in the king-sized bed. Without a word, Oz turned Maria around and led her to the bathroom, closing the door so the light wouldn’t wake her daughter.

She hadn’t sweated out a gallon of water like he had while he’d been performing, but she didn’t protest when he stripped her and invited her into the shower with him.

Oz dropping to his knees and shoving his face between her legs, eagerly lapping at her like she was a Tootsie Pop and he couldn’t wait to get to the delicious core, clearly wasn’t a hardship. For either of them.

After quickly soaping up and rinsing off, he used a towel to ensure she was patted exceedingly dry, and then he lifted her off her feet and carried her to bed.

His bed.

Where they made love while whispering nonsensical words about how well they fit together, how he never wanted to sleep alone again, how much he liked everything about her…until they both fell into an exhausted sleep.

Oz spooning her.

Oz’s eyes blinked open when something patted his shoulder. He glanced over to see Riley standing next to the bed, tapping him with her chubby little hand.

Oh shit. A swift glance at the bed reassured him that all their sexy bits were fully covered by the sheet.

“Hey,” he whispered, so as not to wake Maria, who would probably freak that her daughter had caught them in bed together.

“I’m hungry,” Riley said. She briefly looked over at her sleeping mother before focusing her gaze back on him. He didn’t see any indication that she cared one way or another about their sleeping arrangements.

“Okay, I, uh—can you go over there and grab my phone for me, please? I’m going to use the bathroom, and then we’ll go downstairs and find something to eat.”

When her back was turned, he bounced out of bed and ran to the bathroom, closing the door smartly behind him.

He didn’t have any clean clothes in here, but there was a robe hanging on the back of the door, so he wrapped it around his body and returned to the bedroom to pull a shirt and shorts out of his suitcase.

“One more minute,” he promised and then returned to the bathroom to get dressed.

When he was done, he took the phone she gave him, slipped it into his pocket, and, hands clasped, they headed down the stairs to the kitchen.

He was placing a plate of French toast in front of Riley when his phone vibrated. But the phone he tugged out of his pocket wasn’t his—it was Maria’s. And the name on the screen was “Tim.”

Who the hell was Tim?

Wait, he had no reason to be jealous. Maria wasn’t like that. Besides, knowing her, it was probably something to do with the band.

“I’ll be right back, Riley. This call is for your mom.”

He took the stairs two at a time, but the call had already gone to voice mail before he could get it to Maria.

She stepped out of the bathroom with her toothbrush in her mouth. She wore a silky, short robe, and he found himself unable to resist gliding over to her and wrapping his arms around her while he kissed her neck.

She laughed and pushed him away so she could rinse out her mouth and drop her toothbrush into the holder.

He gave her a scorching hot kiss the moment her lips were free.

“Wow. What was that for?” she asked.

“Because you’re amazing. And hot. Oh, and I’m guessing you’re probably making us even more money.” He offered up the phone. The voice mail banner flashed on the screen.

Maria frowned as she swiped the screen open and listened to the voice mail. Her frown intensified. He caught a man’s voice saying, “…really need to speak to you as soon as possible, Maria. Call me back the minute you get this.”

That didn’t sound like band-related business. There was an urgency to the guy’s voice that didn’t fit with the success they were currently seeing. Plus, Oz would know the name if he were tied so closely to the band that he needed to speak to Maria urgently.

“Who is it?” he asked.

She shook her head and pointed at the glass patio doors. “I’m going to take this outside. I’ll be down in a bit.” She walked away without a backward glance.

What the hell?

Her lawyer answered on the first ring. “Tim, hi, it’s Maria. You’re making calls awfully early on a Monday morning.”

“Unfortunately, this one couldn’t wait.”

“Oh. What’s wrong?”

She heard his deep inhale, and then he said, “I can’t be your lawyer anymore, Maria. It’s now become a conflict of interest.”

“A…what?” He couldn’t be her lawyer? Why not? Tim worked for the firm Maria’s father kept on retainer for his business. He was only a few years older than Maria. They’d known each other since they were children.

“There is no easy way to say this. Vic is suing for full custody, Maria. And he’s hired me as his lawyer.”

Vic is suing for full custody? “Is this because I forgot to call him back yesterday?”

It was extreme, but what else could it be? Vic barely spent any time with Riley. He hardly knew his own daughter. Raising their child was Maria’s responsibility, according to him. Now he wanted full custody?

“This doesn’t make sense,” she said. “Why?”

“I can’t talk to you about this, Maria. He’s already put me on retainer. I’m sorry.”

“But you’re my family’s lawyer…” And that was the kicker.

“My mother is putting you up to this, isn’t she?” Maria demanded.

She imagined Tim tugging at his collar right now. “Not directly, although she did have a conversation with Rutgers. And he made it clear I was to take Vic’s case.”

Mr. Rutgers was a founding member of the firm.

He and Maria’s father had gone to both undergrad and graduate school together.

They dined together once a week. Her father’s admin sent Rutgers a Christmas gift every year.

Rutgers had billed an obscene amount of hours to the Hearsys’ company over the years.

This was not good.

“Can you at least tell me why? Is he accusing me of something?” She could not imagine Vic wanting sole custody. His entire life would have to change, and he was not a fan of change.

Tim cleared his throat. “Child endangerment. There are pictures all over the internet that unfortunately do not paint your most recent parenting tactics in a good light.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Search for yourself—you’ll see what I mean.

There’s also an article in the local paper that has everyone whispering.

And we’ve already started digging on this guy you have apparently been hanging around with.

And while that’s all circumstantial, the kicker is, you took Riley out of state without asking Vic’s permission.

That requirement is explicitly stated in your divorce agreement. I remember pointing it out to you.”

Oh shit. Maria wasn’t one to swear often, but—double shit.

“It doesn’t look good, Maria. You need to hire a lawyer. A good one. And while I’m not supposed to advise you any longer, I will suggest this: do not hire someone from Roma. Find one in Seattle. I can send you the names of a few colleagues if you’d like.”

This couldn’t be happening.

But it was.

Vic was suing her. He was trying to take away her baby.

She had to get home. She had to figure this out.

Clearing her throat, she said, “Yes, Tim, that would be great. Please send me the names of your colleagues in Seattle. Preferably one or two who could possibly beat you in court.”