Page 53 of About that Fling (The Can’t Have Hearts Club #2)

Mia nodded and pressed a hand into her lower back, wincing a little as she rearranged herself on the hard plastic chair.

“She brought Katie to the hospital in the middle of the night to see her father. The shooting was an accident. The cops said so, and Mark agreed. Ellen dropped her purse on the floor and forgot the gun was in there and the whole thing was just one of those stupid moments you watch happening in slow motion and wish like hell you could hit rewind and do it all differently.” Mia shrugged. “I guess I can relate.”

Jenna nodded, feeling the tears prick the backs of her eyes again. “Me, too.”

“Anyway, Ellen and I got to talking,” Mia said.

“About regrets and apologies and hate and love and everything in between. We might have swapped recipes for banana bread—the details are hazy. But my point is that we connected. For the first time in three years, we saw each other as human beings instead of ‘that bitch.’”

“Wow,” Jenna said, reeling too hard to come up with anything beyond a single syllable.

Beside her Adam was shaking his head. “So you thanked her for shooting your husband, and she thanked you for stealing him, and then you hugged and made up?”

Mia choked out a laugh. “Hardly. But we don’t hate each other anymore. That’s progress. I’ve gotta say—it’s the most free I’ve felt in a long time.”

“Forgiveness will do that,” Adam murmured.

Mia smiled. “And once more, the exes agree on something.”

Behind her desk, Kendall shuffled some papers. “I hate to rain on this lovely parade, but I believe there’s still an issue on the table.”

Jenna turned to face her and gave a grim nod. “Right. Uh—even if the fraternization rule changes, I assume there will be a penalty for my failure to follow an existing rule?”

Kendall opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say anything, Mia interrupted.

“The lawyer in the room can correct me if I’m wrong here, but if a company fails to enforce a rule with one employee and then punishes another employee for a similar violation, wouldn’t that second employee have a valid case for legal recourse?”

Adam blinked. “You’re referring to Brett and Susan again?”

“Exactly.”

“Legally, yes.” Adam looked thoughtful. “That second employee would have a case.”

“See?” Mia beamed at Kendall. “Looks like I got something from my years of marriage to a workaholic attorney.”

Kendall pressed her lips together. “Perhaps it would be best if we all stop talking about penalties and litigiousness and focus on moving forward in a positive fashion.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Mia smiled and turned back to Adam and Jenna.

“So the policy I’m suggesting is commonly known as a ‘Love Contract.’ If a couple employed in the same workplace initiates a consensual relationship, they’ll be provided with documentation on the company’s sexual harassment policy.

They’ll also be briefed on regulations concerning public displays of affection and retaliation in the event of a terminated relationship.

After all the paper shuffling, they’ll get a contract to sign indicating they’re aware of the rules and promise to abide by them. ”

Adam leaned forward, adjusting his tie. “I assume they’ll have the right to consult with an attorney before signing?”

“Of course,” Kendall said. She pushed her glasses up her nose and lifted her chin.

“The company I worked for prior to Belmont had an informed consent policy similar to this one. Obviously, this sort of policy requires some very specific language about job performance expectations and the impact of a relationship on the work environment, but I’ve seen similar systems work quite nicely in a corporate setting. ”

“Okay then,” Mia said, turning back to Adam. “You’re a lawyer, and you obviously have a vested interest in creating a positive work environment at Belmont. Do you want to be involved in crafting the new policy?”

He nodded, turning to look at Jenna. She felt a flash of heat arc through her as his eyes held hers.

“I do,” he murmured.

“And Jenna,” Mia said shifting again in her chair. “Would you be comfortable with this sort of clause in the company’s policy? Hypothetically speaking, if Adam were to remain attached to Belmont, do you think you’d be willing to sign a document like this?”

Jenna slid her eyes from Adam’s to her best friend’s and back again to his. She nodded. “I do.”

“Well all-righty then,” Mia said, whacking the paperwork on the desk with finality. “By the power vested in me by—well, myself —I now pronounce us a policy revision committee. You may not kiss the co-worker. Not now, anyway.”

“Of course,” Jenna said, her cheeks warming. “Even if PDA weren’t a factor, I wouldn’t dream of disrespecting you by?—”

“No—that’s not it.” Mia winced and shifted in her seat again. “You can disrespect me all you want. I kinda like it sometimes, especially if there’s spanking involved.”

Adam grimaced. “That I didn’t need to know.”

“Whatever, lawyer boy. You’re just jealous I never asked you to smack my ass.”

Kendall frowned. “Could we please refrain from?—”

“I’ll tell you what I need everyone to refrain from doing,” Mia interrupted, turning to Jenna. “Talking. About anything. Because you know how we all joked about my water breaking at dinner?”

Jenna frowned. “What?”

“I think it just happened. Either that, or I peed myself in the Human Resources office. Can one of you help me get to the Family Birthing Center? I’d rather not have this baby on a conference table.”

“She’s beautiful,” Adam said.

He watched his ex-wife look up and smile, her red hair tangled and lovely as she cradled the infant tightly in her arms. “Thank you.”

Beside her, Mark leaned forward in his wheelchair and stroked a finger over the baby’s clenched fist. She stirred, offering up a sleepy, sucking noise that made Mark grin and made Adam remember again that he might not hate the guy after all.

“Would you look at that?” Mark murmured. “Knows her daddy already.”

“Smart girl,” Jenna said, and Adam watched Mia’s gaze slide to her best friend’s. The two women exchanged some sort of unspoken communication, and Adam held his breath, not wanting to break the connection.

“Smart, and very lucky,” Jenna added. “To have the two of you as parents. And Katie as a big sister.”

“Yep!” Katie grinned and bent down to plant a kiss on the baby’s forehead. Then she drew back and looked shyly at Mia . “Want me to run to the cafeteria and grab one of those Snickerdoodles you like?”

Adam watched Mia’s eyes widen with surprise and joy. Then a smile broke over her face. “That would be amazing. Grab my name badge out of my purse so you can charge it to my account. Get one for yourself, too.”

“Okay.” Katie kissed the baby again, then scampered away. “I love you, baby sister,” she called. “And Daddy. And Mia.”

“I love you, too,” Mia murmured as Katie bounded out of the room.

Adam slid an arm around Jenna’s shoulders, not sure if it was the right thing to do just then, but knowing it felt right. Sometimes, that was enough. She responded by leaning against him, fitting into the curve of his chest like she belonged there. Like she’d always belonged there.

Mia smiled at Mark over the top of the baby’s pink knitted cap. “I’m so glad they let you out of the recovery unit for this. It meant a lot having you here.”

“You kidding me?” Mark smiled. “I could have had bullet holes in both legs and arms and I still would have found a way to crawl down here for this. Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

“I’m happy you were able to do it without all the extra bullet holes,” Mia said.

Mark smiled, glancing quickly at Adam and Jenna before leaning forward to touch his wife’s arm.

“Look, Mia—I’m sorry about everything. I know I haven’t been there for you like I should be these last couple weeks.

I’ve been torn up thinking about how I let Katie down, how I’m not able to be the father I always thought I’d be.

But I need to be a good husband, too. I’m going to do better.

For you, for Katie, for little Lola here—for all of us. ”

“Me too,” Mia whispered, her eyes shimmering. “I’m going to do better, too.”

Adam felt Jenna squeeze his hand as Mark leaned forward to kiss his wife.

His wife. Adam repeated the words in his head, and they felt right this time. They fit. He squeezed Jenna’s hand in return and leaned down to murmur in her ear. “Think we should give them some time alone?”

“I heard that,” Mia said, looking up. “No, I want you two here. I need to say something before Katie comes back or my parents show up and start making a bunch of noise.”

Adam quirked an eyebrow. “Is this the season for heartfelt relationship speeches or something?”

“Shut up, Adam,” she said, but her voice had no venom.

“I just want to say that I’m happy to have you here.

Both of you. All of you.” She smiled at Mark, then looked back at Adam and Jenna.

“I know things have been weird this past month, and I’m not pretending they won’t be pretty damn weird in the future. ”

Jenna nodded, her hair brushing the hollow beneath Adam’s chin as she moved. “I think we can pretty much guarantee the weirdness.”

“I’m okay with weird. It’s Portland, after all. That’s kinda our motto here.” Mia smiled. “We’re all a little fucked up, but there’s also a lot of love to go around.”

“I think I saw that on a tourism billboard,” Adam said, sliding a hand up Jenna’s arm.

Mia ignored him, still cradling her daughter in her arms. “The nurses and administrators and union reps might squabble like siblings, but they’ll figure it out.

And a few people might balk at the chief relations officer having an erotica-writing aunt, but that’s all just noise.

It’s the stuff that keeps life from getting boring, but it’s not the stuff that matters. Not really.”

Adam watched his ex-wife’s gaze drop to her new daughter’s face. She stroked a finger over the baby’s cheek, her eyes soft and filled with feeling. She looked lovely and serene and more at peace than Adam had ever seen her.

I never made her look like that , he thought.

This time, it didn’t make him bitter. It made him so damn grateful for the way everything had unfolded.

It hadn’t been an easy path to get here. But if things had been easy, would any of them have appreciated where they stood right now? Probably not as much.

He pulled Jenna tighter against his chest, and she turned to smile up at him. “What are you thinking?” she whispered.

“About birth. Rebirth. Fresh starts. The chance to get it right on the next go-round.”

She grinned, and he felt an overwhelming urge to kiss her. “That’s pretty deep,” she said. “I was just thinking I want a donut.”

“I’ll get all the donuts you want. Donuts for life.” He planted a kiss on her forehead, knowing there’d be plenty of time later to claim her lips and all the rest of her.

A rustling in the hall made them all turn toward the doorway. Aunt Gertie bustled in, her white hair flying as she clasped her hands together and looked down at Mia and the baby.

“Oh my word! What an absolute doll. Isn’t she just precious?”

“Thank you,” Mia said, beaming. “Her name is Lola Jane. Would you like to hold her?”

“Absolutely. Soon, very soon.” Gertie shuffled into the room as she slung a heavy-looking bag from her shoulder.

“Actually, I brought something for her. It’s a book I’ve been working on.

” She looked over at Jenna, and something electric passed between them.

“Actually, sweetheart, it’s your mother’s book. ”

Jenna’s lips parted. “M—my mother?”

“Yes.” Gertie settled into a chair. “I found all of her drawings and her words when I cleaned out some boxes last week. I just had to put some finishing touches on the story.”

Jenna began to tremble in his arms. Adam held her tightly, absorbing the meaning of this moment. This delicate thread connecting the woman he loved with the women she loved dearly.

“Oh,” Jenna breathed softly. “I’d love to hear it.”

“So would I,” Mia murmured, rocking the baby in her arms. “Will you read it for us, Gertie? Read it for Lola?”

“My pleasure, girls.” Gert set her bag down to dig through it.

“I’m not normally a children’s book writer, so I got input from my agent.

And we agreed if it sells, your mother gets credit.

” Glancing at Jenna, Gertie straightened with a square cardboard book in her hands.

“It’s a story about love and families and how they’re all different.

Sometimes mommies and daddies live in different places, or sometimes there’s more than one mommy or brothers and sisters with different parents.

There are all kinds of combinations, and they’re all beautiful. ”

Mark leaned forward, admiring the pages as Gert spread the book open. “Are those spiders?”

“Yes, they are.” Gertie grinned. “The book is called A Lovely, Tangled Mess .”

Jenna snuggled back in Adam’s arms. As he held her against him, he rested his chin on her head. He felt the steady rhythm of her breathing, and matched his own breath with hers. Warmth spread between them as Gert settled back in her chair.

“Once upon a time,” Gert began.

Tipping her head back, Jenna looked up and met Adam’s eyes. “It has a happy ending,” she whispered. “I know it.”