Page 36 of Who’s Your Daddy (Dadcoms #1)

Cal

B efore her mouth has made contact with mine, my lips curl into a smile. This damn woman just used my own joke against me.

Not that she could do anything to ruin this moment. Nothing could dampen the pure joy surging through me. Not the uncertainty of the future. Not being locked in a closet that smells a bit like mold.

Because Lola just kissed me. Lola is still kissing me. I pull her to my chest and hug her tight. This is nothing like the lust-induced snogging the night of the charity ball. It’s far superior to the morning after.

This is like coming home. It’s comfort. Like for the first time in my life, a person I can rely on completely exists. A woman made just for me.

She nips at my lips and wraps her legs around my hips, pulling me close. Between one kiss and the next, that comfortable feeling slips into lust. Desire hurtles through me like a freight train.

Fingers threaded through her hair, I tug, forcing her to look at me.

She pants, her warm breath skating over me.

“Is this real?” I ask her. I need to know before I get ahead of myself. Because with Lola it’s nearly impossible not to get ahead of myself. I’d blow my entire life up for this woman. Gladly. But not if it’ll hurt my son. Before we’re too far gone, I need to know she’s sure.

“It’s real, Cal. I like you.” Her green eyes search mine, uncertainty and need mingling there. “ A lot. ”

Chuffed, I peck her lips again and again. “Oh yeah? Like how much?”

With a snort, she shakes her head. “Enough. Don’t let it get to your head.”

“Lola.” I cup her cheeks. “I’m halfway in love with you. I promise I can handle it if you like me.”

Her mouth drops open, and a gasp escapes her as if the woman is shocked by my confession.

She shouldn’t be. Has she not been paying attention these last several weeks?

And was she not listening when I told her my son is falling for her?

If I wasn’t feeling the feelings I currently am, the smart thing would be to back away.

She may not have made a grand confession of love, but if she feels even a smidgen of what I’m feeling, if she’s really willing to give us a shot, then there’s hope I can give Murphy everything he deserves.

With two fingers beneath her chin, I gently push her mouth shut. “I probably shouldn’t have been so forward, but I want you to understand where I’m at. And what I’m hoping for.”

With an audible swallow, she nods once. “Okay.”

Something akin to hope floats between us. “Okay?”

The most beautiful smile creeps across her face. “Okay.” Then her lips are on mine again.

Yeah, not a damn thing could ruin this. Elated, I lift her in my arms and spin her.

It’s a challenge, keeping her from smacking into the shelving in this bloody cupboard, but I’m filled to the brim with love and I’ve got to let it out somehow.

We’re laughing and kissing and teasing when a shaft of light appears in the cupboard and widens, followed by the booming of Brian’s peevish voice through the tiny space. “What the hell are you doing? ”

Scratch that, being scolded by this tosser definitely puts a damper on the moment.

I set Lola on the ground, though I don’t release her and I don’t look away. “Okay?” I ask again.

Because now that we’re in the literal light of day—under Brian’s very angry gaze—I need to know she’s good with what I’m about to do.

Lola doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

It takes all the restraint I have not to pull her into my arms and do another celebratory spin. As a consolation, I thread my fingers with hers and turn to Brian, grinning like a simpleton. “Lola and I are together.”

Jaw ticking, he lets out a long breath through his nose.

“I don’t have time for this right now. Henderson didn’t show up at the airport with his son.

Now Judge Sanders is demanding both sides meet in chambers to figure out why the man can’t, as her clerk says, ‘ever listen to a damn thing he’s ordered to do. ’”

Lola takes a step back, frowning. “Why didn’t Craig bring Larson?”

Brian huffs an annoyed sigh. “He says if he did, then his ex wouldn’t bring him back. She’s been itching to move the kid to Michigan and Craig is convinced she’ll disappear with him.”

I frown. “She could do that?”

Outside of law school, I have little experience with custody issues. That’s Brian’s department. I’m the money guy.

But I’m listening now. I’m ready to research from sunrise until sunset. Because it’s only now occurred to me that a mother could just disappear with her son. That Murphy’s mom could come back and take him from me.

“That’s why the judge wants everyone in chambers. She wants to hear what her attorney has to say to that.”

“Okay,” I say, stealthily lacing my fingers with Lola’s again, “but why do you need me? This doesn’t feel like an orange suit situation. ”

Brian growls, his hands balled into fists. “Obviously, not. Though if you want a shot at wooing the judge, I suggest you wipe the lipstick off your face.”

Smirking, I run my thumb along my lip. I’m certainly not wiping away the evidence of Lola’s kiss. “Why aren’t you dealing with this?”

“Because I’ve got to pick Craig up and get him and Larson to the airport and on a fucking plane.”

Makes sense, I suppose, now that I’m thinking about it. Again, this is out of my wheelhouse.

“So I have to go to court?”

“We don’t have associates to send, Cal, so yes, you have to go to court. Plus…” His focus drops to where I’m clutching Lola’s hand.

“Plus, it’s your Judge Espadrilles.” Lola’s simple statement has my smirk falling. “And she likes you.”

That stupid nickname and all my jokes slam into me like a punch to the gut.

Heart in my throat, I turn to face Lola head-on. “You know I was kidding when I said I take the judges out right?”

“I don’t care what you do,” Brian grumbles. “I need you to make sure Henderson doesn’t get locked up tonight. While you’re at it, ensure we have an order in place that requires the ex return the kid by end of week. Think you can handle that?”

Rankled, I straighten my jacket. “Of course I can.”

“Good.” He steps back and holds the door open for us.

Before Lola can scurry out of the cupboard, I tug her to my side. “But I won’t handle it until you apologize to Lola for being such a giant arse these past two weeks.”

“Cal,” she hisses, trying unsuccessfully to pull away.

Brian scoffs. “This is absurd. I simply reiterated company policy. Which you’ve both violated, by the way.”

Lola goes rigid beside me.

“Company policy which was written by a major arse.”

“At least speak English when you’re being an ass,” Brian mutters .

“I am speaking English you big”—I scramble for words—“sod of a man.”

He coughs out a laugh. “Is that an insult?”

“Oh my God, you two,” the beautiful woman still locked to my side huffs and once again tries to push me away.

I shake my head and pull her closer. “No. He owes you an apology and a promise.”

“Oh, now I’ve got to make a promise too?” Brian grouses.

“Yes. Lola is the best paralegal we’ve ever had.”

Brian nods, mouth pressed in a straight line. “I agree.”

“And she’s not at risk of losing her job.” He sucks in a breath, but before he can respond, I hold up a hand and go on. “No matter who she dates.”

With his hands on his hips, he shoots me a glare. “Obviously, but?—”

“No buts. Do you want me to handle this hearing?”

He rolls his neck and stares up at the ceiling. For a moment, he remains like that. Eventually, though, he lets out a heavy sigh. “Yes, Cal, I want you to handle this hearing.”

“Then tell her.”

Lola’s face has gone pale, and she looks like she wants to sink into the floor.

Brian cocks his head to the side, ready to give her shit, I’m sure. But as he takes her in, he straightens, his expression sobering.

Good, he should feel like shite for making her feel anything but good about herself.

“Your job is safe, Lola.” His words are measured, genuine. “No matter what. I’ll fire him before I’d ever fire you.”

“Much better.” I turn to Lola. “Isn’t it, darling?”

Though she shakes her head, she breaks into a light laugh. “You’re insane, you know that?”

“I do.” Cuffing her neck, I pull her in and kiss her softly.

For a moment, I soak in just being able to share the same breath.

“We’re not done with the conversation from before.

” I press one last kiss against her lips, then pull her out of the cupboard.

As I stroll past my brother’s office, I tap out a little rhythm on the doorframe.

“Sully, you’re on babysitting duty until I get home. ”

It’s after eight before I cross the state line into New Jersey.

The judge wasn’t available until after four, and after an hour in chambers, I spent another hour on the phone with Brian and our client, assuring him that all would be well and that his son would be returned at the end of the week.

It took another two hours in traffic to get this far.

If I wasn’t so hopped up on thoughts of Lola, I’d be concerned I might fall asleep at the wheel.

This side of family law is rough. I’ll take working on the money side any day. If I lose, then my client is pissed. But how the hell does Brian cope with the possibility of getting it wrong when there’s a kid at stake?

And what happens when both parents’ arguments are legitimate? Not many people set out to be bad parents. But sometimes the how is what gets in the way of it all.

How do we raise this child? How can we best support the child? How can that parent possibly love this child more than I can? I ’ m the one who should be making decisions because I know my child best.

It’s utterly exhausting. Today’s events absolutely reaffirmed my choice to work on cases that don’t involve children.

How the hell do Lola and Brian do it? There’s no bloody way I could fight this kind of battle day in and day out.

I suppose Brian’s surly attitude makes a little more sense now. If this is the kind of rubbish he’s always working on, it’s no wonder he’s in a perpetual bad mood. It’s also easy to understand why the bloke has no faith that I’m in this with Lola for the long haul .

I’ll just have to prove to him that Lola and I won’t be like those other couples.

Lola. I want to see her as badly as I want to see Murphy after such an atrocious evening.

I tap the button on my steering wheel and dictate a text to Sully, asking him whether Murphy’s still up.

I hate missing his bedtime and we definitely need to talk about the whole locking us in the closet thing, but if he is asleep, then I’ll use this opportunity to stop by Lola’s. Because we also have to talk.

Me: Just getting back to Jersey. Is Murphy awake?

Sully: Lo just put him down

My heart leaps as her name echoes around the car in that robotic voice. Lola’s at our place? I come to a stop and pick up my phone, this time reading the text.

Me: At our flat?

Sully: ??? Where else would Murphy be sleeping? Yes, at our place. Lo brought groceries, made dinner, did homework with Murphy, and is in his room reading to him now.

Sully: I’m not sure what’s going on with the two of you but if you listen to one thing I tell you in this life, this better be it: Don’t fuck this up.

I cough out a laugh, at an absolute fucking loss. Never has anyone gone out of their way like she has for me. She stepped in and cared for my kid when I couldn’t be there. She fed him and ensured his school work was done and read him a book before bed.

She’s still there.

I grip the steering wheel, tempted to step on the gas so I can get home faster but the red light taunts me.

Me: Don’t let her leave.

Sully: Doesn’t look like she’s going anywhere. Murphy’s asleep, and she and Brian just sat down in the kitchen to talk.

Fuck. I glance left, then right, and when it’s clear my car is the only one in the vicinity, I gun it through the red light.

There’s only one person who could ruin this for me, and for once, it’s not me.

Brian better not fuck this up.