Chapter 19
Brian
My usual hyperfocus was hard to come by these days.
Maybe it was the weather. It was June, after all, and the sun was out and the weather was perfectly warm.
Or maybe Jersey was finally getting to me.
Maybe the distraction was caused by all the parts of my life that were suddenly more interesting than work.
Like building Legos with the boys, or cooking dinner, or chatting with Jess when she stopped by.
As I sat at my desk with the window open, hoping to catch a breeze from the alley, I smiled.
It was a bit embarrassing how much I looked forward to seeing her.
Some days, our run-ins only lasted minutes, but that didn’t stop me from finishing up early and hanging around upstairs with the kids, quizzing Greta on her state capitals and listening to Lake Paige with Kit so I could run into the woman who’d infiltrated my every thought.
My brain constantly replayed our almost-kiss. At this point, I’d relived it and analyzed it hundreds of times. If Dammit hadn’t been such an asshole that day, spazzing out in my office the way he did, maybe I’d have even more to fantasize about.
But for now, this was enough. I couldn’t stop envisioning the way her eyes had widened or the way she had bitten down on her plump bottom lip. We hadn’t even touched, and it would go down as one of the most sensual experiences of my life.
Though after my pathetic attempt at yoga, I wasn’t sure the almost-kiss moment was the one that stuck out most to her. When she thought of me, she probably replayed my face-plant in her studio.
Jess wouldn’t be here for another hour, and I had at least two hours of discovery to deal with. If I re-caffeinated, there was a chance I could squeeze it all in before she arrived. As I was pushing back, determined to get another cup of coffee, a knock sounded on my door.
“Come in,” I hedged, frowning. Cal, Sully, and Lo did not knock, and honestly, I rarely closed my door, since they’d all barge in anyway, but I’d hoped by shutting myself away like this, I could focus. Clearly, that hadn’t helped.
Worried a client had found their way back here and that I’d completely lost my mind and had forgotten about a meeting, I splayed my hands on my desk, ready to stand.
The door opened slowly, and Kit appeared, followed by Greta, who gave me a friendly wave.
“I made you this,” she said, handing me a large tumbler. “I noticed you come upstairs and make this every day.”
I reached for the glass, touched. She’d noticed my afternoon protein shake?
“I added Greek yogurt and a banana, because Sloane said she didn’t see you eat breakfast.”
I took a sip. It was a bit lumpy but tasted like my usual. My heart warmed.
“Thank you, Greta,” I said, watching her little face light up.
“Greta is an amazing chef,” Kit said. “She makes amazing smoothies.”
The two of them grinned at each other, exchanging some kind of sisterly look I didn’t understand.
“I have to agree.” I settled back in my chair and took another sip. “How was school today?”
“Awesome,” Greta said, just as Kit shrugged. “Fine.” Her attention roamed around my office, making me feel self-conscious. Although I kept it tidy, this place was objectively a dump, and I felt guilty that the best I could offer them was the old folding chair.
I hummed. “This time of year was always difficult for me. I just wanted it to be summer vacation already.”
Kit gave a noncommittal shrug and sighed. “I don’t know. Summer means moving, and…” She trailed off, looking at her hands.
My chest tightened with sympathy. “You don’t want to move?” I asked gently.
She looked up at me. “It doesn’t matter. Mom said you’re a great lawyer, so you’re gonna make it happen.”
“She actually said you’re the best lawyer ever,” Greta corrected.
Kit glared at her.
That tightness suddenly became uncomfortable. I hated the idea of letting Jess down, but her daughters too?
I folded my hands on my desk. “I’m trying. Your mom is my client, and I always work my hardest to help my clients.”
Kit zeroed in on me, her eyes narrowing. “That’s actually why we’re here.”
I leaned forward, head tilted, confused.
She dropped into the chair across from me and squared her shoulders, pinning me with a glare. “You need to stay away from our mom.”
I reeled back, caught off guard by her almost feral tone. I’d never known Kit to be anything but quiet and serious.
I looked over at Greta, who had her arms crossed. This interaction had gone south very quickly.
“I see the way you look at her.” Kit arched a brow, as if daring me to deny it.
“Um. I—” I shook my head, grasping for words that would make sense.
“You seem nice,” she said. “But I’m sure my dad seemed that way once too. And he’s not a good dude. He was mean to her and treated her badly, and we’re never gonna let that happen again.”
“Never,” Greta echoed.
Quickly, the fear that had hit me dissipated, and I was filled with pride.
I smiled at the pint-sized piano prodigy and her little sister.
They were good kids with protective hearts.
And I understood. It took a lot of courage for them to come down here and talk to me.
Yet they’d done it. They had stuck up for the person who meant the most to them.
These kids were fighters, just like their mom.
Abandoned by their father and forced to grow up too fast, but they were on track to be just as incredible as Jess.
“Did you know I’m also an oldest child like you?
” I asked Kit, steepling my fingers on top of my desk.
“I’ve got a little sister, Dylan. She’s four years younger than I am.
I also lost a parent.” I looked over at Greta.
“My mom died when I was seven, and I always felt like I had to take care of my dad.”
Their eyes widened.
“So I know what it feels like to want to protect the people you care about. I understand why it feels like it’s your job. But it’s not. Your job is to be kids. To have fun. Your mom is an incredible woman who is doing an incredible job raising you both.”
Greta’s lips twitched in the smallest of smiles. Kit remained unreadable.
“And she doesn’t take any shit,” I added
Kit gasped, her eyes widening.
I cringed. “Don’t tell her I swore.”
Both girls giggled.
“I care about her,” I said, leaning forward. “She’s my client. And as a lawyer, it’s my sworn duty to help her. I would never hurt her.”
While Greta seemed relieved by my answer, Kit did not. If she had been younger or a little less jaded, she might have accepted it. But sadly, that was not the case.
“Do you babysit all your clients’ kids?” Kit folded her arms and stared at me.
My heart thudded. “Um. No.”
“Do you cook dinner for your clients? Or go to their yoga classes? Or watch their kids’ piano concerts?”
I shook my head. She had me there.
“So my mom’s not just a client, then.”
As I looked into her eyes, I traveled ahead in time to a moment when she’d be a composed, confident adult. It was incredibly easy to envision. “You are so much like your mom.”
Her face fell.
Dammit. I’d forgotten how incredibly uncool that would be to a twelve-year-old.
“But I respect what you’re saying,” I said, recovering quickly. I hoped. “And I hear you.”
“My mom doesn’t need a boyfriend,” she insisted. “She has us. She’s happy.”
Ah. I could see it now. The hurt. The cracks her dad’s behavior had caused.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I would never hurt your mom or either of you.”
“Good. So stop looking at our mom like that.”
I sat back in my chair, hands on the armrests. “Like what?”
“Like she’s pretty,” Greta blurted out. “Like she’s a pretty princess and you’re in love with her.”
A smile tried its best to overtake my face, but I tamped down on it. “She is pretty.”
Kit’s glare could have frozen lava. “Do not think my mom’s pretty,” she said through gritted teeth while Greta glared.
“Okay.” I held my hands up in surrender. “Your mom and I have been friends a long time, but I promise I will not look at her like she is pretty.”
“Good.” Kit nodded once. “Because I love my mom, and I won’t let anyone hurt her again.”
Finally, I allowed myself to smile, but this one was small, soft. These kids were so damn sweet. They’d been through some shit, and I respected their strength.
“Thank you for speaking to me about this directly.”
“Mom says we have to fight our people-pleasing urges and express our authentic selves,” Greta said, sounding so much like her mom.
Damn. Every day, Jess impressed me more. And her girls did too. “She’s right. I promise you this: I’m going to work as hard as I can to make sure that you get whatever you need. But can we be friends?”
“We’re already friends,” Greta said cheerfully. Kit gave a slow nod, apparently satisfied with my response.
The minute the door closed, I put my head on my desk.
Jesus. How bad did I have it for Jess if I was getting called out by kids? Did Murphy and T. J. know? Had Tia clocked how gone I was for this woman?
And it was wrong. Unethical too.
Jess and her kids deserved their fresh start, and Kit and Greta were right. I couldn’t just moon over their mom. I had a job to do.
With a sigh, I stood. I locked my door, ensuring I wouldn’t be disturbed, and drank my lumpy protein shake, determined to start keeping my distance.