Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
LOTTIE
How it ends…
“Knock, knock. Can I come in?”
Kara’s door opens with a woosh that blows the hair back from my face.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” she says. Her cheeks are pale, and I can see the moisture on her forehead.
“Aw, sweetie. It’s okay to be nervous.”
“And I can’t get my hair right, my clothes aren’t fitting, and, and…I really might barf.”
I hold onto her biceps and scan her body. “Well, it looks as though you’ve grown when we weren’t paying attention.” Her pants sit at her shins, and she is definitely taller than me by a few inches.
She wrings her hands together in front of her stomach. It’s been six months since the disastrous award ceremony, and five months since our first court hearing with her father.
I hide a shiver, remembering that first court date when their father attempted to eviscerate this little girl. I’ve never been angrier at a judge in my entire life. We only found out later that he was Jonah’s golf buddy.
Kara is actually the one who mentioned it, and we were able to have her case switched to a new courtroom. Kara’s testimony, and the video Weston Westbrook sent Thane showcasing Jonah’s vitriol toward his daughter, are what gave Thane temporary full custody.
Little Weston definitely secured his spot at Wilder Minds with that one.
Since then, we’ve had multiple home visits and court-appointed mediators checking in on us with Kara whenever they got the urge.
Today, we’re making it official. We’ve asked the courts to terminate Jonah’s parental rights and allow us to legally adopt her. In just a few hours, we’ll find out if our request was granted—but from what all the attorneys have said, it’s as good as done.
Since Jonah is currently on house arrest for insider trading, we don’t foresee any issues anyway.
“Okay, I might have something that will work. I bought a dress online, and it’s too long for me. Want to try it on?”
“Yes, please. I should have just brought more clothes from home.” She crosses her arms over her chest and directs her anger toward the walk-in closet that is still full of clothes from when she lived in the penthouse with Thane before moving to Sweetbriar.
“It happens. You wear shorts all the time at home, so that’s probably why we didn’t notice the massive growth spurt. Why don’t you head into your bathroom and work on your hair, and I’ll go pull some stuff I bought yesterday while you were packing up at your father’s place. Sound good?”
“I should have just gone shopping with you. He destroyed everything that was mine after…”
“After the FBI got an anonymous tip.” Thane enters the room with the swagger of a Hollywood movie star.
“Are you really going to stand there and tell me that you had nothing to do with that?” Kara asks. At least her frown is curling into a smile now.
“Kara.” Thane uses an annoyed tone he’s been practicing, but it makes him sound like a drunk Matthew McConaughey, and not in a good way. It does make Kara snicker, so hopefully she’s feeling a little less pukey. “Whoever the tipster was would have had to do something highly illegal, like hack into not only Jonah’s business but also into multiple banks. Does that sound like something I’d do?”
The jackass doesn’t even try to hide his smirk.
“So, you’re telling me that our dad and Lottie’s dad both just happened to get busted within a week of each other?”
Thane’s anonymous tipster also shared that Sinclair Systems had been stealing from clients for over twenty years, and although no one has been directly charged yet, Sinclair Systems is essentially defunct.
Somehow, while handling all of that, he was also able to prove that my father had no right to any piece of my company. He was only slightly annoyed when I remembered I had started it on an older computer he didn’t have access to. Once I handed it over, he was able to locate the missing files he’d been searching for, and the lawsuit was dismissed three days later.
If he weren’t in bed with me every night, I’d question if he ever sleeps.
“Robin Hood appears to have been on our side this time, and now Wilder Minds and the Fitzgerald Group are benefiting from their dirty deeds.” Thane cocks his head to the side as he studies Kara. “What’s going on with your pants?”
“Ugh, Brad. Why do you have to be so blunt? Nothing fits, okay? I don’t know what to wear and today is a big day and I don’t know what?—”
“Kara.” He interrupts and waits until she’s caught her breath. “Clothing is an easy fix. We have plenty of time before we have to leave.” He focuses his attention on me next. “What size do you think she is now?”
“Ah, I don’t know, a two or a four tall in women’s? In juniors, maybe a five or a seven? She’s got long legs like you.”
“Okay, I’ll take care of this. You go brush your hair.”
Kara huffs at his directive.
“And you”—he points to me—“go get dressed.”
“Don’t boss me around, Thane. I came to make sure Kara didn’t need any help. I’ll be ready to go in time.”
His gaze narrows in on me as though he doesn’t believe me, and I roll my eyes in frustration.
“One time. I was late one time.”
“One time is enough. I’ll take care of Kara. You…” He swirls his hand in the air. “You do whatever you need to do.”
“So damn bossy.” But I know he’s right, so I march out of the room.
When I enter the hallway, I hear him say, “It doesn’t matter if your clothes don’t fit or even if you brush your hair. What matters is that we’re all in this together, okay?”
“But I was kind of hoping we’d take some pictures today, all of us. You know?”
He must lower his voice because I don’t hear his response.
“It will be perfect,” Kara says. “Can you make sure they don’t bring over anything pink? I’m not a pink girl anymore.”
“Sure. I’ll go make some calls.”
I hop forward two steps and then speed walk toward our room.
I never envisioned adopting anyone before, so perhaps I should have taken Kara shopping with me, but she was so adamant about wearing pants that some pop star made famous. She also didn’t seem too excited by the prospect of me going to her dad’s house, even though I told her I support her, always.
It’s something she wanted to do on her own, and since Thane wouldn’t allow that, he agreed to sit outside her door while she gathered her belongings.
None of us had anticipated Jonah literally shredding everything in her bedroom from her curtains to her clothes. Thane took photos to document it all for the courts, then held Kara while she cried over her lost treasures.
Before they’d even returned to Thane’s penthouse, a delivery of about one hundred Care Bears arrived for her. The smile on her face when she saw them was worth all the papercuts I received breaking down the boxes.
I love this little girl more than I ever thought possible.
We’ve developed a very special bond, and I’ve learned more slang and pop culture references in the last six months than I probably even knew as a teen myself. Our connection is something that I’ve never had with anyone else.
We have a coffee date every Sunday that Thane is not allowed to crash, even if he says he was walking Hercules and happened to see us—he’s pulled that trick twice. We arranged our book clubs to meet at the library on the same day, and we have dinner after to discuss how they went. It’s girl time neither of us has ever had, and I think it means as much to her as it does to me.
We’ve found ways to fit seamlessly into each other’s worlds, and I’m thankful for every moment I get to spend with her.
Even Hercules has found her forever home with us, not that Thane was ever really going to give her up. The day I called his bluff, I was halfway to my car before he came barreling out of the house, cursing under his breath, and took Hercules from my arms. Then he proceeded to give me the silent treatment for the rest of the night, but Kara and I decided it was worth it.
“Having trouble choosing?” Thane steps into the closet behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
Before me are two very different dresses, but my heart is already set on the pale pink flowy dress. I’ll freeze my ass off in it since March in New York is brutally cold, but it’s the one my heart is gravitating to for today.
“I like the one on the left.”
“Mmm.” He nuzzles into my neck. “I like it.”
“Did you even look at it?” I laugh, spinning in place and wrapping my arms around his neck.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll like whatever you put on.”
“In that case, perhaps I’ll bring back the red dress you loved so much.”
He nips at my neck. “I never did get to rip it off you like I promised.”
“And you’re not going to either. It’s a beautiful dress.”
“We’ll see.”
“You already sorted out Kara’s outfit?” How long have I been standing in here?
“All it took was a phone call. They’ll be here in forty-five minutes, so hopefully Kara can choose something quickly. We can’t be late today.”
“Look at you, Mr. Fancy Pants shopper.”
“I loathe shopping. But on the rare occasion that I don’t have time to have something custom-made, I use a little boutique a few blocks away. They seemed eager to clothe someone who wasn’t me, so hopefully they know the tastes of a thirteen-year-old.”
“I’m sure they’ll do fine.”
“That means we have a little time.” He backs me into the center island in the massive, mostly empty closet. As soon as we get custody, he’s going to sell this place. He said New York never felt like home anyway, so it’s an easy decision.
“Thane, I just got out of the shower.”
“I won’t get you too dirty.” The way he stares at me turns me into a puddle at his feet. “Promise.”
He slides his hands down my silk robe, then tugs on the tie holding it together while I nervously glance at the door.
“I locked it. But the clock is ticking. Let’s see if I can make you come before Kara needs us again.”
“Thane.” I half-heartedly attempt to hold him off, but who am I kidding? I’ll never say no to an orgasm.
He places his hands on my hips and then lifts me onto the island. His hands coast down my thighs to my knees. When he pulls my legs open, the cooler air in my most intimate spot makes me shiver.
“You’re walking around with no panties?” He grips my hips, using his thumbs to gently caress the sensitive flesh between my legs.
“I’d just gotten out of the shower. I wanted to see if Kara needed anything before I started getting ready, and you’re not really one to talk.”
He drops to his knees, then lifts his gaze to mine. “I love that you think of her first, sweetheart. But for the next ten minutes, I’d prefer not to hear my sister’s name, if it’s all the same to you.”
I open my mouth to respond but end up sucking in a breath when he licks a line straight through my folds, then curls his tongue into my entrance.
Jesus. I swear he gets better at this every time he does it.
My hands spear his hair, fisting the soft strands as he devours my pussy like a man deprived of life’s essentials for too long.
“Thane.”
He laps on my clit with his tongue before taking it into his mouth with near-painful suction. But when he enters me with two of his thick, long fingers, I know this will be over in record time.
He manipulates his fingers in a sensual dance with his tongue, and he growls into me when my body shows the first signs of release.
“Are you going to come for me, sweetheart?” He laps at my clit with a stiff tongue, flicking at it and biting it until I writhe, my hips bucking up into his mouth. “What about when I press here?”
Oh God. His fingers curl inside me and tap against that spot that causes my entire body to tremble.
He stands, replacing his tongue with his thumb, and stares down at me while his fingers continue their pleasurable torture.
“I will never get tired of seeing your face when you come.”
I suck in lungs full of air. I’m so close I can’t form words.
“Admit it.”
My head thrashes side to side. I’m beginning to have a love/hate relationship with his newest game. The one where he teases and edges me to the brink of orgasm before pulling back, waiting for me to admit that loving each other and working together is better than I imagined it could be.
But I refuse to give him that much satisfaction. He’ll hold it over me for years.
A month into working with the Fitzgerald Group, I quickly realized I was in over my head, and I reluctantly admitted that I needed Thane to step in to handle the technical aspects of my company’s growth.
Thankfully for him, he never once gloated, but I have a feeling this is his form of payback for not trusting him from the beginning.
“Never.” The word hisses through my clenched teeth. This devilish man knows I’m right on the brink.
“Someday you will. Someday you’re going to admit that I was right and you were wrong, but not today. Today we have more important things to get to.”
Lowering his mouth, he bites down on my nipple, and my hips jerk through wave after wave of an orgasm he deftly drags out.
When the spasms slow to little tremors, I open my eyes. He’s staring at me with such fondness and adoration, my heart takes over the tremors that just vacated my overheated core. One of these days he’ll give me a heart attack, I’m almost certain of it.
“Hi,” he whispers through a magnificent smile.
“Hi.”
“In about three hours, we’re going to legally be a family. Are you ready for that?”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my entire life.”
His features are soft. He’s no longer hiding behind walls, at least not when it’s just the three of us. I’m not even sure he knew how much love and care he had to share.
“You are the most beautiful and kind woman I’ve ever met.” He presses a gentle and too-short kiss to my lips. “Stay there. I’ll get a towel.”
My body collapses onto the island, boneless, while I stare vacantly at the ceiling.
His warm palm presses into my belly, and I lift onto my forearms as he drags a warm cloth between my legs. I stopped fighting his need to take care of me months ago, since it appears to be his love language.
When he’s finished, he tosses the cloth into the hamper, steps between my legs, and stares at my belly.
“Everything okay?”
He blinks a few times, then nods. “I’ve never thought about being a parent. I was too scared they’d end up like me.”
I attempt to sit up, but he keeps his hand on my belly. “Thane, we would be so lucky to have children who are exactly like you. You’re amazing and generous. You’re kind and caring. Not to inflate your ego or anything, but you’re pretty fabulous all around.”
His smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Do you want kids?” I ask quietly. “I mean, more kids?” We haven’t really had this conversation, and honestly, it was never part of my life plan either. But the thought of kids with him makes that clock I didn’t know I had start ticking.
The tips of his fingers press into my lower abdomen. “I think I do,” he says. “Maybe one or two. Do you want kids?”
Knowing he isn’t opposed to it makes breathing a little easier. “Honestly, I never did. But I do like the idea of a little Thane running around. I’m not offering to host a basketball team, but I could manage one or two.”
He scans my face in the same way he reads his favorite book—he absorbs me into his orbit.
“One or two.” His face contorts as if he’s about to burst at the seams. “Like now? How much time do we require to plan for a baby? Do we need to visit a doctor first? Should we buy a crib or one of those swings, but one with a very high safety rating? When?—”
I place a single finger over his lips. “We have time. A baby takes time to make and even longer to bake. We should also give Kara some time alone with us. Plus, Heart Strings and Hotlines is exploding all over the globe. Before we bring a baby into the mix, we really should have a handle on the company’s plan for expansion.”
After weighing my options and listening to all the ways Thane could envision my company growing, I decided to incorporate. I named the company Heart Strings and Hotlines and didn’t give a shit what anyone thought about it. It’s now the parent company for three new startups—a matchmaking app, a corporate recruiting system, and of all things, a government-led tool for profiling serial killers.
Who knew?
Not me, but we also have plans for six more branches over the next eighteen months. As much as this is my baby, it’s become Thane’s passion, and his ideas are limitless.
“Time. Expansion. Bake.” He says it as though he’s reading a checklist, and I know him well enough to know that’s exactly what he’s doing. “That sounds fair. By my calculations, we can get pregnant in sixteen months. That gives us time to work the expansion, and it gives you time to grow the baby.”
“Baby-making isn’t an exact science.”
He shakes his head with his brows pinched. “Fucking flawed humans messing with my algorithms again.”
“Perfectly flawed, and admit it. You wouldn’t have us any other way.”
His frown slips from his face. “No, Charlotte. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Lottie.” Kara bangs on our bedroom door.
“I am never going to get used to that,” he grumbles.
“Well, sorry to burst your bubble, buddy, but babies are way more likely to interrupt sexy time than a thirteen-year-old.”
He stutter-steps over the threshold of the closet. “Maybe baby-making can commence in twenty-four months, then. I’m not nearly ready to cut any time with you short.”
I throw my head back and laugh.
This infuriatingly sexy man still believes he controls the universe.
And sometimes, I just might let him.