43. Scarlett
Itook a deep breath and pushed open the heavy courtroom doors, my heart hammering so hard I thought I might throw up. The minute I stepped inside, my gaze went immediately to the defendant’s table.
Oh god. He was here.
A rush of emotions slammed into me - longing, hope, fear. Love. So much love.
His broad shoulders were squared, and his gaze was fixed straight ahead. Just the sight of him made my stomach flip, a visceral reaction I couldn’t control no matter how much I tried to steel myself. Part of me wanted to march right up to him and unleash the torrent of feelings I’d been bottling up. But another part felt frozen, paralyzed by the fear of laying myself bare only to be rejected again.
I forced myself to tear my eyes away, focusing instead on getting to our table and setting up my materials.
“How’re you doing?” Cassidy asked quietly.
“Don’t know.” My hands trembled as I organized my notes, the words blurring on the pages. “Actually, yes, I do. I’m freaking the fuck out.”
“You’re not going to back out now, are you?”
“Of course not. I don’t know. Maybe. Probably.” Jesus Christ, I was a wreck. Maybe the idea of just marching up to Rhett right now and blurting out my feelings wasn’t such a bad one. Then at least all this uncertainty would be done with.
How was I supposed to argue this case properly when just the sight of Rhett robbed me of rational thought? Taking another fortifying breath, I tried to calm down, reminding myself of my professional duty. I was a fierce environmental lawyer - not some love-struck fool.
Yet as I stole another glance at Rhett, I knew it was a losing battle. My heart wanted what it wanted and didn’t give two fucks about the consequences. The bailiff walked in and called the court to order. It was at that moment that I realized this case might be the biggest challenge of my career - going head-to-head with the man I loved, and my own overwhelming emotions. “All rise for the honorable Judge Marianne Kensington,” the bailiff announced.
We all stood as the judge took her place at the bench. With a curt nod, she gave us permission to be seated again.
“Calling the case of the Alliance for Susceptible Species versus Rivers Enterprises,” she stated, peering over her glasses at the court files. “Counsel, I’ll hear any pre-trial motions at this time.”
Just as I was gathering my notes, ready to stand and address the court, Bob Miller cut in, pushing to his feet. “Your Honor, if I may?”
The judge frowned, glaring down at Bob. “If you may, what?”
“Address the court, your honor. It’s, uh, necessary to proceedings.”
Cassidy pushed to her feet too, leaning close to me. “What the fuck is going on?” She whispered.
“I don’t know.” My gaze was fixated on Rhett, willing him to look at me. To give me any sign that this was all going to be okay. But he didn’t.
“If it’s necessary for proceedings, as you say, then I’ll allow it.”
“Your honor,” Bob paused, mopping at his brow with a handkerchief. Then he shot Rhett a look, a confused question in his eyes. At Rhett’s firm nod, he continued. “My client has re-evaluated their position on this matter. In the interests of environmental preservation, they wish to withdraw the proposed development plans.”
A murmur rippled through the courtroom at his words. I could feel the surprise and confusion radiating from Cassidy beside me.
“Furthermore,” Bob went on, “Rivers Enterprises would like to commit the full amount of disputed land to the establishment of a protected wildlife sanctuary under joint management with the Alliance for Susceptible Species.”
My jaw dropped as I processed his words. A full sanctuary? Managed by us? This was... this was more than we ever could have imagined!
Unable to contain myself, I turned to face Rhett again. He was already looking at me, the faintest hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips. My heart stuttered in my chest as our eyes met and held.
In that endless moment, all the turmoil, the anger and hurt feelings, the bitter legal battles - they all just melted away under the warm intensity of his gaze. A look passed between us then, one that spoke volumes without a single word.
This was his way of making things right. Of proving himself to me. Oh god.
As the judge called for order, I found it difficult to focus. My mind was reeling with a thousand questions.
The judge’s gavel rapped sharply, cutting through the buzz of murmurs filling the courtroom. “In light of the defendant’s concessions, I hereby dismiss this case with prejudice. Ms. Wright, you and your clients have achieved a tremendous victory here today.”
I barely registered the judge dismissing the case or the Alliance members’ words of gratitude. My eyes were locked on Rhett as he gathered his things, that same enigmatic half-smile still playing on his lips.
When our gazes met again, the world around me seemed to fade into the background. The only thing that mattered was the storm of emotions swirling in those deep brown eyes of his. Longing, regret... and something more I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
“Scarlett? Did you hear what I said?” Marissa was speaking, but her words were just white noise.
Without breaking eye contact with Rhett, I held up a hand to silence her. “Give me a minute.”
For a moment, I thought he might just turn and walk away, leaving me in agonizing limbo once more. But then he gave a barely perceptible nod towards the doors and started moving.
My heart leaped into my throat as I realized he wanted me to follow. Mumbling a hasty apology to the Alliance members, I hurried after the man I loved.
He was standing just outside the door when I burst through the doors. The intensity in those molten eyes damn near stole my breath away.
We stared at each other for a long, charged moment. So much had been left unsaid between us. So many unresolved feelings and unanswered questions hanging in the air.
Part of me was terrified of breaking the silence, as if just opening my mouth might cause this fragile moment to shatter. But I had to know. “I…I thought you didn’t care about frogs?”
His lips quirked up in a half smile. “I don’t. I’m nowhere near noble enough for that. I’d need a complete personality transplant, in fact.”
“Why?” I finally managed to choke out, searching his face desperately. “Why did you do that in there?”
“Because I care about you, my girl. More than anything in the world.”
My heart stuttered at his words, at the implications behind them. Did this mean...? “Oh.”
Before I could find my voice again, Rhett closed the distance between us in two long strides. His large hands came up to cradle my face so tenderly, like I was something precious.
“I’m sorry, Scarlett,” he murmured, those intense eyes roving over my features, drinking me in. “I never should have run out on you and the babies like I did. You didn’t deserve that.”
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as a tidal wave of relief washed over me. “It’s okay,” I whispered, leaning into his touch. “I guess I understand why you did it, even if it hurt like hell.”
A muscle ticked in his chiseled jaw and his throat worked as he swallowed hard. “No, it’s not okay,” he insisted roughly. “I was a goddamn coward. I let my own fears get in the way of being there for you when you needed me most.”
His thumbs stroked over my cheekbones, swiping away the dampness there. “But I don’t want to run anymore.” His hand dropped to my belly. “All I want is you, and our babies, and a life together.”
A choked sob escaped my lips at his words. This was what I’d been longing for, hoping and praying he would say. That he was ready - ready to stop fighting his feelings and commit to me and our babies fully.
Unable to find the words to express the tidal wave of emotion crashing over me, I simply nodded. Then I stretched up on my tiptoes and pulled his head down, crushing my lips to his in a searing kiss.
Rhett groaned against my mouth, his arms banding around my waist and crushing me to his solid frame. I melted into him, into the warmth and safety I’d been craving for so long. When we finally broke apart, I was breathless and dizzy, clinging to the lapels of his suit jacket. He dropped his forehead to mine, his eyes shining with a fierce tenderness.
“God, I love you, Scarlett. So much,” he rasped, the words seeming to cost him a supreme effort. “I think I’ve loved you from the moment we first met. I just didn’t know how to handle it.”
“I love you, too.” Happy tears spilled down my cheeks as I laughed, giddy with joy. “And I gotta say, you sure as hell know how to make a grand romantic gesture.”
Rhett chuckled, brushing the pad of his thumb over my trembling lips. “I had to make sure you knew I was serious. That I’m not going anywhere this time.”
Leaning in, he brushed a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth, his voice dropping to a husky murmur. “You and those babies are my world now. I’m all in, for as long as you’ll have me.”
I shivered at the intensity in his words, at the promise behind them. Winding my arms around his neck, I pulled him close until our bodies were flush.
“Then I guess you’re stuck with me forever,” I whispered against his lips. “Because I’m never letting you go again.”