Chapter Nineteen
After hearing Scotty’s concerns about the custody case, she wanted to hunt down Cleo’s family and let them know what their frivolous custody case was doing to innocent kids. She sent a text to Freddie. Did you ever get a chance to run the financials for the Lawsons and Dennises?
Doing it now, he replied a few minutes later when she was in the bathroom attached to their bedroom getting changed into leggings and a T-shirt.
Let me know.
Who else would I tell?
Stop being fresh. In other news, Green’s psycho ex slashed all four of his tires.
Her phone rang with a call from him.
“Seriously?”
“Yep—and he identified her on the security film from his place.”
“Jeez. That’s screwed up.”
“This is where I tell you something you can’t tell anyone else.”
“I’m here for that.”
“He’s seeing Gigi.”
“Our Gigi? And how do you know that, and I didn’t?”
“Yes, our Gigi, and people confide in me because I’m known as a tremendous source of wisdom.”
“I just threw up in my mouth. Gotta say I didn’t see that pairing happening.”
“He showed up at the hospital after she got hurt, and I knew right away something was up. In fact, I think I knew it before he did.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I asked him about it, he seemed surprised that someone had noticed. He was deeply conflicted because he’d been with Jaycee for a year. It was almost like he needed someone to give him permission to have feelings for Gigi.”
“Wow, and now Jaycee is coming for him. What about Gigi?”
“We sent Patrol to her place as soon as he realized it might’ve been Jaycee who did his tires.”
“Imagine being that insane that you’d do something like that to someone you claim to love.”
“I know. It’s like trying to blow up your ex and the guy you kept her from for six years.”
He huffed out a laugh. “Just like. Hey, so pay dirt on the Lawsons. They filed for bankruptcy last year, and the Dennises’ business is in trouble. They had a customer sue them last year, and the case is looking to go against them, which will wipe them out.”
“No way. So none of them are interested in the kids. They want their money. Those motherfuckers.”
“What’re you going to do with this info?”
“I’ll pass it on to Andy and have him request they submit their financials to prove they have the means to care for the kids. Thanks for doing that for me.”
“Happy to do anything I can to help.”
“Even somewhat unethical things?”
“Even that.”
“Have a good night.”
“You, too.”
Sam fired off a text to Andy. Those MF’ing Lawsons filed for bankruptcy last year, and the Dennises are being sued by a customer, and it’s not looking good for them, so they’re on a fundraising mission with this custody suit.
Andy responded right away. How do you know?
I can’t say… What can we do with it?
I’ll request financials as part of the discovery.
I was hoping you’d say that. This is good info to have, right?
It doesn’t hurt…
On top of them blackmailing Eli…
Yeah, they’re really showing their asses.
Everyone is so upset. This is unbearable.
I’ve requested an emergency hearing to try to get this resolved before Christmas. I’m fairly confident that the judge will throw it out when he sees the airtight custody plan Cleo and Jamison drafted.
What if he doesn’t?
Then we go to war.
The thought of that made Sam’s stomach ache fiercely. Thank you for all you’re doing.
I’d tell you not to worry, but I know that’s pointless. I’ll let you know about the emergency hearing.
Thanks, Andy.
He responded with a thumbs-up emoji.
Sam slapped her phone closed with more than the usual velocity.
“Uh-oh,” Nick said from the doorway. “What’s wrong?”
The sound of his voice, the sight of his handsome, tired face… That was all it took to calm and settle her. How did he do that just by coming into the room? “Scotty and Eli are stressing big-time about the custody case.”
His deep sigh said it all. “I hate that for them, for all of us.”
“I do, too. Freddie and I did a little digging. Get this—the Lawsons filed for bankruptcy last year, and the parents’ business is in trouble.”
“You don’t say, and now their fabulously wealthy niece and nephew are looking pretty good to them.”
“Something like that. Since we can’t come right out and tell them we know this, Andy is going to request their financials as part of the discovery.
He’s also hoping the judge will throw out the case when he sees the plans Cleo and Jameson made for the kids, hopefully as soon as next week if he can get that emergency hearing. ”
Nick dropped his heavy bag of work inside the door, pulled off his tie, unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirt and came over to kiss her. “That’d be good. It’d be nice to not have this hanging over us for Christmas.”
Sam finished unbuttoning his shirt and ran her hands over his chest and abdomen, feeling his muscles ripple through his T-shirt as she breathed in the unmistakable scent of home. “I know. You’re late tonight. Everything okay?”
“Nope.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“Absolutely not. I’m starving. Did you eat yet?”
“No, I only got home an hour ago and was hoping I’d get to eat with you.”
“You had grief group tonight. How’d that go?”
“Really well. Gonzo came and Derek, too.”
“He told me he was going to try to make this one. He wanted to support what you’re doing.”
“It was great to have him there. People appreciated hearing from someone who’s been at it awhile.”
“I’m glad he was able to do that. Let’s order some dinner, and then I want to show you my surprise.”
“I can’t wait to see whatever it is.”
They called down to the butlers’ office to inquire about dinner.
“The chef has prepared salmon and risotto with asparagus in anticipation of your call,” LeRoy said. “We can bring it up whenever you’re ready.”
Sam’s mouth watered as he listed the menu. “That sounds perfect.”
“I’ll be up shortly.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Pleasure, ma’am.”
She put down the housephone and turned to look at Nick, who’d stripped down to boxers. “The next time I complain about being first lady, remind me of the salmon and risotto that was waiting for us when I made that call.”
Smiling, he said, “I’ll be sure to do that. The butlers are the best part of living here.”
Sam went to him and ran her hands over her favorite muscles. “They’re even better than the pool and the bowling alley.”
He bent his head to kiss her neck. “A million times better.”
Her hands slid down over his back to cup his tight ass.
“Don’t start something we can’t finish before dinner arrives.”
She rubbed herself against his instant erection. “Will it keep until after dessert?”
With his arms tight around her, he said, “It’ll keep forever if you’re around.”
“This and the time with the kids is the best part of my day.”
“Same. I hate that I didn’t get to see them before bed.”
“Scotty is still awake if you want to see him. We had a good talk about what’s happening with the custody case. I hate how it’s stressing him out.”
Nick pulled back from her and gave her another quick kiss. “I’ll go see him before dinner comes.” He went into the walk-in closet and came back wearing sweats and his favorite ratty Harvard T-shirt.
Even dressed down, he was the sexiest man she’d ever laid eyes on.
“Be right back.”
“I’ll be here.”
“Counting on that.”
When he returned to their suite fifteen minutes later, dinner had arrived, and Sam had lit the candles LeRoy had put on the table. She appreciated his attention to detail.
“This is nice,” Nick said when he sat across from her.
Sam poured white wine for them. “How’s our boy?”
“He’s okay. He said it helped to talk to you about it and to know Andy is doing everything he can to make it go away.”
“I hate that he’s suffering over it. That Eli is, too.”
“Yeah, and knowing it’s probably all about money just enrages me.”
“Same.”
The dinner was as delicious as it had sounded, and the wine helped take the edge off the day.
“I’m ready for my surprise now.”
“I can’t believe you lasted this long without making me show you.”
“Only because I was hungry. Now that I’ve eaten, I’m fresh out of patience.”
“Go put on something sexy.”
“What?” she said, gesturing to her T-shirt. “This isn’t sexy enough?”
“Everything about you is sexy, but you’re going to want to dress up for this.”
“Challenge accepted.” She got up from the table and went into the closet to change into a getup she’d bought for their upcoming vacation.
These days, she had everything sent to her sister Tracy’s house so some poor White House staffer wouldn’t have to open the package full of lacy bits for the first lady.
As she battled her way into the complicated contraption, she giggled at the thought of that happening.
What the hell had she been thinking ordering something with so many straps and snaps?
By the time she had it on, she’d broken into a sweat.
She put on the vanilla and lavender lotion Nick loved and donned the black silk robe he’d given her for her birthday in October.
When she stepped back into their bedroom, she found that the candles had been extinguished, and he was nowhere to be found. Her gaze was attracted to something on the floor.
A rose petal.
Oh, game on, she thought, smiling as she grabbed her phone, dropped it in the pocket of her robe and followed the trail he’d left her to the stairs to the third floor. She went past the conservatory to a closed door down the hall from Celia’s apartment.
While everything around them was changing, some things remained exactly the same, Sam thought as she followed the rose petals to the door where the trail ended.
Her heart raced with excitement and anticipation as she opened the door and was immediately hit with the coconut scent of the candles from their loft at home.
Smiling, she took in the sight of her gorgeous husband stretched out on the double lounge he’d bought to remind them of their honeymoon in Bora Bora. As she closed the door behind her, she said, “I’m looking for the president. The bat line is ringing downstairs.”