The Soldier's Forever Family

She clasped his hand, noting that it was big and rough-skinned for a lawyer. A hand that had done something other than pushing papers. Just having it wrapped around her smaller, smoother hand made her shiver. She could only imagine how it would feel on the soft skin of her thigh. And other places.

Whoa, Mads. Slow it down there. Maybe it had been a bit longer than she’d realized since she’d spent private time with an intriguing man. “Hi, Walt. Nice to meet you. I’m Maddie Zielinski.”

His eyebrows rose sharply. “Zielinski? Any relation to Joanna Zielinski?”

“My sister. You’ve met her?”

“No, not yet.”

“Let me guess. You’re a friend of Adam Scott?”

“I am, yes. And his legal counsel.”

Oops. This could be a problem if things didn’t go well for some reason between her sister and Simon’s father. “Joanna has her own legal representation. Me. And I think it would be best if you and your client don’t talk to her unless I’m present. I’ll screen any arrangements on behalf of her son—just to keep everything aboveboard, of course.”

She was aware she was making some rather sweeping assumptions on her sister’s behalf, but she told herself it was justified. Joanna tended to look for the best in others, whereas Maddie was naturally more cynical and combative. She wouldn’t let her sister be either sweet-talked or intimidated into settling for less than she and Simon deserved.

Walt seemed pretty good at hiding his emotions behind a bland smile, but still she thought she saw surprise in his eyes before he masked it. Probably she didn’t look quite as much like a lawyer as he did—which, of course, was always her intention. Her hair color wasn’t her only minor rebellion against societal expectations and pigeonholes.

“Your client’s son has another parent,” he reminded her smoothly. “And any demands made on Adam will, of course, be filtered through me.”

A surge of energy coursed through her, the adrenaline rush of battle. This wasn’t her usual type of legal case, but there was nothing she enjoyed more than a vigorous debate with a worthy opponent. For, um, Joanna and Simon’s sake, she assured herself hastily.

“I should find my sister,” she said, tightening her grip on the handle of her duffel. She seasoned the smile she gave him with generous dashes of spunk, sauciness and anticipation. “I’ll be seeing you, I’m sure, Mr. Becker.”

“Yes, Ms. Zielinski. I’m quite sure you will,” he murmured.

She didn’t look back, but she sensed him watching her as she marched away. She added an extra sashay to her walk, just because.

* * *

ADAM SCRAWLED HIS name at the bottom of an official-looking form, then another, and yet a third. That done, he shoved the pile of papers across the desk to Trevor, who waited to serve as witness to Adam’s signature.

“What else?” Adam asked after Trevor signed.

Walt tapped the documents into alignment and slid them into his briefcase. He used his prosthetic hand so skillfully that Adam hardly noticed it anymore, though he was continually impressed by how well Walt had adjusted. Having been in danger for a while of losing his own right arm to an infection, Adam had always wondered if he’d have adapted so well.

“That takes care of your revised will, your retirement account and your life insurance,” Walt replied. “Simon Zielinski is now your sole heir and beneficiary. You’re sure you want to do all of this without getting the results of a DNA test first?”

“Might as well get it all started. You know how I feel about unfinished business.” He’d always figured that staying on top of his obligations made it that much easier to get away tidily. Though he sometimes feared he’d inherited his father’s restlessness, he never wanted to leave behind the messes his dear old dad had strewn in his wake. “If the DNA test proves I’ve made a mistake, it’s not like any of this is irreversible.”

Adam still believed deep in his gut that Simon was his. Call it instinct, genetic recognition or just uncharacteristic gullibility, but he accepted Joanna’s account of what had happened. And he would take care of his financial responsibilities without argument, which was the least he could do for the boy.

He thought back to the way he and Joanna had parted last night, after an embrace as arousing as it had been unplanned. He’d thought they were handling everything pretty well, considering. They’d been civil, cooperative, even shared a few kisses in acknowledgment of the attraction that had simmered between them. But something in her tone when she’d sent him away had nagged at him during the hours since.

Maybe she wasn’t as okay as she wanted him to believe. For all she knew, he’d been living a carefree bachelor life while she’d raised a child and forged a career on her own. He couldn’t blame her for harboring some resentment, even if she hadn’t fully admitted those feelings to herself.

“So, with death benefits out of the way—and, we hope, not to be needed for a very long time—we should discuss the next step,” Walt said, leaning forward in his seat to interrupt Adam’s musings. “I met Joanna’s attorney this morning, and I think we should talk about—”

“Wait, what?”

“Her what?”

Adam and Trevor had spoken at the same time, both staring at Walt as if he’d lost his mind.

Eyebrows rising, Walt looked from Adam to Trevor and b

ack again. He asked Adam, “She didn’t mention this?”