Hard Hit (IceCats 3)
She’s confused. “Willa is wonderful. She’ll win whatever you need. I may be overstepping, and you can tell me to mind my own, but is everything okay?”
“I’d never tell you that,” I blurt once more, and then I swallow to compose myself. But I sure as hell don’t miss the flash of something in those gorgeous eyes of hers. “Her mom ran out on us. Lilly and I broke up right when Celeste was born, but when Lilly dropped Celeste off to me the other day, she said she wasn’t coming back. I want full custody and to make sure she can’t get my baby back and do this again.”
Her eyes widen as her mouth parts. “What a fucking bitch,” she says, but then she slaps her hand across her mouth. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry.”
I grin. “It’s okay. She doesn’t know any better yet, and I agree,” I say with a wink, and she lets her hands fall.
“I’m so sorry.”
“It is what it is. Celeste will be better off with me.”
“Absolutely. I’m captivated by how attentive you are. This whole time we’ve been chatting, you’ve taken care of her like it’s second nature. I’m fully impressed.”
I love how she talks. I wave her off. “This is nothing. You should see my diaper skills.”
She grins. “Shh, don’t say that too loud. There’re a lot of thirsty females in here, wanting husbands to walk in.”
Wish she were one of those thirsty females. I laugh along as I nod. “So, you see—” Before I can finish my sentence—which, in all honesty, it’s best that I don’t—my lawyer, Willa Ray, walks up.
“Kirby Litman?”
“That’s me,” I say, my voice cracking. I gotta get away from Jaylin; she’s making me dumb.
“Ms. Raventorn?”
Jaylin looks over to the lady who just called her, the one who is waving a phone in the air. Jaylin holds up a finger and then looks back to Willa. “Hey,” she says sweetly before reaching over to squeeze my forearm. I swear, I feel her touch everywhere. “This is a super-great guy. Please take care of him.”
“Absolutely, Ms. Raventorn.”
Jaylin looks back at me, but then she turns her gaze on Celeste. She rubs her fingers along her cheek, and Celeste giggles. “Man, she’s beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I say, and…please look at me. Please.
Finally, her eyes cut to mine. “I wish I had time to play with her.” And just like that, once again, I’m reminded of who Jaylin Raventorn is and how I could never measure up. She glances back at Willa. “Let me know if you need me to do anything.”
“Will do. Right this way, Mr. Litman.”
Before I can move, though, my eyes meet Jaylin’s. “Thanks.”
“Of course,” she gushes, waving me off. “It was really good seeing you.”
I nod. “Yeah, you too.”
She grins and then heads back toward her office. I’m not even ashamed of the fact that I watch her. That I’m basically drooling at the mouth for her. I want to follow her, beg her to go out with me. But once more, Celeste slaps my face, knocking some sense back into me. Sadly, I follow my new lawyer to her office, wishing like hell I wasn’t about to sue my ex for custody of my daughter.
And maybe instead signing a contract for a new house for Jaylin, Celeste, and me to live in.
Because signing that contract would mean I would be in Jaylin’s office.
With Jaylin.
Life has a funny way of fucking you sometimes.
Chapter Five
Jaylin
* * *
The problem with offices made of glass is that when there is someone you want to stalk, it’s entirely too easy.
I’ve turned my chair to the left while putting my feet up on the edge of my desk. I have files in my lap, with a highlighter in one hand and a pen in the other. I tap my lip with said pen so people think I’m really concentrating on the work I am doing. I’m not, though. Instead, I am watching Kirby with Celeste on his knee as he listens intently to Willa. She is moving her hands, talking with her whole body, and that’s how I know she is passionate about helping him. There are a lot of things about Willa that I love and adore, but my favorite thing is that when she wants to win a case, she does everything in her power to do so. It’s one of the reasons she is our most successful family lawyer. I’m a bit worried because custody is hard to take away from a mother, but I have all the confidence in the world that if someone were going to make it happen, it’d be Willa.
Kirby meets with her for over an hour. In that time, I find I have to pee like a racehorse, and also, I have made eye contact with Jacob Jinkins, one of our criminal lawyers who is convinced I want to suck his dick. Sorry, no. I want the sexy dad with the adorable baby in his lap. He is incredible with her. I’ve met a lot of men who say they want kids, but I never saw them as a dad. Kirby was made for the role. He is so attentive to Celeste. He feeds her, gives her toys, and keeps her occupied while still giving Willa his attention. It’s astonishing to witness.