So Wrong (Heart of Hope 3)

On Monday, I called my lawyer to let him know what was going on.

“It’s not a good time to file divorce papers,” he said. “Not during a custody case.”

“I don’t know if we can pull off happy family.” I sat on the couch with my head back, like the weight of everything made it too heavy for my shoulders.

“You did fine before.”

“We were a happy family before.” Okay, so maybe not a legitimate happy family, but for a time we seemed to have what I hadn’t with my own family.

“The point is, the judge won’t like it. She won’t care that Leo is banging the nan

ny, probably, but she’ll think it is difficult for Maisie to be in the midst of a divorce.”

“Leo is banging the nanny?” Had my PI figured that out and passed it on? That was the one source of good news I’d had in a long time.

“Yeah. I’m looking into it more.” He sounded distracted as if someone was taking his attention while he was on the phone with me.

“Okay, so no divorce, but she’s pregnant, and I need to ensure that my rights are protected.”

There was a pause. “You know Dylan, for a guy who seems to have it all together, you don’t have it together. You want to divorce your wife while she’s pregnant? Jesus, if your ex got wind of that—”

“Well she won’t, right? Client-attorney privilege.” I did sound like a complete douche, but she was the one who tried to keep the pregnancy from me.

“Now isn’t the time for any of this. If you want Maisie, suck it up and make it work until this is done.”

I knew he was right. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Maisie, so if I had to stay married to Tessa, I would. “Tessa is with her parents right now. I don’t know if she’ll be back for the court hearing coming next week.”

“I’ll take care of it. In the meantime, stay the course.”

The following Sunday, I felt like I could finally breathe again when Maisie returned home.

“Where’s Tessa?” she asked when I closed the door behind Veronica and Leo as they headed home.

“She’s visiting her mom and dad.”

“Still? She’s been there longer than me.”

I didn’t know how to explain Tessa being gone. We’d had a few texts, mostly her telling me she planned to stay at her parents longer. On Friday, she sent me the sonogram appointment information. But other than that, we hadn’t talked, and it was fucking killing me. How was it that I missed her as much as I missed Maisie? She’d hurt me, and yet somehow all I could remember was her sweet smile, generous heart, and the way she doted on Maisie. It was a lie, I told myself. But I didn’t want to believe it. In fact, one night, Tessa came to me in my dream. She started to suck my dick, which I didn’t want her to do because even in my dream I was pissed.

“You betrayed me,” I said trying to get away.

“You hurt me too, and yet I’m still here. Till death do us part.” She looked up at me from where she knelt before me.

“It’s not real. Our marriage isn’t real.”

“Yes, it was. For a few moments it was real. It still could be real.”

I shook my head, but then her lips were on me, and my anger was no match for my desire. I woke with a start, my cock throbbing with need.

The following week, I brought Maisie to work with me, paying the playroom staff extra to watch her while I worked. Fortunately, Corrine was able to watch her on my court date, as she had during the other court appearances.

I walked into court wondering how the judge would take it that Tessa wasn’t there. Being with her folks was a good reason, right? But as I approached my lawyer at the table, I saw that Tessa was here. She looked worse than before. Tired and worn out. Was she having a hard time with the pregnancy?

She gave me a tentative smile. “I said I’d help, so I’m here, but if you want me to go …”

“You need to stay,” the lawyer said, pulling out a chair for her.

I nodded my agreement and sat next to her. My lawyer started talking in a low voice, but I couldn’t hear him. I was distracted by her presence. Her scent. The warmth of her body next to mine. She was fucking wreaking havoc on my emotions and my senses.