Page 98 of Miss Fortune

“I’m saying I want a future with you. Seeing you with the baby and what kind of mom you’d be—it did something to me. We were a team, exhausted and over our heads, but I miss it already.”

“You want a family?”

“Absolutely. So long as I have you, I’m not afraid to take the next step. I love you more than I ever thought possible.”

She threw her arms around me. “I love you too.”

Once I stepped back, I revealed the rest of my plan. “I plan on quitting the firm. It’ll take me a couple months to wind down my case load, but I want to start a private practice focusing on adoptions, wills, and estates. I’m tired of being a divorce attorney. Instead I want to focus on all the things which make me feel like I’m making a difference.”

“I gotta be honest, I won’t miss workday Caleb.”

“I won’t, either. He’s kind of a dick.”

She giggled. “In all seriousness, are you sure you’re willing to leave it all behind?”

“Just imagining it feels like a weight has been lifted. And if you want to move to Seattle, then I’ll take the bar in Washington and open a practice there.”

“I don’t. Turns out I’m kind of partial to California, but we could spend some time traveling.”

I leaned in to kiss her. “Where to first?”

“How do you feel about Australia?”

“Never been. Let’s do it.” Never a statement I ever thought I’d make. I’d spent years tightly wound and committed to my familiar way of doing things. But there was a lightness to my chest I couldn’t ever remember feeling. An excitement about embracing the unknown and blazing a new path.

Was forever enough time to love this woman? I didn’t think so. “How do you feel about moving in with me? It can be temporary in case you’d prefer to look for another house we could pick out together. I just don’t want to spend another night without you.”

She arched a brow. “Moving in together is a big step.”

Yes, it was, but one I couldn’t wait to take. “I’ve been treading water a long time, so if I’m suddenly swimming toward the deep end, it’s because I don’t want to waste another minute. I guess when you know, you know.”

She grinned at the words I’d once scoffed at.

I pulled her into my arms. “Plus, let’s be honest. I’d do anything to get your bed over to my house.”

* * *

On Monday morning, I walked into the office with a lightness to my step and a grin on my face.

Doris looked up from her desk, her expression one of shock as I was sure it was the only time she’d ever seen me excited to be here.

“Have a moment?”

“Certainly.” She followed me into my office.

I shut the door and turned toward her. “I need to meet with the managing partner sometime today if he’s available. I’m leaving the firm.”

Her smile beamed. “I’m so proud of you. My husband will be so excited to hear I’m retiring. Could there be any better news?”

“Mm, there might be better.”

“There’s only one thing on my mind. Don’t disappoint me, Caleb.”

I grinned. “I’m in love with Daisy.”

Doris squealed. And before I knew it, she was hugging me, jumping up and down. “I knew it, I just knew it.”

“You knew we were together?”