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The weeks leading up to the trial were brutal. I was on autopilot most of the time, except when it came to preparing Val’s case. The night before the trial, I only rose from my chair at three o’clock in the morning.
Val wasn’t in bed, so I went to check the living room, thinking she’d fallen asleep there. I discovered her in Peyton’s bed. My young niece was cocooned against Val, who had laid an arm protectively over her. They looked so sweet and peaceful together. The sight almost brought me to my knees. I wanted to have the privilege of this sight every single night. I’d never wanted anything more.
I took Val in my arms, and she stirred, laying her head on my shoulder.
“I fell asleep in Peyton’s bed.”
“I know. I’m taking you to ours. You smell like nutmeg.”
“Mmm... the girls and I found a cake recipe and decided to test it. What time is it?”
“Three o’clock.”
“So it’s already tomorrow.” She blinked her eyes wide, and I felt her pulse intensify as I lowered her to my bed, climbing in next to her. “I’m scared, Carter.”
“Don’t be. We’re going to win. I promise.” I kissed her cheek, descending to her neck. “Go to sleep, babe. I’m sorry I reminded you about it.”
She fisted my shirt, breathing in deeply. I kept her close to me the entire night, thinking about the case. I wouldn’t disappoint her.
***
Val
The morning of the trial felt as if it was happening to someone else. I went through the motions of getting dressed and eating breakfast, and before I knew it, Carter was pulling the car into a parking lot a few blocks away from the courtroom. I was sweating bullets. My palms were damp, and so were the hair roots at the back of my head. I tried my best to listen to everything Carter was saying, but my frantic panic made my pulse jackhammer in my ears, blocking out most of his words. I knew by heart everything he was saying anyway. We’d gone through the agenda for the day many times.
“Val,” Carter said softly once we were out of the car. “Listen to me. It’s going to be all right.”
“How can you be so calm? You have a lot at stake here too. Your business partners are unhappy with you.”
“I don’t give a damn if they’re happy with me or not.”
“How? How can you not give a damn?”
“Because I focus on what’s important. And right now, you winning this case is important. You are important to me, Val. The rest is just background noise. I’m a very good lawyer. I’ll find solutions. Just try to focus on the positive side. You have your family behind you. And you have me, Val.”
I melted in a puddle at that. He was rationalizing everything. I tried to do the same, but in all honesty, I’d always been rather emotional in these types of situations. All I could think about was that if things went south, my business’s reputation would be tarnished. I stood to lose contracts and orders, and I’d be letting down my employees.
Not to mention, I would take an enormous financial hit if I had to drop the skincare line and the judge decided I had to pay damages to Beauty SkinEssence.
Carter would lose a lot too. I couldn’t believe he was putting his skin in the game for me like this.
“It’s not working, is it?” he asked.
I shook my head. Next thing I knew, Carter had captured my mouth with his, pressing my back against one of the concrete walls in the parking lot. Holy shit, this wasn’t your usual have-a-good-day-kiss. It was so sensual and hot that I nearly climbed him.
“What are
you doing?” I demanded when we paused to breathe.
“Taking your mind off everything while we still have time.”
I laughed. “I’m afraid not even your excellent kissing skills can achieve that.”
He narrowed his eyes, and then slipped a hand under my shirt, cupping me over the silky bra.
“Did you just fondle me?”
“I did. And if you keep this up, I’ll do worse.”
