AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That brought the little bastard out of his pansy, legs-crossed position. Right into Mason’s face, or as close as he could get. They stood inches apart, surrounded by mutual fury.
“You wouldn’t.”
“Impregnate your ex-wife and start a family with her? In a fucking heartbeat, I would.”
“She didn’t tell you.”
“That she always wanted more kids? Yeah. How impossible that would be since you rarely touched her? I figured that part out for myself while helping her make up for lost time.”
Scott backed away, one hand on his temple, rubbing. “Here’s some science for you, doctor…Andie had five miscarriages prior to Dylan. That’s five babies, each of which she wanted desperately, all lost. She’s youthful and healthy—getting her pregnant shouldn’t be a problem. But if you do that to her, you’ll be giving her more heartbreak, not a second chance at a family.”
The stress and fatigue headache he’d been fighting all day reared up and slammed against his skull. He dropped into his chair.
Scott Finch was a miserable asshole, but this information about Andie’s history put things in different perspective. She would’ve told him when the time came. Or would she? They’d had unprotected sex twice and she hadn’t said a word about her medical issues. Fuck.
“I’ve checked you out, Dr. Lang. Thoroughly.” Scott paused, inspecting his professionally buffed nails several times before getting back to his speech. “You’re barely thirty. You’re from a close-knit family. Odds are you’ll want one of your own in the future. My ex-wife isn’t the woman for you.”
“You don’t know me. You don’t know Andie anymore, either. I love her. I’m not going anywhere.”
Scott smirked and shook his head. “How sweet. So you love her, but does she love you? She’s a very open person, direct and demonstrative with her affection and opinions—but I don’t have to tell you that, I’m sure. She’s told you that she loves you, I assume?”
“Your interest in my relationship with Andie is out of line, not to mention fucked-up.” The chair thudded against the desk, Mason pushed it away so hard when he stood. “I’ve got work to do. I’ll tell her you cleared me to meet Dylan.”
The lawyer slid his hands into his pockets, as if he was settling in for a long conversation. “Andie and I didn’t have a pornographic sex life, but we had a good marriage. Solid. Dependable.”
“Sounds like a Volvo. Guess she’s interested in a performance model now.” If the prick was going to ignore the obvious dismissal, it was open season.
“You’re finally getting it. It’s normal for women her age to have a spike in their hormones prior to menopause. When Andie’s ends—and it will, that’s simple biology—she’s going to want her family back, not some young stud who’ll still want the sex she’s no longer craving. You love her?” A vindictive smile replaced the controlled, straight face. “She lusts for you, junior, it’s not love.”
* * *
ANDIE
By four o’clock, the crazies had set in. Scott had dropped Dylan off hours earlier. After tolerating her mushy hugs for a full three minutes, Dylan had broken free and asked for food, as on any normal day. It was over veggie quesadillas in the kitchen that he’d brought up the boyfriend topic.
Damn Scott and his technicalities. She hadn’t asked him not to tell Dylan…so, of course he’d informed Dylan about the email. And her sweet boy had been okay with it. More than okay. He’d even said it was about time. After a bunch of questions he’d closed the discussion by saying Mason sounded cool.
She had the best kid in the world. That kid had kissed her goodbye half an hour ago. Dylan loved the cottage and spending time with his dad, but he hated missing out on hang time with his friends. She had a couple more hours until he came home for refueling. Enough time to check in withher boyfriendand share the news that had her bouncing off the wall. Oh, and tell him she loved him. Definitely that.
Her legs shook as she walked from her car to the front door of the West End Veterinary Hospital. Anticipation, not nerves like the first time she visited. If a little bird landed on her shoulder and started singing a happy tune, she wouldn’t be surprised. Everything wasthatright in the world.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Finch,” Cara said at the top of her voice when Andie walked through the door.
Andie rolled her eyes. Not even Mason’s irritating receptionist could ruin her mood this afternoon. The juvenile antics were getting old, though. One of these days, the ditz would have to accept that Mason wasn’t interested in her sexy offers.
“Wait…you can’t go back there right now.”
Out of respect for Mason’s business, she stopped at the desk. “Is he with a client?”
“He’s doing a surgery…and it could be awhile. I’ll tell him you stopped by.”
Her chest tightened. Surgery in the afternoon wasn’t good news. Poor Mason, what a horrible day. “Another emergency? Maybe I should wait in his office.”
A manicured hand shot over the desk to stop her. “No, you shouldn’t. It’s not an emergency, just a routine neuter appointment.”
Something was definitely up. A little rope and the airhead would probably wrap it around her neck and tie a pretty bow. “Well, that’s a relief.” She leaned over the reception desk. “Hey, is it a cat or dog?”
“I think it’s a,” Cara shuffled some papers on the desk and fiddled with her computer, “cat. Yup, there it is, a cat named Princess, scheduled for neutering.”
