AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Was I that transparent? Was he about to bust my ass?
“Let me call back and clear it with Ms. Robison.” I nodded frantically, and he picked up the phone. “I have a Taylor—”
“Murphy,” I whispered.
He smiled and added, “Murphy here with a file for you?” After a short back and forth, the guard hung up. “She said to send you back. Let me make you a name tag.”
“Bless you.” I sagged against the counter.
It worked. It actually worked.
Grinning, he handed me my guest pass. “Head back that hallway and make a left. She’s in the last interview room on the right.”
The door buzzed, and I hurried through it, shouting a thank you over my shoulder.
Shoulders back, I acted like I belonged until I reached the last door on the right. Through the small square window, I caught a glimpse of Fern’s braid. Swallowing thickly, I pushed open the door. Luca’s chuckle was the first thing I heard, and I swear it was all I could do not to go nuclear.
“Taylor, I don’t know—” Fern stopped talking, her mouth falling open when she caught sight of me.
My eyes immediately left her and landed on Luca. My Luca, who was currently sitting very close to his lawyer, with white boxes of takeout in front of him, and the ghost of a smile on his lips.
“Well, this looks cozy.”
“Sasha?” Luca stood, his body shaking as his palms flattened on the table.
“She’s pregnant,” Fern blurted, and Luca’s face swung down to her, then back to me, where his eyes zeroed in on my stomach.
“Can you give us the room?” I stared down at Fern, going full queen bitch on her.
“Sure. Sure.” She dropped her chopsticks and rushed to the door. I didn’t step out of the way, forcing her to squeeze past me.
Slamming the door behind me, I looked back at my husband, who was frozen in the same spot. “You’re pregnant?” His voice was full of wonder. He rounded the abused metal table in the middle of the room, reaching for my stomach.
Before he could touch me, I held up my hands. “I’m not.”
Luca dropped his arms to the side. “Then why—”
“Because I’m pretending to be to keep your mom from killing me.”
He frowned. “What do you—”
“You’d know if you took my fucking calls or visits. But no. I’m not on the list, so I have to sneak in here and find you canoodling with Fern, laughing, and having a good time—” I pointed at my chest, then the door. “While I’m out there miserable, alone, and trying to stay strong.”
“Sasha.” Luca cupped my face, his rough thumb brushing away the tears that were apparently falling down my cheeks. “I’m so sorry.” He pulled me to his chest, my arms bent, fists pressed against my collarbone.
I tried to shove him away, but his hold only tightened. “You’re not. If I hadn’t crashed your little meeting today, I would still be on the outside looking in. And what was so fucking funny? From where I’m sitting, you and Fern don’t have anything but the case to discuss.”
He sighed, the warmth of his breath on my ear sending a shiver down my spine. “She was telling me about your meeting at Mom’s house. I was laughing because you scared her shitless.”
“Still. A little luncheon?” I struggled to turn my head and peek at the table. “Not a single fucking piece of paper or laptop out.”
“She just got here and brought my favorite Chinese. She was filling me in on your meeting before we got into the case.” His hand rubbed soothing circles on my back as his words riled me up.
“How kind of her. I’m thinking I was wrong to hire her.”
“No. You made the right call. They’re already talking deals. Gabe’s guys weren’t getting that far.” He kissed the top of my head. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
Ignoring his attempts at sweetness, I said, “Clearly, we can’t trust her. She didn’t even tell you I was pregnant.”
