AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When we return to the Sanderses’ apartment in Tribeca, I can’t get up to the guest room fast enough. When I see Crew sleeping sound in bed, my heart eases. I put my fingers through the soft strands of his hair and kiss his soft cheek.
A sense of calm washes over me but not for long. Carter is a threat. I slip out of my dress and into a pair of joggers and an oversized sweatshirt. When I look at my son sleeping like an angel in his bed, I know I will do anything to protect him from the likes of Carter.
When I head downstairs, Liam is sitting on the couch with his head dipped between his shoulders. His bow tie is undone and so are the top buttons of his shirt. His hair looks askew. Tonight, he was my rock. He held himself together, even though I know he wanted to punch Carter out. He remained strong and kept his wits about him because he knew it was the best way for him to protect Crew and me.
“Is Crew asleep?” he asks, watching me with what looks like a mix of worry and adoration.
I nod. “Like a little angel.”
Liam stands and takes me in his arms. “Thanks for keeping your cool tonight.” I wrap my arms around him, feeling his warm body and strength through his tux.
“It wasn’t easy.” He blows out a breath. “But Lewis doesn’t know about Crew. There was no way I would let on he even exists.” He pulls his head back and looks me in the eyes. In other words, he’s telling me, no matter what he is feeling, he will put Crew and me first. It’s sobering, but it’s also elating.
It’s also so damn sexy.
“I don’t know if there will ever be a good time to say this.” His lip tugs slightly at the corner, gifting me a crooked grin. “I keep waiting for the perfect time, but I realized tonight it doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be real. I love you, Skylar. I never stopped.”
“I love you too, Liam. Even when I thought I hated you after we broke up, I still loved you.” I bite my lip.
He dips his head toward me and kisses me chastely on the lips.
I hear Flynn clear her throat. “You guys are so adorable. You remind me of Myles and me.”
“Uh, thanks,” I say, blushing, and I take a step away from Liam. He still holds my hand as we take a seat on the couch.
Myles follows right behind her and takes a seat on the L-shaped sectional.
He settles beside Flynn.
“You probably heard what I said to Carter,” Flynn says, breaking the silence.
I nod. “How did you know all that?”
“The PIs working for my firm know what they are doing. The guy Carter beat up in Florida didn’t have any medical insurance or money, for that matter. Carter paid him off. It isn’t the first time Carter has walked into a bar and gotten into a fight, either. He’s paid off other people. It looks like he gets a little drunk and likes to take his anger out on poor innocent people. All his victims seem to be carefully chosen. It seems they are all in a bad way and take his payout. The GM doesn’t seem to know. Carter has good friends on the team who have his back. They’ve tried to convince him to go for counseling, but it hasn’t worked,” Flynn explains.
“Where does that leave me and Crew?” I ask.
“Carter can hire a lawyer and ask for a paternity test. If he’s determined to be the father, he has rights. . .”
My palm comes up to my heart, and I rub the area. “He can’t have my son.”
“There are ways of protecting you, but we don’t even know if Carter will hire a lawyer right now. I say we sit back and wait for him to make a move. If he wants a paternity test, we have no choice but to give him one.”
“This doesn’t sound very promising,” I say. Liam squeezes my hand, almost like he’s reminding me he is here.
“We won’t let Carter come into contact with Crew,” Flynn insists. “But we do need to follow the law.”
Her words still don’t set me at ease.
“I know it’s hard, but we play the waiting game and see if he’s going to make a move,” Flynn strategizes.
“Okay,” I agree, feeling like I don’t have much choice.
“Bozeman, you can stay with Skylar in our other guest room,” Myles offers.
Liam looks over at me. “If it’s okay, I think I’ll sleep with Skylar in the room she has Crew in now.”
Myles cocks a brow and watches his player with curiosity.
