AllFreeNovel
Share Us
To be fair, she never even let herself consider a future beyond her law career until Finn worked his way into her life. Pushing her at every turn, then he quits his job and professes his love for her the same week she finds out her biological dad she never knew existed wants a relationship with her.
What did he expect? Any cornered wild animal would get defensive.
Sitting on the floor of her living room with her cat staring at her like she was insane, she emptied a box of tissues to wipe up her tears as a knot lodged in her throat. Stifling fear sat heavy over her. She knew what she wanted, and she knew what was holding her back, as if she was stuck in chains. She was terrified to love Finn because losing someone was more painful than never having them.
Alone was where she thrived—count on no one, answer to no one. And then Finn happened with his sexy muscles, keen mind, and sweet, protective nature. She thought she could compartmentalize him, keep it casual, but it snowballed fast into a full-on emotional connection and chemistry that was off the charts. In reality, it was already too late. Even if she never saw him again, she already cared too much about him. Her heart felt cracked open when he left. But what if she did take a chance on Finn and threw caution to the wind? If for some reason it didn’t work out or he was deployed by the Navy and killed in action, could she survive that?
Wasn’t it safer to end things now before she got too far gone? Stick with her status quo alone where no one could hurt her?
*
The rest ofthe week went by in a blur of new cases, managing the rookies and their caseloads, and avoiding Finn. Because no matter how much she wanted to fall into his arms, she couldn’t be so vulnerable at work. She was learning how to be a junior partner, while managing her own caseload and the seven rookie lawyers. On Wednesday, she received a certified letter stating she was Admiral Maddox’s sole heir with a copy of his will, and she broke down in tears in her office. The man had already bequeathed her his life’s work, and she hadn’t even spoken to him yet. She’d responded to his first attempt to contact her with one short email saying she was aware of the possibility he could be her biological father, and that she wasn’t ready to deal with it. It had been cold but also all she could muster.
Now a week after learning she was his child, he’d left her his fortune, his name, and his life’s work. How could she have gone from having no one to having a father and a man like Finn professing his love for her?
After Finn’s visit to her place, there had been no calls, no texts, no emails. He was giving her the space she demanded. And it was forcing her to keep busy, so her apartment was spotless and she’d gone to the gym every evening, looking for someone to spar with.
In desperation to find out what kind of man Maddox was, she agreed to meet him for dinner. They were meeting at seven that night at a fancy Michelin-star restaurant, and she had no idea what to expect. She’d stayed at the office late, reading up on several new cases she was assigned and planned to use the firm’s car service, a nice perk of the partnership. She had no idea what to expect. Her nerves were shot, and she wished she could call Finn to speak with him about what to say to her dad. But it wouldn’t be fair to reject him and then expect his help.
As if he could read her thoughts—or they were connected by some invisible thread—her phone chimed with a text from him before she left her office.
I miss you. I know you have a lot going on. If you need me, I’m always on your side.
Tears welled in her eyes, and she collapsed back into her seat at her desk. She didn’t want any of it and wanted all of it at the same time. She wanted to meet her father and yell at him for leaving her in foster care. She wanted to accept Finn’s love and hope they could turn it into something real and lasting. But would it all upset the safe life she worked so hard to create? Finally, her life was stable and in order, and these two men threatened to overturn everything. What if she took a chance on them, and they destroyed her, just like her mom?
At one minute after seven, she walked through the dimly lit restaurant, where she heard it took months to get a reservation in.
“Ms. Adams?” The maitre d’ asked with a pinched look on his face. Before she could respond, he cut her off. “This way. Mr. Maddox reserved a private room to meet you. You’re quite young to be a lawyer.”
She was surprised the man knew that.
He ushered her down an opulent hallway lined with wine bottles in glass cases, each labeled with Roman numerals and locks. He knocked on a wood door before opening it to reveal a generous room with a table set for two, a wood burning fireplace, and Admiral Maddox, who stood to greet her.
“Ah, Ms. Adams, thank you for agreeing to meet over dinner,” he said, then nodded to the maitre d’ who took his leave.
“Why did you tell him I was your lawyer?” she asked, starting to feel cornered.
Maddox heaved a sigh. “Everyone in this town gossips, and they’ll think you’re my date if I don’t give them a reason I’m meeting a beautiful young woman for dinner.”
“Oh.”
“I didn’t think you’d like me to name you as my daughter and sole heir just yet.” His smile was bashful and kind at the same time, instantly putting her at ease.
“No,” she admitted.
He smiled and held out a seat for her near the fire, maybe sensing her nerves had her chilled.
“I understand this is all a bit shocking, and I’ve had years to warm up to the idea you existed. I’m still surprised Finn actually found you and to believe you were right here all this time.”
“How long have you known I existed?”
He sat across from her and linked his fingers together before taking a deep breath as if he needed it to prop him up.
“I’m going to tell you everything, and then you can decide if you want anything to do with me.” His eyes held hers. “But no matter what you decide, I am leaving you my wealth. You’re my blood and although I was robbed of raising you, protecting you, and loving you, you’re still mine. I want you to have it and do whatever you want with it.”
She gulped the cool water in front of her and nodded.
“I dated your mother one summer before I shipped out with the SEAL teams. She was gorgeous, fun, and didn’t take anything seriously. When I said I was leaving on my first mission, she gave me a kiss and said she’d be seeing me, that I should look her up next time I was back. But when I returned, she was already married and living in North Carolina. Life moved on. She never reached out to me, never told me about you. I had no idea she’d died until your grandmother wrote to me.”
