Chapter Six
Sawyer
Not having seen any recent pictures of Britney Collins, I’m almost speechless when her brother walks into my office. For the second time in as many days, I’m stunned into silence by the man standing before me. AJ Collins is about my age but at least three inches taller. Probably close to Chad’s height, but he doesn’t have the same wide build the firefighter has. No, this man is all lean muscle and golden brown skin. If I didn’t know where he was from, I’d swear he spent his days lying on a beach in Mexico or Hawaii. And his hair is bleached blond like the surfers you’d see on TV.
“Mr. Ralphson.” He holds out his hand and flashes the brightest smile I’ve ever seen in real-life. “I’m AJ Collins. Is this still a good time for you?”
I nod and swallow hard, hoping the next words out of my mouth aren’t a jumbled mess of incoherent gibberish. Taking his hand, I shake it quickly then sit back down in my chair, hoping he hasn’t caught sight of my sudden hard-on. “Yes, Mr. Collins. It’s great to meet you. Have a seat.”
“Mr. Collins is my dad. And I hate my dad. Please call me AJ. Everyone does.” His long body folds gracefully into the guest chair on the other side of my desk. I force my eyes to stay on his face, not allowing them to roam down his chest or to the bulge pressing against his tight jeans. “So, where’s Harper?”
“Um, Harper and Austin are both in the temporary custody of Chad Ludwig. Your sister named him as the person she wanted to adopt her children before her passing.”
AJ looks down into his lap, fidgeting with his phone. “Was he her boyfriend?”
That thought hadn’t entered my mind, but now that it’s there, a strange ache forms in my belly. Were they seeing each other? It would explain why she chose him to keep her children. But it doesn’t explain the long glances I thought I noticed Chad giving me yesterday.
By the time I left Chad’s house, I was almost positive those glances were flirty. Although, in hindsight, Chad being interested in me is almost comical. Of course he wasn’t flirting. Even if he was, it had to be out of pity or just to get on my good side during this guardianship process.
“I don’t know the full details of their relationship, but he isn’t the father of either child, and since a father wasn’t named on Harper’s birth certificate and Austin doesn’t have one yet, you’re the closest blood relative who has expressed an interest in taking the children.”
AJ looks up, his dark blue eyes lasering into mine. “My parents really don’t want to be involved? They’re such selfish assholes.”
“I’m sorry.” I want to reach across my desk and pat his shoulder, maybe offer some kind of comfort. But he’s too far away and too much of a stranger. I don’t know what’s gotten into me and my lack of boundaries with clients this week. In the past year of being in this job, not once have I had a single inappropriate thought about a client. And now, I can’t seem to stop them.
“Where are they?” AJ brushes the long strands of his bangs back off his face, in better control of his emotions than just a few moments ago.
“Chad Ludwig has agreed to let us visit this afternoon. There is some paperwork we need to get started on then I can take you to his home to see the children.”
AJ reaches for the folder I scoot toward him and grabs a pen. “Okay, let’s do this.”
~**~
Chad’s hardened features are difficult to read as I introduce him to AJ. And when the man reaches for his niece, pulling her tight to his chest, I have to raise my hand up to remind Chad to allow the contact. “Just give them a minute.”
“Do you remember me, Harper girl?” AJ coos into her ear, nuzzling into her neck. “You’ve gotten so big since I saw you.”
Harper doesn’t respond verbally, but she doesn’t pull away from her uncle. She just rests her head on his shoulder, keeping her eyes glued to Chad.
“When was the last time you saw her?” Chad asks through clenched teeth. He clears his throat, probably hearing his aggressive tone and trying to calm it.
AJ looks up at Chad, studying his face before quickly scanning the rest of his body. In a dismissive voice, he responds to Chad, not tearing his eyes away from the slightly larger man. “Over a year ago. Back when she was still living with my parents.”
I step forward, hoping to relieve some of the awkward tension I can feel pulsing off these two alpha males. “Did you keep in touch with Britney at all after she moved out of your parents’ home?”
AJ finally turns back to me, and his features soften immediately. He releases Harper, and she runs back to hold Chad’s leg. AJ walks over to the tabletop bouncer Austin’s sleeping in to get a better look at his nephew. You could hear a pin drop as he kneels down to run a finger over Austin’s fuzzy head of blond hair. “No, she didn’t leave her contact information. I even hired a detective to look for her after I got my money, but we had no idea where she went. She was completely off the radar.”
“What do you mean, you got your money?” Chad speaks up, his voice just as annoyed as it had been.
The doorbell rings before AJ can answer, and a tall guy in a designer suit peeks his head past the front door. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Jonathan!” Chad ushers the guy inside, closing the door behind him. “Your timing is perfect. Britney’s brother and the social worker just got here.”
The callous reference to me as just “the social worker” makes me flinch. But that’s not a fair response. I am just his social worker, regardless of any unprofessional feelings I may be harboring.
After brief introductions are made, we all stand in awkward silence for a few moments while we each think of something to say. Finally, AJ drops to his knees again and reaches out for Harper. “You were much smaller when I last saw you, but I'm your uncle AJ.”
Harper pulls away from Chad's leg just long enough to get a better look at AJ then she looks up at Chad. “From heaven?”
Chad kneels too and places both of his large hands around her shoulders. “No, sweetheart. Uncle AJ didn't actually go to heaven. He moved to a different state, but he came here to visit you and your brother.”
AJ’s head swings toward mine, and I can feel him staring at me. With a quick glance to the attorney, I look down at AJ and offer a small smile, letting him know I'm aware of his intentions to do more than just visit with these children, but this is not the time to discuss it.
Harper turns back to her uncle and takes a step forward. “Is Mommy coming back too?”
Chad sighs heavily and reaches for her hand. “No, Harper. Remember we talked about this? Mommy can't come back. She really is in heaven.”
AJ’s face morphs into a mask of pain as he drops his chin to his chest. I can’t stop myself from placing a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. When I look back at Chad, his eyes are glued to my hand, and I realize how inappropriate the gesture is. My family was very affectionate, so physical comfort is a natural response for me. But, this isn’t my family, and I’m not allowed to show preference for one potential guardian over the other at this stage. I need to keep my shit together and stay unbiased or risk losing this case…or my job.
AJ takes a few deep breaths to compose himself before he pulls Harper into his arms. “I'm so sorry I haven't been around for you and your mommy. But I'm here now, and I'm gonna take care of you. Okay?”
Harper nods against his shoulder, slowly closing her arms around his neck. Chad inhales deeply, obviously about to say something, but before he can, Jonathan waves his hand out again to get Chad’s attention. “I need to talk to you for a minute.”
Chad hesitates like he's afraid to walk away. After a few seconds, he looks to me for guidance.
I give him my most reassuring smile. “We’ll all be right here when you return.”
His eyes hold mine before he turns away, leading the attorney into his kitchen. As soon as they’re out of earshot, I drop onto the sofa behind AJ and Harper, silently admiring his backside as he continues to kneel on the floor. After a moment of ogling, I finally remember where I am and why I need to stop. “So, um, where are you staying while you’re in town?”
AJ looks up from his inspection of the penguin Harper is showing him and gives me a sexy grin. “I’ve got a room at the Hotel Monaco downtown. Why?”
I consider waiting to have this conversation when the children aren’t present, but Harper is too young to really understand anything I have to say. “Chad intends to petition for permanent guardianship. You know that. And since your sister specifically named him, it’ll be a lot easier for him to get approval than for you.”
AJ looks as annoyed now as the first time I explained this in my office. “So you’ve said.”
“Maybe just play nice with him for now. He seems like a good guy.”
AJ narrows his eyes before glancing to the door Chad and his attorney disappeared behind. “Yeah, you’ve said that too.”