Chapter 21

Leo

A few days had passed since I promised Kya we’d get together, but at least I’d gotten settled into a new office, and Tabby was pleased with the location.

“Thanks again for choosing this place. It’s so close to my house, I can go home for lunch.”

I didn’t mind, either, because it was not only closer to my house but Kya’s as well, and with any luck, I’d be spending a lot more time at her house. The sex we’d had the other day had been amazing, and it had motivated me to get things all set up away from my father so I could focus on the case.

“I’m glad you like it. I was afraid you wouldn’t. We didn’t have a lot to choose from, and it’s going to cost a small fortune to keep us here, so we’d better get to work.” I gave her a wink and went to my office.

I sat behind my desk as I answered, “Hello?”

“Leo, don’t hate me.”

I smiled at the sound of her voice. “I could never hate you, Kya.”

She groaned. “You might. I’ve had something come up, and I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make it today.”

“Oh no, that is bad. I need to nail things down and get our information over to my father’s office by the end of the day.”

“Okay, I’ll come.”

I heard a quiet cough in the distance and wondered if that had anything to do with it. “Is it Sadie? I really need her to come too, baby. I’ve got to have your signatures as well as Liam and Rob, who already made other arrangements, but I can’t continue without this meeting, and besides, I’ve already made reservations for us for lunch.” I thought having lunch would be a much more laid-back environment.

“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry. We’ll be there.” She hung up the phone, and I hated that something had come up. If it weren’t important, I’d have never argued, but as it was, getting things to my father in a timely manner was going to be beneficial to our case. We didn’t want him making any moves first.

I tidied up my new office for the next hour, and when it was time to leave, I found Tabby putting my law books on their new shelf.

“I’m heading out to lunch. If you go home, don’t forget to lock up. Do you remember how to set the alarm?”

“Yeah, I’ve got it. Good luck.” She gave me a warm smile and followed me to the door where she locked the door behind me.

I headed to the restaurant and found the private table was ready. I ordered a drink while I waited, and Sadie showed up on time without Kya.

“Hi, you must be Leonard Pace. Kya’s told me so much about you. I feel like we’ve already met.” She extended her hand, and I gave it a shake.

“Nice to finally meet you.” I looked around for Kya, hoping she’d be right behind her, but she wasn’t. “Please have a seat.”

She looked me up and down, her eyes lingering on mine a minute as if I were familiar in some way. “Wow, you’re just as handsome as she always said. But then, I know Kya. She has great taste in men.”

I didn’t mind making small talk with Sadie, but I couldn’t help but worry about Kya, especially after the phone call. “Did she change her mind about coming?”

“Ah, no. She had a little something come up, so it was going to take her a few extra minutes to get ready. I told her I’d keep you company, but I figured she’d called you to explain.” She raised her hand, and the waiter came over, and she ordered a drink.

As the waiter walked away, I eased back in my seat, glad to hear she’d be along soon enough. “Good.”

“So, what do you think about this Whit White asshole?”

“I think you’re right to call him an asshole, for one. I can’t wait to nail his balls to the floor. He’s not been very kind in the things he’s said about you and Kya. I couldn’t stand for it any longer.”

“Wise choice.”

“How is Susan? Any word on her condition?” I thought it only polite to ask about her since I’d heard it was Sadie who’d found the woman to be their lawyer.

“She’s stable now. Her daughter is still with her, taking care of her, so I’m sure she’s about ready to jump from a building.”

“Oh? I figured you were a friend of Susan’s.”

Sadie smiled. “She’s okay, and I didn’t mind having her as a lawyer, but I talked to her a lot, and let’s just say, it didn’t take long to see she was a piece of work.”

The two of us shared a laugh, and then the waiter brought our drinks. I had just brought mine to my lips when Sadie’s head came up across the table, and she smiled. “There she is.”

I turned, expecting to see Kya standing alone, but instead, she held the hand of a small, beautiful girl who looked surprisingly a lot like Kya when she was little. She gave me a half-hearted smile as she approached, leading the little one with her.

I rose to greet them. “Leo, this is my daughter, Addison. Addie, this is my friend, Leo.”

I suddenly felt fuzzy in the brain as the little girl held onto Kya’s leg and looked up at me with eyes that were somehow strangely familiar. She looked so much like her mother, it was eerie.

“Hi, Leo.” Her voice was so little like she was, and I pulled her out a chair, and she sat next to Sadie. “Hi, Aunt Sadie.”

Sadie leaned over and gave her a hug. “What are you doing playing hooky?”

Kya took the other seat next to me and across from her daughter, but I figured Sadie would help manage the little one. Kya offered an explanation, “She didn’t feel good, so she says. I decided to keep her home anyway just in case, but I have a feeling it’s the Sadie blues again.”

It was odd seeing her in a whole new light, and even though I’d never like dating women with children, I felt like this had to be the one exception to the rule since I felt like I’d known the little girl my whole life.

I took a long pull from my glass and waved the waiter over to order another. Kya got the two of them settled and ordered something for her and her child. I turned and met her eyes, doing my best to give her a warm smile even though I wanted to ask her where the father was and about sixty other questions that would have to wait while we were alone. “I can’t get over how much she looks like you,” I said, knowing I needed to say something.

“I’m sorry, Leonard. I was going to tell you I had a daughter. It just never came up and didn’t feel like the right time.”

“The two of us, right, Mama?” the little girl said.

Kya smiled lovingly across the table. “That’s right, sweet pea.”

She was an adorable little girl, and it was clear she was the apple of Kya’s eye. I felt kind of foolish for thinking she’d not been with anyone since me, foolish and a bit hypocritical. Maybe a little jealous that she had someone else in her life, someone she loved so much.

Sadie cleared her throat. “Maybe we should get down to business?”

“I think that’s a good idea,” said Kya.

The little girl sat up on her knees when the drinks came a moment later, and then she sipped the cherry cola her mother had ordered her while giving me glances. She looked like she might spill her drink at any moment, but neither woman was concerned. I wasn’t used to being around children, at least not since I was one.

Finally, the waiter left after taking our orders, and I felt it okay to start. “I’m going to ask for a little over half, the contract to be dissolved, including any and all past rights. You’ll be able to do whatever you want.”

Sadie sighed, her shoulders relaxing as she eased back in her chair. “That will be a relief. I was starting to wonder if I was going to have to cough up part of our YouTube earnings. I mean, hey, he’s taken half of everything else.”

I shook my head and gave her a reassuring look. “Not anymore. I’m going to take that asshole down.” I realized as soon as I said it that I shouldn’t have cursed in front of the little one who began to giggle. I turned my attention to Kya. “I’m sorry.”

Kya reached over and placed her hand on mine. “It’s okay. Addie knows that sometimes those words slip out.”

“Yeah, Mama says them all the time.” Her little cheeks turned red, and I couldn’t help but laugh as Kya’s eyes widened.

I looked down at her hand on mine and turned my palm up to hold hers. “Is that a fact? I wonder what else Addie could tell me about her mother.”

Kya pulled her hand away and pushed her hair behind her ear. “Let’s not get sidetracked. As you were saying, I think that’s a fair offer considering.”

“I think so, too, but they won’t take it. That’s when we hold strong at half.” I glance over to see the little one was digging a cherry from her drink by the stem. She was making me nervous and as the glass turned sideways, the drink nearly spilling over, but not, I reached over and took it from her hands. “Careful there.”

That earned a hard glare and then a look of confusion from Addie. Sadie and Kya exchanged a look, and I had to recover or else I’d look like a real asshole. “Here, let’s get a spoon. Then you can dip as many of those cherries as you want.” I unwrapped my silverware and handed her the spoon.

“Thanks,” she said. She went back to spooning cherries, and Kya smiled.

Sadie spoke up. “So, we take half?”

I nodded. “Assuming he’s spent half, it’s your best bet. Some of that money will have been spent. And if he doesn’t bite, then we take it to court, and I will tell you this, with the media attention, the case will be moved up on the docket.”

“Whatever you think,” said Kya.

Our food came, and while we were getting settled, I heard Addie clear her throat, and then there was a tugging on my cuff. I looked up and leaned in as she handed me her knife. “Oh, you want me to help?”

“Yes, please.”

Kya made a move to reach for the plate, “Here, let me help you, Addie.”

Addie shook her head at her mother. “Leo is going to help.”

“Yeah, I got this.” I shrugged like it was the most normal thing in the world for me to tend to the needs of a child, and in fact, I guess it wasn’t that big of a deal.

I got that task out of the way and appeared to win the girl over, which was fine by me. She seemed like a good kid, and I knew if Kya had anything to do with it, she was. Still, I couldn’t help feeling betrayed, and after we finished, when Sadie offered to take Addison to the bathroom, I took the chance to learn more.

“So, you have a kid.”

“I’m so sorry, Leo. I mean, I know it shouldn’t be a big deal, but I just wasn’t sure how you’d react.”

“That’s why there were finger paintings on the fridge. I saw them across the counter.” I let loose a deep breath and tried to shake off being upset. “Well, she’s amazing and really beautiful like her mother.”

“She intimidates you, doesn’t she?” She gave me an apologetic look.

“It shows? I haven’t even been around kids a lot, but I could get used to it. Especially a nice kid like her.”

Kya laughed. “Oh, she has her moments.”

“Well, she must get that from her father.” I’d hoped to segue into the subject and took the chance while I could.

Kya turned pale. “He’s not in the picture.”

“At all? That’s too bad. He’s really missing out on a nice little family.”

Kya tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and tucked her chin like she wasn’t sure what to think. “So, does it turn you off of me?”

“No, not at all. I mean, it decreases my chances of sleeping over, but it makes me want to fight for you even harder knowing that asshole took not only from you but from Addie too. I’m going to make this better for you, Kya. For both of you.”

“I know you will. And as for sleeping over, Sadie loves to babysit.” She gave me a warm smile, and I leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the lips before Sadie or Addie returned.