Chapter 29

Leo

I had left the office and stopped for coffees and pastries on my way to Kya’s. I thought we might have a lot to discuss, and since I hadn’t had anything to eat, I didn’t want to show up empty-handed.

But when I got to her house, she wasn’t there, even though I figured she’d had enough time to go to the school and back. I had a feeling she’d gone to do errands or stopped off to see Sadie. I wondered if she’d brushed herself off and went about life without me as she’d done for the past five years, and before bitterness could set in or anger me, I took a deep breath and then got out of the car. The feel of the warm sun on my face helped a bit, and instead of getting back in the car, I grabbed the pastries and coffee and sat down on her stoop to wait. With my stomach making awful sounds, I decided to nibble the pastry, and before I knew it, I’d gulped down my coffee and finished off two of the pastries.

I’d been stupid to leave without settling things the other day, but I’d felt like I needed time, but now, sitting on the front steps of her house, I felt like time couldn’t pass quickly enough to bring her back home.

Just when I thought about giving up, a car approached, and I got to my feet as it slowed and she pulled into the driveway beside my car.

She killed the engine and got out of the car. “Hey,” she said. Her voice was rough, and her eyes were puffy from where she’d been crying. I felt a pinch in my chest, and even though she seemed miserable, she was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on.

I held up the box of pastries. “I brought breakfast, but it’s cold. I guess I should have called.”

She walked past me and unlocked her door. “Yeah, I was at Sadie’s.”

I turned and wondered if she was going to invite me in or leave me on the front steps. “I figured. I wanted to see you. I thought if I called, you’d tell me to stay away until the trial.”

She shook her head as she pushed the door open and went inside. “I wanted to see you too.”

I waited for her invitation, knowing I wasn’t about to take anything for granted.

She dropped her bag to the little bench by the door. “Are you going to come in or what?”

I hurried in, and she walked away as I shut the door.

“I had to take Addie to school. She didn’t fight me today.”

I followed her to the kitchen. “She usually fights you?” I placed the pastries and coffee holder down on her kitchen counter.

“Lately. It’s a phase. She likes to spend time with Sadie, and since she knows I work with her, she wants to tag along. She usually loves school. She’s quite smart for her age, and well, I guess she gets that from you.”

It wasn’t exactly how I thought the conversation would begin, but as long as we were talking, and I could get to know Addie better, I wouldn’t complain. Especially since she’d actually invited me inside instead of leaving me out on the front steps begging. And I would have begged.

“What else is she like?” I wanted to know everything I could and keep her talking as long as possible.

Kya took a deep breath and seemed to think a moment. “She’s creative like me. Likes to perform, but she’s cautious around new people like you. I’m not sure if she’ll choose to be a brain surgeon or a painter, but I know one thing for sure. Whatever she does, she’ll shine at it.”

“She already shines, in my opinion.” To me, she was completely amazing.

She leaned against the counter, rapping her hands on the top. “That’s because she’s your daughter. You’re biased.”

“I guess you’re right. I do see her in a new light. She has my mother’s eyes, you know, and while I thought she was so familiar and so much like you, I never noticed the resemblance. Now, it’s all I can see.”

“Strange, isn’t it?” She kept her eyes on the counter.

“Yeah.” The conversation lulled.

Kya took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “So, are we all set for tomorrow?”

“Yeah, of course. I think I have everything in order. I know we’ll present a good case, and I don’t anticipate any surprises.”

“But what about what happened at the courthouse? The conference was pretty brutal.”

“Yes, it was, and I’m sorry about that. I guess I should explain. I did go to my father and Jon and talk to them about it. The investigator was hired by my father to find something, and in that process, he must have figured out Addison was mine.”

Kya nodded. “It probably wasn’t hard to do since your name is on the birth certificate.”

“Really?” It came as a surprise that she’d done that, but I was glad she had.

“Yeah, I never intended to keep it from you, Leonard. I knew I wanted her to know you. I just—Hell, I don’t know how to say I’m sorry. It doesn’t seem like enough or like you’d even believe how sorry I am.”

“I know, believe me. And look, it was Milton who told the press. My father didn’t think it was true, and once he and Jon found out, they don’t want to do anything that’s going to jeopardize your or Addison’s safety or lives. They promised their plans to drag you into it are not going to happen.”

“What if they’re backed into a corner? They could still bring up the fact that you’re the father of my child.”

“That won’t matter, and if they do, I’ll proudly claim Addison. She’s mine, and I’m not ashamed of that. Who would be?”

She nodded and looked back down to the counter. “Thank you. And look, I understand if you don’t want to see me. I won’t try to keep you from her. I know I owe you a lot of time, and I’m prepared to give it. All I ask is that you ease her into it. I don’t want to shock her little system. But we’ll tell her as soon as possible.”

I reached over and rested my hand on her wrist. “I have a lot of time to make up with you both, and if you think I’m letting either of you go, you’re sorely mistaken.”

Her face turned up to meet mine, and a tear slid down her cheek. I quickly brushed it away. “Hey, no more of that, okay? We’re here, we’re together, and it’s going to be okay.”

She nodded and sniffled, wiping her eyes with her free hand.

I walked around the counter and brought her into my arms. “We both probably made some mistakes between us,” I said. “But what’s in the past is in the past. I want to look to the future, starting by winning this case together. Then I want to come back here and celebrate our victory with our daughter.”

A weak smile turned up the corners of her lips. “Its nice hearing you say that. I’ve always wanted to hear it. I’ve dreamed of you saying it.”

I brought her closer, and she laid her head on my shoulder. “You have no idea how nice it is for me to say it. I keep thinking I’m dreaming and it’s not real. But then it is real, and honestly, while it’s a lot to get used to, I’m ready for it.”

“I shouldn’t have cheated you out of the last five years.” She trembled as she took a deep breath, and I felt as if she might cry again.

“Sh. No, let’s not sit and think about that anymore. The truth is, I’ve done well, I’ve matured, and I’m probably a better man for her now than I would have been back then. Maybe this is how it’s supposed to have been, and who are we to say otherwise?”

“You’re just too good to me. Trying to cheer me up.”

“I don’t like to see you cry. Never have. Remember that time you fell off your bike? It scared me so badly that I picked you up and carried you home?”

She smiled a lot brighter for me. “I do. You doctored my knee and shared your Easter candy with me. I remember everything we did together.”

“Yeah, that was the first time I saw you cry, and I knew you were hurting. I wanted to make it all better so you’d stop. I remember feeling a pain in my chest, and wondering if that pain was sympathy or love.”

“Did you ever figure it out?”

“Yeah. It was both.” I brought my mouth down to hers as she hitched a breath, and soon her body was pressed up against mine, melting against me like there was nothing but the two of us in the world.

When the kiss broke, she caught her breath and then brushed my hair back from my face. “Do you mean it? I mean, we’re a lot to take on, both set in our ways and stubborn, and we can be a handful.”

“That sounds like heaven to me.” I closed my eyes as if savoring the moment, but then opened them to meet hers. “And yes, I mean it, Kya. I’ve always known I love you. Now, I’m finally going to have a chance to show it. I only regret I didn’t sooner.”

“Now, now,” she said, shaking her finger at me. “If I can’t speak of regrets, neither can you.”

“Fair enough.” I kissed her again and turned her back on the counter.

“Do you have to go to work?” She looked up at me with her gorgeous green eyes. They were the color of sea glass and glistening with tears I hoped were from happiness.

“No. I took the day off. I had a very important meeting with a very special woman, and I hoped it would take all day.” I pressed my hips against hers.

Her hands slid down to my ass, and she ground her hips into me. “Well, I think you’re in luck because I happen to have all day too.”

“I like being lucky. Maybe we should have this special meeting in the other room.”

Her hand slipped around to the front of my pants, and she undid the top button and made quick work of my zipper. “Or, we can start here, and work our way across the house.”

“Have I ever told you that I like the way you think? Nice and dirty, just the way I love it.” I hissed in a breath as she reached into my pants and gripped my heavy sac. They were tender and full, and I was ready to go.