It was just before two—our scheduled showdown with Kirsten’s hopefully soon-to-be ex-husband. He was a royal ass for playing the prenup card at the last minute, which I guessed wasn’t all that surprising considering whom we were dealing with.

I’m sure he’d tricked her into signing all kinds of crazy shit before they were married. Fucking jerk. I didn’t use that word often. My father taught me it was best used when doing two things: moving furniture and the actual act. Joe would be the exception to that rule, and I was sure my father would have agreed if he were still alive.

Jensen, Kirsten, and I rode up the elevator to Joe’s attorney’s office. We were quiet as we mentally prepared for what was ahead. Kirsten had my hand in a death grip. However, I was more worried about her poor bottom lip from her constant chewing on it.

“Hey, sweetie. Your lip,” I whispered, leaning toward her. “It needs a break.” Her eyes went wide and she smiled. I bent over and kissed her freed captive. Her lips were soft like silk. I pulled away quickly and eyed Jensen. He just rolled his eyes. I thought we were paying him for his legal expertise, not his relationship opinions.

Once off the elevator, Jensen directed us to the attorney’s office and opened the door. The place felt like a library with its dark wood paneled walls. It reeked of wealth and made it rather obvious Joe had invested in the best. Even though he was a paid public servant as a deputy district attorney, his family had deep pockets—deep old south money from what Jensen said.

We checked in at the reception desk where a young woman was seated. She informed us we were joining the other parties in a conference room. We followed her down a long hallway with wooden floors, the clicks of our collective heels echoing off the surrounding walls. The sound was eerie as it broke the silence among us.

I exchanged a glance with Kirsten, trying to encourage her. Holding her hand was out of the question, Jensen warned us. No public displays of affection. Not even a simple touch. That one might have proved to be hard, especially if Kirsten was floundering and needed my support.

After stopping in front of an expansive set of paneled doors, the receptionist tapped on them. From inside the room, a man called, “Please, come in.” She opened both doors for us. They swung open wide, practically hitting the wall behind.

A grand presentation of polished attorneys in bespoke suits appeared before us as we stood staring into the conference room, one meant to intimidate and give them the upper hand.

The long side of the rectangular table faced us and on the other side was Joe, sitting tall, sporting a dominant air, surrounded by his legal team. They looked us over impassively with papers placed purposefully in front of them, their clasped hands on the tabletop. They put up a good front, appearing ready and prepared, but then again, so were we.

Kirsten was protected from their full view as she stood behind Jensen and me, but when she walked around to a chair, I noticed a couple attorneys across the aisle raise their brows. Yes, they saw Kirsten and the surprise she was carrying. The attorneys whispered something to Joe, and I watched him nod his head, then turn away from them.

Just as we thought, he’d not said a word about the baby. What a bastard. Jensen was smart to keep the baby’s existence a secret. But I still didn’t get it. How could Joe deny his own child? It was unfathomable to me. Evil, actually.

I pulled a chair out for Kirsten. Jensen sat between us, likely a good idea. I already wanted to give her a hug, hold her for a second, and let her know I was there for her. I had to say it silently instead. She glanced over at me after we were all seated, and I mouthed, “I love you.” She smiled weakly, and I hoped seeing all the feathers getting ruffled when she walked in proved we did indeed have Joe by the balls today.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” Jensen started. “I’m Vince Jensen with Thomas and Martin Law Offices, the representative council for Kirsten Parker Jefferies who is seated beside me. Also joining us is Colin Dawson, a lifelong friend of Kirsten’s. Lastly, I’d like to mention another person here on our side of the table today, Joe Jeffries’ and Kirsten’s unborn child.”

Joe raised up in his seat and gripped the edge of the table. He appeared ready to pounce at the mention of our baby. One of his lawyers put their hand on his arm and whispered into Joe’s ear. Joe took a couple deep breaths and the tension in his shoulders eased.

But the damage had been done. The frown on the faces of his attorneys told the story. They were pissed about being blindsided, and likely felt undermined, as they should have. Their well-laid plans for today might have been tumbling on the ground all around them. I quickly winked at Kirsten, feeling victory in the air.

“What the hell is he doing here, Kirsten?” Joe screamed as soon as Jensen finished his introduction. “Are you sleeping with him? I knew it. Leave me and run back to Dallas and him. Does he know what a whore you are?”

I was out of my chair instantly, ready to fly across the table. Who did he think he was to call Kirsten that? I wanted to pummel his face in, make him take back and regret every damn word he said.

“Colin,” Jensen leaned toward me and muttered sternly under his breath. “Sit down or leave the room. Don’t jeopardize this for Kirsten.”

I took a deep breath and sat down. I knew Jensen was right, but it took all my strength to control my anger. This time when I turned to her, she was the one doing the encouraging.

“Colin, please. Do what Jensen says.” Her voice shook, and I knew she was upset no matter what she was trying to tell me. “Please. It’s all right.”

“It’s not all right,” I answered back loudly. “But I’ll keep my shit together for now. If there’s anymore name calling, all bets are off.”

One of Joe’s attorneys stood and cleared his throat. “Would you mind if we had a few minutes with our client? We have a comfortable lounge I can have Mindy escort you to.”

“Certainly,” Jensen replied.

The attorney who spoke came around to our side and shook Jensen’s hand. “Matt Byers. I believe we spoke on the phone yesterday. I’d like to speak to my client alone for a few minutes if you don’t mind.”

“I understand,” Jensen said. “The situation with your client has changed since Mrs. Jefferies walked into the room.”

Byers leaned over the table and pushed a couple buttons on the phone in front of him. He spoke to Mindy, who I assumed was the receptionist. I guessed correctly when the doors opened and Mindy reappeared. Once again, we followed her to a swanky lounge with a couple couches and a desk. After she left, Jensen was the first to speak.

“We need to keep our voices down. No strategy talk at all. I don’t trust them. Who knows if there are hidden mics.” Jensen scanned around the room, his eyes stopping on a large contraption sitting on the wet bar.

“I’m going to make some coffee. You behave,” Jensen said to us before heading toward the coffee machine.

“How are you doing?” I searched Kirsten’s face, looking for any signs of how she was holding up. Under the circumstances, she appeared all right.

“It’s funny. You’d think I’d be frazzled and upset after Joe called me a whore. For Pete’s sake, I never was anything but faithful. His outburst just showed me how awful a human being he is. His behavior convinced me I’m, or we’re, doing the right thing. I hope this is the last time I see him or have to deal with him ever again.”

“I pray so.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets, because they didn’t want to behave at all. They itched to touch her, but I had to play it cool.

As Jensen walked toward us, Mindy entered the lounge area and announced we were wanted back in the conference room. The break was super quick, and I wondered if they were able to calm Joe down and get him to be halfway reasonable. Now off for round two.

When we arrived back at the conference room, the mood was somber. Joe looked like his legal team had taken him to the woodshed. The proud peacock that’d confronted us with his feathers puffed out was nowhere to be found. Instead, he avoided eye contact as we took our seats across from him.

“Thanks for allowing the break. We understand both parties were aware of the child before their separation, so there isn’t a failure of disclosure on your client’s part.” Byers got straight to the point. His client hadn’t told him about the baby, and it wasn’t Kirsten’s responsibility to disclose it. The blame lay right at Joe’s feet. Actually, the whole damn mess did.

“That is correct,” Jensen replied. “We came prepared today to offer a settlement. We have laid out the terms and conditions. I’ll pass around the papers.”

Jensen stood, took out a folder from his briefcase, and shuffled through some papers. He passed out the settlement agreement he hoped Joe would agree on. I found Kirsten’s gaze, and she gave me a halfhearted smile. So much was at stake here—her future, the baby’s, and ours together.

Once everyone had the papers in front of them, the seconds turned into minutes as Joe’s legal team absorbed the offer. It was straightforward and to the point. A set dollar amount. No maintenance or alimony for Kirsten. No long-term payoffs from Joe.

All he had to do was sign the documents and write a check, but I knew it wouldn’t be that simple when dealing with this man and his ego. I’d known plenty of jerks like him in my life. They liked to make people pay when they felt wronged. Then add all the zeros behind the number on the offer, and I was certain Joe would make Kirsten sweat before he signed.

“Before we discuss the financial part of this settlement, I’d like clarification on Mr. Jeffries giving up any parental rights to his unborn child. In the State of Georgia, the juvenile court will not allow this type of separation if the mother is planning on raising the child by herself.” Byers glanced at me. “Another man would have to be seeking to adopt the child with the mother. The State doesn’t want to be burdened down the road for the child in the event the mother can’t provide financially.”

“An understandable concern,” Jensen replied. “We have legal documents prepared by my offices here in Atlanta that petition the court for Colin Dawson’s adoption of the unborn child. He intends to raise the child as his own in partnership with Kirsten Parker Jeffries.”

The room went quiet again. Joe fisted the arms of his chair. He looked ready to explode, and I prepared myself for the announcement of another break being needed to calm him down. And I was right.

“We will need some time with our client to discuss this. Perhaps we can meet again in a few days?”

“Unfortunately, this offer is for today only. The financial settlement outlined in the offer will double if there isn’t an agreement today.” Smartly, Jensen foresaw the potential delay and had a document ready to prove his point if needed.

“Fair enough. It says the juvenile proceedings for Mr. Jeffries’ revocation of parental rights will be sealed. Is this correct?”

“That is correct. All the proceedings and documents supporting our legal actions will be sealed where the child is involved. We will also petition the court to seal the records of the divorce settlement since they make reference of the unborn child.”

“If ya’ll wouldn’t mind waiting in the lounge again?” Byers asked. “You might want to make yourself comfortable as this discussion may take some time.”

“No problem,” Jensen replied.

And off we went to the lounge again. Kirsten and I followed behind Jensen, and I took her hand as we walked down the hall.

“What do you think, Colin?” Kirsten asked. “Joe seemed so upset.”

“I don’t give a shit about Joe. He doesn’t want the baby. We know that for a fact. But he probably doesn’t like the thought of another man, especially me, taking his place. It’s crazy and doesn’t make any sense. But his pride and reputation as a man has been called into question.”

“True,” Kirsten agreed. “His attorneys are getting to see the real Joe. And it’s a pretty damn ugly show. Thanks for being here for me and the baby.”

“I’m just a man hopelessly in love with you.” I placed my hands on her stomach. “And this little one. You can count on me, sweetheart.”

We sat next to each other on the couch, pretty much ignoring the fact that Jensen was in the room with us. Kirsten rested her head on my shoulder, exhaling and relaxing against me. I leaned my head against the top of hers.