Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
We head down the hallway and knock on the door. Savage answers quickly. “Bossman one and two,” he greets. “We have pizza. Come. Eat. Talk.”
We join him just inside the doorway, a hallway separating us from the living area where Dana is likely waiting. “She’s feeling thankful and reasonable,” Savage murmurs softly.
Royce glances at me. “We’ll stand outside. I’ll join you when you’re ready.”
I nod and round the corner to find Dana standing, now in sweats and a tee, her arms crossed in front of her. “Tomorrow in court the charges will be dropped.”
Her eyes go wide and she starts to cry. “Oh my God. Oh my God.” She races forward and hugs me. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” She pulls back to look at me. “Did Reginald do it?”
“Let’s sit,” I say and she claims a chair while I claim the couch.
“Well?” she asks, nervously.
“Martha is being arrested, but they aren’t ruling out Reginald. They could still re-charge you. This isn’t an acquittal. That means you can’t leave yourself exposed. Get on a plane and go somewhere where you and this case have distance. Keep me informed so I can reach you.”
“And don’t take Reginald,” she says.
“Distance yourself and let this play out. I don’t think Reginald will be charged but give this time to tie up. If he loves you, he’ll wait. If you love him, this is better for him, too.”
She presses her hands to her face and then looks at me. “I’m going to go to Paris. I have a friend there. Now that it’s over, I want it to stay over.”
“Good decision,” I say.
“When can I have Reginald join me? When is it safe?”
“When they clear him. I’ll let you know.” I then make an attempt to escape. “I’m going to have Royce update you with a few more details.”
“Can you please stay? I feel like I need your input on any question I might have.”
“I can’t. I need to take care of some things, which is why I’m going to let Royce answer your questions on his own.”
She ignores my reply and then proceeds to ask me a good forty minutes of questions before I’m finally standing. “Thank you, Reese,” she says. “You’re worth every penny you charge.”
I give her a nod. “I try to be.” I walk to the door and exit to the hallway. “She’s in a good place,” I say. “I just need to have you, Royce, give her a chance to ask questions. And then I need your team to make sure she gets on a plane out of the city once she’s released tomorrow.”
“Done,” Royce says, his eyes narrowing. “You’re not going to wait on me, are you?”
“No. I need some time with my wife.” I eye Savage, “Without you or your men.”
“Understood,” both men murmur, and they’ve barely spoken the word before I’m walking away.
I impatiently step onto the elevator and punch the lobby button. If my wife is pregnant, I not only need to know. I need to know that she’s happy. That’s not a conversation that can wait until my birthday, if that’s her plan.
Chapter eighty-four
Reese
The minute Cat sees me she shuts her computer. “Perfect timing. I just sent my column to my editor. Where’s Royce?” she asks, stuffing her MacBook into her briefcase.
“I left him to talk with Dana,” I say, helping her to her feet.
“Is she okay? Is she thinking straight?”
“Remarkably clear headed. She’s going to visit a friend in Paris. I’m past due some quality time with my wife.”
“I’m with you all the time,” she says, her hand settling on my chest, those beautiful green eyes of hers searching mine. “What’s going on with you, husband?”
“We need some time together without everything else suffocating us. And now it’s all but over with the exception of a few loose ends. The case. Debbie. All of it.” I bring her fingers to my lips and kiss them. “Let’s go home. I ordered a car on the ride down.” I wrap my arm around her and we start walking. I have a moment when I consider that maybe she’s not pregnant, but if she’s not, she’s not. She’ll know that I very much want her to be the mother of my children. She’s the entire reason I want children. This world needs more people like Cat.
The car is waiting for us outside, and we’re inside and at our apartment in a few short minutes. Once we’re inside the building, I think about feeding my wife. “Pizza, no olives?”
“Pizza with olives,” she laughs. “I’m suddenly really wanting olives again.”
The elevator opens and once we’re inside the apartment, I start to order pizza and hesitate. We need to talk. I link our fingers and lead her to the bedroom, sitting her down on the couch where I proposed, that overlooks the city. We both sink down into the cushion, our legs connected. And as we do often, especially as we shift from one challenge to another, we stare out at the city. Parenthood would certainly be a new challenge.