I quickly scan them, seeing the wordmediationrepeated several times.
“Mediation?” I repeat. “What does that mean?”
“It’s where Benedict will probably spin the truth and paint Reese out to be a terrible mom in front of a third party, like a mediator, to try to force her hand into whatever he wants so they don’t have to have a custody battle.”
My eye twitches.
I know exactly what he wants, and it isn’t Charleigh.
“And if she doesn’t give in?” I ask.
Zoe sighs. “Then he’ll probably drag her in front of a judge.”
As if there’s an invisible string tying me to Reese, I turn on my heel and head right for her. I begin climbing the stairs, only to stop when Zoe calls my name. I lean over the banister, my hand gripping the railing.
“She’s freaking out.”
I know she is.
“And she’s going to shut you out.”
I squeeze the banister tightly, my veins filling with hot blood. A desperation comes over me as I make my way up the stairs. I head for Charleigh’s room. I don’t know how I know she’s in there, but as soon as I push on the door, opening the gap a little more, I see her.
She has her long hair piled in a high bun on top of her head, wearing a large sweater that swallows all of her curves and a pair of black leggings. Her bare feet slap against the hardwood floor as she paces back and forth, her thumb nail being gnawed off from her nerves.
I rest my shoulder against the doorjamb and cross my arms. My heart beats a million miles a minute as I try to come up withnot only a plan to convince Reese that she doesn’t have to face Benedict alone, but also a plan on how to give Benedict a taste of his own medicine so he’ll stop harassing her.
Reese may be my fake fiancée and our engagement a ruse, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do everything in my power to protect her and Charleigh.
I’ll marry her right now if that’s what needs to be done.
I’ll adopt Charleigh too.
I’d be an awesome stepdad.
Bro, chill.
“Reese.”
Her gasp cuts through the empty room. She spins, and our eyes clash.
“Malaki.” The hand she has up to her mouth drops. “I didn’t realize you were home.”
I narrow my gaze. I already know where this is going. “Everything okay?”
“Hmm?” Her voice is high-pitched. “Yes, everything is… great.” She smiles, and although it takes my breath away, I can see right through it. “How was the flight?”
I push off from the doorjamb and shove my hands into my pockets. “It was okay. How was your morning?”
Don’t do it.
Don’t hide from me.
Reese brushes a tendril away from her face and glances at Charleigh’s crib–the same one I bought on a whim because I was unsatisfied with what she was in before. Her neck moves with a slow swallow, her lower lip slipping beneath her teeth.
“Dimples.”
I take a step toward her, but she doesn’t look at me.
