I let out a sound that was an exhale mixed with a sob and whispered, “Yeah, baby. We get to go home.”
A warm hand clasped my shoulder from behind, and Donovan’s voice rumbled, “Who’s hungry?”
I twisted my neck to look up at my guy, and our eyes locked.
The Smirk spread across my man’s face, and he quietly said, “You killed it. You all did.”
My smile shone through my tears, and I looked around the courtroom at all the people who were here for my kids and me.
Freya and Colt had entered the courtroom at some point and were laughing at something (probably Evan) with Atlas. I smiled as Colt slid his arm around Freya’s shoulders, still deep in conversation with my brother, and I marveled at how normal it all was.
My brother turned toward the door that had just opened and called out, “Yo, Stitch,” at Sophie, who walked in, followed by Maureen with Imogen on her hip.
Donny’s mom’s eyes found mine, and she beamed at me, mouthing,Yay!
I grinned, and for the first time in weeks, my cheeks didn’t ache with the effort of pretending. Even Imogen seemed to sense the relaxed atmosphere, because she clapped her little hands together and gave me a toothy grin.
Then something beautiful happened.
Immie spotted her father, and her little face lit up with joy. Then she leaned forward, reached toward Donovan, and at the top of her voice, shrieked one solitary word.
“Dada!”
—————
Two DaysLater
“So,”Cara said, lifting her drink to her mouth and staring at me over the rim of one of Martha’s cute teacups. “What you're basically saying is that your ex-husband hasn’t changed one little bit in all the years you’ve been divorced, but he still thought he had a chance with you and you’d go back to him the instant he clicked his fingers?”
My lips stretched into a wide grin, and I casually lifted one shoulder. “Seems that way.”
I’d just relayed the story of Evan and Rachel’s Jerry Springer moment in court. Cara, Layla, and Tristan had only just stopped crying with laughter after I told them about the poor court official and the four security guards.
Layla shook her head disbelievingly. “Is he crazy? I mean, Evan wasn’t exactly hit with the ugly stick, but have youseenDonovan O’Shea?” She sat back and fanned her face, giving us all a knowing look.
Tristan reached out and felt Layla’s forehead, checking for a temperature. “No,” he announced. “She doesn’t feel sick. Maybe she’s just developing multiple personalities because the Layla I know wouldnever.”
“Oh, stop,” Layla grumbled, gently slapping his hand away and rolling her eyes conspiratorially at me. “So, what happened after the judge basically told him to eff off?”
“Eff off?” Tristan’s hand went to his chest, and he started to laugh. “Since when have you ever saideff off?”
“Since my twin boys started copyingeverythingwe say,” Layla informed him. “Yesterday, Byron called his playgroup teacher a fucknut. It was hit or miss on whether she was going to allow him back again, but I managed to persuade her. Anyhow, I’ve told Bowie from now on we have to watch our language around the kids or else I’ll end up having to homeschool because nobody else in the state will want to teach them.” She gave us big eyes. “I just can’t.”
“I feel ya, sister,” Cara drawled quietly.
Layla’s eyes drifted over my shoulder, and her cheeks blushed prettily. “Donvan’s here,” she whispered. “And he looks hawt!”
I craned my neck to see Donny weaving through the chairs and tables, making a beeline toward me, and my heart fluttered.
Layla wasn’t wrong. The sight of Donovan O’Shea crossing the room sent a heated ripple from nipple to clit.
Even after the recent rollercoaster of emotions and legal drama, he still looked every inch the hot guy with his crisp, white wifebeater, the plethora of colorful tattoos that covered his arms and chest, and faded jeans molded to his fine ass and thighs. My eyes swept over my gorgeous guy from top to toe, taking in his stark white Nike Air Jordans and his confident swagger, and I wondered if there was any place close I could take him so I could jump his bones.
He looked over and hit me with his incredible light blue eyes, along with The Smirk that made every nerve ending in my body come alive.
Donovan paused briefly to collect Imogen from the play area that Martha had recently created. Immie must have sensed him because she stopped bossing around the gathering of dolls and teddy bears and glanced over her shoulder at Donny. Then, she held her hand out toward him and yelled, “Dada.”
Donovan grinned, swooped down, and lifted her onto his hip. His eyes found mine, and he shot me a sexy little wink.
