The bailiff nodded and began to mess with something at the side. Confused, I turned and leaned to see the screen, and the first image popped up. My heart stopped.
That was me.
That was Cy.
That was the tractor, in the pasture, and we were on the ground beside it.
That was definitely me pulling Cy halfway up to kiss him, my hips pressed against his leg.
There was no faking that, no denying it or saying it wasn't what it looked like. There was no pretending that it was a bad angle or something else. That ringing was back in my ears. I felt like I couldn't breathe. Right there, where Faith - and everyone else, but I didn't care about them - could see, I was kissing another man. A taken man.
"Objection!" Cessily barked, shooting to her feet. "Why was I not told about this?"
"Maybe because your client has been lying to you?" Russell asked.
Cessily's head snapped over to him. "Oh, I assure you he hasn't been. I'm asking about the exhibit, so that I could prepare a counter-argument." Then she looked at the judge. "I don't even know how these were obtained!"
"We had access to a private investigator," Russell explained. "The neighbor was gracious enough to allow the use of his property, so no trespassing was involved."
Cessily's body was tense and anger was visible on her face. From the image, that was from Simmons' land, and I hadn't even thought about it! I'd assumed we were out of sight, alone, and safe! My mind was spinning, trying to keep up with what this meant. My heart was frozen. I felt like I was about to be sick, but not because people knew. It was becauseFaithdid. After her anger at Violet and Ash, she sawthis?
"I'll grant you the chance to re-examine," the judge assured her.
Cessily dropped back into her chair with a huff.
Then the screen clicked to the next image. Again, it was us, and we were in the same place, but this time Cy's hand was right between my legs, and there was no question that I was not trying to get away. It was adult. It was provocative. My mouth opened before I could help myself.
"Someone cover her eyes!" I snapped.
Her grandfather turned her toward him and away from the screen, but Russell just chuckled again. "Luke, can you identify the people in those images?"
"Yes, sir," I told him.
"And who are they?" he asked.
"That's myself and Dr. Cy Marshall."
The man smiled at me like he'd never been prouder of himself. "I see. And in these pictures, are you being forced into this situation against your will?"
My eyes jumped over to Cy. He sat there, his hand laced with Ash's and holding on much too tight. Slowly, he tipped his head, and I felt my mouth go dry. Right here, I could deny it. I could say it was not what it looked like. I could have some excuse, but I knew it would destroy everything I had with them. I'd already fucked up once. I'd made the worst mistake of my life when I'd said those same things, claiming he'd taken advantage of me. I'd seen how bad it hurt Cy, and I'd sworn I'd never do it again.
And now, I had to decide what kind of a man I was. My tongue darted out to moisten my parched lips. I had to force myself to swallow. My heart sounded like a drum in my ears, and I knew that what I said next would change my relationship with my daughter forever.
"No, sir. I kissed him."
Chapter Sixty-Seven
The images flipped again. This time we were lying side by side, clinging to each other. I saw it, but my focus was locked on Faith. She was staring back, her eyes so big and wide. Her mouth was open in shock. I heard the attorney say something, but it didn't register. All that mattered was her, and I was terrified that I'd just lost the most important thing in my life.
"Mr. Barrett!" Russell snapped, startling me enough to make me look at him. "I asked if you thought this was appropriate behavior for a man with a child in the house."
"Which is the reason it happened when shewasn'tin the house," I shot back.
Russell's jaw clenched. "But I was under the impression that Dr. Marshall and Mr. Walker were a couple. Is this kind of promiscuity and sexual deviancy what you are exposing your daughter to? Do you honestly feel that it's appropriate for her to see this?"
"No, which is why I'd prefer you angle the screen so she can't," I told him.
"And the relationship between Ash and Cy?" Russell pressed.
