He let her distance herself. “It’s always time for game theory, luv.”
She patted his shoulders and caressed his pecs, lowering her chin to follow her path. “You use that accent to your advantage.”
“Whatever works,” he said, nearly holding his breath.
She breathed out and dropped her hands. “Ineed to think.”
Ah, damn it. “I understand.” He released her hair and helped her off his legs. Her instincts were good. There had been too much violence in her life already, and it was always part of his. Sometimes he thought violence flowed right through his veins. “For now, how about I make an appointment with my attorney tomorrow?” It appeared she’d be looking at her optionson every front.
“You guys done kissing?” Wolfe bellowed from the other side ofthe front door.
Jethro jolted. He hadn’t heard the man approach in the storm. “What are you doing here?”
“I brought plastic to finish covering the door until we can get a new one tomorrow,” he bellowed.
Gemma giggled. “He’s your friend.”
“Best friend,” Wolfe called back.
* * * *
The door was already fixed when Gemma emerged from her bedroom dressed in a pair of Serena’s leggings and an oversize sweater, her hair up in a ponytail. It felt good to ditch the wig. She looked at the door and then at the three men gathered in the kitchen. “Morning.”
“Morning,” Jethro said, his gaze warm on her face.
Wolfe nudged a holder of whipped-cream-topped lattes with candy cane sprinkles. “I brought you a single, and there’s a hot chocolatefor your girl.”
That looked like a lot of sugar. Gemma strode toward the treats, noting that Jethro had already drunk some of his. “This is kind of you.”
Jethro nodded to the other man, who was blond and tall. “This is Scott Terentson, my attorney. We’ve been telling him about your case.”
Scott stared at the sugary latte in his hand, put it down, and held the same hand out to her. “It’s nice to meet you.”
She shook and then took a tentative sip of the drink. Sugar and love. She smiled and took more of a sip, even though she’d have to work out extra hard later in the day.
Scott cleared his throat. “How about we chat here in the kitchen while Wolfe and Jethro go do something else?” He looked at the two men, who appeared to be ready to argue. “If you stay here, Gemma waives client confidentiality, and I’m not allowing that to happen.”
Gemma stilled. Wow. The guy had some guts talking to the other two like that. She studied him more closely.
“Fair enough.” Jethro clasped Wolfe around the neck. “We’ll go shovel thedrive. Again.”
It didn’t look like the blustering snow had lessened any. Jethro winked at her and then headed into the mudroom with Wolfe, where they suited up. If they’d been together the night before, if she hadn’t decided she had to think, would he have kissed herbefore leaving?
She shook her head. Now was not the time for dreaming.
Scott’s hands were large around the disposable cup. “So, here’s what I know. Correct me if I’m wrong.” He laid out her activities the last several years with surprising detail, also noting that he believed Monty had beaten her. Finallyhe wound down.
“That’s all correct,” she said, sipping her drink. “From the research I’ve conducted online, because there’s no record of Monty harming me, it’s his word against mine. He’s a doctor ina small town.”
“That’s true.” Scott leaned both elbows on the counter. “Is there anybody who could corroborate your side?”
She told him about Jack, Monty’s older brother. “He helped me to get free, but I don’t think he’d testify against Monty. In addition, I can see him wanting a niece and foolishly thinking that maybe having a daughter would help Monty turn into a decent human being. I disagree.” She understood the law, and she knew that it’d be too risky to submit Trudy to a custody dispute. “I don’t think I have a good chance of winning if he sues me for partial custody.”
Scott tipped back more of his sugary brew. “I agree.”
“So I need to keep running,” she said, her stomach hurting. “Also, I forgot to tell you that my mother would probably testify for Monty as well. I don’t have anybody on my side.”
“That’s not true,” Scott said. “You have some very smart peopleon your side.”
