Page 91 of Offside Angel

But I’ve been absolutely sure since the moment I scheduled this meeting.

“Would you stop asking me that?”

“Never,” he laughs, sliding everything into a folder labeled Whitaker, Z. “Do you know how often I deal with people who are pissed off because Daddy signed his estate over to his side piece and cut his children out of it?”

“How often?”

He considers it for a second. “Twice. But that was two times too many. I have to make sure you are of sound mind so that I can look your descendants in their faces and tell them it was your decision, not mine. I need my conscience to be clear.”

“Consider it clear then. First, because I’m of sound mind. Second, because Mira is not my side piece.” I narrow my eyes in warning. “And third, because I didn’t cut Aiden out of anything. Everything we’ve done here is standard stuff.”

Hollis arches a brown in disbelief. “Nothing about you and Mira is ‘standard.’”

He has no idea how right he is.

Though I’m sure Hollis is referring more to the fact that I made sure Mira will become Aiden’s legal guardian if anything ever happens to me. And that she’ll have access to all of my accounts, including the money set aside for Aiden in his guardianship trust.

“Are you expecting some great tragedy to befall you or something?” he asks. “Do I need to be worried?”

“I’m not expecting anything. Then again,” I add, “maybe we should all be expecting something.”

It’s been a week since Mira’s accident, but all I’ve been able to think about is the fact that I didn’t have access to any information about the most important woman in my life because we weren’t “family.” As if the government gets to tell me who my fucking family is.

What would’ve happened if something had happened to me? Where would Aiden have gone? Would Mira have been taken care of?

Mira was released from the hospital the next day, Owen assured me everything was as it was supposed to be at the house and with the security system, and life has been quiet and peaceful for the last week.

But I couldn’t relax until I knew I’d done everything I could to take care of Aiden and Mira.

For the first time in seven days, I can take a deep breath.

Hollis smiles and crosses his arms. “I’m not going to tell a client of mine to be less prepared, but I have to ask again…” He leans across the desk, his eyes boring into mine. “Are you sure about this woman?”

I lean forward, matching his intensity with my own. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.”

It’s later than normal when I get out of Aiden’s room. He talked me into reading two extra chapters of his book, but we both dozed off during the second one.

I stumble out of his room towards the living room, rubbing my eyes. But Mira isn’t on the couch where I left her.

Or in the kitchen.

And I smile—because I know exactly where she is.

I smell the lavender bubble bath before I even open our bedroom door. In the ensuite, candles flicker and I can hear the gentle lapping of water.

I cross the room and lean against the doorway. Her eyes are closed, her head resting on the lip of the tub. The water is up to her chest, but I can still see the soft swells of her beneath the surface. My cock twitches.

“It’s not safe to bathe alone,” I warn.

She smiles, still not opening her eyes. “What a shame. It’s my new favorite thing.”

She’s taken a bath every day since the accident. The doctor told her it would help with the muscle aches, but it’s not doing a damn thing for me. I’ve been purposefully gentle with her since we left the hospital—a task that has become almost impossible when I have to see her naked in my bathtub day after fucking day.

“Do you want some company?” I ask.

Her eyes snap open. The way she tugs at her lower lip with her teeth makes me wonder if I’m not the only one who has been undergoing a kind of torture. This is the longest we’ve gone without touching since I tracked her down to that dingy motel.

It’s been too long.

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