Page 25 of Inheriting Miss Fortune

“I know a woman who’s passionate about LGBTQ family law,” Tully said slowly. “She’s the one…” When he trailed off, I shot him a questioning look. He sighed. “She’s the one I recommended Katie use for a contract when I learned she was using a sperm donor.”

“But we didn’t have a contract.”

“I know. I thought that was…” He ran his tongue over his teeth as if searching for the correct word. “Ill-advised.”

I bristled at the implied insult… which was foolish, considering Tully and I hadn’t even met at that point. “I told Katie I’d never wanted kids. I wouldn’t fight her for custody. She trusted that.”

“Clearly. But people change their minds.” He shrugged. “It’s fairly common. Enough to make it worth protecting against. Trust is all well and good in theory, but sometimes the people you think you can trust are the least trustworthy of all.” He smiled without humor. “I wouldn’t put my future in someone else’s hands like that, still less my child’s future.”

“And in the end, Katie trusted me with her child’s future anyway,” I said hotly.

Tully looked troubled, but he nodded. “She did,” he agreed reluctantly. His gaze caught mine. “But you don’t want her.” Thewordswhich shows I was rightremained unspoken, but I still heard them.

I narrowed my eyes. He made it sound so easy. “I told you, it’s not a matter ofwant, it’s a matter of what’s best for Lellie, and I’m not the right person?—”

“Sobethe right person,” he shot back.

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

Tully rolled his eyes. “Then for god’s sake, explainit to me.”

“Explain that I have family issues I don’t want to saddle my child with? That I never want to repeat the same mistakes my own parents made? That I could never forgive myself if I—” I broke off and ran a hand through my hair.

What the fuck was I doing? In my anger, I was giving him evidence to use against me in the custody case.

I tried to soften my words and my tone. “Anyway. That was before I met Lellie, when Katie was around to be a better parent than I could ever be. I care enough to make sure Lellie finds a good situation with a loving family.”

Tully seemed to be making a supreme effort to keep his own temper under control. “Do you have the resources for this fight? It’s not something you’ll be able to use Lellie’s money for?—”

“I wouldn’t.” I gritted my teeth. “Don’t worry about the money.”

Tully’s eyebrows lowered even more. “I’m just saying?—”

I knew what he was saying. That I was a simple ranch hand living in someone else’s apartment, sleeping on my boss’s furniture, barely making ends meet. There was no way for him to know I’d fixed up this place myself, had made sure it was professionally decorated and fitted out so it would increase Way’s property value as my way of thanking him since he wouldn’t let me pay rent. But I didn’t owe Tully any explanations. As long as I could pay my legal bills, it was nobody’s business how.

“I get what you’re saying. And I’m telling you, it’s none of your business. Can’t make it clearer than that, Tully.”

“Fine,” he bit out.

“Fine,” I repeated. “And while we’re at it, I’d like to see a copy of Katie’s will, please. Along with any other documentation I’m entitled to, including trust documents, bank statements, et cetera.”

Tully’s fingers flexed like he wanted to hit something—possibly me—but he didn’t argue. He simply got up and retrieved his computer bag before returning with a large legal-sized folder full of paperwork.

After handing it to me, he returned to his spot on the end of the sofa and watched as I began to go through it. I felt like I was a bug under a microscope and he was recording every tiny tic or change in my expression.

I spoke without looking up. “Feel free to take a walk.”

“You’re kicking me out of your apartment?” His tone was light, but his words carried a definite edge of hurt.

I blew out a breath. Tully didn’t deserve my anger. He’d been looking out for Katie’s interests two years ago and was looking out for Lellie’s now. I had no right to be annoyed that I instinctively wanted him to be onmyteam.

Hell, I wasn’t sureIwas on my team.

I finally glanced up and met his eyes. “No. I’m not. I’m just having a hard time figuring out whether you’re here to gather evidence forthemor whether you’re here to successfully transfer custody to me according to Katie’s wishes.”

Tully’s shoulders slumped slightly. “That’s fair.” He paused. “I’m here to transfer custody. But it’s my job both as Katie’s attorney and her friend to make sure that Lellie is in good hands. Transferring custody to you just to have you give her away to strangers wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.” He hesitated. “Iknow not to believe what the Scotts say. I know they’re biased against you. I know there’s… bad blood there?—”

I snorted. “No shit.” I felt like we were saying things that had already been said. “I know you think they’re an option for Lellie because they’dloveher. Well, forgive me if I don’t think their idea of love is all that great.”

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