Page 43 of Taking The Virgin

Chapter16

To saythat I’m relieved by the way Owen just sauntered in here with reinforcements would be an understatement.

He’s strong, determined, capable, and he’s got the money and power to bring the best lawyers in the world to my little hearing.

My champion.

What nobody else knows is how difficult it must have been for him to deal with something as messy as my court case. But he showed up for me like this. And it means everything tome.

His lawyers—my lawyers now—have obviously talked to my former counsel before they swooped in here and took charge. My sister’s foster parents make a case that tugs at my heartstrings, saying that they truly love Jasmine and that they only want what’s best for her, but their case is like a bomb that my attorneys dismantle one piece at atime.

In the end, my team manages to get the judge to agree that it’s too soon to break up my family; he tells me that if I can pay off the bank for our house’s loan and show that I have the means to take care of my four younger siblings, he won’t allow anyone to begin any adoption process.

As I suck in a joyous breath, I look over my shoulder at Owen, who’s sitting behind me, backing me up. He gives me a slight, encouraging smile that doesn’t even come close to really showing how huge this victoryis.

The Terrys slink out of the room with only a sorrowful look at me. They’ll sure as hell be back if I don’t live up to the promises I’ve made to the court.

But I will, thanks to the major sum of money I’m earning fromOwen.

I thank the lawyers profusely. I’m crying and I don’t even try to hide my relief.

When it’s all over, Owen escorts me out, and I’m so overwhelmed by how he unexpectedly saved the day that I don’t think mere words can express how I’m feeling. It’s not until he ushers me into his waiting limo that I sense how much of a turning point this is in our relationship.

This is everything.

The driver puts up the partition between him and us, and the limo takes off. Owen silently sits beside me. My hero. The amazing guy who just came through in a clutch.

My tongue has been tied, but I finally overcome it. “I don’t know how I’m ever going to thankyou.”

“Ignoring your situation wasn’t an option.”

“Nat told you everything?”

I hear a ragged sigh emanate from him, and he onlynods.

“Did she approach you or… Or did you ask her about why Ileft?”

“I askedher.”

He’s tense after admitting it, but then he looks at me, and it’s as if something has thawed in him. His dark gaze is liquid and open instead of stony and dismissive.

He murmurs, “You seemed inconsolable when you left yesterday, and as much as I wanted to keep your problems at a distance, I couldn’t. I don’t like to see you sad. It…”

I think he’s about to say something like It doesn’t benefit our arrangement. But he doesn’t.

“I’ve got it,” I say, because he doesn’t have to elaborate. He’s already pushed himself much farther out of his comfort zone than I ever thought possible. I can’t ask formore.

But he stuns me by adding, “In case you were wondering, I didn’t see your Highest Bidder application before our arrangement began. I wasn’t aware of the reason you decided to auction off your virginity.” He swallows and clears his throat, then looks away for a long moment. When he looks back at me, his eyes aren’t completely dry. “I treated you very poorly considering what you’ve been through.”

“I don’t need to be treated differently from anyone else. Yes, I’ve been through a lot. But I’m surviving.” I try to smile athim.

He faces me fully, his imposing body blocking the view from the window. “You need to ask me for anything you require from now on, Juliet.”

“Even if it’s uncomfortable foryou?”

He doesn’t acknowledge that it is uncomfortable. Instead he only says, “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

I nod, my eyes burning with oncoming tears. My throat is creaky, so I don’t speak.

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