Page 113 of Forbidden Desire

Forty minutes later, we settle in at a table at the corner deli with our pastrami sandwiches.

“How long until you have to be back at the office?” I ask, taking a sip of my iced tea.

Sadie checks her watch. “Like forty-five minutes, but it’s a slow day. I can be late. You?”

“Same. Marco is out of town anyway, so everyone is a little more lax.”

She nods and takes a chip from her bag, popping it in her mouth as she looks at me curiously.

“How isMarco?”she asks, emphasizing his name.

“He’s good.” I shrug.

“You’re not going through with the custody papers, are you?”

I sigh and look at her, ready to take the brunt of her thoughts on the matter. “No. I’m not.”

She’s quiet for a moment. “I think that’s good.”

“Wait. You do?” I ask in surprise.

“He’s herdad.Whatever my thoughts are about him are trumped by that.”

“He’s really not that bad, Sadie.”

“Are you three still trying the whole ‘family’ thing?”

“He’s been helping out in the evenings. To be honest, it’s really nice having the help. The company. Josie loves him. You should see her with him.”

“And what about the tabloid? Aren’t you worried?”

“He took care of it,” I answer.

“Really?” She looks impressed.

“Terminated the daycare employee. Drew up an NDA. The whole thing.”

“Not bad, Mr. Vallejo,” she says, almost to herself.

I laugh softly, happy that she might be softening to the idea of Marco being a part of my life. Of Josie’s.

“And what about you?” she asks.

“Me? What about me?”

“You’rein this too. Don’t act like you don’t have feelings for the guy because I can see it in the way you talk about him.”

I bite back a grin. “Am Ithatobvious?”

“Girl. Even if I wasn’t your best friend, and nothing but a stranger on the street, I could see it.”

I groan and look up at the ceiling. “I don’t know.” I shake my head. “I can’t get him off my mind. Is it so bad to want to have it all? The guy? The happy little family?”

“No,” says Sadie softly. “It’s what we all want.”

I lift my head and look at her, somewhat surprised. This is the first time she’s really ever admitted to wanting love, a family.

“I don’t want you to not tell me things because you’re scared of what I might think. Okay?” she says, reaching over and giving my hand a squeeze.

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