Page 58 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
Gina grinned.“Like I said you’re going to be my masterpiece.”
All Levi could think about was Missy, and how she’d looked at him earlier after she found out about this latest drama in his life.Sara had brought him nothing but trouble and it could now cost him the first woman he’d ever wanted to have something serious with.He was going to have to talk to her but first he wanted to speak to his attorney.He just hoped Declan would agree to represent him.
*
Back in SandyPoint he didn’t expect Declan to roll out the red carpet, but he also wasn’t prepared for his annoyance when Levi stood in his home office lobby.
“Levi, I’m not sure I’m comfortable representing you in this case.You should find some high-end sports attorney.”
“Wesley said you’re the best, and if I pick some random high-end attorney, I run the risk of them using my situation to advance themselves.”
Declan sighed but crossed his arms over his chest.“I’m going to be 100 percent honest with you.If I represent you in this case, and that is a bigif, I will not help you deny your paternity, I will not draw up any legal documents to cut this child out of your life or inheritance.In fact, I can guarantee I will make sure the child gets exactly the percentage of your income recommended by the state.”
Levi nodded.“Good.Look I know this sounds bad, but if this child is mine, I plan to play a role in its life.In fact, I’ll need you to help make sure I get at least 50 percent custody.”
“And how will that work during baseball season?”Declan challenged.
“How does every other working parent make it work?”
Declan laughed.“By grit and pure will to take care of your child because they’re the most important thing in your life now.”
Declan moved through a doorway into what looked like the actual office portion of his first floor.There was a big desk, bookshelves, his diplomas, several pictures of his boys, and two chairs facing the desk.
“Have a seat,” Declan said, sitting in his big leather chair.“I guess you could hire a nanny to travel with you and the baby won’t need proper school for another five years.So you’ll have time to figure out how to make that work with a baseball schedule.”
Levi just stood in the doorway, feeling overwhelmed with the idea of becoming a dad.
“How did you know what to do?”Levi said.
Declan was typing on his laptop but looked up.“Oh you can read a dozen books, and you’ll get loads of unsolicited advice, but none of that will really make sense until you’re holding your child.You get them home and realize you are not at all qualified.”
“And you did that times two, and alone.”
Declan’s jaw tightened.“It was the toughest year of my life.”
“I bet.”
“But first things first, before you go naming Levi junior, let’s make sure the baby is yours.I’m going to file a request with the court to order a noninvasive paternity test.If the mother agrees, you can pay to have it expedited and get the results in about a week.But it will cost you.”
“I’ll pay.I need to know.”
“Once we have the results, we can make plans for requesting your name on the birth certificate and custody.”
“What if she won’t do the test?”
“Do you have any reason to believe the baby isn’t yours?Or suspect she’s lying?”
Levi filled Declan in on his history with Sara and the one time he’d slept with her, giving him only the barest facts.
“So the baby could be yours, but is very likely Maddox Rio’s child, and she’s using this spectacle to…what?”
“I’m not sure she’s the one behind this drama.The video I saw looked like Sara didn’t know she was being recorded.Maybe someone else is setting her up to seem like the bad guy.”
“I guess we’ll see how she reacts when she’s served with the request for the test.”
“Can I just ask her to do the test?”
Declan stopped typing away.“Yes, but when the test is conducted via the court order the results are handled in a more secure way, to ensure you know for sure no one could tamper with it.”
