Page 83 of Cherished Lands
"What? Why?"
"Just get here. And Elliot? Wear a suit."
"Shit," I hissed, taking the stairs two at a time back to our loft. "Tess, wake up."
She made a disgruntled noise and burrowed deeper into the covers. Any other morning, I'd have enjoyed coaxing her awake slowly. But we didn't have time for that.
"Princess, come on." I yanked open my closet, searching for the suit I'd worn last time I was in a courthouse... for our wedding. "Judge wants to see us in an hour."
That got her attention. She bolted upright, covers falling to her waist. The sight of her naked chest nearly derailed my thoughts.
"What? Why?" she asked, knuckling the sleep from her eyes.
"Don't know. Hank just called." I pulled the suit out and tossed it on the bed. "Said to get to his office and wear a suit."
"That can't be good." She was already moving, flinging off the covers and making her way to the closet.Ourcloset.
"Could be nothing." Even I didn't believe that.
We dressed in tense silence, stealing glances at each other as we rushed through our morning routine. Tessa's hands shook as she put on mascara, and I had to redo my tie twice before getting it right.
Once she'd managed to apply her makeup, Tessa slid on a form-fitting navy dress that probably cost more than my truck. I caught her eye in the bathroom mirror as she pinned up her hair.
"No matter what happens in there," I said, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind, "we're in this together."
Her hands stilled, eyes meeting mine in our reflection. "Promise?"
"Promise." I presseda kiss to her neck, right where her pulse fluttered. "Now let's go find out what this judge wants."
The drive to Hank's office felt like the longest twenty minutes of my life. Tessa's knee bounced the whole way, and I had to stop myself reaching over to still it. Her nervous energy was infectious.
The sun was barely peeking over the horizon when we pulled into the small parking lot behind Hank's office.
I killed the engine and turned to face her. "You ready for this?"
"Born ready, PB." A hint of that familiar spark lit her eyes. Nervous as she was, she wouldn't go down without a fight.
We found Hank in his office, surrounded by papers and muttering to himself.
"Ah, good." He looked up as we entered. "Ray's already at the courthouse with his lawyer. Judge Matthews wants to see all parties in chambers before making her ruling on the injunction."
"Is that normal?" Tessa asked, groping for my hand.
Hank's mustache twitched. "Not exactly. But then again, nothing about this case has been normal." He gathered the papers into a neat stack. "Come on. We don't want to keep Her Honor waiting."
The walk to the courthouse felt like a march to execution. My palms were sweating, but Tessa's grip never wavered.
Whatever happens in there, we're in this together.
The words echoed in my head as we climbed the courthouse steps. I meant them then, and I meant them now. Ray Belmonte could try to tear down everything we'd built, but he couldn't touch what was between us.
Not anymore.
It was early enough that the courthouse halls were empty, and our footsteps echoed eerily on the marble floors. We passed a cleaning lady mopping in the entrance hall, but otherwise, it felt like we were the only people in the world.
Until we rounded the corner.
Ray Belmonte stood stiff as a mannequin in his tailored Italian suit. As usual, his phone was pressed to his ear, and he was barking orders at someone. His lawyer was arranging papers on a table nearby.
