Page 78 of Sawyer
“Well, he did.Had his men follow and threaten Mandy a bit.It never got physical, but she was scared to leave the house and just didn’t want that life.I mean, the life of a lawyer is hard.Sure, there’s money, fancy dinners and events, lots of good sides, but in criminal law, especially, there can be serious ramifications.”
“But you still do criminal law after that?”
“A little, but nothing major.I prefer business law, so while I have a small criminal team, I think now that I’m here in Whispers, I might focus solely on commercial and contract law,” I say what I’ve been thinking about out loud.It’s been a long time coming.I should’ve closed that division years ago really.
“Sounds safer…” Her voice is unsure, and I understand her worries.
“Not really.Business law can be tough.I have this one client; she makes soaps and, you know, she’s just really bad at accepting any help.Drives me crazy,” I tell her, grinning playfully.
“Really?She sounds delightful.Tell me more about her?”she teases, making me laugh as I pull her close and kiss her like she deserves.Because this woman in my arms deserves the world, and I want to be the man who gives it to her.
34
Sawyer
Iflip the pancake perfectly, my grin instant as Noah giggles.
“And then we watched another movie and ate all the popcorn.”Kevin is now more talkative than ever, and if I thought getting Annabelle and these kids off the farm was going to be this successful, I would’ve done it a lot earlier.
“So let me get this straight.You had candy for dinner and then popcorn, followed by…?”I ask them both, the amusement on my face hard to remove as I see both boys sitting up at the kitchen breakfast bar, eating the pancakes quicker than I can make them.
“Ice cream.”Noah giggles, and I swear, these kids are amazing.
“It was so cool,” Kevin says, and I slide another pancake onto his plate.I left Annabelle to sleep.God knows, she needs it.After what happened last night, and the fact that I heard both boys awake early, I left her bundled in the blankets and got them up and in the kitchen so we didn’t wake her.
“Your mom is going to freak out when she hears that.”I’m only half joking.
“Hears what, exactly?”Her voice reaches me from the doorway, and I look up.My breath gets caught in my throat, just looking at her.Her beautiful hair is a complete mess in a top knot on her head.Her sleep shorts and top are all wrinkled, her face stunningly fresh, and as she pads closer on bare feet, she looks like all my favorite things rolled into one.She looks like shebelongs.
“We had candy for dinner,” Noah admits immediately, his reply so quick, I mentally note not to tell him any of my secrets.
“Oh, really?”Annabelle’s eyes are full of knowing as she walks to her boys and kisses them both before walking up to me.
“You didn’t wake me.”
“You looked too perfect in my sheets.I didn't want to.”My arm wraps around her middle, and she smiles as I lean down and kiss her good morning.Not the kind of kiss I want, given we have an audience, but one that leaves promises for more later.
“So candy for dinner, huh?”She turns to look at her boys.
“Gummy bears, to be exact,” I tell her, showing her the empty packet I picked up from the living room floor this morning.
“Hmmm, better brush your teeth extra well this morning.”As she takes a seat, I slide a coffee across the counter to her.She looks up in surprise.
“Pancake?”I ask.
It strikes me then that she probably hasn’t had anyone make her breakfast since she was a kid.She’s been the one making food for everyone else ever since.
“That would be nice.”Adoration softens her eyes, the look warming me all over as I get to work on the pan immediately.I’m not a chef, by any means.Pancakes are the extent of what I can do, but I do them well.
“Sutton up?”She looks around for evidence of my brother.
“Not yet.”I look at the clock.It’s early, but these kids still probably have so much sugar in their system that I'm surprised they slept at all.
“What do you want to do today?Want to hang out here and go for a swim?”
All three look at me like I have three heads.
“What?”I shrug, plating Annabelle’s pancakes and placing them in front of her.
