Page 5 of Adam's Fugitive

“If I shower.” I sigh. No use putting it off. I need to figure out if I’m going to be able to survive my own stupidity.

“Please shower.” Scarlett laughs. “Oh, and bulldoze that forest on your legs. You never know when Mr. Right is going to walk through the door.” I gave up my chance with Mr. Right when I ran out on my hot savior all those years ago. He’s the only man who has ever made my heart race. I guess I’m destined to end up a lonely old lady with a house full of wiener dogs.

Before I hang up with Scarlett, I arrange to meet Auntie O, Finn, and the new lawyer at Despora Law Group at three o’clock. Finding out the attorney’s name is Adam Carlin sent a little thrill of excitement shooting through me until I realized there are probably thousands of Adams in this state alone. The chances of him beingmyAdam are slim to nonexistent. My stupid girly heart doesn’t care about the odds though.

After a quick shower, I grab a decent pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, my usual day-off outfit. “The lawyer will have to get over it if he doesn’t like the way I’m dressed,” I tell Slinky as he stares at me from his throne, otherwise known as the decorative pillows on my bed. His brother is too busy destroying their newest toy to pay any attention to me.

“After working in scrubs for three years, I don’t own many fancy clothes, and I really don’t feel like putting an effort into my appearance today,” I explain to the animal, defending my choice. My dog stares at me for a few seconds before laying his head down on the soft pink pillow and falling sound asleep. I guess my minor nervous breakdown was getting boring to him.

* * *

The entire four-minute-and-thirty-second drive to downtown Silver Spoon Falls, I give myself a pep talk. No more negative thoughts. I’m going to work with the lawyer to get this little issue resolved so I can return to the job I love.

After parking in the lot behind Despora Law Group, I take a deep breath. Hopefully, the new lawyer will have good news for me. If not, I have no idea what I’m going to do.

I’m so engrossed in my inner thoughts; I almost walk into the automatic glass door. The dumb thing sure takes its sweet time opening. Can’t it see I’m in a hurry to get this meeting over with? I run my sweaty palms down the front of my jeans, regretting I didn’t listen to Slinky and dress up more, and walk across the super fancy lobby. Pulling myself together, I step up to the receptionist’s desk and tell the smiling woman, “I have an appointment with Mr. Carlin.”

“And your name?” she asks, glancing down at her computer screen.

A voice rings out behind me. “This is Cora Hargrove, my next appointment. I’ll take her to my office.” Oh my. That voice. Surely, I’m imagining things. There’s no way Adam, my savior from several years ago, is the same Adam Carlin who’s working on getting my name cleared. The universe can’t be that perverse. Maybe the stress of the last few days has caused me to finally lose my mind. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before turning.

Holy momma. It is him. And darn it, he’s even hotter than before.

“Adam?” My eyes automatically roam over his muscular body. He’s way the heck hotter in the expensive gray fitted suit than he was in jeans and a polo. Over the last seven years, I’ve thought of him often and regretted my decision to run out before he finished his shower. In my girly daydreams, I’ve even imagined he’s been thinking about me all these years, too.

“Hello, Cora.” He takes my hand and brings it to his lips. As his warm lips touch my skin, I feel electricity zip up my spine. “It’s been a while.”

“Uh.” My tongue is glued to the roof of my mouth as my brain shuts down.

The automatic door swishes behind us, and Finn Taylor walks in holding Auntie 0’s arm. Adam turns to greet them, and I get a few seconds to search for my scattered thoughts.

“Are you alright, Little Spring?” Auntie O grabs me for a hug. “I’m so sorry I got you into this mess.”

I push my haywire emotions to the back of my mind and glance down at her. “I already told you, you’re not to blame.” Her eyes narrow as she stares between me and Adam.

“Why are you so flustered?” Shoot. Leave it to Auntie O to call me out. I’d hoped I was imagining the warmth in my cheeks.

“I was rushing to get here on time,” I outright lie. I was here early and sat in the parking lot for several minutes before getting up the nerve to come in. “And I just realized we’re going to take an elevator. I freaking hate elevators.” It’s the truth. “I moved to this small town because most buildings don’t have them.” Also true.

“Why don’t we take this conversation up to my office.” Adam cuts into our chat before leading us to the elevators. As we wait, he leans down to whisper, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” Those words cause bittersweet memories to flash through my mind.

We step into the way-too-freaking-small enclosure, and Adam ends up standing between me and the other two occupants. “After this meeting, you owe me answers,” he leans close to whisper, but I’m pretty freaking sure both Auntie O and Finn are listening to every single word. “You have seven years, three months, and fourteen days of suffering to make up for.” Oh, man. His words cause my heart to race while wetness drips into my panties. I wonder if Auntie O and Finn would mind if I jumped his bones right here in the elevator. I can’t believe my blown, inexperienced brain is even capable of such thoughts, but it’s working overtime on steamy fantasies right now. Fantasies that involve me and Adam bare-ass naked.

The elevator doors open, and I realize I didn’t even notice the darn thing moving. “My office is this way.” Adam places his hand on the small of my back, and the warmth of his touch permeates every molecule in my body.

Auntie O and Finn give each other looks and actually seem to hold a silent conversation with their eyes all the way down the long hall. Shoot. Scarlett is going to hear all about this before I get the chance to tell her. The Silver Spoon Falls grapevine is notoriously swift. Faster than the speed of light.

CHAPTERFOUR

ADAM

Ionly thought I’d prepared myself to meet her again. But there was no way to anticipate this. Cora, Ophelia, and Finn sit across from me, and I try to get my fucking mind to function.

Being this close to my soulmate has destroyed me. The cool, calm demeanor I’m known for flew right out the fucking window the second Cora’s stunned eyes met mine. God, she is spectacular, even more beautiful than in my fantasies. She can’t be much taller than five feet, but she was blessed with abundant curves. My fingers itch to wrap around her rounded hips and hold tight while I pound into her from behind. Her dark sable hair is a little shorter than it was seven years ago, hanging to just below her shoulders, but the modern cut is perfect for her heart-shaped face. Fantasies of those pouty lips wrapped around my iron-hard cock fill my mind, sending all the blood in my body straight to my erection. This stunning woman has haunted my dreams for the last seven years. Fuck. I’m turning into a sappy-ass poet here.

My mind wakes the fuck up to the fact that three people are staring at me while I fucking daydream. Pulling my head out of my ass, I smile at my clients. “I wanted to let you know that the Harris County District Attorney has agreed to drop all charges against you ladies.”

“Really?” Cora jumps up, and my eyes automatically follow her curves as she hugs her partner-in-crime.

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