Resisting the Lawyer: Office Friends to Lovers Suspense Romance (Dirty Hot Resistance Series Book 3)

by Emelia Blair

  Laughing, I pull her up, baby and all, and then take Sophie from her. “Hey, Soph, want to take your Mom for a twirl?” When Sophie just claps her hands and babbles happily, I grin at Elise. “See? She can’t think of anything better. Now, come on!”

  I drag her onto the dance floor and helplessly amused, Elise lets me show her my weird dance moves, most of which are made up and make her laugh, loudly. With Sophie held in a secure grip, I sway to the beat, occasionally twirling Elise, who tries to mimic my ridiculous moves.

  Very soon, Debra drags Riley over and joins us. Sophie changes hands between us and it’s a lively affair with everyone chuckling and giggling. No one butts in to interrupt our family’s moment and my heart soars on seeing the happiness lighting up the face of the woman I love.

  When our feet can move no longer, we exit the floor.

  My arm is around Elise as I still hold Sophie who looks radiant with all the excitement. I’m watching Elise so I notice when her broad smile falters suddenly and then stiffens as she freezes.

  Instantly, I look up to see an older couple approaching us with severe expressions on their face.

  “Mother!” Elise exclaims.

  Mother?

  12

  Elise

  What are they doing here? I think to myself, frantically.

  However, I haven’t seen them since I became pregnant and I can’t help but be a little emotional about seeing my parents.

  “Elise, how have you been?” My father gives me a nod,

  My heart feels a little tight and I wish he would draw me into his arms for a hug. But I know he will never initiate one, so I let myself be guided by my emotions as I step forward and wrap my arms around him in a hug. “Father, it’s good to see you!” Despite our odd relationship, I want to just crawl into his lap, put my head on his shoulder, and cry my heart out.

  It takes him a few seconds but he returns the hug albeit a little stiffly. There is a trace of regret in his voice as he says, “It has been too long.”

  When I step back to hug my mother, she greets me a little warmly, “Have you lost weight?”

  I laugh. “I’ve gained it.” Feeling her arms around me, my eyes feel moist as I quietly murmur an ache in my heart, “I’ve missed you.”

  She doesn’t say anything but her arms tighten around me, in response.

  I introduce Lucas to them, “Lucas is Debra’s brother.”

  My mother nods. “I’m one of her oldest clients.”

  Lucas blinks, “Fayleen Smith?”

  My mother looks surprised. “You know of me?”

  Lucas smiles. “Yes! You’re the only client she invited to the wedding. You helped start her business off. She’s always held you in high esteem.” He chuckles. “It’s a small world.”

  My father isn’t paying attention to us, his attention on Sophie who is staring back at him.

  Seeing the curiosity in his gaze and knowing he won’t make a move, I decide to do something. I take Sophie from Lucas as he chats with my mother, and I deliberately hold her in an incorrect way. I make it seem that I’m fumbling.

  After two heartbeats, my father snorts, “That’s not how you hold a child, Elise. Here, let me show you.” He takes Sophie from my arms, irritably, and adjusts her in his arms. “See?”

  I pretend to look fascinated, all the while feeling smug inside. “Oh, is that how you do it? Guess I’ve been doing it wrong all this time.”

  Lucas gives me a strange look as if to say, what are you talking about – you just lectured me yesterday about this!

  My father gives me a suspicious look but he can’t help himself from studying the child in his arms.

  It’s his grandchild.

  Sophie grabs on to his tie and stares at him.

  Both man and child enter into a staring competition before Sophie starts baby babbling.

  My baby has the most infectious laugh I’ve ever heard. People are always drawn to it. And my parents are no different.

  My father’s lips tug up reluctantly and I watch as Sophie goes in for the killer move, where she rests her tiny head on my father’s shoulder as if she’s always known him.

  My mother has a doting look in her eyes as she stares at Sophie and I know that for all their resistance over the phone, they’re helpless against Sophie’s charms.

  Hook, line, and sinker.

  When Sophie sees another stranger who looks willing to give her attention, she opens her arms wide and starts babbling.

  Unable to hide her own eagerness, my mother reaches out and takes her from my reluctant father.

  “She likes you.” I smile at them.

  My mother gives me a rueful smile that says that she knows she’s been had.

  However, my father is too busy glaring at Lucas to hear this and he demands, “Are you the man who—”

  “No, Father!” I immediately put one hand on Lucas’s chest, protectively. “Lucas is – he’s my…” I look at him, frantically, my heart sinking as I realize we’ve never put a label on what we are.

  However, Lucas just gives me a warm look, and says, smoothly, “I intend to marry your daughter.”

  My father’s face relaxes, marginally and then he narrows his eyes. “There’s no ring on her finger.”

  Lucas looks affronted at this. “Well, I wouldn’t give your daughter a store bought ring. I’m having one specially made for her!”

  My father doesn’t look entirely convinced but my mother intervenes, “I’ve heard your sister speak of you. She thinks the world of you.”

  Her meaning is clear.

  My mother approves.

  “And what about…?” My father shoots a look towards Sophie and then me, his expression tight.

  My mouth is dry and Lucas grabs my hand, so I finally manage to reply, “That - that man is no longer in the picture.”

  I wait for the ax to fall, for my father to make a harsh comment as he is prone to doing but he just glances at Sophie and then says, slowly, “Maybe it was for the best.”

  The words are so unexpected and shocking to me that I suddenly lean against Lucas, my strength dissipated.

  This was not how I had expected this conversation to go.

  He had been so cruel to me with his words when I had told him that I had gotten pregnant and that I intended to keep the child. I had cried for days until I forced myself to accept it and move on.

  And although they had stayed in touch, my parents hadn’t met me even once since I broke the news to them. So, this open acceptance has my chest twisting and turning.

  But they look older, more aged, more tired.

  Maybe this separation has been hard on them too.

  “So, what do you do?” My father interrogates Lucas, his expression stern. “Can you support my daughter and my granddaughter?”

  Lucas looks tall and firm, like a rock in the center of the storm and he nods, easily. “I’m a corporate lawyer. I work with Elise. I’m pretty sure I can support them.”

  “Pretty sure is not good enough,” my father barks.

  I have to muffle my laugh at seeing the affable man that I adore, suddenly looking so taken aback.

  Lucas immediately clears his throat, “I meant, I can. Of course, I can. I draw a good salary.”

  Right now, I’m so happy about this sudden reunion that the meaning of this conversation doesn’t really register on me.

  “Do you have a house or one of those two-room apartments?”

  Lucas gapes at the man as he replies, “Ah, a house, Sir.”

  “How many rooms? Where will we stay when we come to visit?”

  Each question is more embarrassing and baffling than the next and I know I should feel awful about what’s happening but I have never seen my father behave this way and it settles something inside of me that has been grieving for a long time.

  I’m no longer alone.

  “It’s a five bedroom house in the suburbs. It’s – There’s a guesthouse, if you’re interested. Or you can stay in the house.
It’s up to you.”

  My mother puts a restraining hand on my father’s arm to quell his questions.

  Except, he does ask in a gruff manner, “Do you go to church?”

  Lucas blinks in panic and shoots me a look that has me feeling sorry for him. “Not really, Sir.”

  My father stares at him for a few long seconds that has us all holding our breath. Until he finally orders, “You’ll go with us. This Sunday, at nine. Elise knows where we attend services.”

  Lucas just nods.

  Then my father finally says, “You’ll do.”

  The sigh of relief that escapes me has Lucas tightening his hand on mine.

  Then, suddenly, I realize what I’m feeling relieved about.

  Lucas just said he’s marrying me and my father is going to make sure he follows through with it!

  Although, Lucas did state his intentions before, to me, this is moving too fast for both of us and I don’t want him to tie himself to me because he suddenly feels pressured into it.

  Seeing, Lucas’s mother in the distance, I say, faintly, “Could you look after Sophie for a few minutes? We need to go talk to someone.”

  My father waves me off and I drag Lucas into a corner. Once we’re out of everyone’s sight, my shoulders slump. “Look, you don’t have to worry about this marriage thing, whatever he’s saying – I mean—”

  “I do intend to marry you.” Lucas cuts me off.

  I grit my teeth. “I know. You said that. But my father won’t tolerate a long engagement. You don’t know him. He’ll get involved and you don’t want that.”

  When Lucas’s eyes gleam with interest, I feel another sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach. “W-why are you smiling?”

  He steps towards me, backing me into the wall, next to the large potted plant that’s obscuring everyone’s view, and drawls, “I’m failing to see how any of that is a bad thing.”

  I flap my mouth uselessly, his proximity too heady of a drug to think properly. “You can’t be serious.”

  He cocks his head in a way that’s too endearing, “In my opinion, the sooner I have a legal claim to you, the better.”

  I bristle at this. “You can’t just claim me. I’m a person.”

  His mouth brushes at my jaw gently and my heart is pounding madly, my breath shallow as his warm breath caresses me, “Can too. When I take you in bed, on the kitchen counter, on the dining room table, in the shower and on every available surface in our house, I’ll claim your body.” His finger trails down my neck, softly. “I’ll have you screaming my name. I’ll have you aching for me.”

  His voice is like an aphrodisiac and my eyes flutter shut.

  He continues, “I’ll train your body in a way that every time you see me, you’ll be wet and ready. I’ll be the only man that you think of, breathe, and see.”

  I struggle to sort my muddled thoughts and get my wits together. “T-That sounds like a lot of work.”

  He laughs and then captures my lips in a kiss that’s completely tame compared to his words. His hand is on my breast and he can feel my nipple harden under his touch.

  I let out a whimper.

  “Maybe when we get back to your place today, I should take this off of you and see how wet you are.”

  My breath hitches and I glare at him. “I’d like to see you try.”

  “Is that a challenge?” He gives me a curious look.

  I suddenly know he’s going to try to seduce me tonight. At best, I’ll say no and he’ll leave me aching for his touch, and at worst, I’ll give in and be fucked into sweet oblivion by this man who’s carving his name into my heart with his every breath.

  Oddly enough, I don’t dislike the idea very much.

  So, I just give him an arrogant look which makes him look utterly delighted.

  “So what? You think you can just marry me? Don’t I get a say in this?” I demand.

  He gives me that sly look of his that always has my heart beating just a little too fast. “After that whole speech I gave about your engagement ring, you wouldn’t be that heartless, would you?”

  “What ring?” I narrow my eyes at him. “That was just a clever lie.”

  When Lucas doesn’t say anything, my heart twitches. “That was a lie, wasn’t it?” My tone is anxious. “Lucas, you’re not really getting an engagement ring made for me, right?”

  He starts fixing my dress, a faint smile on his lips that speaks of secrets. “We should get back.”

  I have the urge to kick him in the shin.

  This man goes over and above, pulling every stop in the book to try to spoil me, to give me everything he can and I… I just can’t keep up.

  He sees the look on my face and then bending down, he brushes his lips against mine, gently, all the while murmuring, “You can’t stop me from putting the world at your feet, Elise. You’ll just have to bear with it, I guess.”

  His words are teasing and yet, I hear the sincerity in them, the devotion in his words, and my heart aches. Tears spring to my eyes. “Why are you like this?” I ask, half choked, knowing that the meaning of my words could be taken in multiple ways.

  Lucas just smiles. “Because I can be,” he murmurs. “Because you’re so precious to me.”

  I’ve never heard someone describe me in those terms and I have to close my eyes against this devious man. He’s wrapping himself around my heart and my soul and it’s getting harder and harder to think of reasons to stay aloof. Not that I’ve been doing much of a good job of it before.

  It’s like he knows just how to tear down my shields and once he does, he stands between me and the world, my guardian, my friend, my savior.

  My eyes burn as I recall each and every instance he’s handled me with such gentle care, offered me his support, looked after me when I needed it most, and just stood behind me, a solid support system that I’ve been taking for granted.

  I love him.

  And it doesn’t frighten me.

  “If you start crying,” Lucas tells me, “There’s a very good chance I’ll start as well.”

  That startles a laugh out of me.

  He looks quite pleased with himself while dragging me into a warm hug.

  I nestle my face into his chest, sighing deeply. How did I find someone like him? How did I get so lucky to be loved without any inhibitions? “Thank you,” I can feel my heart filled to the brim.

  “What on earth for?” His voice is quiet now, lacking the mischievousness that is so inherently him.

  “For being so patient with me,” I reply, honestly, a strong knot forming in my chest, loosening. “For waiting for me to catch up.”

  He understands.

  He always does.

  Pulling back, he gazes into my face, an emotion in his eyes that I recognize, one I can only define as love. “I would have waited for you for as long as you needed.” A small tug pulled at the corner of his lips. “I have been in love with you for a very long time, Elise.”

  Despite the sincere nature of the conversation, I have to add with a smile. “Is that why you scratched a perfectly new fridge this morning for me?”

  His face falls as he’s trying to look for an excuse. “Ah, no, that was – it was old, I told you that—”

  I laugh. “Save it. I helped you choose the model last week.”

  Lucas looks slightly embarrassed if that were at all possible.

  I cup his cheek, and press a kiss to his lips, whispering, “I’m not giving it back now. You scratched it just for me.”

  He grins. “But what if I miss it and want to see it every day?”

  “Then, you’ll have to come over and check up on it.”

  He throws his arm over my shoulder. “Don’t think I won’t hold you to that.”

  I feel so giddy as I laugh, walking back towards where my parents are now seated.

  As we make our way back, Lucas sounds curious as he asks, “You never mentioned that your parents are famous?”

  I roll my eyes. “Their money doesn’t re
ally affect me in any way or form. They always told me that I have to find my own way in life. And go to church.”

  I can understand his confusion. My father came from money but just before he married my mother, his family went bankrupt. So, he had been practically penniless.

  Growing up, my parents used to tell me stories of how my father would go every day, looking for a job, then when he would come back home empty handed and defeated, my mother who was a schoolteacher, would break bread with him. They would eat broth made of vegetables that were grown in the small garden they maintained in the backyard. Times had been tough as my mother had come from a religious family and my father had started on that path too.

  The suffering had made him grow harsher but he still loved my mother who stood by him through thick and thin. When he set up shop for a small one-man business of valuable transportation where he would carry very delicate items that people would not even trust to the best reputed mail services, things turned around.

  His first client was an old friend. And soon, word of mouth spread that Richard Smith was the man if you needed to send something valuable, documents, items, whatever. My father would get the job done, quietly and efficiently, his honesty his biggest selling feature. It became a multi-million dollar empire specializing in this.

  However, he never forgot those days of suffering and he made sure I would never be dependent on a backing that could disappear in a heartbeat. I spent my childhood doing chores, cutting lawns and working as a barista to get pocket money.

  I don’t regret any of it either. Those were some of the best years of my life. So, I’ve never really thought of bringing something like this up to people. About my origins.

  The story comes out in bits and pieces to Lucas and I can see the respect grow in his eyes for my father.

  “My father isn’t an easy man,” I tell him.

  “Why do you call him ‘Father’ rather than Dad? You do the same with your mother.”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. They never encouraged me to try anything different. Plus, my home was always a very formal place. I was close to them but not too close. I know they love me but I’ve never had that easy affection with them like you do with your family.”