Roadster (Iron Ladies Book 1)

by Danielle Norman

“Know so,” Olivia assured her.

  Adeline, who couldn’t seem to form any words that were reassuring, pulled out a piece of paper and slid it to Melanie.

  The Iron Ladies had always found that keeping newly single women involved and busy was the number one way to keep their clients from falling back into bad habits or broken relationships.

  For Loren, they suggested she move and start fresh with Noelle, somewhere that had more children. They also found the names of a few playgroups that had several single dads in the group. Always nice to know that there are options.

  At just before eleven, Adeline excused herself and went to wait for Barrett in the parking lot. As usual, the man was early, and as she was walking out, he was walking in, so she turned right back around and led him upstairs. What she really wanted to do was walk outside, get into her car, and go find a deserted stretch of road to open up on.

  “Loren, I’d like you to meet Barrett Huxley, he’s who will be handling the legal aspects of your case. We absolutely trust him with everything. He is the best. Barrett, this is your newest client, Loren.”

  “We’re going to leave the two of you alone. Barrett, let us know if you need anything, and when you decide that you want a meeting with both parties so that we can help wrap things up on our end, let me know.”

  “Will do, Mel.”

  Melanie stood, the others followed suit. “Adeline, you don’t look like you feel good, we don’t have anything today, why don’t you go home and rest.”

  Adeline moved to her chair and picked up her bag and keys. Melanie was right. She needed to go home and rest. No, she needed to call Riley. No, she needed to figure out what in the hell she was doing.

  Sliding behind the wheel of her V8, Adeline rolled down all the windows. She turned up the radio to some old-school Billy Idol and hit the on ramp to I-4. She wasn’t sure where she was going, she just needed the freedom and the open road to clear her mind.

  She drove for an hour before turning into her own driveway. Unfortunately, the ride hadn’t helped clear her mind one bit. She was still just as confused.

  Walking into her bedroom, she pulled out her phone and sent a text to Riley.

  Adeline: Can we talk?

  Riley: Want me to call now?

  Adeline: Busy right now. Free tonight? Dinner?

  Riley: Want to meet at Lakeside?

  Adeline: Sure. Seven?

  Riley: I’ll make reservations. See you then.

  Adeline powered off her phone before curling under the covers and falling asleep. She didn’t wake until a little after five and had to rush to get ready and meet Riley over at Lakeside. If anyone had asked her, she would have told them that today had been a major clusterfuck. Adeline tried to live by a schedule, but she couldn’t be on time to save her life. No matter what she did today, she felt as if she was running behind.

  At five minutes after seven, she was running down the plank-wood walkway, under mason jars that held electric votive lights, toward the front door of the restaurant.

  Riley was standing next to the hostess stand and smiled when she walked in. When he wrapped an arm around her, Adeline stiffened.

  “Sorry I’m late.”

  “It’s okay.” Riley placed a soft kiss on Adeline’s temple before they fell into step behind the hostess as she led them to their table.

  She had no idea what she was going to say to him, but she did know that Loren’s words had resonated with her. She was destined for heartbreak, and Riley was just the type of guy who could do it. In fact, he wouldn’t just break her heart. He’d shatter it into a million pieces.

  It wasn’t a risk she was willing to take.

  She’d allowed herself to feel broken once before, and she’d ended up in rehab. Not again, never again. She wasn’t going down that fucking rabbit hole.

  Taking a deep breath, then a drink of water, followed by another deep breath, she set her menu down. “Riley.”

  “What is on your mind Addy?”

  There it was, that first crack in her heart, when he called her Addy . . .

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Riley

  Riley sat quiet, only half-listening to Adeline’s jumbled attempt at explaining why they would not work. From the moment he saw her arrive in the lobby, he knew something was coming. She had played this game before, pulling back just as they were starting to get close. He kept telling himself to tread carefully, sometimes with Adeline it was like early spring and walking across your lawn at the crack of dawn. Little ice crystals coated each blade of grass but with each step they cracked, giving way to the still-dormant life below.

  Riley gripped his napkin, he had to do something with his hands or he was likely to stand up and start breaking shit, starting with the neck of the beautiful woman sitting across from him. She wouldn’t even look at him. Fuck.

  It didn’t take Sherlock Holmes to see the fear that was masking her true feelings. He had felt something for her that very first moment he’d laid eyes on her. She drove him crazy and ignited a fire in him. Her involuntary responses, like the sigh she let out when he’d touched her, and the goosebumps that peppered her skin when their eyes locked, told him she felt it too.

  But dammit, if only she’d open up and tell him how she’d been hurt, instead of wearing her injuries like a prized coat, out there for all to admire. If she needed time, he could give it, as long as she didn’t ask for space apart.

  If they were apart then he’d never be able to build her trust and get her to open up. But here he was staring at the woman who did chaotic things to him, she stalked his thoughts, just watching the indecision and uncertainty swim in her features drove him crazy.

  Adeline accepted a fresh glass of water from the waiter and sat it on the table before her, tracing the pads of her thumbs across the thick condensation on the glass, her eyes examining the tablecloth before her.

  The waiter paused a moment, “Are you ready to order?” But Adeline didn’t meet the waiter’s eyes, so Riley waited. The young man took his exit upon feeling the overwhelming tension permeating the air.

  “I want to tell you something? Will you listen?”

  Adeline nodded, maintaining her fascination with her water glass. Riley watched her carefully knowing full-well she wanted to run; one false step and she would bolt.

  “I know that you’re scared about something and I have no problem slowing us”—Riley gestured first to himself then to Adeline—“down. I’m not going anywhere. If you just want to take more time to sort through whatever you have going on up there,” Riley tapped his temple, “then I’m fine with that. We will slow down.”

  “I don’t need more time to know for certain.” Her eyes returned to Riley for just a moment before darting back to her glass, the finality of her words piercing his heart. Riley’s jaw tightened as he felt the need to lash out. His hands dropped to his lap and he balled up his fists.

  “We won’t work. You’re good, don’t get me wrong, I’m just not ready to be monogamous. I don’t know that I ever will be. You want too much from me.”

  Riley was taken aback by her words. He wanted too much from her? Was she on fucking drugs? Call him a freak, sure he wanted more than sex, but he wasn’t expecting her to change who she was or give up her life.

  “I just don’t see us going anywhere beyond sex.”

  “You cold-hearted…” he mumbled.

  “What, cold-hearted what Riley? Bitch? Really?”

  “If you would just let me finish.” Riley snapped and leaned back in his seat taking a few deep breaths, happy she had not let him finish his last thought. His movement caught the attention of a gentleman seated next to them; Riley glared back at him, silently persuading the man to return to his own fucking business. When the man finally got the hint, Riley returned his gaze to the infuriating woman across from him.

  He searched the depths of her eyes, her expression, anything for a glimmer of hope that she was just confused, but he found none.

  Riley sat fo
rward and lightly gripped the table’s edge, chiding himself to maintain control. “Adeline I feel sorry for you. You are a scared little girl that has never grown up and learned how to face her feelings.”

  Adeline broke her attention from the glass. “You know nothing about me. Besides, I can’t do this with you. You’re my client. It was a mistake. It was just sex. I’m sorry.”

  Fuck no she didn’t. Riley fell back into his seat and hooked his hands beneath his armpits. “You don’t mean that.”

  “Don’t tell me what I mean.”

  “We’re more than that, Adeline. There’s more to us than just sex.”

  “You don’t understand, Riley. There is no us.”

  Unable to take any more, Riley pushed his chair back and stood. “I don’t feel much like eating, after all. I’m assuming you’re okay to get home the same way you got here?”

  Adeline nodded and then placed her napkin on the top of the forgotten menu.

  Riley took one final look into Adeline’s steely blue eyes, which hadn’t seemed so cold and calculating the last time he’d gazed into them. Tonight, however, they were unfeeling and uncaring. He gazed about the room, feeling the walls caving in on him. He had to get out of here; he had to breathe.

  He felt like such a fucking fool.

  That he’d actually considered using the word love with her blew his mind. Hell, he didn’t think that he’d ever used it with a woman other than his family. He marched out to his truck and got in, but he didn’t leave, not yet. Even as mad as he was, he still needed to make sure Adeline got into her car safely.

  He was shocked that she sat at the table for several minutes after he left. At first, Riley’s mind played tricks on him, telling him that she was waiting for another guy. But when none showed up and Adeline finally gathered her belongings, he could see her tear-streaked face.

  She didn’t bother trying to wipe them away as she got into her car, revved the engine, and drove off.

  It was only after she was out of sight that Riley allowed the full force of what had just happened to hit him.

  She’d fucking thrown them away, dismissed the feeling they’d shared and was able to walk away. Fuck. He really didn’t know her at all.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Adeline

  Adeline dressed in her power color—black. It had been two weeks since she’d seen Riley, and she was confident he would accompany his sister today. After all, today was the day Loren and Greg met with their attorneys. They decided to meet at Iron Ladies, or as the building directory listed them, Women’s Counseling Center.

  Lights were turned on in the small side offices and the boardroom was prepped. Not wanting to turn around when she heard the elevator ding, Adeline took a seat at the back of the boardroom. Melanie, Olivia, and Sunday would be in an office waiting to jump in if they were needed.

  She knew he was there before she heard him. Her skin tingled, and her heart picked up speed. His aftershave, a mix of spices and fresh-cut grass, permeated the room. Adeline gipped her pen and continued writing in her notepad, forcing herself not to look up.

  Chairs squeezed, leather crinkled, and a deep exhalation of breath seemed to be coming through a speaker. Adeline knew that was just her mind playing tricks on her.

  Barrett was the first to speak. “Mr. Delaney should be here by now.”

  Adeline looked up and locked eyes with Riley, who was staring at her. His gaze was piercing.

  “We’ll give him about ten more minutes and then file with the court.” Barrett tapped a pen against the mahogany table and only stopped when he wanted to jot down a few notes about whatever he was working on.

  At nine thirty, Barrett started packing his stuff up. “I’ll let the courts know that neither Mr. Delaney or his attorney were present.”

  Just then the elevator dinged and everyone turned. Out walked a laughing Greg with his attorney, like they had some inside joke.

  “Mr. Delaney, council.” Barrett’s tone was clipped. “You are a half hour late for mediation, we just reported you as a no-show to the courts. I’m heading back to my office.”

  Greg’s face lost its jovial appearance and his eyes cut to his lawyer. But the man next to him just glared at Barrett. Adeline was sure there was some kind of secret code between lawyers that said stuff like this should be overlooked, but she was also sure that Barrett didn’t care.

  “Mrs. Delaney, Mr. Huxley, sorry that we were late. It’s my fault. I got caught in court. I had instructed my client to wait for me, so he’s been downstairs.”

  Adeline stood. “Oh, the building and parking lot have total video surveillance that the tenants have access to. Let me go grab so we can verify really fast.” Adeline took a step.

  “Let’s not waste any more time with that, I’m sure that Mr. Huxley is as busy as I am. We can sort that out later.” Greg’s attorney, who still hadn’t introduced himself, set his briefcase onto the table.

  “You two are late, and it isn’t up to me whether this meeting continues. It’s up to Loren and the court-approved mediator and mediation facility.” Adeline was still standing and couldn’t hold it back, she smirked.

  Greg, obviously used to Loren being a pushover, plopped himself into a chair and sat. “This place operates on money and the good graces of the city, I’m sure that they will make time.”

  “Let’s get it over with, he deserves to know what I’m asking for.” Loren sat back down, with Riley at her side.

  Adeline made her way back down to the end of the table.

  “What is she doing in here in the first place?” Greg pointed at Adeline.

  “She’s a counselor, this is her office building, and I asked her to be here,” Loren said, leaving no room for him to counter.

  “As we mentioned, she’s a court-approved mediator.”

  “I don’t want her in here. We won’t continue until she’s gone.”

  Adeline shook her head, she’d seen the cocky bravado one too many times and oh how she loved seeing the asshole-ex deflate.

  Barrett raised one brow and stared down Greg’s attorney. “Care to explain to your client how this works, and then explain to him the ramifications of being late and lying about being here when we all know he wasn’t downstairs for the last thirty minutes?” Adeline loved when Barrett’s facetious side came out. “My client and the mediator are willing to let us continue, do we do that or not?”

  Greg and his attorney exchanged looks before both nodded their agreement.

  “We’d like to start with what Loren Delaney is seeking.” Barrett flipped to the first page of the prepared documents.

  “She gets nothing, we have a prenuptial agreement.” Greg was a worthless asshat.

  “Correct. Please let me continue. Here is what Mrs. Delaney is seeking.” Barrett passed a copy over to Greg and his attorney.

  “I have a statement from our bank, there is not that much money in the account. Look, it is dated today.” Greg tossed the slip over.

  “I’ve included a bank slip as well as six months’ worth of bank records in this file.” Barrett slid a folder to each person, including Adeline. “I’ve attached a copy of your bank records that Loren got showing proof of the balance that day you all met at Sixes. If you look closely, you’ll be able to see all the numbers.”

  Adeline didn’t have to look that closely, nor did she want to. Barrett had stapled the bank receipt to two different items, a photo of Greg and Heather making out in the parking lot after their lunch with Riley and Adeline, and the forged quit claim deed.

  Greg gripped both sides of the folder and tore it, then tore it again, tossing the shreds back at Barrett.

  “Greg you need to stay calm.” Barrett spoke like he was dealing with a toddler instead of a grown adult.

  It was a tone he would use several times over the next two hours, because Greg continued to try to intimidate everyone in the room, not realizing that it wouldn’t work. He needed to bow down gracefully and hope that Loren didn’t go to the p
ress. But he just didn’t seem to be grasping that idea.

  “Fine, my client will agree to Mrs. Delany’s demands provided she turns over all copies of all photos and signs an affidavit stating that she will not discuss anything that happened in this room today. Same goes for her brother. The rest of you are already under a legal client confidentiality agreement.

  “I will not sign anything nor will my brother.” Adeline grinned, feeling proud of her protege. Loren wasn’t giving him an inch. “Greg, you’re going to do the right thing for once, simply because it is the right thing. All I’m asking for is half of our marital assets, which includes all the shit you thought you hid, and that you pay a fair amount of child support until Noelle is eighteen or out of college.”

  Greg scoffed.

  Loren jumped out of her seat and pointed her finger toward his face. “I’m tired of your fucking attitude.” Loren jerked at the realization that she’d said the F-word.

  And, this time, Adeline couldn’t hide it anymore, she let the grin show. She was so proud of this woman and the she-balls, chick-dick, chesticles, whatever the fuck it was called nowadays, she’d grown.

  “I don’t know you. The Loren I married would have never said fuck.”

  “Well, the guy I married was going to be faithful and try not to steal from his daughter and scam the city. I think saying fuck is the lesser of those evils, don’t you?”

  Adeline sat at the end of the table nodding.

  “As long as you do what is right, give me back my property free and clear, split our assets down the middle, and stay the hell out of my life, I won’t file forgery charges, which, in case you forgot, is a felony of the third degree in this state. I won’t share any of these photos, and I won’t say a single thing. Neither will Riley. But the truth of the matter is you shouldn’t be trusted to hold a public office. You shouldn’t be anyone’s dad, because you’re scum. And all I want is for Noelle to forget that she has any of your blood in her and to once again enjoy being a little girl.”