Orion’s chest grew tight hearing the words sole custody and mentally unstable. “Yes. She filed for divorce and then hit me with the custody business. Everything happened so fast, because she knew what she was doing and I had no idea what to do. The judge was also a friend of hers. I found that tidbit out later.”
Jack tapped rapidly on his tablet after that last part then looked up at Orion. “Sounds as if she played the system every way she knew how.”
“Exactly. I was trying to manage my father at the time. The divorce and Myah not being around upset his regular routine. He’s fine if he’s got his routine.”
“Would he hurt Myah?” Jack asked.
“No. Never.” Orion was sure of this. “Whatever else he forgets, he always remembers Myah and is more like his old self with her. Right now I have a registered nurse helping out with my father and I’m thinking of officially hiring her.”
Jack nodded and typed some more on his tablet. “Okay, that would work in your favor. The primary goal is always to provide a stable environment for the child. Myah’s needs are our first concern. We want what is best for her. Your description of your ex-wife’s parenting does not sound like it’s an environment conducive to an emotionally balanced upbringing. In fact, it sounds as if it’s going to do way more harm than good for your daughter.”
“It’s already harmed her. Myah hides it well for a six-year old, but I can see what being with Adriana every day is doing to her. The last time I saw her was in the hospital after my accident. She hugged me so tightly.” Orion closed his eyes, remembering the desperation in her embrace. The same desperation plagued him.
Where is Sage? He understood she was trying to give him some privacy while he unloaded his past to the attorney, but he… well, he needed her. His chest tightened more with the thought that he needed somebody, especially someone he had just met.
Especially a woman.
“I’d like to talk to Myah if you’d be okay with that,” Jack said.
“I’m okay with it, but Adriana is going to be a huge obstacle to that request.”
“Let me worry about her. It’s my job.” Jack put his tablet back into his briefcase. “I’ll file for a modification to the custody agreement. I’ll schedule to talk to Myah, and when I have a plan of action mapped out, I’ll call you in for another meeting. We’ll take it from there.”
“What should I be doing in the meantime?” Orion hated the thought of waiting idly.
“You should keep out of trouble and keep your father on his routine. Hire that nurse. You should also go through your workshop and put in place every safety precaution you can think of to ensure Myah would not get hurt by anything in there if she lived with you.”
“I can do that.”
“Good.” Jack snapped the clasps on his briefcase. “And your financial situation now is better than at the time of your divorce, correct?”
“Yes. My woodcarving has taken off since then. I won’t be buying any mansions. I don’t have money to blow on competent attorneys, but Myah would have everything a child needs.”
“I don’t know that I’ve met a more sincere person than you.” Jack stood and held his hand out to shake Orion’s. “I’m going to do everything I can, Mr. Finley. You have my word on that.”
“Thank you.” A surge of hope crested over Orion and again he wanted Sage there with him.
“Adriana doesn’t have a history of substance abuse or criminal activity, does she?” Jack slid his briefcase off the table and walked Orion to the door of the library.
“No.”
“Damn. And you have no visitation rights, so if she decides to move that doesn’t apply either. You said she hates Vermont, so moving is a real possibility, right?”
They were at the front door of the Judicial Building now. “She wants to move to New York.” He almost couldn’t get the words out. If Adriana took Myah to New York, he may as well take a rusty knife and cut his heart right out of his chest. Knowing that his daughter—his reason for breathing—lived only a town over from Danton now was too much to bear sometimes.
They stepped outside and Sage was leaning against her car, looking very much like Cinderella waiting by her pumpkin coach.
Does that make me Prince Charming? Orion nearly laughed aloud at that notion. “Charming” was not a word to describe him. He wasn’t charming enough to hang on to a wife. He wasn’t charming enough to snag a woman like Sage either.
“I’ll be in touch.” Jack tipped his head at Sage, folded himself into a tiny rent-a-car, and drove away.
“How did it go?” Sage asked after Orion joined her next to her car.
“He’s given me hope.”
“Super.” Her smile awakened parts of him that had been dormant for so long.
Too long.
He tossed his file folder onto the back seat through the open car window. Then, for reasons he couldn’t explain even if he wanted to, Orion put his arms on either side of Sage, corralling her between him and the car. Her emerald eyes settled on his lips, which his mouth took as a big, bright green light.
“Where did you go?” His voice came out low and soft. So low and soft he didn’t believe it was his.
“Across the street.” She motioned with her chin in that general direction, but never took her eyes off his lips. “I thought you should have some privacy while you rehashed the details of your divorce from Witchy Ex-wife.”
“Aren’t you considerate?” His gaze combed over her face, down along her neck, then back up to her mouth.
“I try.” Her voice was barely a whisper now as she looked him directly in the eyes.
“I shouldn’t do this,” he said half to himself.
“It’ll be worth it.” Sage arched an eyebrow. “I promise.”
Orion closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers, his hands coming to rest at her hips. She let out a little noise deep in her throat, somewhere between a sigh and a hum, and that completely unraveled him. The kiss quickly grew more aggressive, his mouth wanting more of hers, wanting to taste her more deeply, wanting to consume her. When she parted her lips and slid her tongue along his bottom lip, lightning zapped inside of him.
Had Adriana ever elicited a fire like this in him? Hell, no. Adriana was a beautiful, powerful woman who had captured his attention for the simple fact that she was different from the women he typically found in his social circles. But Sage? Oh, Sage was something not of this world.
Orion found himself leaning closer into her, allowing more of him to touch more of her. She appeared not to mind. In fact, her hands had slid up to his shoulders and were now clasped at the back of his neck, anchoring his mouth to hers. Her lips were so soft, yet demanding. She kissed with an urgency he hadn’t expected. Was she perhaps as vulnerable as him?
“Hey, Orion!” a familiar voice called from across the street.
He ripped his lips from Sage’s, dropped his hands from her hips, and turned around in time to see his father waving, with Wendie running to catch up to him.
“Don’t cross that street without me,” Wendie said.
Ian scowled at her, but the expression didn’t last long as he looked back at Sage. “Hi, Sage.” He was ready to pop out of his skin, and Orion couldn’t be mad at him for interrupting what was most likely the best kiss he’d ever been part of. Would he get to enjoy exploring more of Sage’s mouth? God, he hoped so.
“Hiya, Ian,” Sage said once his father and Wendie had crossed the street.
“Sorry.” Wendie shot a glance between Orion and Sage, a slight smirk on her lips. “I tried to keep him from stampeding over here, but that’s like trying to stop a train barreling down the tracks.” She fished around in her purse and extracted a tissue to mop the sweat off her brow.
“It’s okay,” Sage said, winking at Orion. “We can finish this… later?”
Orion nodded, wishing later was right fucking now.
“Orion, I got new glasses.” Ian waved the bag he carried in Orion’s face.
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“Good. Don’t step on these.” Why did he sound like a cranky jerk?
Ian’s shoulders lowered a bit. “I won’t.”
“Ah, hell, Dad. It’s okay. Just be careful.” Orion rested his hand on his father’s shoulder.
“Be careful. Yes. One hundred forty-two pairs of glasses to choose from,” Ian said.
“And we had to try on nearly every pair,” Wendie added with a dramatic eye roll.
Ignoring Wendie, Ian looked at Sage. “You kissed my son.”
“Maybe he kissed me,” Sage said.
Orion looked between the two of them, morbidly curious as to where this line of conversation would lead. Wendie appeared to be doing the same.
Ian narrowed his eyes at Orion. “Did you kiss Sage?”
“I did.”
And then Ian surprised him by clapping. Yes, clapping.
“Thatta boy,” his father said. He offered Sage a cherry of a grin. “So?”
“So… what?” Sage asked.
“So did you like it?”
Wendie barked out a laugh then clamped her hand over her mouth. “My apologies, but that’s the funniest question I’ve heard in a long time.” She tugged on Ian’s sleeve. “Come on, buddy. Let’s get you home. Weren’t you complaining that you were hungry?”
“Starving. Twenty-two maple peanut butter cookies left.” With the thought of food now capturing all his attention, Ian followed Wendie as she walked away.
“I’m free all afternoon and night to stay with Ian,” she called over her shoulder. “You know, in case you have something you have to… do.” Wendie turned around while walking backward and gave Orion a pointed look.
“Yes, well, thank you.” He had trouble swallowing as Sage laughed behind him.
“Lovely to see you again, Wendie.” Sage waved.
Once his father and Wendie were out of sight, Orion turned around to face Sage. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. The way I see it, your father gave us his blessing.”
“I suppose he did.”
“We ought to celebrate that.” Sage dangled her keys between them. “I could make us dinner at my place then we could maybe get creative about dessert.”
Her eyes were on him as he wrestled with himself. Did he want to go to her place? Absolutely. Was he afraid she’d end up hating his guts somewhere down the line and completely shatter what was left of his heart? Yep. Did his penis not give a rat’s ass about “somewhere down the line” right now? Hell, yeah.
“Okay,” he said.
“Super.” Sage beamed at him as if she’d channeled the sun itself. “Hop in.”
He got into her pumpkin car and prepared to play the role of Prince Charming if only for a single night.
Because tomorrow he had to get back to reality.
Chapter Ten
“I haven’t cooked in here a whole lot yet.” Sage led Orion into her new kitchen. “Are you a pasta and meatballs guy?”
“I’m an anything edible guy,” Orion said. “Not picky at all when it comes to food.”
“Good to know.” Why? Because I plan on cooking for him often? She shook her head and set about pulling pots and bowls from cupboards.
“Need some help?” Orion shifted his weight from his right leg to his left and put a hand on the kitchen island as if steadying himself.
I need some steadying too. She wasn’t sure what that kiss back at the Judicial Building meant or what she wanted it to mean. All she knew was she had never—not once—experienced a kiss like the ones Orion gave out. Though only their lips had touched and his hands had rested on her hips, she could have sworn he’d stroked the deepest parts of her. Parts no one had ever reached before.
She shivered now thinking about that kiss. Kiss number two, she reminded herself. She’d only known Orion for a handful of days, but those two kisses told her everything she needed to know about him. He was a guy who would have her surrendering to him. Completely.
“Be careful,” she said softly, reminding herself not to fall too hard too fast.
“What’s that?”
When she turned to face Orion, he was rubbing a hand over his right thigh, a pained expression on his face.
“You should sit,” she said. “You’ve probably done more than you should on that leg of yours.” She pulled out a stool at the island and pointed to it. “Now.”
He saluted her. “Yes, ma’am.” A small groan escaped from his throat as he bent his legs and sat on the stool.
“Want a beer?” She sure as hell needed one.
“Okay. Thanks.”
She busied herself with opening the refrigerator, selecting a bottle of beer, popping the top, and fishing around for a suitable glass. After pouring, she got one for herself and took a long gulp of it straight from the bottle. When she set the bottle down, Orion’s eyes were on her.
“What?” she asked. God, his blue eyes were magnetic. She couldn’t look away.
“Nothing. I just think a woman drinking beer from the bottle is sexy.” He gave her a small grin that made her insides swirl like a tornado. A very pleasant tornado.
“Wait until you see me inhaling meatballs. I hope you can handle it.” She winked at him and turned back to her cooking.
“I look forward to it.” He was quiet for a moment as Sage filled a big pot with water and set it on the stove. “Thanks for arranging the lawyer and coming with me today, Sage.”
The sound of him saying her name made a buzzing heat wobble through her. She feared she would fall completely under his spell if he said her name too many times in that low, a-little-bit-scratchy voice of his.
“No problem.”
“Maybe not, but helping me get Myah back even though you hardly know us puts you in the My Favorite People category. I owe you.”
She turned on the gas burner then leaned against the island so she was eye level with him. “You’ll think of a way to pay me back.”
He slid his beer out of the way and reached forward. Catching some of her hair in his left hand, he gently tugged so she had to come closer. “I’d like to get started on that payback right now.”
Again, his lips met hers and fireworks exploded in her brain. How could a man who wielded chainsaws for a living have such a tender touch? His lips worked their way along her jaw and down her neck. When he reached her collarbone, his teeth teased the flesh there, and Sage was certain she’d never leave that kitchen. Not until she’d gotten the full Orion experience.
She broke contact for a moment to walk around to his side of the island. When she stood before him, he moved his knees to either side of her body and looked up at her from his seat, his gorgeous blue eyes rimmed with long, black eyelashes.
“I should warn you,” he started, “women scare the shit out of me.”
“Not all women want to hurt you, Orion.” She cupped his cheeks. “I won’t hurt you.”
“I hope not,” he whispered as he stood. He pushed past her and turned off the stove. “I’m not so hungry for food anymore.”
“Me either.” Sage reached up and put her arms around Orion’s neck.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her up against his long, muscled body. After another mind-blowing kiss, he swept her off her feet and into his arms.
“Where to?” he asked between nips at her earlobe. The scruff around his mouth scratched against her skin and she nearly came while they were both still fully clothed.
“That way.” She flung out an arm to indicate down the hall.
He took a step in that direction and Sage pressed her lips to his neck. He let out a sound that was very male, very urgent, very sexy.
She was about to point out which room was her bedroom when the doorbell rang. The fucking doorbell.
Orion stopped walking and set her down. “Whoever that is, make them go away.”
“Got it.” She gave him one more steamy kiss before jogging to the front door and ripping it open. She blinked at the detective standing on her doorstep. “O
h. Scott.”
“Hi.” He held out a humungous bouquet of orange lilies. “Congratulations on your new home. My aunt works with your realtor. I thought I’d welcome you to the neighborhood.”
Sage took the flowers. “You live around here too?”
Scott nodded. “Two streets over that way.” He pointed behind him. “Maybe we can try for that second date? You know, because we’re neighbors now.”
“Ummm…” Sage’s mind skimmed and scanned for something polite but direct to say. Again, Scott was perfectly nice—if a little persistent—but she couldn’t fathom kissing him after she’d experienced Orion’s kiss. Scott had no chance to bring about what Orion had aroused in her.
While she was still waffling between what to say and what to do, Orion came around the corner from the hallway wiping his hands on a brand new towel from the guest bathroom.
“I think that sink is all set now, ma’am,” he said. “I’ll send you a bill.”
Before she could stop him, he draped the towel on her shoulder, nodded a greeting to Scott, and brushed past him out the front door.
“Orion!” she called, but for a guy with a sore leg, he moved fast.
She watched dumbly as he disappeared into the woods that led back to his house.
“Your plumber came on foot?” Scott asked. “Where are his tools?”
“He’s not… I don’t…” Sage pushed the flowers back into Scott’s hands and took a few steps toward where Orion had vanished. How did she go from almost having incredible sex—and she knew it was going to be incredible—to having an unwanted detective lingering about?
“Who was that, Sage?” Scott asked.
“A… friend.” She shook her head and walked back into the house.
Scott followed and surveyed her living room then peeked back to the kitchen. “Did you get my other flowers?”
“I did. They’re in the dining room. Lots of light in there.” She waved a hand toward the dining room, but took a detour into the living room instead. She slumped onto the couch, her entire body coming down from a high. A high Orion had caused.
And a high he took with him when he left. Damn. She hated being all turned on with nowhere to expend that energy.
More Than Cookies (The Maple Leaf Series) Page 9
