Seducing Lauren(65)

Geez, and he thinks he’s going to win this case?

Thank God I never went off birth control, despite Jack’s wanting me to. I would never want to put children through anything like this.

Ty doesn’t even flinch as the judge calls for the bailiff to restrain Mr. Jones. I sit in awe for the next hour and watch Ty call two more witnesses. What Jill said is clearly true: he’s a shark in the courtroom. Even the judge values his opinion.

Ty is going to go far in the legal world.

Pride spreads through me, warming my chest and igniting butterflies in my belly, and I find myself grinning from ear to ear. Last night in bed he was so tender, so loving. It’s obvious that he’s in love with me, and as I sit here, watching this complex man in his element, remembering how kind, loyal, and playful he is in other facets of his life, it occurs to me that I’m 100 percent in love with him as well.

The thought of ever being without him fills me with so much grief it’s debilitating.

Now, how do I tell him? Because the thought of that also fills me with absolute fear. I’m not worried that my feelings aren’t reciprocated; it’s just the idea of the whole thing, because I’d decided long ago that I’d never put myself in this situation ever again.

Ty walks across the gallery to his chair, his eyes once again seeking out mine before he sits next to his client.

“I think we’ll wrap things up for the day,” Judge Wilkins announces. “Mr. Jones will remain in custody due to the current charges against him. We should be able to wrap this up tomorrow.”

With that, the judge rises, and everyone else in the courtroom rises and waits for the judge to leave, then the room begins to empty.

I stay seated and wait for Ty to speak with his client, gather his papers into his briefcase, and walk back to me.

“Hey,” he greets me, with soft gray eyes.

“Hi.” I grin and stand. He takes my hand in his as he leads me out of the courthouse. “I hope you didn’t mind that I came to watch.”

“I don’t mind.” He smiles down at me and leads me down the sidewalk toward his office. “What did you think?”

“I think you’re badass.” I swallow, wanting so badly to tell him that I love him, but instead I simply say, “I’m proud of you.”

“For what?” He’s surprised.

“You’re awesome at your job. This is definitely what you should be doing.” I shrug and turn my head to kiss his shoulder through his suit jacket. “I’m just proud of you.”

“Thank you.”

He opens the door to his building and waits for me to precede him inside. Cary is talking with Sylvia, but grins when he sees me.

“Just the person I was talking about.”

“Me?” I ask.

“Yeah, I was going to have Sylvia call you. Do you have a minute?”

“Come into my office with us, Cary.” Ty stops himself and glances down at me. “Unless you’d rather speak in private?”

“Come with us.” I smile and lead the guys into Ty’s office. “There’s no reason to have private meetings.” I turn to Cary as I lean back on Ty’s desk and cross my arms over my chest. “What’s up?”

“So, I was talking to Jack’s lawyer.”

Just like that, my good mood evaporates. I sigh and rub my fingertips vigorously over my forehead.

“And?”

“And now he wants fifty million.”

I blink at Cary, clearly having misheard him. “Excuse me?” My voice is thin.

“What the fuck?” Ty asks loudly, coming around his desk to meet Cary square on.

“Why? The trust fund was only two million.” My entire body breaks out into a cold sweat as it occurs to me that Jack must have found out about the books. My eyes widen and a sob escapes through my lips as I stare at Cary. “He knows.”

“The lawyer didn’t say anything about the books,” Cary begins in a soothing voice.

Ty swears ripely and paces across the room. I watch Ty, and as I do, calm comes over me. Jack can’t hurt me any more than he already has. I have Ty, and he’s all I need.

“He can kiss my white ass,” I mutter. “He’s not getting a dime of anything. Anything.”

“I agree,” Cary responds, “but I don’t want to make that clear out of the gate here, Lo.”

“Go ahead and tell him,” I respond defiantly. “What’s he going to do?”

“Lauren, this is the man who threatened to rape you less than a month ago!”

“What?!” Ty roars, his face a mask of utter rage.

Cary blanches and shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Lo. I thought you told him.”