More Than Cookies (The Maple Leaf Series) (11 page)

“Hey, Lily helped me out of a real jam once with my wife. I owed her big time and thought she was going to make me pay a much larger fine than helping out with a simple custody case.”

“Glad someone thinks this case is small potatoes,” Orion said.

“Mr. Finley,” Jack started, “I didn’t mean to imply that your case isn’t important. It is. Any time children are involved, I take it seriously. I just meant that I’ve handled many custody cases and well, to be honest, I’m good at them.” He smiled and when Sage looked at Orion, he was smiling too.

“I’m relieved to hear that. My ex-wife is a lawyer too, and she always seems to have the upper hand.”

“Until today.” Jack opened his briefcase and pulled out a tablet. “Today, her luck has run out.”

Orion gazed at Sage from across the table and he somehow conveyed his gratitude without saying a word. She was plugged into him. A definite connection. She couldn’t explain it, but it was there. She’d never felt anything like it. The way he looked at her suggested he felt it too, whatever it was.

“Okay.” Jack’s voice broke the spell and Orion looked back at the lawyer. “I need you to tell me everything leading up to the point where your ex-wife gained custody of your daughter.”

“Everything?” Orion sent a quick, uncomfortable glance to Sage.

“The more information you give me, the clearer picture I have to work from. I may be able to pick up on something that will be the key to getting your daughter back, Mr. Finley. Every detail is important.” Jack tapped his tablet. “How long were you married?”

Orion shifted in his seat, his left hand tracing the edge of his file folder. “Six years.”

“Can you describe your relationship with… what’s your ex-wife’s name?”

“Adriana.”

“Describe your relationship with Adriana during those six years.” Jack’s fingers hovered over his tablet.

Orion drew in a deep breath and let it out noiselessly. His hand combed through his hair as he looked up to the ceiling. “Turbulent. Our relationship was turbulent.”

Jack typed then looked at Orion. “Turbulent how?”

“Turbulent as in she spent more time yelling than anything else. Yelling at me, my father, our daughter. It was as if her voice didn’t have a normal setting. Everything came out as a yell.”

Sage wanted to slide across the table and hug Orion. She couldn’t imagine anyone yelling at him or Myah or Ian. They all seemed so sweet. A tiny part of her brain told her she could be completely off base.

I haven’t known any of them for long.

Yet, she knew, deep in her heart, Orion, Myah, and Ian did not deserve to be on the receiving end of harsh words or scolding tones. Something pure and kind emanated from them. They were genuine goodness.

“Did she ever hit your daughter?” Jack asked.

“No,” Orion said. “Not that I ever saw.”

“Did she ever hit you?”

Orion shook his head. “Her abuse wasn’t physical. Verbal and emotional, yes.”

“Who asked for a divorce?” Jack asked.

“She did.” Orion studied a gouge in the library table, his shortened pinkie finger tapping on the imperfection in the old wooden surface.

“On what grounds?”

Sage felt as if she was prying though she wasn’t the one asking the questions. “I’m going to… be somewhere else for a little while.” She stood and made her way out of the library before anyone could stop her.

Not that anyone tried to stop her.

Outside the library, she leaned against the door. Orion needed some privacy to discuss his marital past. She’d love to know what had happened to break up his marriage, but it was too soon for the exchange of that information. She wasn’t ready to tell Orion about all her past relationship mistakes—and she had some beauties—so he could keep his secrets for a bit longer too.

Maybe someday, they’d swap stories. Maybe they’d be naked when they did.

****

“So Adriana won sole custody on the fact that you had a mentally unstable adult living in your home, a career that involved dangerous equipment, and you didn’t have a lawyer to fight for you the first time around, correct?” Jack asked.

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.

“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.