Page 83 of Falling for Brody

He placed a kiss on the crown of her head, and she hated how easily she snuggled into his embrace. "Well I'm not big on you feeling out of sorts, but holding you? I love it."

She turned and placed her cheek against his chest. "You didn't answer my question."

"Hmm?"

She loved the way he gently smoothed his hands over her back from time to time.

The gesture was generous. He just held her and smoothed his palms down her spine and almost rocked her back and forth.

It worked wonders when she was stressed.

She just couldn't let him shoulder so much of the burden. She wanted to stand on her own two feet.

How could she tell the court that she could take care of Chip if she was constantly leaning on Brody every day?

"Am I slipping on our calls? Distracted? Off my game?"

He shifted, taking hold of her arms and holding her away from him to the point where he could look right into her eyes. "No, Rhea. You're not. When you're on the job, you are unshakeable. Just like how you are with Chip. You're a great mom, Rhea. Incredible.

"There is no one, and I mean NO ONE who could look at you with him and not think that you're amazing. He's smart, kind, and loving. He's well behaved. He even eats veggies with every meal. I wasn't like that when I was a kid. I was a stubborn brat when it comes to vegetables."

"Really?"

He nodded. "Ask my mom. She'll tell you all the horror stories."

She shook her head. "I don't want horror stories, Brody. I love getting to know more about you."

"We've got plenty of time for that, honey. There's no rush there."

Her phone rang and she picked it up thinking that it was about the time that Chip was getting home from school.

"Hello?"

"Rhea? This is Nissi O'Neill."

Nissi O'Neill was the best lawyer in town and Brody had taken Rhea in to meet with her about the custody case.

Her face flushed and her palms prickled. "Miss O'Neill. How are you?"

"No need to worry, Rhea. I'm calling for a good reason."

Rhea let out a breath. "Okay?"

"Breathe, Rhea. It's going to be okay."

Rhea turned her head to look at Brody who was hovering but trying not to push her boundaries.

She lowered her phone and put it on speaker. "I'm here with Brody, Nissi."

"He seems to be everywhere you are, Rhea. That's what I call support."

Rhea nodded and smiled at Brody. "I'm beginning to realize that I've got a lot of support."

"You do," Nissi agreed. "I'm calling because I have a colleague I went to Law School with. She's in Richmond where the Russell family filed this case and as happy as I am to go with you to Richmond for the hearings, I'd like you to consider hiring Keely Dawes to work on your case."

A momentary frisson of panic rushed through her. "Keely Dawes."

"She is a bulldog, Rhea. If someone was trying to take my child from me, I'd go to Keely in a heartbeat. She has an opening tonight. In her offices. Seven o'clock."

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