Page 36 of No Regrets

The small child had olive skin with big brown eyes and two braided strands of hair on each side of her head. A front tooth was missing, and when she smiled, she poked her tongue in the hole. Her clothing was nothing more than rags, which surprised him since foster parents were paid to take care of the children they housed.

“Mister, please.” The social worker finally got control over the child and hauled her out of the courtroom. Kaden looked over at Maria, who sat with her family.

“I’ll do everything I can.”

With that, he left his clients to be with their friends and headed back to the office. Something about the way that little girl looked at him reminded him of his own daughter. Although Shiloh was nowhere near five years old, it was the same look of innocence in her eyes that disturbed him. If he didn’t help her grandmother, she wouldn’t have a family. How could he live with himself if he allowed that?

He pulled into the office parking lot and saw Brianna’s beat-up Mazda sitting close to the back. Just thinking about her made him smile and seeing her would make his day go a hell of a lot easier.

When he walked in, he scanned the waiting area looking for her, but found no one. “Tiff, is my wife here?”

Tiffany had been his father’s secretary for nine years and knew their family quite well. “Um, yeah. She’s here somewhere.”

The bathroom door opened, and Brianna stepped out in a royal blue sweats with a white V-neck top. Her cleavage showed, making his body temperature rise. She looked like she belonged on the cover of a magazine.

“Oh. Hey.” She smiled at him, though he stared back. “I know you’re busy, but I just need to talk to you for a second.”

“Tiff, hold all my calls and appointments.” He opened the door that lead back to his office.

Brianna’s eyebrows furrowed, but she didn’t question him, just walked past him to his office. Neither said anything until Kaden closed the door behind them, locking them into his home away from home.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” He dropped his briefcase and pulled her into his arms.

He breathed in her scent, pressing his face against her neck as he tightened his arms around her. Brianna was exactly what he needed right now. Her in his arms. Her heart beating next to his.

“Kaden, what happened?”

He pulled back only to press his lips against hers. “I love you, Brianna.”

“What?”

He kissed her, lifting her in his arms. “I love you. I’m sorry it took so long for me to say it, but I’ve felt it for a long time.” He walked to his chair and sat, pulling her in his lap. “I had a really bad day in court.”

He told her what happened including the part about the little girl, and she sympathized with his emotions. “Kaden, you’ll do whatever you can, but it won’t be your fault if it doesn’t work out. I know you’ll do your best.”

He nodded. “I just seen a lot of Shiloh in her. They look nothing alike and differ more than not, but I seen my little girl in that little girl.”

“You’re a great person, you know that? No offense, but most lawyers are stuffy, and they would have blown off a child like that. But you didn’t.” She kissed him, threading her fingers through his hair. “I love you, Kaden. I possibly have all my life.”

He kissed her again, a hungry kiss of promise for what was to come tonight when he came home. She tasted so damn good, and felt so good. “What was it you came for?”

“Oh. I took my car to the mechanic, and he said it’s going to cost more to fix it than the car is actually worth. He said I’d be better off buying a new one instead of repairing the one I have.”

“You drove sixty miles to tell me that?”

“No.” She kissed him. “I drove sixty miles to the mechanic and stopped by since I was here, to tell you that.”

He chuckled. “What kind of car do you want?”

“I don’t know. Something easy to cart a baby around in. Something good on gas. You’re the car guy. Any suggestions?”

“Volvo?”

“Too expensive.”

He scoffed. “What have I told you about that phrase?”

“Kaden.”

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