Page 17 of Happy Wife

He turned back to look at me, and our eyes met for the first time. A spark of attraction registered in my core as I realized he was handsome. Mia’s mean lawyer dad was all chiseled features, broad shouldered, andhot.His presence should have been intimidating, but he was somehow accessible.

“I’m sorry about this.” He shook his head. “Her mom and I got divorced last year. Between that and the impending teenage years, it’s like she’s trying to give me a heart attack.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “She’ll be all right. My parents split up when I was about her age. It knocked me sideways for a minute, but I turned out just fine.” This was a pretty audacious lie, considering I was standing barefoot in a bathing suit in front of the location of my second job, but if he noticed, he didn’t seem to care.

“I’m Will.” He extended a hand, and I shook it. Weird how some handshakes pass like perfunctory nothings, but this one didn’t. His hand was warm, and I would have sworn goosebumps traveled up my arm when we touched.

“Nora.” I took my hand back and folded my arms, rubbing them to make sure there were no actual goosebumps.

“Thanks for being discreet about this, Nora. She’s supposed to be with her mom this week, but that won’t stop Constance from making this my fault somehow.”

“No problem.” I gestured in Mia’s direction. “I gave her a little bit of water and some crackers. You should probably get her home before it all comes back up on the console of your spaceship.”

A light chuckle escaped his lips, and the sound was decadent. “Nice to meet you, Nora.” He nodded before turning to leave.

Will, the Hot Mean Lawyer, is delicious. Good for him.

—

The next week, I was returning Spencer and his wandering claw hands to his mom when Mia stepped out on the pool deck. She was bright eyed and fresh faced, a welcome contrast to the last time I saw her. Her dark hair was neatly gathered in a ponytail, and she was wearing a green sundress with her Keds this time. She spotted me walking toward the locker room and waved as she headed toward me.

“Hey, Mia.” I smiled. “How are you feeling?”

Her cheeks flushed red. “I’m grounded.”

“Oof.” I sighed.Good for Hot Mean Lawyer dad.“For how long?”

She squinted as if doing the math. “Until my dad can trust me to make more responsible choices? So probably, like, until next week, when I go back to my mom’s house.”

“Mia,” Will cautioned, appearing beside her in a custom designer suit.

Hot Mean Lawyer looks good in everything. Swell.

She offered me a small cream-colored envelope. “Thanks for looking out for me last week.”

I took it with a smile. “Glad to see you’re doing better.”

“Can I get a soda?” She looked to Will.

“Sure.” He added, “Justsoda.”

She gave me an annoyed look, as if to say “Dads, am I right?” and headed off to the snack stand.

I gestured toward her. “She looks like she’s doing better already.”

“Don’t let her fool you. Her status is a minute-by-minute thing at this age.”

“Well, it was nice of her to say thank you.” I held up the card.

“We both agreed it was a good idea to show proof of life and try to win back some dignity after last week.”

“It wasn’t that bad. Really. But hey—” I raised a hand inwarning. “Be careful about her friends. She said they all think you’ll sue them if something bad happens to her.”

He frowned as if in disbelief before saying, “That’s crazy. I’d never sue her friends. They’re all minors.” And then after a beat, “I’d sue their parents.”

If not for the hint of mirth in his eyes, I might have thought he was serious. He played the straight man perfectly, and so help me, I let out a giggle. He grinned a cover-model, megawatt smile back at me, and my knees went a little wobbly. I blushed for being so ridiculous.

Christ, Nora. Act cool. Don’t get drool on his designer loafers.

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