Page 14 of Forgotten Desires

“Kimberly never complained.” A slow smile creeps over his face at the mention of my sister, and I point at him. “Don’t even think about it.”

Ford has had feelings for Kimberly since we were kids. The thing is, my sister would never consider dating him. So, we all get to watch him pine after her and laugh as she turns him down repeatedly.

He stands, tossing our lunch in the garbage. “I’d never dream of it.”

“That’s all you dream of.”

“Unlike you, who dreams of a woman who you just found again but are too much of a chicken shit to go after.”

I roll my eyes. “She looked at me like I destroyed her.”

“You walked out of her room that night and never went back. You probably did.”

That’s also what is keeping me from reaching out to her. Not to mention, it was ten years ago. What the hell am I going to say?Sorry, I wasn’t man enough to wake you and tell you the truth. I wanted to go back, give you my number, tell you the truth, but I thought it was better this way since we had no future. By the way, I loved you, even though I didn’t know what love was then.

Yeah, every girl’s dream man right there.

“I needed to go. We already were in too deep, and my parents would’ve eaten her alive.”

“Maybe, but you should’ve been honest with her,” Ford reminds me.

I should’ve. I knew that then and I know it now.

“It never would’ve worked.”

He shakes his head. “Maybe not, but your grandfather is dead now. Your father couldn’t give two fucks about who you’re dating or who you marry, since you did your duty. Let’s cut the crap, Crew. You could be with her.”

“Not now.”

He shrugs. “Not with that attitude.”

“It won’t work, she wouldn’t want this life.”

He rolls his eyes. “Please, and Digger did? Sure, her family was all prestigious and whatnot, but they were never up to your family’s caliber. Digger’s family wanted to be, which is why they hitched their wagon to yours. Their pockets were never as deep as yours.”

“Not many are as deep as mine now.”

“Exactly!” he yells. “None of that matters now. Get the girl you want, not the one who was forced on you.”

Yeah, all of that sounds great, but the one I was forced to take will never be out of my life.

My phone buzzes and my assistant, Ginny, speaks. “Mr. Knight, Ms. Banks is here to see you.”

“Send her in.” Ms. Banks is the lawyer I hoped would help me secure custody of my daughter.

I clean up my desk and stand as Ford shakes her hand before she makes her way to me. “Mr. Knight, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Ms. Banks is nothing like I expected. She seems like she’d be a tall, broad woman with her deep voice. Instead, she’s maybe five foot—with heels—has short hair, and dark skin with the most piercing eyes I’ve ever seen.

“You as well.” I shake her extended hand.

“I received your email and the details sent over by Mr. Warner.” She looks to Ford. “Everything looks to be in order, and I think we have a very good case against your ex-wife.”

“You do?” I ask skeptically, gesturing for her to sit in the seat in front of my desk.

“Yes, I’ve worked with many fathers who want custody of their children with similar situations, and I have an excellent win record.”

“So you believe we’ll be able to get full custody of Layla?” I ask, leaning back in my chair.

She crosses her legs and nods. “I believe we have a very good chance, yes.”

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