Page 12 of Resisting the Lawyer (Dirty Hot Resistance 3)

“Are you going on a date with Lucas?!” The words are practically shrieked into my ear. “Lana just texted me!”

Not wanting to get into this right now, I hurriedly say, “What? Oh, I think Sophie’s calling me!”

“She can’t even talk—”

“Okay, bye!” I cut the call and groan.

“I’m so dead, tomorrow.” Glancing down at Sophie, I pick her up and laying back down, I sit her on my stomach, carefully cushioning her back and head with thighs.

“And how did you enjoy your first day at work, baby?” I ask her, laughing.

Seeing me smile, she claps her hands, making gurgling sounds of happiness.

She’s a happy baby and I vow to myself that she will never lack any sort of love in her life. I’ll be both a mother and a father to her. “Your grandparents will come around, soon,” I tell her. “They can’t stay mad forever, right?”

When she yawns now, I cuddle her and getting up, I start preparing her for bed.

Once she’s down for the night, I change into a slip and when I see my image in the mirror, I sigh, pinching my belly fat.

I was always a healthy girl with curves rather than a slim figure I had craved in high school and college. At one point, it had been a source of constant depression for me. I’d tried all sorts of fad diets but sticking to them was the problem, I wasn’t overweight, by any means, but simply soft and a little chubby.

Feeling the familiar sensation of misery descending on me again, I immediately pinch myself, scolding lightly, “You’re fine the way you are. You can’t be like everyone else.”

The image in the mirror smiles because it knows the long journey it has undertaken to finally accept herself, the years of self love and confidence building that had brought her to this day.

However, I frown at myself. “Wouldn’t hurt to cut back on the sweets, though, would it? A salad for lunch every now and again, maybe? You’re no longer eating for two.”

As I climb into bed, I blame Lucas for most of this additional weight on me, considering how he kept bringing me all sorts of desserts while I was expecting.

Silly man, I think to myself, affectionately.

And if my heart beats a little faster at imagining that sly grin on his face as he slid me boxes of treats before disappearing, I ignore it, and turn over.

It’s when I’m getting ready for work the next day when suddenly hits me what I’ve agreed to do.

Lucas Black asked me out on a date and I said yes.

It takes a while for this to sink in and the rest of the morning, I’m subdued, wondering when Lucas even became interested in me. I always thought he was just being friendly but now that I think about it, I’ve never seen him interact with any other employee.

I tuck a sleepy Sophie into her carrier, my fingers efficient while my mind is wandering.

I hadn’t been lying to Lucas when I had said I wasn’t ready for a relationship or that I wasn’t looking to date anyone at the moment. The thought saddens me a little because I’m one of those people who loves going on dates and meeting new people. While I’ve only had two lovers, the idea of dating was always a fun concept to me.

Now, since what happened on the last date I went on, the thought of dating anyone leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

Sophie shifts and I tuck her in, brooding.

I’ve already agreed to this date but I have to make sure Lucas gets the message that it’s just a one-time thing. Yet, a part of me which harbors a soft crush on the man, feels a little giddy at being noticed back.

“Get a hold of yourself,” I mutter aloud.

Sophie blinks, sleepily.

When I reach the office, taking the bus, I wonder if I should invest in a car.

The office is empty and people are just starting to walk in.

I put the carrier on my large desk and I’m just undoing the straps on my baby when someone bumps into me, making me let out a startled cry and stumble, barely managing to stop the pram from sliding off the desk.

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