Page 84 of Daddy's Laws

Bryant’s stern tone sent a shiver down her spine, despite the fact she hadn’t really done anything wrong. “It’s not important.”

Chucking quietly, James stepped forward and brushed his fingers over Liv’s shoulders. “I think that’s our cue to leave. Say goodbye, Livvy.”

“But, Daddy, we just got here!”

“Olivia.”

Lower lip trembling, Liv looked up and gave James the biggest, most pitiful puppy dog eyes Shannon had ever seen. “Daddy,please?”

“Olivia, they live twenty minutes away. We will see them again soon. Now, unless you want to ride home on a sore bottom, it’s time to stop arguing with your Daddy.”

Heaving an exaggerated sigh, Liv obeyed. “Bye, I guess.”

It took another ten minutes, several hugs, and a warning swat that had Liv’s cheeks glowing bright red with embarrassment before they actually got out the door. As soon as it clicked shut behind them, Bryant turned and crossed his arms over his wide chest. “Now. What is it you haven’t told me, little girl?”

“It’s nothing bad.” And it wasn’t. Which made her keeping it a secret all the stranger, even to her.

“All right.” Moving to the couch, he sat and pulled her into his arms. “Then tell Daddy about it.”

“Remember when you came to see me after I left the beach house, but I wasn’t home?”

“Yeah.”

“I was at MaryAnn’s.”

His eyebrows lifted slightly, but other than that, he didn’t react. “Any particular reason?”

“I don’t know. I guess I just needed to hear the truth from her, about if she was part of what happened to me. I sorta felt like you and Liv were stupid for believing her, and I needed to see for myself.”

“I can understand that.”

“You’re not mad?”

“Did you get what you needed from the visit?”

She thought it over for a second before nodding. “Yeah. Yeah, I really did.”

“Then no, princess, I’m not mad at all. I’m glad you were able to find some peace about it. But as long as we’re sharing, there’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.”

Tension knotted in her stomach, and she felt herself tense. Was this some new secret that was going to tear them apart again? “What is it?”

“I haven’t made any final decisions yet, but I’m considering leaving the firm I’m with now.”

Stunned, she could only stare at him. It took several tries before she was able to actually form the question burning on her tongue. “You don’t want to be a lawyer anymore?”

“I do. I just want to be a different kind of lawyer.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Part of the reason I took MaryAnn’s case was to prevent her from being completely taken advantage of. The cops and the prosecution would have eaten her for breakfast if I hadn’t stepped in. And there are thousands of people like her, every day, facing down a system hellbent on not giving them a fair shot. I made some very quiet inquiries and there is a job waiting for me with a legal aid group here in Baltimore.”

“That sounds amazing, Bryant.”

“I think it will be. I wanted to talk to you before I made any moves, though. It’s a significant pay cut, and it will probably mean even crazier hours than I work now.”

Rising up, she straddled his thighs before cupping his face in her hands. Everything she felt for him shone so brightly inside of her just then, she wondered if he could see it pouring out of her. “I love you.”

His serious expression faded as pure joy lightened up his features. His voice was thick with emotion when he spoke. “You haven’t said it.”

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