Three Makes a Family--A Clean Romance Cari Webb (short books for teens txt) 📖

Molly had to remain clearheaded and objective. And Drew couldn’t afford to forget himself like that again. Not with his future on the line. And Molly’s. And Hazel’s. And Sophie’s... “We’re heading to Sacramento to meet with the Cote family tomorrow.”

“That’s a lot to tell.” Brad set his phone facedown on the floor. His gaze never tracked from Drew. “Now tell me about Molly?”

“She’s fierce as an attorney and a mom.” He admired that and even more about her. That wasn’t unusual. He admired all his friends. “She’s also dedicated. Smart. And compassionate.”

“But,” Brad pressed.

“But I’m okay with my life.” Drew smoothed his hand over Nala’s back. “Or at least I am with the life I had. And I fully intend to get back my career.”

“So then you plan to devote your life to your work once again,” Brad said.

Drew nodded. “That’s what I do. How I’m wired.”

“Maybe.” Brad shrugged. “Or maybe you just never had a reason to change directions.”

Drew looked at Nala. She gazed up at him, one blue eye, one brown, watching him as if she understood his secrets. Understood him. He changed the direction of the conversation instead. “You think Nala is turning me into a dog person?”

“I think she already has.” Brad chuckled. “Yes or no. You decided you’d do anything for that dog when you first saw her under that dumpster?”

“Yes.” And he’d been determined to do whatever he could for Molly and Hazel. That hardly meant he’d be a good father or partner. “And it means I’m going to have to approve of the family who adopts Nala.”

“Why can’t you adopt her?” Brad asked. “Why can’t you be her family?”

Those pesky wires tightened. He lived for his job. Always had. “I don’t have the best home for a dog.” Or a toddler.

“There’s a park two blocks from your loft,” Brad argued.

“Dogs are a big responsibility.” As were relationships. Families. Careers. And failing at any of them had consequences. “The cats only want attention on their terms. But dogs are different.”

“They require more of you,” Brad said. “Same as a family.”

“What if I don’t have more to give?” Drew had worked over the years to disassociate from his emotions. Emotions never strengthened an oral argument or improved a cross-examination. Emotions only ever detracted. And he’d adopted the same philosophy in his personal life.

“You’d be surprised how much you have inside you.” Brad opened a cabinet and took out a dog snack from a plastic container marked Treats. He gave the biscuit to Nala. “You just have to believe in the reason. In yourself.”

Drew closed his eyes. “Well, maybe I’ll start to believe once I get my old life back.”

“Just be careful,” Brad warned. “It might be too late then.”

He disagreed with his brother. It was poor timing right now. His life wasn’t settled. Wasn’t even in a place where he could consider a relationship with anyone, most especially Molly. She needed, no, deserved more than a part-time helper. But he wasn’t ready or willing to be all in. That required a commitment he’d only ever given to his work. He understood the risks and rewards in his career. The same of upholding justice.

But the rewards of love were much more elusive. And the risks so high. Love offered too many hurtful scenarios and no guaranteed positive outcome. Molly and Hazel deserved a lot better than any chance it might work out. “That’s all I have to share today. Tell me about this fraud group you and your team are investigating? The one you want me to help with.”

Brad launched into his investigation, reconstructing the background and history of the fraud ring in detail. From its formation by two longtime friends to inclusions of family members to the corporate structure it now mimicked. Brad listed the crimes to date. They included counterfeiting, forgery and illegal loan schemes.

Drew settled in. He was at his best when it came to understanding and interpreting the law and how it related to suspected misdeeds. Love and relationships were not his strength. Or his specialty. Surely even Molly realized that.

It was past time to deal only in facts and undisputable truths.

Fact: Molly was his legal counsel.

Fact: Molly was the reason they’d discovered the evidence to exonerate him.

Fact: he was more than grateful.

Fact: gratitude was not love.

He had to plan his withdrawal. No more handholding. No more kisses. And definitely no more confessions.

As for those wishes he’d tossed into the water fountain, he’d keep those to himself.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

TEN MILES INTO their destination to Sacramento, Drew disconnected from his hands-free conference call with Brad and his brother’s investigation team. The meeting had lasted for the whole hour and eaten up their entire drive from the Bay.

Now Drew was close. So very close to getting his life back.

Molly took out her earbuds and turned to glance at Hazel sleeping. He parked his truck outside the Cotes’ home. A small but inviting bungalow. Drew exhaled. “You told Lorrie we wouldn’t stress out her father, but I can convince her to allow us to speak to her dad frankly.”

“That’s my job.” Molly put her legal pad away, gathered her briefcase and the diaper bag. “You have to let me do what you hired me to do.”

“Sorry. I know that.” Drew winced. “I’ve never been in the client’s seat before.”

Never had to cede control of his future to someone else.

He always led his cases. Always dictated the direction and managed the result. Now the outcome was entirely personal. And those emotions he’d cautioned his own clients to get in check stampeded through him. He needed to listen to his own advice. Especially since there were good, honest people caught up in this case. Though he was the client, he had to be mindful not to forget that.

“We’re going to get you out of the client chair soon.” Molly opened the truck door and stepped out to retrieve Hazel from her car seat.

He also had to be mindful that he wouldn’t be standing outside Reuben Cote’s