When You're Mine (MINE #3)(37)

And this.

“Thought I’d find you out here,” Maddie said, climbing the back steps.

Maddie and I hadn’t really talked a lot about that night at Archer’s except for her to say she was sorry for the way she reacted. She was shocked, but she wasn’t angry. More hurt than anything, because I didn’t share it with her first. When I called her to tell her the good news, she cried. Then I cried. Then we both agreed she would come by today for a visit. “Hey,” Maddie took a seat in the cushioned chair next to me. “How’re you feeling?”

“Fine,” I answered, my eyes stinging with tears.

Maddie angled her head, catching my eyes. “Why don’t you talk to him already?”

A sob hitched in my throat. “I can’t. I don’t know what to say. I’m pretty sure I’m the last person on earth he wants to talk to. He probably hates me.”

I’d been crying a lot, especially at night. I missed him so much. His touch, his lips, his love. The ache in my chest was getting worse by the day. I didn’t want to live without him, but I had no clue how to go about getting him back.

She leaned forward, placing her hand on my knee. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that.”

My eyes shot to hers with a sniffle. “Have you talked to him?”

“Every day.” I waited for jealousy to rear its ugly head, but it never happened. There was nothing between them except friendship and respect. “He won’t admit it, but he misses you. I told him the news about the tumor and for the first time in days the man actually smiled.”

“Wait…you saw him. Is he here? I thought he went back to Boston.”

Maddie studied me, something mischievous shining in her bright blue eyes. “Get dressed. I wanna show you something.”

“What? Where are we going?”

“C’mon,” she said, pulling me from my seat.

Maddie turned onto the old town square, stopping on the opposite side of the street in front of the courthouse. She killed the engine, twisting in her seat to face me. “Barrett may not forgive you right away, but he loves you enough to forgive you eventually. That, I do know. As long as you have faith, you can find your way back to each other.” Maddie lifted her chin, looking past me.

Squinting against the sun, I tried to figure out what she was trying to show me. Then I saw it. There on a black plaque etched in gold, hanging by the wooden doors.



I blinked, unable to grasp what I was seeing. “What’s going on?”

“I have a new business partner… and you have some ass to kiss.”

“He’s in there? As in, right now?” She nodded, her eyes dancing with hope while my heart soared with it. I looked at the building longingly. “What do I say?”

“The truth for starters. Pretty sure the rest will come easily after that.”

“You’re a good friend, you know that?”

“So are you. You deserve to be happy and so does he. I think the best way for the two of you to accomplish that is together.”

She was right. Yes, I could do this on my own, but I didn’t want to. I wanted him right there with me.

Good… bad… ugly… sad.

Dropping down from the Jeep, I shouldered my purse. “Thank you.”

“Call me later. Let me know how it goes,” she smiled and I thanked the good Lord above for sending me a friend like her.

“I will.” Pulling in a breath of courage, I put one foot in front of the other.

My hands shook as I opened the door, a bell above me signaling my arrival. The inside was nice with rich wood floors. Painted in warm earth tones, the office offered a seating area as well as refreshments. I smiled.

She did it.

There was an older woman sitting behind the desk. “May I help you?”

I licked my lips to speak, but couldn’t seem to get any words out. The lady smiled and folded her hands in front of her waiting patiently. “I’m here to see Mr. Shaw.”

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked.

“No ma’am,”

“Name?”

“Tabitha Warren,”

“Just have a seat for me, Ms. Warren, and I’ll let him know you’re here.” She wouldn’t have a chance do that, because Barrett rounded the corner and my heart stopped. “Claire, would you please run over to the courthouse and file this for me?”

He was looking down at a piece of paper in his hands, and when his eyes finally lifted, it slipped from his fingers. “What are you doing here?”

Swallowing hard, I took a step forward. “Maddie,” I motioned around the open room. “I had no idea...”

“Fuck,” he gritted, looking down at his feet, then bending over to pick up the forgotten paper. Once he righted himself, he smoothed his tie then handed off the paper to Shana.

“Can we talk?” I asked, hope bleeding through my voice.

He thought about saying no. I could see it in his eyes. I’d been careless with this man. It should be a crime the way I treated him, but by some miracle, he nodded for me to follow him.

The building was old. All the buildings around here were, but the furnishings were all brand new. In his office, there were two massive bookshelves lining each side of the wall holding at least a hundred law books. Two cream colored sling back chairs squatted in front of his desk, but I didn’t take a seat. By the way he was looking at me, I didn’t feel very welcomed.