He stared at her.
“Sorry. I know your situation—”
“No, don’t apologize. I’ve been back in the area and I didn’t contact my family for a year. Comparing me to Ronan is accurate.”
She stood before him, watching him carefully. “Why did you come to my apartment tonight?”
“I decided I wasn’t going to let you go without a fight. Some things happened, good things, which I’ll tell you later. But they gave me the courage to come after you.”
She smiled.
“There’s one thing I want to say now.” He brushed his knuckles down her cheek “I love you, Hayley.”
Her eyes widened, then crinkled up at the corners. “I love you, too.” She didn’t even hesitate to say it back.
He was shocked at her admission.
Even more so, when she started undressing.
“Are you going to take a shower?”
“No. Later. Now, I think the talking should end on that lovely thought.” Wearing only a pink skirt and black bra, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
He picked her up and whispered in her ear, “I’ll take it from here.”
* * *
Two weeks later
“Is it straight?” Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, Paul stood on the ladder after nailing in the sign over their new space on the edge of the commercial district in Brooklyn. They’d been lucky to get the spot, as someone canceled their lease.
“Yep, you nailed it.”
“Ha ha.”
Hayley smiled at her fiancé. He was light-hearted these days. It was hard to believe that it had only been two weeks since Seth’s injuries. He was recovering just fine. Right after the incident, and their confessions of love, she and Paul both gave notice in their respective jobs.
Paul joined her on the grass, sliding his arm around her waist. It felt wonderful to be outted. “Think we’re going to make it?”
“I know we are. Covington, Casella and Covitz will be a real success.”
“I wish it could say Covitz and Casella.” He sounded sad.
“It will, someday. But we gotta attract bigshot clients to establish our practice. And you’ve got the reputation now to do it.”
She knew Paul didn’t like exploiting his heroic actions of that one night, but he was willing to endure it until they could build up enough paying clientele so they could afford the rent and their salaries. She’d invested some of her own money in the startup and he wanted to contribute. Best of all, Hayley was going to get to do the pro bono work she’d always wanted.
A car drove up and a woman with thick dark hair down her back and blue eyes got out of the little Chevy Trax. “Hey guys, I like the sign.”
“Thanks, Zofia,” Paul said.
She kissed his cheek. “You didn’t have to give me top billing.” Zofia had not changed her name from Covitz after she married.
They’d both been shocked when his younger sister, a top-notch paralegal in Brooklyn’s law world, asked to be part of their new endeavor. She offered money, too, for part of the rent.
“I came to tell you I gave notice at my firm.”
“Were they unhappy about you leaving?”
“That wasn’t what stuck in their craw.” Zofia rolled her eyes. “They don’t like that you two moved here and will give them competition.”
She and Paul grinned at each other.
“What can I do today?” she asked them. “Jan’s picking up the kids so I have a lot of time.”
“We’d be happy to have help.” This from Hayley. “We had the space cleaned, and some furniture has already come in. Want to help us set up?”
“I’d love to.”
She linked both their arms as the three of them walked toward the front of the building. “What a lucky girl I am to have my big brother, and his lovely fiancé in my life.”
Paul grinned over at Hayley and said, “I think I’m the lucky one.”
“No, I am,” Hayley retorted.
Paul teased, “You still gotta have the last word.”
“I do. And don’t expect it to change any time soon.”
Hayley looked up at the sunny sky, feeling the gods had smiled down on her. And for that she was grateful.
Epilogue
The sunset was beautiful on the deck of Paul and Hayley’s condo. It turned pink and red as it settled in the west. She was entranced at the sight.
From behind her, someone said, “Thank you for hosting this, dear.”
Hayley turned.
Paul’s mother gestured to the people on the deck. All of her children and their spouses sat on the outdoor furniture close together. “I cannot believe this has finally happened.” Her eyes moistened. Paul had said his mom was tough, but the prodigal son returning had turned her to mush.
Hayley squeezed her arm. “I’m so happy you all found some peace.”
“Not all.” She shook her head. “My Filip is more stubborn than the rest of us.”
“Paul believes he’ll come around. Meanwhile, you have five of your children here.”
“Yes, I need to be grateful for that.” She searched Hayley’s face. “I can see with my own eyes that my Paul is in love. Are you, Hayley?”
“I am. Very much so.”
“That is all you need.”
Hayley hesitated. “We don’t know each other, Mrs. Covitz, so I was hoping we could have lunch, just you and me.”
“Please, call me Nadia. And yes, I would like very much to have lunch.”
The youngest, Lena, called out, “Matka, come over here and listen to Paul’s story.”
His mother squeezed Hayley’s arm and left.
Paul took great joy in this family gathering, despite the fact that Pa refused to attend. He still got a twinge of regret when he thought about his estranged father, but Hayley wouldn’t let him go down that road.
He grinned when Matka joined them and sat in one of the padded chairs.
Alek’s eyes were mischievous when he said, “Paul’s telling us about going to jail with his new love.”
Paul shook his head. “I’ve got a lot of good stories to tell you, you know.”
“What fun is that?” Jakub put in. “We want dirt.”
He motioned
