And all this legal shit from earlier is bothering me, too. All the paperwork I signed saying I'll have no part in the child's life, that I’ll have no responsibility for his wellbeing. Fuck. I know that's what Penny and I agreed to but, there's this primal urge in me that says it's just wrong.
I push that voice down, out of respect for Penny's wishes. I'm doing this for her, to make her happy. And trying to raise a stink at this point in the process will only upset her. That's the last thing I want.
I feel eyes on me, and when I look up, I find Frank watching me. "I've seen this before..." the old man says.
"Seen what?" I ask, reaching for my beer bottle.
He adjusts his glasses on his nose. "I call it signer's remorse." When I cock a brow, he continues. "A client commits to an arrangement, signs on the dotted line, and almost immediately, he wants a do-over, he wishes he hadn't made those commitments."
The words hit me hard. What’s the point in denying it? Frank seems like a wise man and he deals with liars all day. He can probably see right through me. Instead of denying my feelings, I might as well ask for his help. “So, what the hell am I supposed to do?" I ask, feeling a little bit desperate.
He takes a sip of his whiskey. “We can bring Miss Merlini back to the negotiating table, try to get her to agree to different terms."
"Well, that's not something I want to do. I don't want to upset Penny." I scrub the back of my neck with blunt fingernails.
The lawyer speaks reluctantly. “I’m not so sure Miss Merlini would be opposed to renegotiating. Something in her demeanor said she wasn’t entirely satisfied with the deal.”
What? What is he talking about? This whole insemination plan was Penny’s idea. Of course she’s satisfied with the deal.
Just as I open my mouth to question the lawyer, a shadow stretches over our table. I glance up and am met by Lucille Merlini's self-assured smile. I snap my mouth shut.
She juts one hip out and plants a fist on her nipped-in waist. “Hello, Walker.”
“Hey, Miss Lucille,” I say to my friend’s aunt.
“I was across the bar and saw you sitting with your friend here—” She glances at Frank who has suddenly lost his stifling professional veneer. He stares in gape-jawed awe, under the siren-like woman’s effect. “—I just wanted to come over and say hi. And wish you good luck on your big day tomorrow.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” I give her a curt nod.
She stares at me for a second, then she drops the whole confident sexpot vibe. Her face goes grave with concern. The woman may be all fun and games and inappropriate flirtation but when it comes to looking out for Iris and Penny, she plays no games. “Are you sure you’re ready, Walker? ‘Cause my niece may act tough but the girl’s got one hell of a fragile heart. She’s been let down too many times. I don’t want to see her get hurt again.”
“You don’t have to worry about that with me, Miss Lucille. I’ve got her back.” Always have. Always will.
The protective woman unflinchingly analyzes my face until she’s sure that she can trust me. Her head bobs slowly and she releases a breath. “Okay. All right. I believe that.” After a beat, her seductive demeanor returns. She throws a kittenish look at Frank, her long eyelashes batting coyly. She tilts herself toward him, showing off her most flattering angle. “So, introduce me to your friend…”
Frank is still staring at her like she’s a Renaissance painting come to life.
“This is Frank Lawman,” I say. “He's the lawyer who helped Penny and me put together a legal contract…for the, uh, sperm donation.”
Lucille eyes him seductively, a predator assessing her prey. “Yes, Penny pointed him out to me from across the bar. Handsome and intelligent. I’m impressed.” She stretches out a dainty hand. “I’m Lucille Merlini, Penny's aunt.”
When the fumbling lawyer reaches out his hand, he accidentally topples his whiskey glass.
He jumps up from his seat, apologizing profusely and sliding napkins at Lucille, not even noticing as the liquid splashes his own pants.
The woman squats elegantly and slowly blots the napkin up the length of her slender calf.
Frank looks on mesmerized and totally flustered. “Again, I'm so sorry. Please let me buy you a drink,” he offers.
Lucille’s mouth curls at the corners. “Oh, I buy my own drinks, darling. But how about this? How about we go on over to the bar and I buy you a drink and you tell me some heroic stories about how a handsome man like you takes down ruthless corporations and gets big, bad guys locked up, or whatever it is you do.” Lucille lays her hand on his shoulder and bats her eyes at him.
“Yes, of course. Yes.” Frank tugs his tie away from his throat.
He doesn’t bother with saying goodbye to me. He’s too busy following Lucille across the room like a lost puppy. She takes his hand and sets it on her waist and he trips on his own feet.
He’s a goner.
I take a sip of my beer to wash back my chuckle. Frank’s about to lose his balls, his heart and his freedom tonight and the poor man doesn’t even know it.
Penny’s eyes catch mine across the room. She tilts her head toward Lucille and Frank, and makes an over-the-top, eyes-bulging, can-you-believe-this-is-happening? expression. I give her an I-know-right? grin in response and she cracks up at our inside joke. Even over the loudness of the music, I can almost hear her giggles in my head and it does something to the inside of my chest. It’s an instant reminder of why I’ve been friends with her my whole life. Things are just easy between us, and I hate the niggling fear that our relationship is about to get a heck of a lot more complicated.
A patron steals
