Rush (Eligible Receivers #3)

Chapter Seventeen

“Mediation has been set for the twenty-second at ten, three weeks from today. I’m hoping, if all goes well, we won’t need to go to trial.”

Linc sat across the desk from his lawyer in an office filled with mostly chrome and leather and that had large windows overlooking Willamette River—his old stomping grounds before he bought his house in Dunthorpe. Jefferies sat in an oversized chair with his back to the view, his suit jacket unbuttoned as he slouched in his chair.

“You need to change it.” The twenty-second was a date ingrained in his brain with a flashing red arrow. “That’s the first day of training camp. I can’t miss it.”

Jefferies sat forward and flipped open a calendar sitting on his desk. “I’ll see if I can get it changed to earlier in the week.” He looked across his desk to where Linc sat in a leather club chair. “Will that work?”

“Yeah. If you can make it happen that would be great.”

Jefferies nodded, scribbling a note. “Be prepared, even though the mediator will be made aware Sophie is non-verbal, they may still want to talk to her.”

Linc didn’t like the idea of Sophie being subjected to an interrogation but could think of no way around it—not if he wanted to keep her. “I’ll explain things to her so she won’t be as frightened. What about Nora? Will she be involved in the mediation?”

“Because you're not yet married, her involvement will only become pivotal if we go to court.” Jefferies tucked back into his chair. “We had a private investigator look into the Parkers, and I feel better about our chances if this does go to court. Whatever mud they sling, we’ve got plenty of dirt to throw right back.”

Linc had only met the Parkers the one time, so, other than what they looked like and that they live in San Antonio, Texas—which, as Jake liked to say on the rare occasion his parents were mentioned, wasn’t far enough from where he and Natalie had settled in Dallas for his liking—he had no other knowledge about the couple and was glad Jeffries was on the ball. “Whatever it takes.”

Jefferies’ gave him a sharklike smile.

“Are we done here?” Linc asked, wanting to get the hell out of there.

“Do you have any questions?”

He stood, stretching his back, his body stiff from sitting for an hour. “Not right now. I’ll call if I think of anything though.”

Dan Jefferies stood as well, coming around his desk, hand extended. “I’ll be in touch with the new date and time.”

“Sounds good.” Linc took the man’s hand. “Thanks for all your help.”

“That’s why I’m paid the big bucks.” He laughed at his own joke forcing Linc to chuckle along or look like a dick. Though as far as Linc was concerned, nothing about potentially losing Sophie was a laughing matter.

Leaving the lawyer’s office, Linc hit the gym hard and by the time he was done, he’d lost his weight in sweat. It didn’t help his frustration. He knew that nothing would make him feel better but spending the rest of the afternoon with his two girls. He needed a shower, but first he wanted to make a phone call.

Nora picked up after the first ring and, as always, the sound of her voice helped soothe the turmoil that had found a resting spot in the pit of his gut ever since the day the summons had arrived.

“How about we take Sophie to the zoo this afternoon?”

“I’ll find your mustache and hat.”

Her answer had him smiling for the first time since arriving at Jefferies’ office, and he couldn’t wait to see her. “I’ll be home in fifteen minutes.”

***

There was nothing sweeter than holding Nora in his arms. Being inside her and feeling her squeezing him was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. He’d never known sex could feel like this. Never knew he could feel so connected to another human being.

Her grip on his shoulders grew tighter as she surged up to meet his thrust. With her head thrown back, he got the sight of her long slender neck and chest as she cried out her release, her breasts bouncing in time as she rocked through her orgasm.

He felt the pressure build and he let it come. An intense feeling of pleasure coursed through his body. His balls throbbed and then tightened as the pressure came to a head and exploded. He collapsed, rolling to his side, bringing Nora with him, feeling at peace for the first time that day.

He was just starting to drift off when he heard, “Linc?”

He jolted awake and gave her a squeeze. “Yeah?”

“You ready to talk about your meeting with the lawyer now?”

He should’ve figured she’d sense he’d been on edge all night and correctly guess at the reason. She was as attuned to his feelings and moods as he was to hers.

Situating himself a little more comfortably on his pillow, he summed up what Jefferies had told him. “He basically laid out what we can expect. Mediation will happen in a few weeks and if all parties can’t come to an agreement, we’ll go to trial.”

“Does he think that will happen?”

Linc sighed. “If it does, he thinks we have a better than good chance of winning.”

She smoothed the line between his brows with her thumb. “But you’re still worried.”

It was a statement not a question. He answered anyway. “I’d be a fool not to be.”

She cupped his jaw and he closed his eyes, savoring her touch. “Everything will turn out okay.”

He took her words and held them close to his heart. He hoped she was right because the alternative would be unacceptable.