“All that worry for nothing,” he murmured into her hair, breathing in a fresh berry scent. “You and I are really a pair, aren’t we?”
“Yeah…” She stiffened, pushing away. “Like you always said, we’re way too alike.”
He swallowed his frustration as she twisted out of his arms. He didn’t want to argue with her.
“Jarrett, I’m sorry I worried you,” Matthew said. “I thought I’d explained it on the voicemail.”
“It’s okay,” Rylie said. “We’re just so relieved.”
“Not that I’m complaining,” Jarrett said, “but how did this happen so fast? Didn’t you say it was going to take a year?”
“I knew your emergency guardianship would last until Gabe’s chemotherapy was completed… at least a year. At that point, if another couple had been chosen as the adoptive parents, you would’ve lost custody.” Matthew pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed his forehead. “The caseworker could’ve easily stretched it out the entire year if she’d wanted to. I never expected her to settle it this quickly.”
Something was off in Matthew’s body language… he was fidgeting… Jarrett’s gut churned. Matthew was hiding something.
“What’s the problem?” Instinctively, he slid a protective arm back around Rylie’s waist. “You said you wanted to talk to us in person, so there must be an issue.”
“Once the adoption is finalized, in four to six weeks, we’ll file the divorce papers,” Matthew’s words brought a gasp from Rylie. Though she didn’t move a muscle, Jarrett felt her slipping away, as surely as an ocean wave poured back into the sea. She would be free. Free to go back to the foolish man who’d already rejected her in the past. Free to give him a second chance before Jarrett had had his first.
Matthew cleared his throat, his fingers picking an invisible piece of lint from his suit coat. “And… if you want to date Carlie again… I’ll step out of the way.”
Jarrett had no desire to date Carlie. He didn’t even want a divorce. All he wanted was Rylie, but this wasn’t the time to say it. What was she thinking behind those furrowed brows?
“Do we need to sign any papers today?” From the way Rylie’s gaze was glued to the Persian rug beneath her feet, she must’ve found it fascinating.
“No, but…” Matthew closed his laptop and rose to his feet. “Rylie, if you’ll excuse us, I’d like to speak to Jarrett alone for a moment.”
“I don’t mind,” she said, already fleeing the room as if she couldn’t wait to get away from Jarrett. Whatever was going on in her mind wasn’t working in his favor. He was going to have a lot of work to do, once he got matters straightened out with Matthew.
When the door closed behind her, Jarrett turned his stern gaze toward Matthew, who’d come from behind his desk to face him, an arm’s length away.
“I know you’re upset with me,” Matthew began, “but let me assure you, my intentions have never been less than honorable.”
“So you’re saying you didn’t deliberately advise me to marry Rylie so you would be free to pursue Carlie?”
“I told you marrying Rylie was your only option if you wanted to finalize the guardianship in Puerto Rico the next day. You could’ve chosen to postpone the appointment and continue with your plan to marry Carlie.”
“But you sure jumped on the opportunity to be her public fiancé.”
“I offered my services, which happened to solve both your problem and Carlie’s, though you didn’t thank me for it.” The muscles bulged on the outside of Matthew’s jaws. Jarrett had never seen him like this. “And now, I’m offering to stand aside so you can have another chance with Carlie, not that you deserve it.”
“What did you say?” Pure shock prevented a sharp rebuttal.
“You may fire me as your attorney when I tell you this, but I’m going to say it anyway.” Matthew’s face went deep red, blood vessels standing out on the sides of his face. “From the beginning you never expressed any interest in Carlie other than how she could benefit you in gaining custody of Gabe. You didn’t seem to give a flip that she was under stress, flying to California for that audition. You didn’t even call her that day and ask how the tryout went.”
“I was a little preoccupied at the time, since my son was starting chemotherapy.” Jarrett retorted. “And Carlie never even asked about Gabe when she called me.”
“That’s probably because she already knew the details from talking to me. I called her every day, unlike you. You didn’t call her at all. Not one time. The biggest moment of her life, and you didn’t care. She had to call you. And even when she did, nine times out of ten it went to voice mail.” At his sides, Matthew’s hands curled into fists. “The truth is… you don’t deserve Carlie!”
For a few seconds the room was quiet while Matthew sliced Jarrett to shreds with his glare. Then the light bulb came on in Jarrett’s head.
“Holy Toledo! You’re in love with Carlie!”
“Yes! Yes, I am!” His chin jutted forward. “I love her, and you don’t. You don’t even appreciate what an amazing woman she is.”
Laughter bubbled in Jarrett’s chest and came out in a loud snort. “You’re right, Matthew. I don’t love Carlie.”
“Wait…” Matthew’s eyebrows arched high on his forehead. “You already knew that?”
“I didn’t before, but I finally figured it out. Carlie and I are way too different.”
“I can’t believe it.” He backed against his desk and sat on the edge, shaking his head like he was clearing away a heavy fog. “I thought I’d have to fight you on this. It’s unbelievable.”
“You know what? I think the two of you will be great together.”
“From your lips to Carlie’s ears.” Matthew’s smile drooped, along with his shoulders. “She’s convinced she’s not wife material.”
“Sorry, buddy.” Jarrett clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ve got no advice for you. Communicating with women isn’t exactly my strong point.”
“Does this mean you’re not upset with me anymore?” Matthew asked. “I was afraid I’d lost you as a client.”
“Let me ask you this,” Jarrett said. “Can you honestly say when you suggested I marry Rylie instead of Carlie, you didn’t have a tiny inkling it might clear the way for you and Carlie to get together?”
“It depends.” The corner of Matthew’s mouth twitched.
“On what?” asked Jarrett.
“On your definition of tiny.”
