Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
“Well, that’s too bad,” James said and gently patted Alessandro’s mouth and cheeks. “As for Layla… f-God, I don’t even know where we’d start trying to replace her.”
“You don’t have to think about that,” Layla said softly, entering the room.
James and I both jumped. “Layla!”
Layla went over and plucked Alessandro from James, stripping off the toddler’s food-slopped clothing and plugging him into another set. “I’m staying,” Layla explained. “Even after the trial.”
“Are you… are you sure?” I asked her, surprised.
“Yes,” Layla said. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“And… where… what about… Allegra?” I almost forgot I was feeding Dahlia until she gave a displeased grunt. I got the nipple of the bottle back into her mouth.
“Allegra’s gone,” Layla whispered. A tear rolled down her cheek, but she wiped it away.
“Gone?” James echoed. “Gone where?”
Layla shook her head and kept caring for Alessandro, getting him down on the floor blanket so he could play with some of his toys.
James opened his mouth to say something else, but I shook my head.
“You two should probably go talk about the trial,” Layla said, coming over to me and taking Dahlia.
I realized she just needed some time alone with the kids. “We’ll go do that.” I patted her back in what I hoped she would see as a gesture of support.
Layla’s shoulders drooped, but she nodded. “Thank you.”
I walked over and took James’s hand, leading him from the nursery.
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?” James asked.
“Layla is heartbroken. We need to give her some time,” I said, tugging James down the hall and into the bedroom we’d been sharing.
“You don’t suppose they broke up?” James gaped.
I shrugged. “I don’t know for sure. I just know Layla is hurting, and will need our support, when she’s ready.”
James rubbed the back of his neck and sat down on the bed. “This, too?”
“Life doesn’t stop just because we want it to, James,” I informed him.
“I know. I know.” James laid back on the bed, his jeans-clad legs hanging over the side.
I laid down next to him, staring up at the ceiling.
“I’m tired of making promises to you I can’t deliver on,” James said softly, taking my hand.
“Then don’t,” I whispered, thinking exactly the same thing he was. How on earth were we going to keep Alessandro?
“The witness…” James began, then stopped with a swallow.
“Yes?” I asked.
James sighed. “The witness is in the wind. The PI can’t find her. She thinks someone scared her off.”
“Allegra,” I groaned.
“Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was someone from the other side of the table,” James muttered. “Allegra would have scared her INTO testifying.”
“Who could be scarier than Allegra that this witness would just disappear?” I asked.
James shook his head. “Money talks.”
“And lots of money sings and dances. Yes, I know.” I slammed my fist down on the mattress in frustration.
James took the hand he was holding and brought it to his lips. “Baby, we can’t lose hope. We have to be together on this, to the end.”
I nodded, but tears were leaking out of my eyes. “I just can’t… I can’t… I can’t anymore. I can’t deal with all that keeps getting thrown my way—our way.”
James swallowed. “There’s nothing I can tell you right now to make this better that wouldn’t be a lie.”
“I know. I just… I want things to get better, James. I want things to BE better,” I said.
“We’re going to make it better. You, and me,” James reassured me.
Or tried to, at least. I wasn’t so convinced. With all the outside forces working against us, it all just seemed so impossible.
James sat up and tugged me into his lap. “I love you, Becca, that’s the truth.” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me until I could almost forget all my worries. Almost.
“Becca…” James put a hand over my breast. “Let’s get in a little stress relief. We can discuss this later. But I think right now, we need to take a little timeout.”
Desire curled in my belly. “Well…”
James thumbed my nipple through my shirt. “Pretty please?”
I groaned and gave in. “Fine, fine, Mr. Eager Pants…”
“Don’t you mean ‘Italian Stallion’?” James smirked.
I was never going to live that down. “Yes, that, too.”
James chuckled. “That’s still the hottest thing that’s ever come out of your mouth. And you say everyone calls me that?”
“Yes. All those bitches who will be testifying against us at the trial,” I muttered bitterly.
James kissed me and caressed my cheek. “Hey, we’re not thinking about that right now. It’s just you and me.”
I ground my hips against his. I could feel his thick, hard length through his jeans.
James groaned. “I think it’s you who don’t play fair.”
“But this is the best kind of game. Even when you lose, you win,” I purred, pushing all thoughts of the trial out of my head.
“Mmm,” James said. He pushed his hands underneath the back of my shirt and undid my bra.
