Way to Her Heart - By Melanie Schuster Page 0,54
head as his fingers played in the soft hair at the nape of her neck. “So she really doesn’t know why Trevor suddenly shows up to claim you and Sydney, does she?”
“Nope, and she couldn’t care less. It never occurred to her to ask. She’s so happy that someone is offering to dip me in the pool of holy matrimony and make me pure again she’s not asking any questions. But I want to know what he’s up to, Lucas. I don’t trust him any further than I can throw an elephant, and I don’t want him anywhere around Sydney until I know what his endgame is.”
“What did the lawyer say to do about it?”
“I didn’t get to talk to him today. He was in a deposition or something, so I’ll see him tomorrow. It’s just as well,” she said with a delicate yawn. “I’ve had all the info I could handle today.”
“You’re getting sleepy,” Lucas observed.
“Yes, but you feel so good,” she murmured.
“I’m going to let you go to bed,” he said. “I might have some news for you tomorrow. I have a friend who’s an investigator and I had him start digging into Trevor’s life. There’s bound to be something out there that he can find out about the timing of his sudden desire to have you and Sydney back in his life.”
“That would be really helpful, Lucas. You’re way too good to me.”
He put his hand under her chin and tilted her face up to his. He kissed her with great tenderness. “You’re going to have to get used to it, sweetheart. You deserve all the TLC in the world and I plan to give it to you and Sydney as often as I can, so relax. I got this, babe.”
“Anything you say,” she said sleepily. “Anything at all.”
* * *
Sherri didn’t know what to expect when she went to the law office of Royce Griffin. She’d never met him; he was recommended by Alexis’s mother, Aretha Sharp. Aretha had worked with him on many committees and had turned to him countless times on behalf of people in the community who needed top-notch legal services but had very little money. Royce was a legal legend in South Carolina, and he never turned anyone away, regardless of their ability to pay. The office was in a part of town that had seen better days. It was the exact opposite of luxurious, but the building was clean and cared for.
She opened his office door and found the reception area immaculately clean, although the furnishings weren’t new. There were large plants, two sofas and several chairs, none of which matched, but all of them were in good repair and looked comfortable. A birdcage containing a large parrot was on a stand in the corner. As soon as the bird laid eyes on her it squawked and then said, “Client! Client! Get out here—client!”
Sherri’s eyes widened and she laughed as a door opened and a tall, broad-shouldered man came to greet her.
“Sorry about that,” he said in a pleasant voice. “My secretary is at lunch and Thelonius is better than an intercom, so we put up with him.”
Thelonius squawked again. “Damned right you do.”
Royce chuckled and escorted Sherri into his office. “He was payment for a case I did a few years ago. Unfortunately, he has a vocabulary of profanity like a drunken sailor on port day, so let’s go in here and get a little privacy.” He offered her a seat and extended his hand to shake. “I’m Royce Griffin, and I’m guessing you’re Dr. Stratton.”
She shook his hand, saying, “Call me Sherri, please.” If the matter hadn’t been so serious, she’d have taken a minute or sixty just to stare at him. Royce Griffin was seriously handsome in an exotic way. He had it all—height, broad shoulders, beautiful bronze skin, thick and slightly wavy black hair in a long ponytail and high cheekbones with an aquiline nose. His thick brows slashed over eyes that had a slight upward slant and his lips looked chiseled out of copper. He was obviously a mix of several races and the blend yielded a perfect specimen of man. He was nattily attired in a pair of dress slacks and a pale blue oxford-cloth shirt that strained a little over those big shoulders. His neat appearance was at odds with his office; it was the only presentable area of the office.
The walls were lined with books, as expected in an attorney’s office. The usual