Page 126 of Daddy’s Fortitude

What had she been thinking? And she couldn’t even blame it on the sleeping pill, could she? Because she was perfectly in control this morning.

Well, as in control as she ever got, that was.

Which was to say, not a lot. Since then, all he’d done was basically stare at her with a few nods and a couple of words. The drive here had been silent. He was probably calculating how quickly he could get out of town.

After the meeting, they’d head home, and she was certain he’d pack up and go. She wished she hadn’t had to tell him that, but it was for the best, really, wasn’t it? It was better if they just parted ways, and then she could get on with her life.

Maybe she’d find someone new eventually, someone who could love her back.

It wasn’t like she loved Ammo, right? She just lusted after him. That was all.

She couldn’t love someone she barely knew. Who didn’t love her back. But why was she so emotionally involved? Why was she so upset about the idea of him going if she didn’t love him?

It couldn’t be just lust. It had to be more. And now she was really worried that it was love.

Shit. She was really in trouble here, wasn’t she?

The door to Matthew Briggs’ office opened. She didn’t know the lawyer well. She’d never really had anything to do with him.

“Aimee,” he said with a smile. “Please come in.”

She stood up and walked toward the door, aware that Ammo was walking with her.

“Sorry I’m a bit early, Mr. Briggs,” she said.

“Please, call me Matthew. Early is fine, but we do have to wait for the other person to arrive before we can start.”

Another person?

“And you are?” Matthew held out his hand to Ammo. Ammo reached out and shook it. She could tell by the way Matthew winced that Ammo must have a firm grip. Matthew wasn’t a big guy. His suit kind of hung on his frame as though he’d lost weight recently.

“Ammo,” he said.

“Right. Well, Mr. Ammo, you’re welcome to wait out in the reception area. I can get Vanessa to bring you some coffee.”

“No,” Ammo said.

She sighed. It would be too much to ask that he would wait outside, but then again, what did it matter? It wasn’t like there was going to be anything said that she didn’t want him to hear, and it was easier to let him come inside than argue with him.

“He’s here to support me,” she explained to Matthew. “I hope it’s that I have a support person.”

“Sure,” Matthew said. “That’s fine. Please sit down. “

They’d only just sat when the door opened again, and Vanessa stood there.

“Kelly-Anne’s here, Matthew,” she said with a triumphant look at Aimee.

Oh, seemed that Vanessa must be a friend of Kelly-Anne’s.

Wait, did she just say that Kelly-Anne was here? Why was Kelly-Anne here? Aimee swallowed nervously and looked over at Ammo. He had his gaze on the desk in front of him.

Cool. Awesome. So, he really wasn’t even going to react or look at her to check that she was okay?

This was a good thing. He was pulling back. This was what she needed.

But somehow, it didn’t feel like what she needed at all. It felt like the exact opposite of what she needed.

“Sorry, am I late?” Kelly-Anne said in her simpering voice. “Dang it.”