Sawyer
I had my beautiful Bess curled up, head in my lap, reading the paper while I passed the time doing nothing but watching her do it. I was worried about her, though.
“How’s Cassidy doing on all the placements?” Bess was on paid leave while an investigation into her department was underway.
“She’s okay, overwhelmed.”
Bess was surprisingly calm about the very real possibility that her career at Children’s Services could be over.
“I know you’re itching to get back in there and help her.” Bess put the paper down and sat up. I mourned the loss immediately. She turned to face me.
“Sawyer, the thing is I don’t regret for one minute the things we did to save those girls.”
“Which in a court of law you know nothing about.” I had a lot of regrets. I brought trouble to Bess Geary in the form of bullets, career suicide, and not the least of which complications to her custody agreement.
“Right. Here’s the thing, I’m going to resign, even if they don’t fire me.”
“You love it there. You’ve worked your ass off to get where you are. The kids need you. I could go on.”
“I’ve done what I can there. I made a difference, to some kids at least. But there’s a tougher battle out there now. And I want to go where I think they need me even more.”
“Where’s that?”
“I’m going to take a meeting with the Michigan Human Trafficking Taskforce. I’m going to work wherever they need me. However they need me.”
“You’re an amazing woman Bess Geary.” I leaned in and kissed her. She moved forward and I sank back into the couch. She nuzzled her head just under my neck.
“So are you going to make it official?”
“Are you sure?”
“You’ve tried to dump me for my own safety or because I’m a smart mouth or because I have more baggage than your average M.C.hanger on but I’m right here.”
“Well, I want you up here.” I slid her up and we were lip to lip. I kissed her. And noticed her robe had slipped from her shoulder. Lucky, lucky Sawyer. I nudged it along and kissed her shoulder.
“Sawyer McCall.”
“Bess McCall.”
“What?”
“I insist.”
“Sawyer I didn’t mean that. I...I...”
“What? Bess Geary McCall? That better?”
“I didn’t mean to force you into marrying me. I just wanted it biker official. Like officially your old lady. Something like that? I know you’re not the marrying kind of guy. I promise.”
“I am if it’s you.” I stopped her next round of protest with my lips.
“Sawyer, I just wanted you to buy me like a sidecar or something.” I rolled her onto her back and slid the robe completely open. Her nipples were pebbled and asking me to put them in my mouth. But Bess had not stopped protesting.
“Are you saying no? Second thoughts about being Mrs. Sawyer McCall?”
“No, I am not. I want to be your old lady or the first lady of the MC or Mrs. M. all of it.”
“Good, now be quiet while I kiss your gorgeous tits.”
“Such rough language Prez.”
She was willing to ride sidecar no matter the consequence. It wasn’t going to be an easy ride. Being the Prez of an MC never was. I had learned Bess didn’t want easy, she wanted hard, crazy, messy even, just as long as it was real. And that I could promise.
Bess
“How am I going to do this without you?” Cassidy and I hugged as I carried a box of stuff out of my office.
“I’m not leaving town, just this office, you know I’m a text away for anything you need.”
“I know, still.”
“How’s DeAndra?”
“Better I think. Some days she’s better. Others...” Cassidy trailed off.
“That’s the way of all of this.”
“Right, well expect a million texts. Good luck, the mediation is this afternoon right?”
“Yes, I thought I’d pack all my stress into one day. After that, I’m going to the accountant.”
“No!”
“Kidding, root canal.”
“Stop. Good luck and call me after the mediation, no matter what.”
Chris and I had a date with the judge over changing the custody. He wanted too much. I was prepared for a fight.
I didn’t want Henry to go through this but I also didn’t want to lose even a second. We were at an impasse.
I packed the car with my office stuff and made a short trip around the corner to the courthouse.
Sawyer and I were engaged now. The ring was still new on my finger. He didn’t think it was a good idea to be at the hearing but I did. I was proud of him and Chris could go to hell.
Sawyer would protect Henry and me with his life and I was done letting Chris threaten me. I wanted the court or Chris or anyone who cared to know that I was going to marry Sawyer McCall.
I sat at one table with my lawyer and Chris and Candice sat at another.
I turned around and saw Sawyer in the row behind me.
I almost didn’t recognize him. He’d pulled back his hair and was wearing a business suit. My jaw dropped. He looked sexy as hell and entirely different, dangerous in leather, and devastating in a suit. Lucky Bess. He winked at me and I turned back around.
The judge came in and we stood.
“Be seated,” the judge looked at Chris.
“Mr. Geary you’re asking for a significant change in the arrangement and you’ve argued that your ex-wife works long hours and has a criminal for a boyfriend?”
“He’s in a biker gang, your honor! I am an upstanding member of one of the oldest families in Grand City. My wife is home full time. Henry would be much happier if he was with us the majority of the time. Not to mention safer.”
“Okay, that’s enough. I can read the file.”
“Ms. Geary, what about your work hours.”
“I’ve recently resigned from my position as a director of a department. I agree that my work was grueling. I will always work but my new situation will be more flexible so Chris has nothing to worry about.”
“I see here, this is a statement from your new employer. Good work they’re doing.”
My lawyer had sent over the letter offering me a position with the Michigan Human Trafficking Taskforce. I would be setting up a satellite office in Grand City. It was a smaller job than I had but one that I couldn’t wait to start.
“So you’ve addressed the work complaint. No how about this criminal he says you’re going to marry.”
“Yes, Sawyer McCall. And he’s not a criminal.”
“Sawyer?” And the judge dropped his reading glasses to look up and behind me.
“Almost didn’t recognize you in the suit!”
“Judge Terry.”
“That changes things a bit. Sawyer McCall is a business owner, not a criminal Mr. Geary. In fact, let’s see here. A background check reveals that McCall has a few speeding tickets, but nothing more serious than that.”
“Your honor we’ve also added some character references if you’d like to peruse any of those.”
“Yes, let’s see, Detective Murray says McCall was instrumental in helping him locate a runaway. Oh, here’s one from our movie star Craddock Flynn, McCall helped him advance his career when he was starting out. Good friend to have,” Judge Terry laughed at his own joke.
“And then here’s a familiar name, Sawyer McCall, and his Great Wolves Security Firm have been the single biggest factor in helping the Five Points Shopping District establish a safe environment where our small locally owned businesses can grow. Signed Otto Terry, Owner of Otto’s Jewelry Store.”
The judge put down the file and closed it.
“Mr. Geary, Otto Terry is my brother. It is clear to me your concern over Sawyer McCall’s influence on your son is unfounded. “Mr. Geary, you’ve failed to provide clear and convincing evidence that a change in Henry’s already established custodial environment would be in his best interests.”
“Sawyer McCall in a suit. Glad, I came to work today.” The judge chuckled as he walked out of the courtroom.
“I’m done?” I asked my lawyer.
“Yep, you won. And it will be exceedingly hard for Chris to try this again after failing and wasting the court’s time.”
“Thank you.”
“Well, congratulations. If I see even one biker...” Chris was snarling at me under his breath.
“Chris,” Candice, out of the blue, spoke up. Chris shut up at her command.
“Bess. I hope we can put this behind us. Henry is a beautiful soul and I am honored to have a small role in his life.”
You could have knocked me over with a feather. Candice was the unlikely voice of reason in what had been a tug of war over my son.
“Thank you, Candice. That means more than I can express.”
“Let’s go, Chris.”
Chris gave me one more look and followed his wife. I felt infinitely better about Henry going to them on weekends now that I saw Candice could be that amazing.
“What do you know about?” Sawyer put my hand in his and kissed me on the cheek.
“I guess it shows Chris has good taste in second wives.”
“Pretty great taste in first wives too.” Sawyer pulled me closer.
“Where did you get this suit?”
“Great Wolves Security provides services for a tailor in Five Points. Now about those references, did you do that?”
“You bet your ass I did. There are actually a dozen letters in there vouching for you.”
“Hell, maybe I should run for mayor?”
“No, I like the suit, don’t get me wrong. But the leather, that does something to me on another level.”
“What level?” Sawyer wiggled his eyebrow and at me.
“A lower level.” Sawyer grabbed what could only be described as a handful of my ass cheek. I looked around, luckily no one was left in the room.
“Let’s go home and you can show me.”