Chapter 12

"Thank you so much for your time today, Paisley. We definitely want to move forward with having you complete those steps for us. We will send over a contract as soon as we get off the call."

"I appreciate it so much. I'm happy to be working with you and your team going forward."

The video call ended, and Paisley relaxed back in her new chair. These clients wanted her to do quite a bit of photo editing, one of the many things that she did freelance work for. The things they wanted would take quite a bit of manipulation, so she was charging more than her usual rate, but they'd agreed and she was thrilled.

She really should get up and go check on Luke and Garrett, but she sat and took in her new desk again. Luke had done a great job picking it out for her, and it was very her and blended into the office.

He was sharing his space with her, practically forcing her to share it with him. She felt bad after the other night and didn't know how to move forward with him. It wasn't like she'd meant to make him feel bad. She had only been voicing her concerns.

But Luke had only moved on like nothing had happened. He had recovered quickly from being upset with her and that had been the end of it.

The doorbell interrupted her puzzling out what to do next and she stood to go see who it was. She assumed it was Catherine, maybe Ryker, but he was a bit antisocial with everyone but Garrett, whom he adored.

"How can I help you?" She heard Luke's gruff tone.

A muffled woman's voice reached her, but she couldn't make out the words.

"And what is the concern?" Luke asked.

Her stomach tightened. This was what his father had said he would do. She'd bet anything that it was someone from Child Protective Services about Garrett.

She approached Luke at the door, resting her hand on his arm, letting him know she was there.

"As I was saying, I don't need to give you more information. I am here to check on the child and ensure that he is in no danger." The woman had a sour face and looked angrily at Luke.

She tugged on his arm. "Let her in to look around, Luke. It's not like we are hiding anything."

"It's just ridiculous that my father can just say a few words, from jail, and suddenly we are the ones being investigated," he complained but stepped back and motioned for the woman to come in.

"Who are you?" the woman asked Paisley.

"I'm Paisley, Garrett's mother." She held out her hand for the woman to shake but she blew her off.

"And why didn't you come to the door?"

"I was working, just wrapped up a meeting when I heard the doorbell," Paisley answered honestly.

"Where is the child?"

"Garrett," Luke interrupted. "His name is Garrett, not ‘the child.'"

"Yes. Where is he?" The woman dismissed him.

"He's taking a nap. You are welcome to take a look but not to wake him up," Luke said sternly.

They all went up the stairs and quietly looked in on Garrett. Never mind that there was a baby monitor with video on Luke's hip anyway. The trip wasn't needed in her opinion, but she didn't say anything.

"And who was with him last night?" the woman asked as they went down the stairs.

"We both were," Paisley answered. "We had dinner and then both worked some before going to bed."

"Are you sure that Luke was here all night with Garrett?"

Paisley felt Luke stiffen behind her. "I am."

"How can you be sure?"

"Why is this being asked," Luke bit out.

Paisley put her hand on his chest. Calm was the only way to deal with this. "Because we were in bed together."

"Are you two married?" the woman sneered.

Paisley swallowed. She was about to take things too far and tell the woman where to shove her questions.

"I don't see how that's any of your business. There's no law that says we can't sleep together if we aren't married. We clearly already have, hence the child upstairs."

"I never said there was an issue. I simply asked a question," the woman, who hadn't given Paisley her name still, challenged Luke. "Feels a lot like you have something to hide here with the way you're acting."

"Think what you want. I don't like being accused of anything."

"Luke," Paisley shushed him. "Ma'am, how can we help you from here? You've seen the home and Garrett. Is there anything else?"

"I must say, I am surprised that you are the calm one. It doesn't go along with the report that was made and that might be enough. There will be follow-up visits to this home to ensure that the child is continuing to be well cared for and that nothing has changed."

"I'd be happy to schedule those for when we will be home." Luke took Paisley's hand off his chest and gripped it in his.

"That's not how these work. They will be unannounced visits so that if there are drugs"—she pointed a look at Paisley—"or anything else you don't have a chance to hide them."

"She doesn't do drugs," Luke snapped.

"I didn't say she does," the woman said calmly.

"I will take a drug test right now if needed. I don't do drugs, but I don't want to create more problems either by arguing. That's proof enough, right?" Paisley pleaded.

"There has been nothing here for me to believe that claim is true, however follow-up visits will be noted and required. If they find anything, then the child will be removed."

"That's it? We can't just clear our names right away?" Luke took a step toward her.

"This is a process, and what is in the best interest of a child is what will be taken at the highest value. Parents that set a good example, are sober, and care for their child are the top priority. One last thing that needs to happen is a paternity test to confirm you as the father."

"What?" he roared. "You are not taking blood from my son just to appease my father."

"I'm sure I don"t know what you mean about your father. This will also be painless, a cheek swab only. You'll need to come by the office this week and have it done." She handed Luke a card.

Paisley quickly snatched it from him before he could crush it. "We'll be there."

"You aren't needed."

"Don't talk to her like that," Luke snapped at her tone.

"Sir, you need to calm down."

"You are in my house, snapping at the mother of my child, hopefully my wife one day, and telling me to calm down? No. I think it's time that you leave because I feel like anything else you have to say would be best served in writing."

Paisley gasped as Luke dropped her hand, ushering the woman out the front door and closing it behind her with a loud slam.

"Luke," she said softly, "take a breath."

"I just can't believe that we are doing this. That any of that just happened. He's not going to quit." He was yelling by the time he finished.

"We will get through it. It's not that serious, and they can't say we are doing anything wrong because we aren't."