ATTENTION: THE AUTHOR IS POSTING THE LAST CHAPTER ON MAY 5. TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE READ HER STORY, SHE IS ALLOWING THE ENTIRE STORY TO BE PUBLISHED UNTIL MAY 22.

THIS BOOK OR ANY PORTION THEREOF MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION. THE SCANNING, UPLOADING, AND DISTRIBUTION OF THIS BOOK VIA THE INTERNET OR VIA ANY OTHER MEANS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER IS ILLEGAL AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.

REGINA AND MAGGIE WAITED ON the sidewalk outside of First Bank briefcases in hand. Peaking in the window, Regina noted there were only a handful of clients inline or in the seats of the lobby. "It shouldn't be a long wait."

"We'll deal with it if it is, we're paid to wait," Maggie said simply telling the truth.

"I should've stopped for another cup of coffee," Regina said pulling on the collar of her blazer. "I'm nervous for her. What if this doesn't pan out?"

"That's what I'm here for, right? I'm not crazy about putting my name down on a loan for a client, but it's not a large amount and I've done it before."

Turning, she heard gravel crunching under the wheels of a car, "I know that I'm just hoping that it goes smoothly. I've been trying to get through to her for months. Robin shows up, and she's all for every decision he makes."

"He does relate well to people and he looks damn good in jeans," she said as Robin climbed out of his car.

"Morning, ladies," he grinned pulling out a drink carrier loaded with cups.

"Morning let me help you with that," Maggie took it from him while he took out a briefcase and pulled a blazer over a pressed shirt.

"Thanks, I got you a latte with light cream," he said as he swung his door closed and took the carrier back from her. He kissed her on the cheek, "For helping us out. Thank you."

Regina watched him interact with her best friend and could only come to one conclusion, the man was just damn comfortable with himself. It irritated her that she didn't have that same ease with people.

As he walked toward her, he smiled, "A double shot, I figured you'd need one by now."

"Thank you," she thanked him by taking a big deep drink. "I was just saying I needed more coffee."

"Good, are we ready?" He glanced at his watch, "Five minutes."

Maggie and Robin started up an easy conversation about a case they were working on while Regina stood silent. Why she was nervous around him now, was a mystery. She'd practically jumped him the night before.

Chewing on her lip, she rocked her heel back and forth while her fingers scratched at the cardboard surrounding her cup. When they looked her way, she avoided their eyes and peeled them on the parking lot. What did she drive? She realized she didn't know. Only that she'd be bringing her son, Henry.

What a coincidence that her father's name and the boys resembled. Lost in her nerves, she felt Robin's hand cover hers, "Relax. Maybe the expresso wasn't a good idea."

"No, I…" Distressed, she sighed. "I don't know why I'm nervous about all this."

"I do," he said. "You care."

"Of course, I do. I feel off about putting Maggie in the middle of it."

Maggie protested, "I said I was fine with it, didn't I?"

Regina wanted to bring up the fight she'd had with David over it the last few days but decided against it. "Yes, you did."

"Then, stop it. Come on, here she comes," Maggie stepped off the sidewalk to the side of the car to help Henry out. "Hi, buddy. I'm Maggie."

"Henry," he said moving his eyes from her to Robin to Regina.

"You're gonna hang out with me while your mom is in a meeting. How about grabbing some breakfast at the diner next door?"

"Breakfast?" He looked to his mom.

Emma nodded, "I won't be long," she promised. "Be good, kid."

Maggie and Henry walked down the street to the diner while Emma joined them on the sidewalk.

"Hey, Emma. We'll head inside and we'll meet with the loan officer. If it doesn't work out with the approvals, we'll bring Maggie in to co-sign for you." Robin led her with a hand on her back toward the entrance of the bank.

"Wait," she stopped. "What if I default on it? Won't I owe her?"

Regina said, "We'll worry about that if it comes to it. Right now, the important thing is to apply and to get you out of debt with Strauss."

"Alright," she said.

Robin turned and winked at her with a grin. Shaking her head, she followed behind them inside. It smelled like inked paper, furniture polish, and an unpleasant mixture of perfume. A man stood in a suit just inside, "How can we help you today?"

"Regina Mills and Robin Locksley from Holloway, Dunn, and Gold. We're meeting a loan officer with our client."

The man asked them to wait and walked down to an area with cubicles, took less than five minutes, and returned. "This way."

They were led to the back cubicle where a man sat behind a desk with red hair, glasses, and an easy smile. His nameplate read Archibald Hopper. "Come on in folks."

Robin sat on the right, she took her seat on the left with Emma in the middle.

"I understand you want to take out a loan," he spoke to Emma.

"Yes."

"Let's start with this form," he began.

The application, credit check, and bank history check took nearly an hour. Regina tried to relax in that time by sipping her coffee, taking deep breaths, but the nerves still danced in a frenzy. Archie, as he'd insisted, they call him, clicked on his computer, made phone calls, and left several times to meet with other officers.

He came back with a neutral face, she only guessed could mean bad news, and sat. "It looks like a co-signer will be needed. You've had some debts with another bank and there are several open accounts on your credit. That all adds up to be a high-risk client."

Emma looked to Regina first, which made her feel like she finally trusted her. Regina put a hand on hers, "I'll go get Maggie and sit with Henry."

"Thanks."

She met Robin's eyes, took the cup he now held empty and made her way out into the lobby tossing empty cups into a can. Maggie and Henry were sitting huddled together with a comic book. "Hey."

They looked up and Maggie sighed, "No?"

"They said they'd do it, but you're not off the hook. Is David going to kill you?"

"He'll deal. Henry, I have to go in there and help your mom. This is Regina. She'll hang with you until we're done."

"Okay."

"Good luck," Regina said.

Regina sat, "What are you reading?" He sat with a comic book in front of him, his legs were tucked under him.

"Wolverine."

"A Logan fan, I see," she smiled.

"You know about Wolverine and X-men?"

Regina smiled, "Sure. I had a…" pausing she thought of what Roland was to her, "friend," she decided. "He loved it. I think I've seen the movies a hundred times."

"Who is your favorite?"

"Hmm, well, I guess I'd have to say Storm. I also liked magneto," she said.

"He's so cool. I like Wolverine best. I dressed as him for Halloween. Mom even helped me use knives to make the claws."

"Very cool, I bet you were a hit at school."

He shrugged, "Not really, I got made fun of."

"You know what they say about kids who get picked on?"

He met her eyes, "No, what?"

"They're special. People see things in those kids and try and beat it out of them. Don't let them beat the special out of you, okay?"

Nodding, he turned back to his book. Sitting with him hurt her heart a little. It reminded her of the ease she had with Roland. The banter, the simple innocence of childhood. She longed for a child who could complete her life.

It took another hour before Maggie emerged from the back cubicle, "It's all a go. I've gotta get on to a client, but I'm glad I could help. Henry, it was nice to meet you."

He smiled, "Yea, you too."

"They'll only be a little longer," she said. "Call me later."

Regina stood to give her a hug, "Thank you."

Thirty minutes later, Robin and Emma emerged while Henry was deep into explaining the intricacies of Batman and Robin to her.

"Hey, kid. You ready?"

"Yea."

Emma smiled, "Thanks a lot," she said. "I owe you more than I can say," she said to Robin.

"Just do what we discussed and the other," he said.

"I will," she said.

"Next time, I'll explain Spiderman. Deal?" Henry held out a hand to Regina.

She shook on it, "Deal."

They all walked out of the building and Emma and Henry drove off.

ROBIN WATCHED HER AS THEY SAT in a booth at Lucas Diner. Watching her with Henry had been a sight. She was relaxed and completely comfortable with him. Who was he that he envied a ten-year-old? The woman was a puzzle.

Granny smiled as she came over and insisted on serving them, "Regina, I've missed you."

It surprised him when she grinned, a rare sight, "You look good, Henrietta." They embraced.

"I try, not as hard as Ruby," she laughed. "What can I get you handsome?"

He grinned, "Iced tea, and the club."

"I know what you want," she said putting a hand on her shoulder. "Work lunch?" He wanted to laugh to see the insinuation on her face.

"Something like that," he offered.

As Granny walked off, he turned and grinned, "You did good with Emma."

"I didn't do anything."

"You did, you put her mind at ease, and she looked to you when she heard the news, she couldn't get the loan on her own. That's something," he said.

A smile crept up her cheeks, "That did feel good."

Granny set a glass of iced tea on the table and a glass of water next to it, followed by a plate with onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and quesadillas around a bowl of salsa. A bowl of green olives, a bowl of fruit, and chips sat in the outer ring.

He raised his brow, "That's loaded."

"Enjoy," she said sending him a wink.

"I love her," he laughed.

"Everyone does," she said popping a green olive in her mouth.

"So, what did you and the kid talk about?" he wondered. They sat together for over an hour.

"Wolverine, X-men, and Batman and Robin, he likes comic books. He went as Wolverine for Halloween."

"Yea? Cool costume." He watched her eat bits of fruit, olives, and didn't touch the other stuff. "He seems like a good kid."

"Yea, he does. He shares my father's name."

"I know, Granny mentioned your dad's name when I met her."

"What do you usually do with your weekends?" she asked. Another skill, he mused. Avoiding topics by distracting him. He decided to indulge her.

"It depends. I work out, spend time with a few buddies of mine, work. I'm not a routine kind of guy. I change it up." He smirked at her, "I bet you do the same thing every weekend."

Her cheeks flushed, "Mostly," she admitted. "Lately, I've been a little busy meeting with realtors."

"Realtors?"

"My father's house is on the market. There are a few buyers interested. We've had plenty of walkthroughs."

He thought about the house he'd spent the night in, he tried to remember details, "Why are you selling? You said you loved it."

Granny came up and dropped his club and a salad on the table. "I do," she said picking up a fork and mixing her salad. "Before my father died, we took out a second mortgage on the house to pay for his medical bills. I never got to make right on them, and the bank decided to foreclose."

He watched her face for distress and only saw acceptance. "I'm sorry. Where will you go?" He took a hefty bite of the club.

She looked up, "Oh, I don't live in the house. I have a place over on 6th and Rustler. I maintain the house, pay for them to keep it clean, and I use it sometimes for the gardens. I can't let it die or no one would care to buy it."

They ate a few minutes, he thought about meeting there. A neutral place, he guessed. Personal but not too personal. A place she kept up but didn't live in. "I take it you didn't feel comfortable inviting me to your actual place."

Taking a long time sipping her water, she met his eyes over the glass, "I don't invite people to my apartment."

"I'm people?"

"You would qualify."

"Maggie?"

"Comes over almost every day," she smiled.

"By people, you mean men."

"That would be correct." She shrugged, "I wasn't sure about what kind of guy you are. I have to be incredibly comfortable to invite you to my place."

"I guess I'll wait for the invitation," he smirked.

As they finished their meal and changed the topic, he thought it over. Wondered if she'd invited men to her apartment in the past. If she did, he mused. She isolated, kept herself buried in work, he wondered when the last time a man touched her.

Who was it? Who was he and what did he have for her to open? He'd nearly had the opportunity last night. It cost him to walk away with his blood hot and his body aware. If he wasn't so scarred by Greta, he'd have surrendered. But he wasn't prepared and damned if he'd ever make that mistake again.

"Meet at the office?"

"Yea, we'll write whatever case notes and head out to the craft store," she said. "I'll help you with the second round of shopping."

He groaned, "More shopping?"

"Round two," she said. "There are still more, but if you don't complain, I'll take care of the rest after today."

"I'll hold you to that," he said skirting the hood to his car.

Pulling into the parking lot, he watched Regina head in first unlocking the door. He waited a few minutes before following. He took his time, locked the front door, walked down the hall. In their office, she stood in front of her desk with her briefcase open. She'd removed her jacket, wore a navy-blue dress with a slit that reached mid-thigh.

It had taunted him all morning, that slit. Soft creamy skin against the blue of the dress. The muscles of her legs taut as she walked in those black spikes. Did she know how distracting they were? Did she realize how long her legs looked? He slid his blazer off his shoulders and tossed it over his chair. Took off his tie and draped it on the desk.

With her back to him, he let his eyes scan down her body. The sleeves of her dress were rested above her strong shoulders in thin straps. Her dress hugged every curve of her body and stopped mid-calf. He swallowed as she put all her weight on her right side. He walked up behind her, she jolted.

He rested his hands on her waist, "Do you wear these dresses on purpose to drive me crazy?" His face was close, and he kept his voice low.

She cleared her voice, "I wear them because with a blazer they look good in court. I like how they fit, and I guess I like the designer."

He smiled to know that he could frazzle her into stammering and yammering on. His hands moved down to mold her hips, "I like them. You look sexy."

With one hand, he reached up to slide her hair back and away from her neck. As he leaned in to press his lips to her skin, he stopped. "I marked you," he said frowning. It aroused him more than it should to see her neck bruised where his teeth had sunk.

"What?" Her hand reached up to grab at her neck. "Where?"

Her scent was already turning his head to buzz, he lowered his head and touched his lips to her skin, "Right here."

He felt her tremble as he trailed his lips up to her jaw, scraped his teeth gently along her skin, and turned her body to face him as he covered her mouth with his. "I wanted to do that all morning," he said wrapping his arms around her.

The grin she'd given Granny brightened her face for him, his heart took a roll in his chest. "It crossed my mind," she admitted sliding her hand up and around his neck. Her fingers tugging on the edge of his hair felt good. She felt good in his arms. Right.

A flicker of Greta entered his mind, and he felt the fear of eating at his gut. She isn't Greta, he reminded himself. She's nothing like her. He shook away the feeling and focused on Regina.

"Let me remind you," he said and kissed her. It was nothing like the teasing or tempting he'd used before. It was rough, deep. She matched it with her own need pressing into his mouth, gliding her tongue along his, and pressing her body close to his. He guided her forward, step by step until she was pressed against the door. He held her in place as he devoured her.

His hands slid down to her hips as he rocked into her. He was hard and felt his control slipping. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her. Imagining what he'd do with her when he had her like this.

His fingers felt the zipper on the side of her dress and without hesitation, he drew it down slowly sliding his fingers along her skin. He expected her to protest, to stop him, but she only pressed closer. It stirred his cock forward, he wanted her. "I left too quickly last night."

"I know," she sighed. He leaned back into cover her mouth and used his hands to slowly peel away the dress from her body.

He slid the fabric from her shoulders to the ground and pulled back to admire her. He didn't know what he'd find, he imagined white cotton and was pleasantly surprised to find blue lace. His hand gripped her hip and his fingers fanned out under her rib cage. Her skin was soft. That may be the wrong term, he mused. Silky, maybe.

When she shuddered, he smiled and met her eyes. They were clouded, her cheeks flushed, her breath uneven. "I won't leave so easily this time," he warned.

He waited for her to respond, saw the apprehension in her eyes, the conflict. His hands molded, slid up and under the center of her breasts. Her bra was held by one little tie, he could easily pull it and she'd be bare to him. His eyes scanned down to her hips and saw two ties on each side. He swallowed. It would be so easy, he mused.

"I…" Her voice caught when he began pulling the tie with agonizing slowness.

"What's it gonna be, Regina?" He touched his lips to hers, moved back, brushed his nose to hers. "Hmm?" He was moments away from tugging the tie and giving her no choice.

"Yes," she sighed reaching up to the buttons of his shirt. He let her unbutton his shirt, her fingers unsteady, she slid his shirt from his body. When she pulled his neck back to her mouth, the control slipped and broke.

He tugged on the tie and slid the lace off her shoulders. His hands molded to her, felt her nipples harden, her body shudder. His fingers tangled in her hair and dipped her head back. He lowered his head to brush his lips along one dark nipple. Her taste seeped into his system.

When he opened his mouth and drew her in, she gasped making his chest tighten. The more he nipped, sucked, and devoured, the more aroused he became. He eased his hand down her back, molded her hips, and slid down her stomach. He cupped his hand over dark lace, found her wet and soaked through.

Through the fabric, his fingers stroked, her hand tightened in his hair as she cried out. As he teased her, she shuddered. He bit down on her nipple as his fingers slid beneath the fabric and she released a sharp cry bucking her hips forward. He raised his head and watched her face as he stroked her to climax. Her clit was hard and swollen, she was wet. He knew he only had to circle around a few times. He eased her up and over. As her body quaked, he slid his fingers inside her and covered her mouth drowning her in a dreamy hot kiss.

Her knees buckled and he slid down with her in his lap, bringing her down and pumping his fingers into her until she rode out the orgasm taking over her body. When the trembles stopped and she was limp in his arms, he pulled his hand from her and wrapped his arms around her. He rested his head on her shoulder and tried to match his breath to hers when she relaxed.

When she tried to pull away, he tightened his grip, "Don't move. I need a minute." He buried his face in her hair and prepared for her to pull away when he let her go. If she did, it would hurt. But, he held her and hoped this wasn't a mistake.