I pull out my phone and hit number two on my speed dial.
“Reese? Are you okay?” Jack asks right away.
I frown, scanning the cars and pedestrians on the street. “Yeah . . .”
A deep exhale carries through the receiver. “Okay, good. I just thought . . . because you’re calling me,” he says with a chuckle. “You’re usually holed up in your office, hating everyone for another hour or two.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine.”
“So, what’s up?”
“You mentioned a little party for Ben and Mason?” It was official last week. Ben and Mason got their bar exam results and both passed. They’re now associate lawyers.
“I did. Why?”
The wheels of my devious brain are picking up speed. “I’m going to plan something for this Friday.”
“Well, Mrs. Cooke has already—”
I cut him off. “No, Jack. We’re not doing this in a church basement. I’ll find something good.” A casual bar, a relaxed situation. Neutral ground. Somewhere I can come and go as if I don’t give a shit.
And remind my ex-husband how much he misses me.
As soon as I’m off the phone with Jack, I message Jared.
I’ll be at The Grill on Friday night around eight, with friends. Casual.
After a moment, I add:
You may want to change your phone password. According to your lovely wife who I just ran into, you’re very predictable.
Chapter 22
BEN
T.G.I.F.
Every day seems to blend into the next around here. I guess I pushed my office door shut a little too hard because it slams, causing at least a dozen heads to pop up from cubicles like in that carnival groundhog game. I wave a lazy apology as I toss another folder down.
Damn, what I’d do to have Reese attached to me all hours of the day and night! I like working with her. No, I f**king love working with her. Just having her around somehow makes everything more entertaining.
That’s why I’ve had to all but avoid her this week. And it sucks.
Jack is right: the girl just has a bewitching way about her. Idiots like me are doomed.
As I round my desk, I find a red gift bag sitting in my chair with bits of white tissue paper sticking out. After weeks of hiding in rooms and doing Natasha’s bidding, bar exam results were posted this week. Mason and I passed. I’m finally a real lawyer. I’m guessing this is some sort of congratulatory thing.
I rifle through it with curiosity to discover a folded note:
Congrats on becoming an official law bot.
In case the nickname didn’t give it away, I know by the messy chicken scratch that it’s from Reese. The woman has worse handwriting than any doctor I’ve ever met. I think it’s because she’s always rushing. Digging down farther, I pull out a bright red T-shirt that says: “I got puked on in Cancún and all I have to show for it is this ugly red shirt.”
I’m sure the entire floor can hear my bellow of laughter.
Damn, I love her sense of humor.
And I’m really disappointed when I find no one but the Rancor cutout in her office, her computer shut down already. I guess it’s not a big deal. I can thank her at the little after-work party they’re throwing for Mason and me tonight.
Still, I don’t even want to wait that long.
“Good pick,” I yell over the live band as my eyes roam the crowd at The Grill, resting on a couple of brunettes who have already noticed me and, by the small waves and winks, are not shy about making me aware of it.
“Reese arranged it all,” Mason admits with no small surprise in his tone, clanking his draft against mine. “Cheers. To being a real lawyer.”
“Where is the little minx, anyway?” The entire attorney staff, including Jack, are here tonight to celebrate. They have an area cordoned off for us, set with platters of food and a few tables. I’ve been doing the rounds for the last three hours, watching the clock and the door way too much.
“With Lina and Nicki. Lina just texted me to say they’d be here soon.”
“How’s that going? Is she the reason behind this whole ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ look you’ve got going on?” Mason has never been known for his keen fashion sense, but now he’s got new clothes and he’s styling his hair differently. He’s even wearing contacts. We used to ride his ass about those thick, dorky glasses he wore, but he refused to change them.
His cheeks brighten as he shrugs. “I felt like trying something new and she helped me.”
Getting laid certainly is doing wonders for this guy. “And things are good between you two?”
A sheepish grin passes over his face. “It’s good. It’s . . .” The smile fades as his head nods up and down. He finishes with, “It’s complicated.”
“Oh hell, you’re not f**king in love with her, are you?”
“No! I mean, I like her. A lot. But . . .” His voice trails off as he stares at his beer.
“But what? And I don’t do relationship talk, so this had better not be deep,” I warn him.
“She’s Reese’s best friend, so . . .” He hesitates, as if he’s reluctant to admit the rest. “I’m waiting to find something majorly wrong with her.”
He doesn’t look too pleased when I burst out laughing at him. “I thought you and Reese were sorting your shit out.” I’ve seen them talking more in the office. Reese even offered to help him proof some legal letters going out to clients the other day.
“I think we are,” he concedes with a shrug. “Slowly.”
“Well, from what Jack says, Reese is not leaving your lives again. Ever. And my money’s on her if you two go to war, just so you know.”
He shrugs and takes another big gulp of his drink. And I smile to myself. Mason’s a lightweight. He’ll be giggling like a little girl by the time he reaches the bottom of that. Speaking of drunk, I need to slow down on these or I’m liable to do something stupid and unprofessional and, well . . . me. Probably not the right place or time for that. Later, at my house, where the guys are throwing a little party for me, is fair game.
“What’s going on between you and Reese?” Mason asks suddenly.
“I already told you. Nothing.”
“Ben.” He leans forward and drops his voice. “I don’t want to see you get fired.” The skin between his eyes pinches together. “I know I don’t really fit in with the rest of the guys, but you’ve always made me feel like one of the group. You’ve always been a good friend to me. I’m just trying to look out for you.”
It’s funny that Mason is saying this to me now. When I started law school, I felt like I didn’t fit in. Going from my undergrad, where I was still seen as the star quarterback even after I wasn’t playing anymore, to a nobody who lacked the scholarly vibes and refinement that everyone else seemed to have was tough. I mean, I had the GPA, the LSAT scores, the letters of recommendation and all that, but for a while there, I thought I’d made a big mistake applying to law school.
I drop a heavy hand on his shoulder as a platinum-blond head catches my attention behind Mason. “Don’t worry. I’m not getting fired.” I watch the crowd shift as Mercy and Hannah make their way toward me, every guy’s head turning to trail them. “Damn,” I mutter. It’s impossible to see those two together without thinking about my farewell party. This is going to be a long-ass night. I really hope Reese shows up soon.
“Are those the two?” Mason’s index finger pushes against the bridge of his nose—where his glasses would be if he were wearing them anymore—as he stares wide-eyed at them.
“Yup,” I grin. Giving Mason the details of that night was almost as fun as experiencing it. The guy hung onto my every word as if I’d been revealing the secret to the Holy Grail.
“Ben!” I barely get my glass down before Mercy is on me, her arms wrapped around my neck tightly, laying a kiss right smack on my mouth. “Congratulations!” I know she’s genuinely happy for me and, hell, I can’t push her away. That would be mean.
Still, I gesture forward, trying to peel her off me politely. “You remember my good friend, Mason.”
“I do.” Her eyes light up as she steps past me. I watch with a grin, knowing what’s coming. The appropriate thing would be to shake his hand and say hello. Given Mercy has already met him once, though, she leans into him and lays a slow kiss on his cheek, setting his face on fire instantly.
“Hey, Ben, it’s okay that we’re here, right?” Hannah’s voice purrs next to me. She’s so much more reserved than Mercy is. “I tried to dress down so I’m not so obvious around your lawyer friends. Do you think they know?”
That earns a loud bark of laughter before I can help it. Hannah’s another girl who could come in here wearing a potato sack and people would still have a good idea what industry she works in. Unlike Mercy, though, she’s self-conscious about what she does and can’t wait to finish nursing school. Those will be some lucky patients.
I throw my arm around her and pull her into a friendly side hug. “Not a clue. You’re good.”
“Okay. We just wanted to say congratulations and we miss you.” She leans in to give me a respectable kiss on the cheek. I know for a fact that that night meant nothing more than friends getting railed on shots of everything and having a good time to her. She’s been in love with the head bartender at Penny’s, Ginger, for years. “Grab yourself a drink,” I suggest with a smirk, nudging her forward as I scan the crowd for Reese.
I’m swarmed with envious looks from every male attorney at Warner. I predict all kinds of phone calls and invitations come Monday. I’m used to it. Kent and the guys are always begging me to get the Penny’s girls over for a private show at our house.
Tonight, I obliged them.
Unlike the smooth shifting for the two strippers, the crowd parts like the Red Sea as Nate’s looming frame makes its way toward me to clasp hands. “Ginger couldn’t make it, but she wanted me to give you a big wet one from her.”
“Tell her to stop trying to turn us, man.”
His face splits into a grin. “I can only stay for a few. I’m running Penny’s tonight, even though it seems like half the dancers are going to some house party for this jackass I know later on.”
His ribbing makes me chuckle. “Where’s Cain?”
“Out of state.” My frown gets nothing more. Nate’s as loyal as they come and whatever Cain’s doing, he doesn’t want anyone knowing about. I hope it has something to do with Charlie. Something good. That guy deserves to be happy.
With that, Nate wanders off to the other side of the bar where someone he knows sits, revealing a much smaller man hidden behind him. “That’s a good friend to have in your corner,” Jack murmurs, his eyes trailing Nate for a moment before shifting to Mercy and Hannah, who are flanking Mason, Hannah fluttering her lashes and Mercy toying with his collar.
“So are those two, if you were to ask your son right now,” I joke.
“Yes,” Jack smirks through a sip of his beer. “It would be nice to see him work a little less and enjoy life a little more.” He hesitates. “I’m not sure about that much, though.”
“Baby steps for Mason,” I agree with a chuckle.
Glancing around, he asks, “Have you seen that wayward stepdaughter of mine? She arranged this entire night and now she’s not here.”
Good question. Part of me wants her attached to my side to fend off Mercy’s advances. The other part wants her roped off on the other side of the bar so I don’t get myself into trouble with Jack. I’m beginning to think it’s only a matter of time.
“Spoke too soon!” Jack exclaims, his face instantly lighting up.
I can’t help but notice that my stomach jumps as he says that. It does a full flip as I turn to see a blond in the doorway wearing a sexy red dress and a dangerous smile.
“Oh, f**k . . .” I mutter under my breath.
She’s definitely up to something.
Chapter 23
REESE
“So I forgot to mention something to you guys,” I shout to Lina and Nicki as we push our way through the crowd. The Grill is usually busy on Friday evenings. Located right on the beach, it’s kind of like a tiki sports bar, with a faux grass-hut roof, open walls, and lots of flat screens. Tonight, the place is crawling with Warner staff.
Too many. And they haven’t left yet. I said the work party was from five until seven—cocktail hour. At eight, they’re still lingering.
“You got married again,” Lina answers deadpan, as if she’s been expecting that announcement.
“Not exactly,” I mutter under my breath. They’re going to flip their lids.
I may flip my lid.
“Where are these lawyers you speak of?” Nicki says, looking as striking as always, this time in a purple corset dress. “And do you think they’ll believe me when I tell them that I’m a lawyer?”