Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 108531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
He heard the click-clack of her heels on the hardwood floors of his office as she followed him. “You don’t know who I am, do you?”
He held the door open for her. “I assure you I would remember if we met before.”
Her eyes were narrow again, her short hair curling on her cheek as she snapped her head around to glare his way. “I’ll take that bet, Quaid.”
She didn’t wait for him as she took off down the sidewalk toward the courthouse.
Had he met her before? He would remember this gorgeous woman. He definitely hadn’t slept with her. He would remember that.
He jogged to catch up with her. “All right, I’m sorry I don’t recall where we met. Were we in law school together?”
“No, Quaid. We didn’t have a random class together.” She could motor in those heels.
“I don’t practice much outside of Papillon, so I don’t think we’ve faced each other in court.” He was racking his brain to figure out how he was supposed to know her and why she was so irritated with him. Even when he won a case, he was polite about it. He wasn’t one of those preening jackasses who felt the need to lord his victory over the opposition. Not that he usually faced opposition in court.
She strode up the steps to the courthouse, and he would bet she spent a lot of time in the gym. He was getting the slightest bit winded keeping up with her.
“My name is Jayna Cardet.”
He did know that last name. “Are you one of Sienna’s cousins?”
That would explain the law degree. That family needed a lot of legal representation of the criminal defense kind.
Jayna reached the top of the steps and turned on him. “I’m her sister, and we literally went to high school together. I’m the only reason you passed French.”
He felt his jaw drop. “No. I’m pretty sure that girl’s name was June and she was . . .”
He’d been about to say June the tutor was a total nerd, but her skin had taken on a level of red that was a warning to any man that he’d stepped on a land mine and it was about to explode and take his balls with it.
“What, Quaid? June—which is not and has never been my name—was what?” Her hand was on her hip, eyes staring him down.
Again, he should not be this attracted to a woman who looked like she would strike him down with a bolt of lightning if she possessed that particular superpower. “I was going to say she was a very nice girl who helped me so much. I’m sorry, Jayna. You don’t look like you did then. You’ve grown up.”
“Well, you look exactly like the same douchebag high school lothario you always were.” She turned again. “Let’s get this over with. I expect your client to pay for all my client’s pain and suffering.”
He followed her as she walked into the courthouse, not bothering to look back to see if he was keeping up. “Pain and suffering? My client took down a tree that was clearly on his property. He had every right. That tree was outside Geraldine’s fence.”
“But her fence was built a foot back from where her property line ends,” Jayna replied, not missing a beat. She turned down the hallway that would lead them to one of two courtrooms. Someone had been optimistic when they’d designed the building. “So the tree was her property.”
Did she honestly believe he hadn’t studied this? She was absolutely giving him big-city lawyer vibes. They always underestimated him. They saw that he was the conservator for haunted dolls and elderly felines and decided he wasn’t up to snuff. Quaid jogged in front of her, getting to the door and opening it like the gentleman he was. “You’re right. Let’s get this over with.”
They had gotten off on the wrong foot. He needed more information because he hadn’t heard the name Jayna Cardet in so many years he’d forgotten it, and that was a mistake.
“Is there an e?” Britney asked.
Britney had obviously talked her grandpa into passing the time with a game of Hangman, and Quaid would bet not one of the people in the courtroom saw the irony in that.
The bailiff dutifully placed two e’s on the board, and Britney clapped her hands.
A low growl of frustration came off Jayna as she approached the front of the courtroom.
She’d been away from Papillon for way too long if she let something like this get to her. Luckily, he could wrap this up very quickly.
“Your Honor, I’m so sorry I’m late. I was dealing with Imogene Mallory’s estate. Her heirs showed up at my office a couple of hours ago and I lost track of time,” Quaid explained, taking his place behind the defense table.