Total pages in book: 183
Estimated words: 174715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“Let me order the food and we can talk.”
“That feels like resistance.”
“It feels like hunger to me and I just realized that I have not yet called your mother.” I kiss her cheek and grab my phone, walking into the bedroom and ordering the food, before dialing her mother.
“Cole,” she greets. “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.”
“Then why are you calling me?”
“Lori and I had a run-in with a man that has caused us trouble as it relates to a case. It’s handled. No one was hurt, but she was afraid it would get on the news and be blown up.”
“If she’s okay, why isn’t she calling me?”
I walk to the bathroom. “She’s chin deep in bubbles in the tub.” I hold out the phone. “Shout a hello to your mother.”
“Hi, mom! I’m fine. I have bubbles and wine and Cole.”
And Cole.
God, I love this woman. I wink at her and place the phone back at my ear. “See. All is well.”
“Except she let you call me because we both know she’s more upset than she is letting on. You do know that, right?”
“I know she has her way of dealing with things,” I say. “We both have to give her room to do that.”
“Right. You’re right. You do know my girl. I want more details.”
“We’ll come see you this weekend,” I say.
“Sooner would be better, but I’ll accept that.” She pauses. “Hug her for me?”
“I will.” We say our goodbyes and I peak my head back in the bathroom. “I told her—”
“We’d come see her this weekend.” Her eyes soften. “I heard.”
My phone rings and I glance at the number. “Reese,” I tell her. “I’m sure he’s just checking on you. And I ordered the food ten minutes ago now.” I depart the bathroom and head back downstairs.
“Reid just sent me a text about tomorrow afternoon. I’m in court.”
“I’ll handle it and I’m still trying to reach Alexander Montgomery for the Houston changing of the guard. I’m going to try to get him here to us, so you can meet him no later than the weekend. If I can’t I’m staying case-free until I lock this and Houston down fully.” We chat for a few minutes and when we disconnect I think of Lori’s need to take a case. She’s ready on her own. It’s me that has to get fucking ready to let her be on her own. The doorbell rings, and I grab the food.
A few minutes later, Lori and I are on the bed, eating and talking. “You’re still not ready to take a case,” she says, returning to that hot topic.
“We’re bringing in a Houston partner. I need to handle that before I take on anything high-profile, outside of managing the associates’ cases.”
“But you left Houston to run the company here. Why bring in a partner?”
“Houston needs a fresh start to be a valuable asset, not a potential liability.”
“What about sending Ashley there? Can you at least keep an eye on things?”
“When she gets past this problem with the FBI and her ex, maybe. And that interview is now Wednesday, by the way.” I set my plate aside. “I’m going to need to go there and I’d like you to go with me. Then you will know the lay of the land if you ever need to step in.”
Her brow furrows. “You’d trust me to step in?”
“You might not be a seasoned lawyer, but you are loyal and smart, as well as my wife.”
“I will do whatever I need to do to support this firm.” She studies me a moment. “I need a case.”
“I do know that. I’m not trying to hold you back. I won’t hold you back.” I lean over and kiss her. “If the perfect case comes in, one that one or both of us are passionate about, you or me or both of us, will take it. I promise. Deal?”
“You say that but I feel the hesitation in you. I know you are trying to get a grip on your need to protect me and after tonight, it’s got to be rekindled. But after tonight, I need to say something to you.” She sets her food aside. “That wall you say I have?”
“You admit you have a wall?”
“Not consciously, but I was thinking about that on the ride over here and in the tub. I do have ways of protecting myself.”
“Like my mental box, I shoved the past in.”
“Yes. Pushing you away at first was part of that. That kept you from being able to hurt me like my father hurt me and my mother. I pushed everyone away but Cat, and she’s the reason I found you.” She waves that off. “The point is that if I stay away from the courtroom for much longer, I fear that Roger cripples me. I need to get back on the proverbial bicycle. When I said I need to do more, I meant I need to do more and I think you do too. We need to just do it. Take a case. Get past this. Stop letting it control us. We need to do that now.”