Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 118693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
He made a grunting sound. “Of course, I did. Anyway, you’re still coming, right?”
“Yes. And let’s not pretend I don’t know it’s a surprise birthday party Mom is throwing for me.”
Preston laughed. “How’d you figure it out?”
“Wasn’t hard. She asked me at least six times at dinner last night if I was going to the pub tonight. Tell me one thing: She’s not trying to fix me up with someone, is she?”
Preston let out another round of laughter. “Hey, I’ve got to run. See you in a bit. And for Mom’s sake…act surprised.”
Rolling my eyes, I let out a frustrated moan. His avoiding the question meant she was. “Yeah. Later.”
I hit End and dropped my head back against the seat. The sooner I got this day over, the better.
Rory
Lost in thought
“Rory, are you even listening to me?”
Lifting my head, I forced a smile. “Sorry, Mom. Guess I was lost in thought.”
Her face softened as she grinned. “I’d say. You know, you don’t have to keep taking on all these smaller cases. You don’t have anything to prove.”
Ha! That was a joke if I’d ever heard one. Maybe not to my mother, but to the rest of the firm. My first day I was in the bathroom and heard two lawyers talking about how Chelsea Adams’s daughter was getting a free ride. My goal was to prove those two girls wrong. I thought I didn’t have a life in law school. I really didn’t have a life now. Sixty-plus-hour weeks for the last ten months was beginning to wear me down.
“So, what did you think about the meeting earlier? You ready to jump in on the team that represents the fire department?”
My heart raced, but I kept my calm. The only thing I’d been able to think of since that damn meeting was the overly handsome brown-haired firefighter who flirted nonstop. Then his voice. Oh man, that voice had sent shivers down my spine. “I’m more than ready.”
She flashed me a huge grin. “Good. There’s a case I want you on with Russell McCormick. As you know, he’s been with this firm for a while and is showing great promise. He’s up for junior partner.”
Taking a bite of my burger, I nodded. “I know. He told me about six times tonight.”
Mother laughed and rolled her eyes. “He’s a bit…ambitious. Don’t let him try and walk all over you, Rory. I have every bit of confidence you’re more than qualified to handle the case. He’ll be lead attorney, though. You understand why?”
“Completely,” I said with another nod.
She lifted her brow. “You do have a bit of an advantage over Russell, though.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “Knowing my way around a fire station?”
“Yes,” she replied with a wink. The phone buzzed. “Yes?”
“Your husband is on the line.”
“Perfect timing.”
Leaning back in my chair, I chuckled.
“Hey, honey, Rory and I were just talking about you.”
I soon zoned out my mother and got lost in those green eyes of my mystery firefighter. In all the years I’d been around them, I’d never even entertained the idea of flirting with one. But there was something about him. When I saw him falling asleep while Daddy talked, I couldn’t help but chuckle. It was cute how his friends kept bumping his arm to wake him up.
Then our eyes met. The way my body reacted was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. I was even more shocked when I flirted back with him.
My mother’s laugh snapped me out of my daydream. Finishing off my hamburger, I tossed the extra fries and trash in the garbage and stood. I made my way over to the large window that overlooked downtown Boston and took in a deep cleansing breath.
I need to start doing yoga again. Something for me and only me.
It didn’t take long for my thoughts to return to my mystery man. I wonder what his name is. What is he doing tonight? Probably out with someone hot as hell dancing it up at a nightclub. Something I missed doing and hadn’t done since law school. I had no time to even entertain the idea of starting a relationship with someone. Let alone a firefighter. My father would have a heart attack. He was one hundred and fifty percent against me dating a firefighter. He never really gave a specific reason, only made it clear that he would not approve.
With a sigh, I wrapped my arms around my body and stared out the window. A loneliness swept over me as I watched the tree branches sway in the wind. Would this be my life for the next five to ten years? Working nonstop to prove to people I was more than the boss’s daughter?
When my mother’s hands squeezed my shoulders, she rested her chin on me and said, “Honey, why don’t you go out tonight with some friends.”