Series: The Laws of Opposite Attract Series by Vi Keeland
Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“It’ll cost you a bottle of Don Julio—the good shit, not the hundred-dollar stuff.”
“You got it, buddy. I really appreciate it. Let me talk to Devyn, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
“Sounds good. By the way, is this Devyn single?”
“Yeah, she is. Does that hurt her chances?”
“No. But it helps mine. Is she hot?”
I felt my face heat. “She’s off limits. Don’t even think about it.”
“Holy shit. That sounded almost territorial, Dawson. Are you in a relationship?”
I frowned. “Just give her legal help and keep your eyes and hands to yourself, okay?”
Marcus chuckled. “Sounds like someone’s got it bad.”
“I’ll talk to you in a little while.”
I was still shaking my head when I hung up. Marcus had hit a nerve. I did have it bad. For a woman who had zero interest in me…
Nevertheless, a few minutes later, I decided to go talk to Devyn in person. It wasn’t like I was getting any work done this afternoon anyway.
Devyn smiled when she opened the door to their apartment. “Hey, Owen.”
Unlike when I’d left her a few hours ago, she now wore a flowy, white dress and a full face of makeup. Maybe she was getting ready to go out?
“Sorry I didn’t call first. But I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Umm…” She didn’t step aside for me to enter.
When she looked over her shoulder and back at me, my stomach dropped. Fuck. Did she have a guy in there or something?
“If it’s not a good time…” I said.
She shook her head. “No, no. Come in. I’m just on a Zoom call. I’ll be off in a few minutes.”
My body untensed. It’s just a work call, you jealous idiot. Relax.
Devyn’s laptop was set up in the living room. I didn’t want to get in her space, so I went to the kitchen to wait. But the apartment had an open floor plan, so it wasn’t like I could completely mind my own business.
“Sorry about that,” Devyn said, settling onto the couch. “Where were we?”
“We were talking about you meeting me in Italy next week.”
I froze. I knew that voice. The fucking actor from the movie we almost watched last week. Her actor.
Devyn’s eyes jumped to meet mine. I suddenly felt like a damn fool. I pointed to the door and spoke quietly. “I’m going to go.”
“No, don’t.”
She was talking to me, but the idiot had no idea.
“Don’t what?” he asked. “Buy you the ticket?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. I wasn’t talking to you. But I need to run. Someone just came by.”
“Oh. Well, give me a call back later and let me know what day is best for you. Alright, sweetheart?”
Sweetheart.
It felt like someone stuck a pin in my swollen heart, causing it to deflate.
Devyn reached for the top of her laptop. “I’ll call you when I can.” She shut it without waiting for a response and stood, biting her lip. “Sorry about that.”
I swallowed. “I just came by to tell you I spoke to a buddy of mine. He’s a family law attorney here in the City. I told him a little about your situation, and he said he can probably get you emergency temporary custody. He thinks you should file the paperwork before CPS shows back up here on Monday.”
Her eyes widened as she smiled. “Really? He thinks I can get emergency custody? It would keep them out of foster care?”
I nodded. “He had some questions, like about your criminal history and stuff. But I think you should talk to him.”
“I don’t have a criminal history.”
“Good. Then you should definitely speak to him.”
“Do you think he can see me early on Monday?”
“He’ll talk to you today, if you want.”
“Oh my God.” She covered her heart with her hand. “That would be great. Thank you so much, Owen. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
I couldn’t even enjoy being her hero; I was too disappointed by the conversation I’d walked in on. He wants his sweetheart to come to Italy.
But I managed a smile. “Let me text Marcus and tell him you want to talk.”
Marcus answered my message almost immediately. We went back and forth for a few minutes, setting him and Devyn up for a Zoom call in an hour. I gave him Devyn’s email so he could send her a link to join the call. After, I tucked my phone into my pocket.
“Do you want to have some dinner before I have the call?” Devyn asked. “I made a Waldorf salad—it’s the only kind of salad I can get Heath to eat. He likes the walnuts and apples, so the greens seem to slip in unnoticed. But the pizza place called a little while ago and asked if he could come in, and Hannah is practicing with a friend for PS Idol, so now I have a giant salad all to myself.”