by Durand, Anna
"How long will you be gone?" I already feel a little queasy knowing he won't be here for a while.
"The weekend," he says. "Back at work on Monday morning."
I don't know what to say. Not seeing him for a weekend shouldn't upset me, but it does. I'll miss him. We'll have this coming weekend together, so it's dumb for me to wish he'd stay here instead of going home for a few days.
Chance kisses me again, tenderly this time, and only for a second. "Come with me."
"To England? I can't. Raisa won't give me the afternoon off."
"I'll rearrange my plans. We can leave right after work on Friday."
"But---I---" His suggestion has me so off-kilter I can't speak an entire sentence. We hardly know each other, and he wants me to go away with him for the weekend. When I manage to form a sentence, I ask, "Are you inviting me to meet your family?"
"I guess I am."
He sounds as surprised as I feel.
The thrill of knowing he wants to take me home to his family lasts about three seconds. Then I moan miserably. "I can't go. We lowly paralegals must slave away all weekend, you know. I'm sure next weekend will be no different."
He twists his mouth into an annoyed slant and rubs his eyes. "Forgot about that. Can't you get all your work done during the week? I'll help."
"You want to do grunt work? That's my job, not yours."
"Let me pitch in. Please."
"You want me to go with you that badly?"
I expect him to change his mind, but instead he says, "I know it's early in our relationship, but I absolutely do want you to meet my family. My parents and my brothers. If it's too much too soon, say so. I won't be offended if you'd rather not."
For several seconds, I hold perfectly still and consider the question. Do I want to meet his family? He's met mine, but then, my only family is Kyle. Chance has parents and siblings. I assume they all met Raisa, multiple times.
"Does your family like Raisa?" I ask.
He makes a pained face. "They tolerated her. She's brash and sometimes curt, and she never appreciated my family's way. We're not stuffy. We're...outgoing."
Okay, so I won't be compared to Raisa and found lacking. But they might still dislike me for other reasons.
Chance touches my cheek. "If you're worried my family won't like you, relax. They won't be able to keep from falling under your spell."
"That's sweet, but you're sleeping with me. Of course you think I'm awesome."
His mouth twists into a frown, but it smooths out quickly. "That's not why I'm with you, Elena. You're more than a lover to me. I feel more comfortable with you than I ever did with Raisa, or with any other woman." He smiles, almost shyly. "Will you come with me next weekend?"
I think about it for a nanosecond. "Yes, I'd love to."
This time when he kisses me, it's hot enough to steam up the windows of every vehicle on the street and the ones on the shops alongside it. I don't even care that the cabbie sees us.
When we get to the building that houses Raisa Volkov & Associates, Chance sprints across the street and up to his hotel room to change clothes. I head for the office, so it won't be obvious we've been together. I'd rather wait for him, but we need to keep up appearances for two more weeks.
I'm going home with him. To England. To meet his family.
Holy shit.
Chapter Thirteen
Chance
Two weeks with Elena, enjoying her company and getting to know her better. What can I say? I've never had a better two weeks in my life, despite the nagging worry about how Raisa will react when we tell her about our relationship. I try not to dwell on that. I meant it when I told Elena I will sue Raisa for wrongful termination if she fires her. My ex-wife has lost the plot, at least in her personal life. At work, she's as brilliant and determined as ever, the qualities I used to love about her.
Elena has erased all of that. I adore her, like I never did Raisa. Elena is open and sweet, as brilliant as Raisa but without the fierce need to always win. Maybe I shouldn't compare the two women, but I can't help it. Elena has a light inside her I've never seen in any other human being, an inner glow nothing could ever extinguish.
Her legal summaries are perfect. She gathers research and collates it in a way that makes my job easier. She ought to be an attorney, not a paralegal, which I told her only a few days after we met. When I tell her again, ten days into our two weeks, she leans back against the puffy sofa in her apartment and sighs.
"You assume that's what I want," she says.
"Isn't it? You gave up on law school because your mother had passed away and you needed to care for your brother."
"That might have been the reason I didn't go back at the time, but things have changed." She tucks her legs under her, angling her body partway toward me where I sit beside her. "At first, getting paralegal certification was a detour, and I still planned to go to law school someday. But after a while, I realized I like being a paralegal. Lawyers have to go to court and argue with other lawyers and with judges. After watching that stuff for six months, I decided I'll stick to research, writing summaries, interviewing clients, and all the no-courtroom stuff that I love doing."
"You love research? I've never heard a paralegal or a lawyer say that."
She hunches her shoulders. "What can I say? I love it. Using my brain to ferret out the right information is a lot more fun than playing the lawyer game. And it is a game, right? Like chess and poker mushed together."
I laugh, enchanted by her way of describing the legal profession. "Mushed together? Well, I can't deny there's a lot of bluffing and even outright lying involved. That's why I quit my job in Chicago."
"Thought you took a sabbatical."
"Yes, but this morning I submitted my resignation. I've had enough of the underhanded bollocks."
She studies me for a moment, seeming to weigh whether to say something. Finally, she asks, "Are you staying at Raisa's firm permanently?"
"No. I've had enough of her underhanded bollocks too."
"What will you do?"
I run a hand through my hair, not sure how to answer. "That's yet to be decided."
Elena inches closer to me. "I heard a rumor you're stinking rich. Is that true?"
"Who told you that?"
"Office gossip. I haven't asked you about it because gossip is, well, gossip and it wasn't any of my business." She fingers the top button on my shirt. "Now it is."
"The gossip is partly true." I slip my arm around her, tugging her closer. "I'm not filthy rich, but I have enough money to live comfortably without needing to work for quite a while."
"Would it be rude to ask how you got to be wealthy? Was it a big settlement for a client?"
"You're not being rude at all. I've gotten a few sizable settlements for clients, and I have a mate who's a financial adviser. He helped me invest wisely." I glance around the small apartment with its inexpensive furniture, and I suddenly wonder if my financial situation makes her uncomfortable. "My family are what you might call upper middle class, but they're not stinking rich and definitely not uptight snobs."
"I'm looking forward to meeting your parents."
The way she changed the subject makes me think she might be uncomfortable after all. "Does it bother you that I have money?"
She gives me a sweet, if small, smile. "I have money too, just not the gobs and gobs of it you have. My bank account balance is eight hundred and fifty-two dollars and nineteen cents. Does that bother you?"
"No. But that's different."
"Because I'm not rich and you are. I'm supposed to be jealous or disgusted or something. Sorry to disappoint, but I'm none of those things."
"You honestly don't care?"
"About your money? No. I care what kind of person you are." She kisses me, and her eyes are millimeters from mine when she says, "You are a good man, Chance Dixon. That's what matters."
"You are an exceptional woman, Elena Linwood."
I know she's teasing me. Her tone of voice and the twinkle in her eyes tells me as much.
She tickles me under my chin. "You are pretty exceptional too."
How else can I respond to that? I fuck her on the sofa, since Kyle is out with his girlfriend, and marvel at what a lucky bastard I am.
Near the end of our two weeks, the morning of the day when we will leave on our holiday, I wake up with Elena's body half sprawled over me. The covers have slipped off her shoulders and one leg, exposing her creamy skin. I want to wake her with a kiss and make love to her slowly, but we both need to get to the office.
So I wake her with a kiss and stop there.
We've spent most of our nights for the past two weeks in her apartment. I like it here. It's comfortable and feels like a home. My hotel has all the posh amenities, but it lacks warmth. I'll sleep anywhere with Elena, even in a tent in the middle of the Arctic.
Elena and I say goodbye to Kyle, since we'll be heading for the airport directly after work. I've gotten to know Kyle a bit, and I like him. He has a wry sense of humor and clearly loves his sister. I appreciate loyalty. After being married to a woman who thought cheating was acceptable as long as she claimed to still love me, I'm grateful to have met two honest and forthright people like Elena and Kyle Linwood.
We arrive at the office to find Raisa isn't there. One of the other attorneys tells us she called in sick.
Raisa has never taken a sick day in her life.
Elena and I head into my office to discuss her latest research for one of my clients.
We've just sat down when she asks me, "What's going on with Raisa? That woman never takes a day off. I heard that when she had the flu, she wore a mask and came to work anyway. Do you think she's okay?"
"Ted Fan seems to think so. He's the one who talked to Raisa this morning."
"Should you check on her?"
"Raisa is not my responsibility anymore. Whatever's going on with her is not my concern." I realize that sounds insensitive, which isn't what I intended, so I add, "I only mean that it wouldn't be appropriate for me to check on her, considering that she believes I'll go back to her."
"I guess you're right." Elena chews on her lip for a moment, then grabs the phone off my desk. "I'll call her."
"Raisa has made your life hell. You're not obligated to check on her."
"Don't worry, I can handle it." She dials the number and gazes into space while she waits for Raisa to pick up. I can tell when she does, because Elena sits up straighter. "Hi, Raisa, it's Elena. I heard you're sick and wanted to see if there's anything I can do."
I can hear Raisa's sharp voice when she barks something at Elena. How sick can the woman be if she has the energy to be rude to her employee?
"Uh-huh," Elena says. "I'd love to help, but I have plans this evening that I can't cancel. Maybe Sadie can do that for you?"
More sharp words from Raisa. Her voice rattles the speaker.
Elena looks at me, biting her lip so hard it turns white. She shakes her head, hiking up her shoulders.
Like hell she's giving in to Raisa and giving up on our holiday. Maybe Raisa somehow found out about our trip and is pretending to be sick so she can command Elena to stay here. The idea sounds paranoid, but with Raisa you never can tell.
I snatch the phone away from Elena. "What urgent nonsense are you bullying Elena into doing for you? She's my paralegal. You gave her to me for the duration, until you find a replacement for Lucas Miller."
"Chance, darling, it's so good to hear your voice." She coughs, but it sounds fake. "I have a terrible cold, and I need Elena to do a favor for me. There's no need to get snippy about it. You'll have her all day, and after that, she'll help me. I know you're leaving for England straight after work, so this won't inconvenience you."
Oh, the clever, devious woman. She must have found out about me and Elena, somehow, and she's conniving to keep us from going away together.
I hope I'm being paranoid. Pray for it, actually.
Raisa shatters that hope when she says, "I'll be needing Elena's help all weekend. She's the best paralegal I have, you know. I lent her to you as a favor."
"This is bullshit, Raisa."
"Why do you care so much about a paralegal? You've never minded that I make them work evenings and weekends without paying them overtime."
Yes, I have minded. It may be common practice and legally acceptable to not pay paralegals overtime, but I've never agreed with that way of doing things. It's not the issue right now, though.
"Elena has a life," I say, "and you're abusing your position by forcing her to work overtime."
Raisa fakes a sneeze. "I need to take cold medicine and sleep. Tell Elena I'll see her this evening."
She hangs up on me.
I slam the phone into its cradle.
Elena sighs. "It's okay. I'll do what she wants. It's probably too soon for me to meet your parents, anyway. You go, and have fun."
"Fun?" I flop back in my chair so forcefully it slides across the floor. "I won't enjoy a holiday when I know you're wiping Raisa's nose all weekend."
"She's not really sick, you know. I won't need to wipe her nose."
"That's not the point. I won't go anywhere without you."
Elena smiles, but there's a touch of sadness to it. "That's sweet, but I want you to go. I know you've been looking forward to seeing your family, and they must be excited to see you too."
I spring up from my chair, and this time it sails backward to smack into the windowsill. "I am going to sort this Raisa nonsense right now."
"You can't." Elena waves a file folder at me. "We need to go over this research before your appointment with Arvid Klausen at eleven o'clock. After lunch, you're in court for two hearings. If there's time after that, we need to go over the depositions for the Cutler case."
Fuck. I forgot about all of that. The second I realized Raisa was interfering with my weekend with Elena, everything else fled my brain. I've never let work slide, for any reason.
"I'm not going anywhere," I say. "If you can't go, then I'm not going either."
"Weren't you listening a minute ago? I don't want you to give up visiting your family for me."
My parents are excited about my visit, but the thought of going without Elena, of leaving her here to be Raisa's slave... I feel a strange pressure in my chest when I think about it. She's right, though. I can't speak to Raisa today to sort this mess, and I don't want to let my family down either.
"All right," I say, feeling like a condemned man about to eat his final meal. "I'll go. But we will both confront Raisa Monday morning and tell her about us. It's time."
"I agree." Elena hands me the folder. "Now, let's get to work."
I manage to focus on work, but as the hours go by, that pressure gets heavier and heavier.
Chapter Fourteen
Elena
After a weekend of serving Raisa, like a Roman slave girl without the toga, I can't wait to see Chance again. Despite knowing Raisa has been faking her illness---she has a bottle of cold medicine on her living room table but never took the plastic seal off it---I still feel bad for her. Yeah, okay, I'm a sap. She cheated on her husband and ordered me to help her win him back, but she's also a human being. I get the feeling she honestly regrets ruining her marriage and losing Chance.
I also get the sneaking suspicion she knows I'm the one Chance is seeing.
Sunday evening, Raisa frees me from my servitude, at least until tomorrow.
Chance's flight arrives at eight o'clock, an hour from now, and I can't wait until tomorrow to see him. I run across the street to the hotel and sip a margarita at the bar while I wait. When I see him walk through the automatic doors, I jump up and run to him. Okay, I fling my entire body at him.
He catches me, chuckling, and says, "I'm happy to see y
ou too."
"God, I missed you so much."
I kiss him like we haven't seen each other in months, not caring one bit who sees us making out in the lobby. Chance keeps one arm around me while we get in the elevator and head up to the nineteenth floor. He kisses me even more passionately in the elevator, since there's no one around, and I wish he'd take me like he did that first night. He doesn't---at least, not until we get inside his room.
We've barely spoken to each other, but I'm so happy to be with him again that I don't care. Who needs words? Our bodies say everything that matters.
After sex, we lie naked on the bed with no covers over us, entangled in each other's arms.
"How was your trip?" I ask.
"It was good to see my family." He nuzzles my hair. "But I missed you."
"Raisa kept me busy all weekend." I lift my head off his chest to look at him. "I think she knows about us."
"I think so too."
"That means tomorrow is doomsday."
He cups my chin, his blue eyes intent on mine. "Everything will be fine, you'll see."
"You're awfully confident about that. Did you talk to Raisa already?"
"No." He rolls over so I'm under him. "Let's not talk about my ex-wife anymore. There will be plenty of time for that tomorrow. Tonight, I want to make up for lost time, two days' worth of not shagging you."
We make up for lots of missed shagging, and I fall asleep in his arms.
The banging of a fist on the door wakes us both at six a.m.
Chance yanks on a pair of pants, the ones he ditched last night when we both rushed to get naked, and jogs out of the bedroom to answer the door.
I get dressed in a hurry and find Chance in the living room, an envelope crushed in his fist and a paper in his hand. He glances up from reading the paper.
"She's off her rocker," he says. "The bloody woman has completely lost her mind."
"What's happened?"
He looks at the paper again and shakes his head. "The law firm of Raisa Volkov & Associates is no longer paying for my suite, and I'm to vacate the premises immediately. You and I are both to report to Raisa's office at eight o'clock."
