It’s not that I was opposed to them meeting, but Katherine was so adamant about not coming today that I didn’t want to force her into a situation she was uncomfortable with.
“Bring her to your sister’s show Saturday night.”
My sister, Reagan, worked for a public relations company that my father owned. One of her biggest clients was a famous designer with shows worldwide—New York, Paris, London, and Milan. This was my sister’s prize case. She had worked night and day to assure her clients that the show would be a hit for all the press to see.
“Mom—”
“Don’t.” She raised her hand to stop me. “Tell me you’ll mention it to her.”
I knew if I didn’t give her hope that she would eventually meet Katherine, she wouldn’t ever drop the subject. “We’ll see.”
The waiter placed our food on the table, and my mother got her request in one final time before she began her lunch. “Please try to bring her Saturday night. I’d love to meet her. Reagan said you were smitten.”
Of course, my little sister would say that.
After lunch with my mother, I made my way to an old friend’s office. “Cole Rhodes,” Jackson Wright said as I stepped into his office. Jackson and I had gone to college together, and I knew he had friends in all the right places.
“Any news for me?” I said and sat across his walnut table. When Katherine notified me that Gary had reached out to her, I made sure to ask around to see if his name had been brought up.
“Drink?” he asked, pointing to the bark.
“Single malt neat.”
Jackson poured us both a drink and slid mine across the table. “You want the good news or the bad?”
I took a sip and let the smooth amber liquid warm my throat. “Bad.”
“The asshole has a trial date set. He’s looking at jail time for molesting a little girl a few years ago,” Jackson said in one breath.
“Is he in jail awaiting trial?”
“No.” Jackson shook his head slowly. “He posted bail.”
That was my fear. He was out and could hurt Katherine. “Is that it?”
“Nah.” Jackson shook his head again. “I’m waiting on confirmation, but I believe that Katherine will be asked to testify.”
“Fuck.” I shot the rest of the scotch down my throat. “She’s not ready to face him.”
“Don’t say anything yet. She’s on the victim list apparently one of the other victims said he confessed to her about Katherine.”
“Shit.”
“Once I know more, I’ll give you a call.”
I stood and thanked Jackson for his help.
The elevator door opened, and I found Katherine sitting on the couch in the living room next to the foyer.
“Hi,” she beamed up at me, her hair tossed up in a bun with a pen holding it together. “How was lunch with your mom?” She scribbled on the paper in front of her.
“Pleasant. It would’ve been better if you were there.” I sat on the couch next to her. “What are you working on?”
“Lila wants to go dress shopping, and I need to start planning her bachelorette party.” She pulled a folded piece of paper from her purse. “Lila was thinking South Beach, but I think I can convince her to go to Napa.”
“Napa? Isn’t that a bit too intimate for that type of party?”
“No, Lila wants something low key.”
“Katherine, there is nothing low key about South Beach.”
“Spa, beach, and lounging around is low key.” She sat up and kissed my cheek. “Are you the jealous type?”
“No.” I kissed her back. “Of course I want you to go and have a great time.” I brushed her tendrils away from her face. “Did Thomas drop you off?”
“No, I walked.” She went back to writing down bridal boutiques in the area.
“Why not?” I couldn’t help the angry tone that spewed out of my mouth. “He’s supposed to drive you everywhere.”
“I wanted to walk.”
“Kat—”
“What? It was quicker to walk than sit in traffic.”
I inhaled her scent and tried to calm my fear. “In the future, can you just let Thomas drive you?”
“What are you not telling me?” She looked into my eyes.
I couldn’t tell her. I couldn’t break it to her that her past was about to come crashing into her again. “It reassures me that you’re safe.”
“I’m fine.” She smiled. “But if that makes you feel better, I’ll let him drive me around.”
I leaned forward, closing the file on the coffee table. “Promise me that when you do pick a place for the bachelorette party, you won’t go all ‘girls gone wild’?” I reached behind her, pulling her tiny body to my chest.
“Promise.” She brought her lips to mine.
“And that you won’t do anything crazy.”
“I promise.”
We both kicked our feet up. She tossed the remote onto my chest and curled closer into me. It was these rare moments that I wasn’t accustomed to—these moments that surprised me. I wanted her not just for her body but her heart. I wanted the curling up on the couch, the cooking dinner for one another, and even the arguing that came with relationships. I wanted all of it.
All of her.
All the time.
By Thursday morning, Katherine and I had fallen into a routine. She had spent every night with me since Saturday. We got ready for work together, waking up earlier than usual so I could have her in the shower. I wasn’t used to having someone around, but anytime she spoke about going back home I found a way to pull her into my bed and change her mind. At work, we went our separate ways, but we ordered dinner, curled up under a blanket on the couch, and spoke for hours. I was finally getting to know the real Katherine, and I loved her more than I thought would be possible.
Thursday, though, there was a change in our routine. I was due in court first thing in the morning. She was dressed and ready, waiting for me in the kitchen with my briefcase and a cup of coffee by the time I was done dressing.
“You clean up nice when you have to go to court.”
Her deep-green eyes captivated me and made me weak. I could never get enough of her. I had spent the last half hour having her, and still, I wanted more. I strolled over to her, grasping her chin. My lips covered hers, my minty breath mixing with her coffee-flavored one. Her mouth opened up for me, her lips submitting to mine. I pinned her against the countertop, sliding my tongue against hers.
When I pulled away, she was breathless—panting. I knew her body, knew she was ready for me. My eyes locked onto the microwave clock before I gazed down at her. “I can’t miss this case, but you make it so fucking hard.”
Her fingertips grazed over my erection, a devious smile appeared on her face. “I like making it hard.”
“You’re going to be late.”
“It’s not me that has to go to court. I’m returning the favor,” she whispered, her tiny fingers gripping my girth.
“Fuck,” I growled. Tugging on the hair at the nape of her neck, I brought my lips to hers. “Tease.” I smiled against her lips.
“I don’t tease, Cole.” She released her hand from my cock and pushed on my chest. I stumbled back a step, and she dropped to her knees in front of me.
Fucking priceless.
“Just so you know—” I ran my tongue along my lips. “—I plan on making up for this.”
“I’m counting on it.” She winked.
Court had gone even better than I had expected. It wasn’t a case I was passionate about, so when the judge broke for recess, it was the highlight of the trial. The defendant was found guilty of murdering his brother-in-law for skimming drug money they had decided to split. I had suggested he plead out and give the prosecutor any information he had on the drug lords who were moving dope through Washington Heights. He was stubborn and stated that they had no proof he did it.
He was wrong.
The jury had stepped away to decide a ve
rdict as we broke for recess. My associates and I were waiting in a corridor of the courthouse when I heard my name being called from behind.
“Rhodes! Still working for the murderers, huh?” Howard broke away from a group deep in conversation and shifted his briefcase to his left hand as he approached.
“Howard.” I extended my hand to shake. “It’s been awhile.” I had stepped back when Katherine quit out of the blue, giving my associates more responsibility for the firm, only working on the paperwork end of it and when I was needed in court.
“A long while, I’d say.”
“How’s the firm? And school? Teaching going well? Any new candidates I should consider for my office next year?”
“You have my best student.”
His statement caught me off guard.
“Katherine Wolf—I hear she’s working with you now.”
I laid my hand on his shoulder and led him towards a quiet corner where nobody could overhear us. “It’s, uh … she isn’t working … Katherine and I are seeing…”
“Since when can’t you get your words out?”
I chuckled. “Katherine and I—”
Howard raised his hand to interrupt me. “Honestly, it’s none of my business. I just hope you’re not holding her back for your own personal gain.”
I felt a quick flash of uncertainty course through my body. “How so?”
“Her passion has always been to take down the criminals. When she interviewed for my internship, her hope was to work for the District Attorney.” His long index finger jabbed me in the chest. “You’re a defense attorney, and your careers are on different paths. You go to work and find ways to keep the assholes out of prison. She wants to make sure that bastard pays for what he did. All I’m saying is make sure working with you is what she really wants.”
He glanced behind him to check the colleagues he’d left behind and gestured that he’d be another moment. “She is one of the brightest students I’ve had in the past twenty years of teaching. She could go extremely far in her career.” He tapped my shoulder, saying goodbye before he moved past me to rejoin his associates.
Howard had a way with words. He was right. I couldn’t agree with him more, but I couldn’t bear to let her go. My desire and demand to keep her close to me overpowered whatever she wanted.
Once I was done with court, I headed back to the office. Any other day I would have gone straight home and finished my work there, but Katherine was in the office, and she generally wouldn’t leave until everyone else was out the door. She had become an asset to all the employees. The snacks she brought in on Fridays and her eagerness to help in any way possible helped her win everyone’s support. Though most days she would lock herself away in her office, studying for her class load, she never stayed isolated from the others for long. Even Melissa—who had always been stoic and professional around Katherine—was talkative and funny. It seemed that everyone was different now.
Including me.
I closed the town car door and crossed the sidewalk towards the revolving door. “Cole!” I heard a familiar voice shout my name. Devon walked towards me, wrapping her arms around me and kissing my cheek. “Are you busy?”
If my mind hadn’t been focused on seeing Katherine again, I might have seen Devon sooner and stayed in the car long enough to avoid her. “I just finished with court. What are you doing here?”
“I’m here this weekend for Raegan’s fashion show. Can I steal you away to grab some coffee? I haven’t talked to you in so long, and we won’t really have time to chat on Saturday.”
“Actually, Dev, I have work to catch up on. Why don’t you come up?” I figured if Katherine saw our interaction there would be no need for speculation. I didn’t want her to come down for lunch and see me talking to Devon outside.
She didn’t hesitate, leading the way through the revolving doors. Devon and I made our way through the lobby and up the elevator. She explained how her parents had been and how work was going. Melissa eyed us as we passed her desk, but I focused on Katherine. Her head was down, and she appeared to be engrossed in the book she was reading.
“She works here?” Devon questioned, stopping at my office door. Her snarky tone did not go unnoticed.
“Don’t start, Devon.”
She threw her head back and laughed, placing her hand on my shoulder. Katherine’s head snapped up from her studies, and she regarded Devon, who was walking into my office. Katherine’s gaze moved to lock on mine for a few seconds before she looked back at the textbook on her desk.
She seemed pissed.
I walked around to sit behind my desk, and Devon took the chair in front of me. “What do you want to talk about, Devon?” I folded my hands on the desktop.
“Don’t worry, Cole baby, your girlfriend can see us, so I’ll be on my best behavior. But I’m staying at the Plaza if you want to swing by later. I’ll make sure to leave you a key.” She glanced towards Katherine’s office and then back at me, her arms pressing her chest together. “I know how boring sex can be with someone who is so young and immature. You wouldn’t be robbing my cradle.”
“You know, sometimes you’re a real bitch.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “We went through this last time. I’m not interested.”
“I know, but a leopard doesn’t change its spots.” Devon smiled. She leaned across the table and gripped my hand. “I love you, Cole. You know that. I’ve loved you since I was a little girl, but I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize our friendship. Unless you asked.” She winked at me. “And you know I’m very good at keeping secrets.”
She released my hand and went back to talking about her job, her booked weekend with my sister, and how she missed living in Manhattan. Devon talked while I sat there, counting the minutes until I could go speak with Katherine again.
28
Katherine
Devon walked out of Cole’s office and headed towards the elevator. Even her walk was freaking perfect.
God, I hated that woman.
I knew from the headache forming inside my forehead that my eyebrows were scrunched together. My hands locked in fists thinking about her laughing with him, touching his shoulder, reaching across the table to grab his hand. How she threw her head back so her hair could bounce, exposing her perfect tits—bitch!
She had walked out of the elevator with him, and though her arms weren’t locked around his, they had walked in close proximity. The second I spotted them I began to see red. I had no reason to hate her—not really. Okay, that was a lie. I had every reason to hate the bitch. She was Cole’s ex who still wanted him, and she made me livid.
Cole left his office and headed towards mine. Taking some deep, calming breaths, I tried to look busy reading the sample questions in front of me. Question 16: A man borrowed money from the bank. I read the same sentence seven times. Seven!
Cole entered my office and sat on the edge of my desk. When I didn’t look up or acknowledge his presence, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Katherine…”
“Nothing,” I repeated sternly.
“You’re lying to me.”
My arms instantly crossing over my chest as a defense mechanism. “What does it matter?”
“Does this have to do with Devon?”
“Whatever, Cole. I’m busy.” I averted my attention back to my questions. Question 16. A man borrowed money from a bank.
His fingertips pushed loose tendrils of hair behind my ear. “Tell me what I did to make you so flustered.”
My knee shook underneath my desk. I wasn’t flustered. I was pissed. That morning we were tangled up in his bed, panting as we both came, and hours later he was flirting with the wench. “I’m not flustered. I’m pissed. You were flirting.” I tried to hold my anger in, but it was pointless.
“Flirting?” He chuckled. He pulled me from the chair and into his arms, his hands locked around my lower back. “I like that you’re jealous.”
“I’m not
jealous.” I slammed my hand against his chest. He continued to laugh at my outrage. “It’s not funny.”
“I thought I was doing the right thing, bringing her up here. She walked into the building the same time I did, wanting to grab coffee and catch up. I told her I was busy, but we could talk in my office. You know, where you could see.”
“Did you fuck her?” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. The pain I felt in my chest was consuming me. I needed to know if they were together when I was….
“Katherine–”
When he couldn’t give me a straight answer, my heart began to palpitate. “Did you fuck her when we weren’t together?”
“No. I haven’t been with Devon since college.”
I pushed away from his grip. If it wasn’t Devon, who was it? “Sammie?” My mind raced to name any other female I could connect him with. Hell, if I Googled his name I was more than positive I could link him to a hundred different images.
“We shouldn’t be discussing this.”
The fact that he chose not to tell me only made want to know more. Why was it a big secret? Why couldn’t he tell me who he was with? “I want to know. Who did you fuck?”
“Were you with other men?”
“That’s not the point!” I turned to walk away from him.
“Then what is? You want to have this argument here? Right now?” He closed the gap between us, rage coursing through my body. “I stopped you from fucking two different people at the same time while you were high! I don’t even want to know what else you did,” he hissed through gritted teeth.
“Who did you fuck?” I asked again, my hands firmly placed at my waist.
His hands ran through his hair. Exhaling, he looked away from me. “No one!” His voice grew loud. “I waited for you.”
“Bullshit,” I spat in disbelief.
“You’re the only one I want to be with. Why do you make it so hard for me to love you? Dammit, Katherine, let me love you!” His voice grew loud and from the corner of my eyes I could see the other associates who stopped to watch our quarrel.
Redemption (Savior Seires Book 2) Page 17
