Tempting the Artist

by Sharon C. Cooper

  Chapter Two

  Three Months Later

  Luke Hayden rocked in the high-back office chair and tapped his pen against the top of the mahogany desk. Three months and two weeks to the day, he had landed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and immediately started a new life at the law offices of Atwater, Rouse & Stevenson. To say they operated differently than the law firm he’d left in New York would be an understatement.

  He pushed away from the desk and walked across the office to the coffee pot. “I definitely got what I asked for,” he mumbled to himself. A slower, calmer environment, which didn’t include eighty-hour work weeks was different. Yet, the jury was still out on whether or not the move had been a good one. Initially, he couldn’t wait to get to Cincinnati and start anew. Not only because it was past time for him to leave New York, but also because he thought he and Christina had the start of something good.

  She had called him three times since he’d arrived in Cincinnati and three times he let those calls go to voicemail. She might have been right that they needed to talk, but despite missing her like crazy, he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t allow her any more space in his head, or in his heart. The problem was, there wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t think about Christina. Maybe he should have been more understanding of her change of plans back then, anything to keep what he thought they were building together. But he had been jerked around enough in court by opposing counsels. No way was he going to let a woman make a fool of him or play with his heart.

  He poured a cup of coffee and raised the mug to his lips, but stopped midway when someone knocked on his office door. Before he could answer, the door swung open.

  Gary Rouse stepped into Luke’s office as if he had been invited. “When do you want to meet on the Goss case?” He held up a thick folder and dropped down onto the upholstered chair in front of Luke’s desk, crossing one ankle over his knee.

  Repulsion simmered in Luke’s gut at the sight of Rouse, and he gripped his coffee mug tighter. Slimeball. Stupid Jerk. Asshole. All names that Luke used to refer to his archenemy. Up for a partnership, Gary’s claws came out the moment Luke took up space in one of the corner offices. Anthony Rouse, a senior partner who happened to be Gary’s father, had informed Luke that the office setup was temporary, until they made some internal changes. Apparently the changes hadn’t been made. Luke still had the office. But from day one, Gary saw the setup as Luke moving in on his territory. Little did Gary know, Luke wasn’t interested in a partnership.

  Been there, done that.

  Luke walked back to his desk and set the coffee mug down, still not responding. He didn’t like Gary. A slick talker to the nth degree and a royal pain in Luke’s ass, it was taking Herculean strength not to tell his fellow attorney what he could do with his cases. But Luke also knew oh too well that anxious feeling an attorney gets when he or she is up for partner. The desire to be the best and win every case to snag the partnership. He remembered the feeling prior to becoming a senior partner. But it wasn’t until those last months in New York that he felt the weight of the responsibility. That last case made him realize the man he had become. A man he didn’t like.

  “You can check with Robin in the morning and find out when I have an opening this week.” Luke reclaimed his seat. He could easily check his schedule to determine a good time to meet, but why should he? Gary was the one who needed his assistance, not the other way around. From day one, the guy treated Luke as if he were a paralegal or some first-year law student. They both knew that Luke had enough past experiences and successes to replace any one of the senior partners at Atwater, Rouse & Stevenson.

  “I just want to know. Who goes from being a high profile New York City defense attorney to a construction litigator in Cincinnati, Ohio?”

  Damn. Not this shit again. Luke gripped the edge of his desk. A scathing retort teetered on the tip of his tongue. If he had to have this conversation with Gary one more time, he was going to be the one needing a defense attorney. He wanted more than anything to tell the pompous jerk where he could go, but there was no sense in making the growing tension between them any worse.

  “Is there something else you need Attorney Rouse?” Luke leaned back in his office chair and stared the man down. The guy was a punk. It was no wonder he’d been there for seven years and still hadn’t made partner. “Because if there isn’t, you can show yourself out of my office.”

  Gary glanced back at the closed door before he leaned forward in his seat. “Yeah, there is something else. I need you to pack your shit and find somewhere else to practice law. We don’t need you coming in here trying to make the rest of us look bad just because you’ve practice at a big-time firm in New York.”

  Luke studied the man who was around his same age, thirty-five, yet there were days when his nemesis acted as if he was still in high school. Short with an athletic build, Gary flirted with all of the secretaries, came to work late, and most days left before everyone else. It didn’t help that his father coddled him. Despite all of that though, Gary was old enough and should have been wise enough to know when it was a bad idea to step to another grown-ass man with some bullshit.

  Luke stood slowly, his pulse pounding in his ear. He had never been very good at holding his temper when dealing with an adversary, but years of defending some of the country’s most dangerous people had taught him how to tread lightly.

  Gary also stood. His height inferior to Luke’s. Wariness swam in his eyes, and he jerked back when Luke placed his palms faced down on top of his desk.

  “Don’t let this suit fool you, asshole.” Luke’s voice was low and lethal, reminiscent to a stealth bomb designed to seek and destroy. “I have worked my butt off for the last ten years keeping my clients out of jail – some not guilty, but most guilty of the crimes which they had been accused. Don’t think I don’t know how to get away with murder.” He let his words sink in as he stared Gary down. “Now get the hell out of my office.”

  The scowl on the man’s face let Luke know that this wasn’t the last confrontation they’d have.

  The moment the door closed behind Gary, Luke’s cell phone rang. Wound tighter than a perp being hauled off to jail, he debated on whether or not to let the call go to voicemail before finally answering.

  “Hello.”

  “Dang man, they working you too hard or something? You sound like you’re about ready to kick some tail.”

  Luke rubbed his forehead and chuckled. A moment ago, he almost lost his mind and did just that, not caring that he would have been out on his ass and looking for a lawyer to defend him.

  “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Zachary Anderson, my long lost friend.”

  Zack laughed. “You act as if we haven’t talked in years. It’s been what, a few weeks?” Luke smiled at hearing his best friend’s voice. There was one advantage to moving to Cincinnati; he got a chance to hang out with a few of his longtime friends.

  “More like a month. So I take it you’re back in the city.”

  “Yes sir, and I’m calling to see if you want to hook up for a drink after work?”

  “What, you have a job now?” Luke joked. Zack, a former NFL star running back for the Cincinnati Cougars, had retired months earlier.

  “Oh, so you have jokes. I’ll have you know that I have a full-time job, and that’s catering to my beautiful wife’s every desire.”

  Luke shook his head. “Man, I can’t believe how Jada has you wrapped around her perfectly manicured finger. It saddens me to watch how the mighty have fallen.” They laughed, but Luke’s chest tightened at the mention of Jada. Hearing her name always made him think of Christina, Jada’s cousin.

  “Don’t hate man. This is going to be you one day.”

  “I don’t know about all of that, but on a serious note, I’m happy for you.”

  They caught up for a few minutes before agreeing to meet at a nearby bar later that evening. Luke needed some fun. Other than showing up at the office each day, he hadn’t been out and about the
way he would’ve been in New York. Granted Cincinnati didn’t offer the number of activities and restaurants as New York, but it was home. His new home.

  An hour later, Luke strolled into the bar and glanced around the semi-crowded space searching for Zack. He spotted him at the bar signing an autograph. The pimple-faced fan was grinning so hard; one would think Zack was the President of the United States.

  Some things never changed, retired or not.

  Since Zack’s first year in the National Football League, it had been the same scene. He drew fans the way bees swarmed to honey and never let the fame go to his head. The guy was the real deal. The nicest person one could ever meet and generous to a fault.

  “I see you’re still the superstar,” Luke said when the fan walked away. “Are you sure you have time to hang out with us little people?”

  Zack glanced up and grinned. “Yeah right, like you’re one of the little people. I’m sure you’re still fielding offers from the top New York firms, trying to entice you back to the east coast.” He stood and grabbed hold of Luke’s outstretched hand, pulling him in for a one-arm hug. “Long time no see, man.” They pounded each other on the back.” Zack reclaimed his seat at the bar, and Luke sat next to him. “Glad you were able to make it. So, whatcha drinkin’?”

  “Scotch.”

  “That kind of day, huh?” Zack gave the bartender the order and ordered himself another beer.

  “Yeah, something like that.” Actually, his day was fine until Gary walked into his office. Luke was still kicking himself for the way he handled the situation. He said what needed to be said to Gary, but Luke knew he could have come up with a more diplomatic way of telling the jerk to go and screw himself.

  “So what’s been going on?” Luke asked just as the bartender set his drink in front of him.

  “Not too much. Last week Jada and I were in California hanging out for a few days and then we flew to Connecticut where I met with ESPN. We’ve been talking back and forth about me guest hosting some of the shows during this coming football season.”

  “Ah, man, that’s cool. Who knows, maybe the opportunity will turn into something permanent.”

  Zack took a swig of his Bud Light. “Nah, I’m not looking for a full-time job or anything permanent. It’ll be cool to guest host a few times, but that’ll be enough.”

  Luke looked at his friend’s profile. “Considering how happy you appear, I assume marriage is agreeing with you.” Zack’s deep tan and the blond streaks highlighting his hair was a sure sign that he had gotten a lot of sun while out in California. Luke thought back to when they were in college and how the going joke was that Zack wasn’t really white, but a black man with light skin. He grew up around African Americans in a rough area of Columbus, Ohio and at times even sounded like them. Zack was one of the people Luke had befriended during undergrad, and they’d been best of friends ever since. “You’re looking good man. Retirement agrees with you. And the beard. You have the whole retirement-look thing going on.”

  Zack chuckled and rubbed the short hairs on his chin. “Life is good man. Marriage is great. Jada is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

  “Well, that’s saying a lot considering you’re a former NFL star running back, a multi-millionaire, and you have more endorsement deals than most football retirees. Who knew it could get any better than that?”

  “I know, right? I’m blessed, man. Playing in the league for so many years doing something I absolutely loved was more than I could ask for, but then I met Jada.” He shook his head and smiled as if thinking about a specific moment. “Our marriage has exceeded my expectations.”

  A pang of longing lodged in Luke’s chest as he listened to Zack talk about how great marriage was. He had never even entertained the thought of spending the rest of his life in a committed relationship until Christina had come along. With that ended, he had no intention of ever allowing a woman to get that close to his heart again.

  “It seems as if I’ve known Jada forever. I knew the type of woman I wanted, but she’s so much more.”

  “I guess when it’s right, its right.” Luke was glad someone was happy in their relationship. He knew of very few people who could say the same.

  “But enough about me. What’s going on with you? How’s the new firm?”

  Luke filled him in on the slower pace and the lighter workload. Speaking about his new job aloud, Luke had to admit that he definitely got what he had hoped for as it related to shorter work weeks and less stress. What he hadn’t counted on was the lack of challenge that came with joining the new firm. He had no doubt that if he had gone in for a health screening months ago, his blood pressure would have been in the danger zone. Whereas lately, his cases didn’t get a rise out of him. He also told Zack about his dealings with Gary.

  Zack shook his head and laughed. “You’re probably the only person I know who is brave enough to threaten another attorney and in a law office.”

  “Yeah, I lost my head for a moment there. Every time the guy steps into my office and opens his mouth, I want to shove my fist into it. I guess this afternoon could’ve been worse. I could’ve punched him and then threatened him.”

  “Yeah, do that and you’ll be the one needing an attorney. Knowing the hooligan you were back in college, it’s almost comical that you’re a lawyer.”

  Luke had to smile. Looking back at some of their run-ins after a night of partying, he was glad they lived to tell about them. It had taken him a while to settle down even after becoming a lawyer. Passionate about defending his clients, he recalled a number of arguments with other attorneys. Cursing them out when they talked crap or withheld information.

  “I guess I should put some bail money aside for you, just in case.” They both laughed.

  “Trust me. I’m not trying to end up in court, or going before the ABA because I kicked a fellow lawyer’s ass.”

  Zack looked at Luke sideways. Luke knew his friend wanted to say more, so he waited. He really wasn’t in the mood to talk, especially about himself, but they hadn’t had a lengthy conversation in months.

  “What about that other situation?” Zack finally asked. “I trust none of that drama followed you here.”

  Now this was a subject he didn’t want to discuss. Outside of his colleagues at the New York law firm, Zack was the only person who knew about the troubles with Luke’s last case and how the incident could have cost Luke his life.

  Luke threw back the last of his Scotch and signaled the bartender over. “Nah. Everything’s cool.” Zack didn’t want anything else, and though Luke didn’t want another Scotch, he knew he’d need at least a beer or two. “I’ll stay put in Cincinnati for a few years until I decide my next step.”

  “Speaking of next step, you never gave me details about what happened between you and CJ. You guys were going pretty hot and heavy. What went wrong?”

  Luke shook his head. “Things fell apart so fast, I barely know what happened.” Luke told Zack about his last night in New York. Talking about the breakup made him relive the disappointment, anger, and frustration of that night. He thought for sure Christina would have been a distant memory by now.

  “I asked her if she was seeing someone else and she said no. But what else could it have been?”

  Zack shook his head. “I don’t know what that was all about, but I know CJ. She’s not the two-timing type. I also know that when you find someone special, you don’t give up without a fight. If she’s the one or even if you think she’s the one, don’t let her go.”

  “She’s already gone,” Luke said dryly. “I’m done. It’s over. I’ve moved on, and I’m sure she has too.”

  Zack swiveled on the bar stool, to face Luke. “I don’t know this for sure, but I don’t think she’s gone, as you say. I think she’s doing what you’re doing, trying to move on, but not because she wants to.”

  Luke sat up straight, giving Zack his full attention. “So exactly what do you know? Not that I’m trying to get back with her.”


  Zack grinned. “Yeah, sure. All I’m going to say is that you owe it to the both of you to at least know the facts. All of the facts before you totally walk away.”

  Shaking his head, Luke turned back to face the bar. “I don’t know if I can handle seeing her again.” He knew he sounded like a punk. But when he woke up that next morning in New York, after their argument, to find Christina gone, he knew she had taken a part of his heart with her.

  “Are you sure you’ve moved on? Have you been out with anyone since relocating here?”

  He hadn’t gone out with anyone, but it wasn’t for lack of offers. The women in Cincinnati were just as bold as the ones in New York. He’d turned down a number of invites for a drink or dinner.

  “I’ll take your silence and that far-away look in your eye as a ‘no’ to both questions.”

  “Christina and I are history,” he reiterated. He wasn’t sure if the words were spoken for Zack’s benefit or his.

  Zack took a swig from the beer he’d been nursing. “As far as I know, CJ isn’t seeing anyone. As a matter of fact, she’s probably still trying to get settled.”

  “What do you mean settled?”

  “I sold her my loft.”

  Luke narrowed his eyes. “The one a few blocks from here?”

  Zack nodded.

  “How the hell could she afford something like that on her salary? She still working for her family’s construction company?”

  Zack nodded again. “Yeah, she’s still there. I guess she’s a good saver. Because though I gave her a serious deal, I was a little surprised that she was able to swing the price.”

  Luke dissected that bit of information. Christina didn’t splurge on clothes, handbags and any of the other things women loved spending money on. Yet, earning forty or forty-five thousand a year as a house painter wouldn’t get her into a million dollar loft.

  “So if you had another chance with her, would you take it?” Zack interrupted Luke’s thoughts. “’Cause I know you still care about her.”