by Taylor Hart
Exasperated, he glared back at her. “Not the way I would have said it.”
Giving him an irritated eye roll, she flashed him a grin. “Well, you’re not my king.” She threw the door shut.
Completely stunned, he realized he hadn’t been treated like this in a long time. This was incredible. Did she know how many people wanted one-on-one time with him every day? Did she know people actually paid for one-on-one time with him?
Hearing a garage door open, he saw her Camry pulling out. He realized she must be going to yoga.
Sneaking up on the car, he went to the passenger side and yanked open the door as she started forward.
Shocked, she hit the brakes. “What are you doing?”
Slipping in, he slammed the door shut. “Getting you to talk to me. Jumping in the car is a tactic one of my stalkers used on me once.”
Frowning, she pinched her lips and took off. “Oh, right, because you’re a big star and everyone loves you.”
She sped at a more-than-comfortable speed for Montana. “How fast are you going? This is a residential area.”
Locking the gear into position, she grinned. “You can always jump out if you want.”
He flashed back to a memory of them when they were sixteen in Jason’s truck and he was teaching her how to drive a stick shift. Unwillingly, he laughed, and their eyes met.
Then she frowned. “No, I’m not thinking about that stupid old truck of Jason’s.”
He couldn’t stop the smile that lit up his face.
She scowled at him. “What do you want, Montana?”
Holding on for dear life, he tried to focus on the task at hand. “The note Jason left.”
Her face went completely blank.
“Do you know what the note said?”
At a stop sign, Lily took a hard right. “Nope.” She put the car into gear and kicked up the speed, heading onto the interstate.
“You have no idea?”
“I knew there was a key. I didn’t even think about a note.”
Montana didn’t have time for this. “It said you were mad at me and I should come to you.”
She kept her eyes focused on the road and let out a breath. “Well, guess you wasted your time, because I don’t care a fig about you.” Her phone chimed in the cup holder, and she ignored it.
Montana kept his eyes on her.
She flung a look at him. “Why are you here?”
He gave in. “I know you lived in Denver for a year, then came back here for school. But I’m confused, because the picture the investigator brought back showed Jason was with you. Did you live together in Denver, then break up?”
Her phone chimed again.
He saw surprise on her face. She bit down on her lip and looked away, letting out a rippling laugh. “He never lived with me. If he was there, he must have been visiting. Because he was my friend. The kind of friend that visits and calls and checks in with you.”
The dig smarted more than Montana thought it should.
“What else did your investigator tell you?” Her voice was icy.
A third time, her phone chimed.
“Lil.” This wasn’t going the way he wanted it to go. He needed answers.
“Don’t call me that.”
This was unbelievable. “Why?”
She took an exit and got off the freeway. “I’m not Lil. I’m L.R. Gold, attorney–at-law.”
He couldn’t help laughing a bit at the hoity-toity way she’d said it. “You think I’m full of myself.”
Pulling into a parking lot next to a building with a neon yoga sign, she jerked into the spot. She spun on him after yanking her keys out of the ignition. “Yeah, I am full of myself. You know why? Because I did a bachelor’s degree in three and half years, worked my butt off waitressing, all while working part-time at the firm. Then, I took out loans and worked while going through three years of law school. So yeah, I can be full of myself. All of this while dealing with my dad’s death, my mom’s Alzheimer’s, and going back to check in on Jason.” She pushed him hard in the shoulder. “You left. You left us all. You didn’t ask me what happened when you caught me kissing him. Not once.” Tears burned into her eyes. She nodded, then swiped at her eyes and reached in the back for her yoga mat. “So, Mr. King of Country, stay out of my life.”
All her emotion hit him like a ton of bricks. For a second, he didn’t know what to say. “And your secret?”
“What?” Shoving the door open, she got out and then waited, bending down.
“Jason said you should tell me your secret.”
If smoke could have come out of her ears at this moment, it would have. She shook her head. “I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
“Obviously it’s not a touchy subject,” he scoffed.
Narrowing her eyes, her face went to a smooth calm. It was probably the attorney face she used in court, he surmised. “If you want to talk to someone, get back to Cindy and Frank and pay your respects. You should be ashamed for leaving them. They loved you like a son.”
“I wasn’t their son!” Montana snapped.
Her phone chimed again.
He yanked it out of the cup holder and glanced at the screen. “Your boyfriend’s persistent, isn’t he?”
She ripped the phone out of his hand, and her eyes widened. “How …” she sputtered.
“Your assistant is chatty. She told me all about you and Brad. About how she thinks you need to take more time off and how devoted you are to your work.”
She looked even more upset.
For some reason, he had to tell her before she stomped off and he never had the chance. “I think what you do is cool, Lil. I’m proud of you.”
Pointing a finger in his face, she scowled. “How dare you think I want or need your approval?” She let out an angry sigh. “This conversation is over. I expect you’ll be able to catch a ride back to wherever you’ve been the last eight years.”
Montana watched her stalk away from the car and wished he’d been given a choice between a switch or a good talking-to, because he would have chosen a switch. It would have hurt less. He watched her walk into the studio. Through the front window, he saw her put her mat down and roll it out.
For a brief moment, she looked out the window and directly into his eyes.
That was her mistake.
If she hadn’t looked at him—if he hadn’t felt the palpable chemistry that had always been between them—he might have been able to leave her alone.
The interaction was a double-edged sword, as painful as cutting open a scar and as happy as a dream come true.
Lily Ray Gold had opened the door between them. For better or worse, he’d just walked right through it.
6
The next morning Lily got up, ran on her treadmill for half an hour, and turned on the news. Brad hadn’t come over last night, texting her and letting her know he had to work late on a case. She wanted to tell him he didn’t need to let her know he wasn’t stopping over. They weren’t at that point in the relationship yet, but Brad had made it clear he wanted to be at that point.
Pounding into the third mile, she tried to pay attention to the news, but her mind wouldn’t focus. All she could see was the awful, annoying dimple in Montana’s right cheek. His coal-black hair had hung into his piercing green eyes when he’d ducked into her car and taken off his hat.
Slamming the stop button, she got off the treadmill and went to the shower. Relief. Yes. She needed steaming hot water to sear the memories out of her.
Her mind drifted, but she stopped it. Why had Jason mentioned a secret at all? Tears of frustration fell down her cheeks. Why was Montana here? Why had he sat in her car for most of the class and stared at her doing her yoga before walking away, a phone to his ear?
It was creepy, and she would have called the police, except … would anyone believe Montana Crew was actually stalking her?
She slammed off the hot water, moving it to cold, letting it freeze her, forcing the pain
out of her.
Only one other person knew her secret, and he was dead now.
He’d been the only one she’d trusted. And he’d been true to his word. Except for this little beyond-the-grave stunt.
Anger surged inside of her. Strike that. Of course Jason had forced the issue. He’d been forcing it for eight years.
Now there was this niggling feeling her secret wasn’t really safe.
She’d agreed to give Montana the envelope because Jason wouldn’t let it drop. Every time she’d stopped in to see him after visiting her mother, he asked her.
Until finally she’d agreed.
He’d never forced her. Never threatened. No, Jason wasn’t like that. He’d never been like that.
Okay, only once. There was only one time he’d ever forced anything, and Montana had walked in on them.
Grabbing a towel, she quickly dried off. Why did she have to take the stupid key to Montana?
Why had Montana come here?
Thirty minutes later, she pulled into work. She’d gotten there at seven, which was her normal time. She didn’t have a husband or family, so she demanded more of herself. The partners knew they could count on her putting in long hours when she needed to. Sunday was the only day she didn’t work. Sunday was for Mama.
Taking the service elevator up, she drank coffee from her metal, thermos-style cup. She didn’t believe in wasting money at coffee shops. Her one indulgence had been buying her townhome last year. Everything else went to student loans or into savings.
Getting off on the third floor, she went to her office and promptly buried herself in the files Charity had left on her desk. She organized the files according to deadlines of most importance. Everything for her meeting with Brad was ready. The strategy for Jared Carter’s case was rock solid.
Brad walked in at eight on the dot, a grimace on his face.
“Brad?” She stood. “What’s wrong?”
“Sit.” He put up a commanding hand. “Can we have a talk?”
Hesitating for a moment, she went to the couch and sat.
Brad sat next to her, adjusting the knot of his tie. He did this when he was nervous.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” she demanded.
Squeezing the bridge of his nose, he sat back, tugging his hand back and letting out a breath. “Montana Crew’s people contacted Harrington.”
At the mention of Montana’s name, anger lit a fire inside of her. She couldn’t even speak, trying to keep her public image in place. Harrington was the top-dog partner. The damage he could do with his little stunts could be irreparable to her career.
“Montana Crew wants to retain our services.”
Her anger deflated into confusion.
“The partners convened a meeting last night where it was decided we would take Mr. Crew on as a client.”
“What?”
“It’s done.” Brad waved a hand through the air. “Mr. Crew wants to hire the firm to help him with some legal matters concerning Mr. Jason Given and his last wishes. He wants you to be the direct link between us and him.”
“No.” She jerked to a standing position and then sat back down. She knew her face was bright red, and she had to put her hands together to prevent them from shaking. “Respectfully, this has nothing to do with our firm, and I can’t be the point person. I … just can’t.”
Pausing for a few beats, Brad put his hand to his chin, seeming to evaluate the facts before him. “I don’t like this any more than you do, Lily.”
“Please, Brad, go back and talk to them.”
He sniffed and shook his head. “I wish I could tell you we can refuse Mr. Crew’s business, but we can’t. He’s … well, you must know getting him as a client is a huge boon for our firm. In fact, he’s agreed to use us exclusively in Montana for personal and public work. It’s kind of exciting, actually. This caliber of client will change things for us.”
Holding his gaze, a blur of emotion washed through her. “I can’t believe you.”
Glancing down, he released a breath. “It’s not my choice.”
Completely confused by Brad, she shook her head. “Fine, I quit.” Her mind was already going to the other firms she could call and get on with. She was good at her job, and she’d had multiple offers.
Brad cleared his throat. “The partners thought you might say that.”
She wagged her finger at him. “I don’t have a non-compete clause that includes being forced to be an indentured servant to an old boyfriend.”
Brad moved forward, taking her shoulders. “Lily, listen, they have agreed to put your name on the door and pay off your loans if you do this. He wants your personal services for thirty days. That’s all. He’s paying a huge retainer fee. Huge.”
“No!” Lily shouted, tears of frustration surfacing. “Get your hands off me.” She went to the window.
“Lily, do you know how much pro bono work we could do for abused and abandoned children and mothers if we take on this work?” Brad was beside her.
Stunned, shocked, horrified. She could imagine what kind of numbers Montana had thrown at them to get them to this point. Instantly, they were offering her a partnership? Willing to pay off her loans? And Brad was dangling pro bono cases in front of her.
Swinging to face him, she asked. “What did they offer you?”
He blinked but didn’t give anything away. He shook his head. “Can we focus on what’s important?”
She was already focused on Montana. Without warning, she laughed. Thinking of the foster kid. The foster kid with nothing. Nothing. Now, he was acting like the spoiled bratty prince who’d come back for the kingdom.
“Lily?”
A million thoughts whirled through her mind. If Montana pursued this, which he obviously would, he’d find out what she didn’t want him to find out.
Her secret. Sudden sadness pierced into her chest. She blinked. He didn’t want her. He wanted the truth.
And she couldn’t let him have it.
“So what’s your answer?” His voice was soft.
Not looking at him, she let out a sigh. “I guess it doesn’t matter what dollar sign they offered you. Obviously, you took it.”
“That’s not fair!”
She moved to her desk. “What? You’re going to point out I have a price of my own?” She rummaged through some files.
Loans paid. Named partner. Sounded pretty good to her. So what if she had to go with Montana? Even better, this way she’d be able to throw him completely off the trail.
She took the one file she couldn’t let go to chance. “I’ll do it on the condition I come back for Jared’s trial in a few days.”
Brad was still at the window. He didn’t speak.
She turned to him. “I mean it. I have to finish this child’s case.”
His face was sad. He tilted his head to the side. “You know, you don’t have to do work for Mr. Crew. They would be mad, but I would figure out something to tell them.”
Warmth surged through her. For a moment, she recognized the reason she did have feelings for Brad, because even though he was an attorney through and through, he had these flashes of bravery she’d seen in the courtroom. “No, I’ll do it.” A flicker of a smile tugged at her lips, but she wasn’t about to grant him forgiveness so easily. “But I come back for the Carter case. That’s my condition.”
Lifting an eyebrow, he let out a breath. “You’re not mad at me?”
“Yes, I’m mad,” she fired back.
He frowned. “You're mad at me?”
“Yes.” She went to him and plunked the file into his hand. “I’m counting on you to make sure everything falls perfectly into place.”
He let out a reluctant laugh. “I do always know where I stand with you, don’t I?” He said it softly and closed the gap between them, reaching for her hand.
Even though she let him take her hand, she stepped away, unwilling to meet his eyes. She was embarrassed for feeling upset he hadn’t fought more for her. It was stupid.
She knew it. The feeling kind of surprised her too.
“Lily,” he pleaded, trying to get closer.
She took another step back and dropped his hand. “Don’t.”
But he was fast, pulling her into him tightly. “Think of all the people we’ll be able to help.”
Knowing him, knowing he wasn’t the kind of man to force anything on her, she relaxed. “I know.”
He let out a low groan. “But you’ll have to spend a month with him.” Shoving his face into her neck, he groaned even louder.
Happy he was getting tortured too, she sighed. The idea of keeping Montana away from her secret appealed to her more and more. “It’ll be fine. Don’t worry. Plus, I’ll be back next week for the Carter case.”
Brad sighed, looking truly upset. “I’m sorry.” The warrior after losing the battle.
Lightly, she brushed her lips to his. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. I have a plan.”
Cocking an eyebrow, he gave her a confused look. “This doesn’t sound good at all, Lily.”
Pulling Brad into one more hug, she smiled. Montana had no idea what bug-infested pack of crackers he’d just opened. She’d make him pay for extorting her to get his way, and she’d make him pay for leaving.
7
Montana waited outside of Lily’s house the next morning. His heart was racing, and his palms were as sweaty as they’d been on their first date. He was twenty-six, not sixteen. Not to mention he’d had to buy off her firm to get her help. This wasn’t a fun thing. As far as he was concerned, this was business.
That’s all.
Only a business deal.
He wouldn’t admit he’d finally pinned down what he was feeling as he tossed and turned last night, staring up at the 1970s popcorn ceiling at the hotel. Excitement. Attraction. Everything he’d felt the first time he’d taken her out. But more. Intensified. By anger. By pain. By the past.
He sat on his motorcycle, knowing she’d be angry when he told her his plan.
He didn’t care. She’d have to deal with it. Still, she’d be angry.
It made him think of the first time he’d been to her home.
* * *
Montana knocked on the door, and Lily Ray’s mother answered, frowning at him. The whole town knew he was some foster kid the Givens had taken in, and the town was small. They didn’t like new things or new people. Well, everyone except for the Given family and Lily.
