by Ann, Natalie
He felt it was open and closed. She had no previous criminal record, had been to the ER no less than three times in the last six months with various injuries indicating abuse, plus the notarized statement from her sixteen-year-old daughter that Jason Briggs had touched her on more than one occasion.
Though the judge agreed in their favor that she wasn’t a flight risk, he still set the bail at a ridiculously high amount. Thankfully, Brittany’s parents had been able to manage it, only after cashing in a huge part of their retirement.
Now the hard work would begin. A case like this could drag out, and he didn’t want that to happen. But he wouldn’t rush it if it would jeopardize her chances.
“You did everything you could, Ryan. More than most would have. It’s what makes you as good as you are. You care,” Thomas added thoughtfully. “Most attorneys would be happy and celebrating right now. You’re not happy because you think the bail was set too high, even though you still got the results you were looking for. Take the win.”
“You’re right. I know you are. It still hurts though. I’m just glad she is home with her kids tonight. I spoke with her parents earlier and gave them a couple of recommendations on counseling for the kids. They’re going to need it at some point. Hopefully they get it sooner rather than later.”
“Again, you are doing the best you can. They seemed like decent people. I’m sure they will do what is right in time,” Thomas said.
Ryan nodded. “And that isn’t the reason you came in here. So what else is on your mind?”
“You know me too well,” Thomas said. “Remember Dallas Winston?”
“Name rings a bell. Winston Manufacturing?”
“That’s them,” Thomas said, confirming. “Dallas is the youngest son. He’s been in and out of trouble with the law for years. But his parents always managed to get him out with a slap on the wrist. Buy his way out is more like it.”
Ryan knew there was nothing Thomas hated more than privileged kids getting away with anything as long as there was enough money exchanged behind closed doors. Even worse was when the parents enabled the behavior.
“Friday night Dallas was out drinking, then was involved in a hit and run, leaving a college kid in pretty bad shape on the side of the road. The kid should pull through, but it will be a rough road. I just got off the phone with Dallas Sr. and they want to lawyer up now. And they’re looking for you.”
“No way. I don’t want any part of it.” Ryan was just like his father in that sense of the word. Yes, they were defense lawyers, but they were in a position to take whatever clients they wanted. And they never took clients like Dallas Winston. Their clients may be guilty of a crime, but that didn’t mean they deserved to be prosecuted to the extent of the law either.
“I figured as much. But you’re a partner in this firm, also. You have a right to pick your own clients. I can push it on to another lawyer in the firm, but I would just as well push them on to another firm altogether,” Thomas said with disdain.
Ryan nodded. “Agreed.”
Ryan saw his father looking at him. Seeing a younger version of himself. Not just in the blonde hair and blue eyes, but in his drive and passion. In his desire to do what was right.
His parents always joked that Lucas was a throwback from knighthood, always wanting to save the damsel in distress. But Ryan lived by his own code of fairness too. He liked to believe he got that code of fairness from his father. “If I haven’t said it before, I’ll say it now. I’m proud of you, Ryan.”
Taken back, Ryan snorted out a laugh, trying to cover up the overwhelming feelings of acceptance. The words he had always known but seldom heard. “Where did that come from? What, Mom wouldn’t let you hold Michael last night and you need to let some of your emotions out?”
Thomas roared with laughter. “Unfortunately, yes. And Mac wouldn’t hand over Evan, either. Maybe if I had another grandchild I wouldn’t have to fight so hard for Michael.” Thomas raised an eyebrow and watched Ryan fidget.
“I would wait at least a few more months before you start asking Brooke to get pregnant again,” Ryan said slyly.
Thomas shook his head and walked to the door. “Someday you’ll settle down. Maybe,” he mumbled.
***
Kaitlin had lain in bed all night trying to think of ways to seek Ryan out. Now that she knew how she wanted to go about getting rid of her problem, she needed to start taking the steps. Only she hadn’t been able to come up with a game plan.
Sophia had been joking when she asked if Kaitlin was just going to be up front with Ryan. But it had merit. She had never been one for playing games or holding back punches. Why not just ask him? Why not go into it with a plan of action? It’s not like she was trying to trap him into some type of relationship.
Yes, she wanted a relationship. Just not with him. He had too much baggage. Besides, he may be a treat for the eyes, but he was almost too pretty for her. What woman wanted to date someone that might be more high maintenance than she was?
She had a hard enough time not reverting back into her old self from time to time. She didn’t need the type of pressure to be glamorous twenty-four-seven that being with Ryan would entail.
Not that she didn’t love the new her, because she did.
For the last five years she’d been dressing at the height of current fashion. Never a hair out of place, just the right amount of makeup, not too much, not too little. Perfect. But it was tiresome. Sometimes she only wanted to throw on sweats and loaf around the house. And she did, when she knew no one was around.
But Sophia had always been around before. The first time Sophia caught her dressed like that she lectured her for two hours on how it was a lifestyle change, a change that Kaitlin had to live and breathe until it was a part of her. Kaitlin reluctantly agreed. So she embraced the new her and never detracted from it, or very rarely did.
She was proud of the new her. She appeared sexy and confident. Modern and sleek. Only deep down, she really didn’t feel that way all the time. It seemed almost like a facade.
What was wrong with sweats and big fluffy socks in the middle of the winter? Maybe once she found the right guy she could relax enough and not have to pretend all the time. Because that was another thing that was tiresome—always having to say and do the right thing. Never wanting to turn someone off.
Wouldn’t it be nice to just be herself? Growing up she was always laid back and carefree, her true self around her brothers and their friends. Of course, look where that got her. Twenty-eight years old and still a virgin. So maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to be herself.
Kaitlin was pulled out of her thoughts when her phone rang. “Yes, Cindy,” she answered her secretary.
“It’s a little after five. I’m getting ready to leave now. The snow seems to be coming down pretty hard. I hate these springtime snowstorms. With any luck it will all be gone by this time tomorrow. The snow never lasts in April. Have a good night and drive safe,” Cindy said cheerfully.
“Thanks. You too, drive safe that is. See you tomorrow.” Crap, she hated snow. She never drove in bad weather in Manhattan. She always walked, took the subway and rarely, only if necessary, took a cab.
She was just getting used to driving a car again as it was, and now she had to drive home in the snow. Thankfully it was only a short commute, but still, she didn’t want to do it and felt her hands start to sweat at the prospect.
She pushed back from her desk to see if her father was still in the office. Maybe he would bring her home and then pick her up on his way in in the morning.
No such luck. After walking around the office, she saw that everyone seemed to be gone for the night. Most likely trying to get a jump on the traffic in the bad weather. Great, now she just realized she would have to deal with the traffic on top of the weather.
She was heading back to her office when she saw a figure trying to open the front door that Cindy had locked on her way out.
***
Ryan couldn’t believ
e his luck. His father had asked him to run over to Harper investments on his way home and drop off some paperwork, but he’d gotten stuck on a call and couldn’t leave as early as he thought he would. Now here he was, standing out in the snow with the door locked.
He was just getting ready to turn away when he saw a woman walking toward him with a smile on her face. Then she suddenly stopped and stared, shook her head, and rushed forward.
“Hi, sorry about that. My secretary locked up behind her when she left a few minutes ago. I didn’t realize I was the only here. Come on in, Ryan,” she offered, locking the door behind him.
Ryan stopped and looked at the gorgeous woman in front of him. Straight black hair falling past her shoulders parted to one side and tucked behind her ear at the moment. She was wearing a black pants suit that did nothing to hide her ample chest, tiny waist and curvy hips. She was a walking pinup, and she somehow knew his name.
He tried to wrack his brain. He was pretty sure he’d never been out with her before, because he would have never forgotten her face or name. But she knew him. Of course, a lot of people knew him by name, but that didn’t mean he knew them.
“I’m assuming you have the papers your father was sending over.” She gestured with her hand toward the folder he was holding. “Why don’t you come on back to my office and we can go over them quickly if you have time?”
“No. I mean yes, I’ve got time.” Ryan followed her back and appreciated the view from behind as she walked gracefully down the hall in a sexy pair of black and red patterned pumps. He noticed a small flash of red in the white shirt she had on under her blazer. He always noticed details like that, especially when it came to sexy women.
She turned at her office door and Ryan followed her in. Not before he caught her name on the door. “Katie?” he asked, stunned, trying to hide his embarrassment over not recognizing the younger sister of some his closest friends growing up.
“Kaitlin now. I mean I go by Kaitlin now. But yes, it’s me,” she said, smiling at him.
“Wow, you look great,” he said genuinely, then reached out and gave her a hug. He was always one for giving hugs to old friends. “Your brothers told me you were back in town when they were over last night. But no one told me you looked like this. I didn’t even recognize you.”
Favor
She had been completely shocked to see Ryan at the door, more so because she didn’t have a game plan yet. She always had a plan; never once had she flown by the seat of her pants.
But the opportunity had presented itself and she was going to take advantage of it. After all, thanks to Sophia, she had spent five years preparing for moments like this. So she had put her best strut forward when leading him back to her office. And she noticed he wasn’t immune to it.
She tried not to be upset he didn’t recognize her. Actually it was a good thing since she didn’t want to remember much about herself back then, either.
When he hugged her and said she looked good, it’d been an effort not to blush. Innocents blushed. She wasn’t supposed to come off as innocent. Only she couldn’t help it.
Here he was looking drop dead gorgeous in his tailored suit, and telling her how great she looked. She almost wanted to pinch herself. That’d be real classy now, wouldn’t it?
“Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself,” she replied back. When she saw his bright smile she congratulated herself, quieting the urge to pat herself on the back. She had this. It wasn’t so hard.
An hour later she was stunned to realize how much fun she was having talking to him. She didn’t realize he knew so much about her life. Of course, he probably knew it the same way she knew about him: their parents talked all the time.
Not only was she having fun laughing at all the stories he was reminiscing about with her brothers, but she found she didn’t even have to pretend to be someone she wasn’t.
She was so relaxed and comfortable around him that she just lapsed into conversation without thought. Maybe it was the stories of childhood that made her not have to think about the new her. Memories of the good times as her old self.
Turning with a start, her glance out the window of her office brought her back to reality. It had gotten late, not to mention how much more snow had fallen.
The blood drained from her face, fear surfacing as she tried to figure out how she was going to get home. Maybe she could call a taxi. She wasn’t about to take the bus.
“What’s wrong?” Ryan asked.
She lied through her teeth. “Nothing.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “I know when someone isn’t telling me the truth.”
Thankfully he was polite enough to not call her an outright liar. “I didn’t realize it was so late.” There, that was partly the truth. She had lost track of time.
Ryan looked at his watch briefly. “Oh, sorry, did you have somewhere you needed to be?” he asked, standing up.
“No, no. Just didn’t realize how late it was,” she replied lamely, hoping her hands weren’t shaking.
He frowned, trying not to get annoyed, but she saw it on his face. A surge of relief rushed through her when he didn’t press her for the truth again. “I’ll walk you out then. The building is already locked up, right? You just need to shut the lights and lock the door behind us?” he asked.
She cleared her throat. Trapped, that was all she could think of. She didn’t want to tell him she was afraid to drive home. It was just a little snow. She grew up in this weather. She knew it wasn’t bad. Only she couldn’t convince herself of that no matter how hard she tried. “I have a few more things to do here. You go ahead. But thanks,” she said, hoping he would just leave.
No such luck. “I’ll wait for you. I don’t want you to stay in the building alone. Or walk to your car alone.”
Great, now what? She could just tell him the truth…and look like a fool in his eyes. Or she could try to lie to him, though that didn’t sit well with her either. Unfortunately she was saved from making another comment when the wind blew hard against the windows and the power flickered, causing her to let out a very undignified yelp.
“It’s just the wind.” He chuckled at her. “I’m sure the power will be fine. Let’s get out of here though, just in case.”
She stood up to leave and found she was frozen in place. Knowing it was ridiculous didn’t make her feet move though.
The thought of getting behind the wheel right now terrified her. Too many years in Manhattan and crazy taxi drivers had scared her enough that she usually didn’t leave the house if the weather was that bad. The subway was the only form of transportation she would take on those days, if she had to leave her home at all.
“Really, Katie, what’s wrong? I know terror when I see it and right now you look scared to death. Was it something I did or said?” he asked.
“Kaitlin,” she corrected him.
“Huh?” he responded, confused. “Sorry, it’s hard. You’ve always been Katie to me. Though you don’t look like the Katie I remember. Kaitlin, what’s wrong?” he asked softly. “Maybe I can help.”
She really wanted to tell him. He was being nice to her. Maybe he wouldn’t laugh. Though her brothers always laughed at her when she said she was afraid of something. That was really all she had to go on.
Watching her look out the window at the falling snow again, she suspected he figured it out by his next words. “Is it the snow?” he asked, hedging.
She nodded.
“You don’t like snow?”
“I don’t mind snow.” That part was true. She didn’t mind snow—when she was inside looking out at it. Or playing in it as a kid. She didn’t like snow when she was behind the wheel, though.
He sighed with what looked like relief. “Okay, well let’s get your jacket and go. Where are your keys? I’ll go clean your car off for you if you want.”
She squeaked, mortification creeping in over the sound.
“You don’t want to drive in the snow?” he asked with a raise of his eyebrow.
She shook her head.
“That’s it? That’s the problem?”
“Yes,” she said, holding his stare for a moment. Those blue eyes of his were only looking back curiously, no humor at all. “How come you aren’t laughing at me?”
“Should I be?”
“My brothers would be.”
He smiled warmly. “I’m not one of your brothers. Come on, I’ll give you a ride home.”
“Really?” she asked hopefully.
“Sure. It’s not a big deal. Lots of people don’t like to drive in the snow. It doesn’t bother me. Where’s your car though, you don’t want it to get towed.”
Not only wasn’t he laughing at her, but he was also being considerate. Maybe she’d judged him wrong. “It’s fine. It’s in the parking lot out back.”
“All right. Well then, if you’re set, let’s get out of here.”
***
Her normal ten-minute drive home took closer to twenty-five minutes thanks to the roads and the traffic. She was more than grateful Ryan had driven her.
He didn’t even make her nervous. At first she was uneasy when she saw his sporty Mercedes, but then remembered that it was most likely all-wheel drive and would be fine.
And she was right. The car was fine. So was the driver. Unfortunately when they pulled in front of her townhouse she noticed there didn’t seem to be any lights on around her at all.
“Looks like the power is out here. Do you have flashlights or candles?” he asked.
“Somewhere,” she answered. She was pretty sure there were a few candles in the kitchen cabinet. But a flashlight? She couldn’t remember where she put it. First thing she was going to do when the power came back on was find it and put it in a place of honor should she lose power again.
“Do you want me to come in with you? Get you settled? I doubt it will be out long, but I don’t feel right just dropping you off and leaving.”
