by Ward,Alice
I missed my ex-husband, but it was more a friendship that we once had that I missed more than anything. He wasn’t an aggressive lover, or really much of a masculine type guy, but he was fun and impossibly sweet. The relationship had formed when I was in college, and though Clark had warned me a million times about marrying a music major, I ignored him. We made things work as long as we could, but in the end we were just too different to sustain a fruitful relationship.
My job became my mistress, and he called me out on it. Maybe in some way, I wanted the divorce.
“Shut up,” I grumbled under my breath and walked into our large high-rise office downtown. I knew Lizzy would want to see me first thing this morning, and as much as I hated to admit it, I was almost sure I was going to take the rape case.
A text message popped up on my phone, but I waited to check it until I got snuggled into the elevator with a hundred other people who seemed to be running late too. It was from Clark.
Clark: Hey, Sis. Good to see you last night. I was thinking about it after you left and I can’t imagine Zek having done those things. I think if you’re capable of keeping your heart away from him, you could be the one to save him. He’s a good guy and was my best friend for years. Hell, probably still is when I think about it. Anyway, anything you can do to help, I’d appreciate it. BUT, I will still kill him if he even comes near you in any way but as a client. Hear me?
*
I chuckled and got off at my stop, texting my brother back ‘yes’ and dropping everything but my briefcase off in my oversized office. With all of the conference rooms on the floor, the offices seemed like a waste to me, but I was the new kid on the block. There was no reason to give my opinion unless someone asked for it.
I knocked on Lizzy’s door and waited until I heard a muffled ‘come in’ from her. Pushing the door open, I poked my head inside.
“Now an okay time?” She was alone in her office, seated at her desk as she typed on her keyboard.
“Yeah. Come on in. I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to lock down your plans for Mr. Kellington’s case, and to see which one we need to reassign.” She nodded toward the chair in front of her desk. “Please. Have a seat.”
I sat down and clasped my hands before laying them in my lap. “Has he actually been charged for the insider trading allegation, or is that still under investigation?”
Lizzy moved back from her computer and turned, putting her full attention on me. “It’s still under investigation. You don’t actually have to decide on that one today, but we do need to have you sit in on any meetings he might have with the SEC as legal counsel, if you’re willing. I’d hate for him to say the wrong thing and end up under their thumb for no reason.”
“So you don’t think he did it?” I studied her, looking for all the normal signs of someone trying to hide the full truth.
“No, I don’t, but you know as well as I do… we’re defense attorneys. It doesn’t matter if he did do it. We’re looking for the loophole to get him out of it.” She picked up a file and handed it to me. “Did you get to talk with him about the rape allegation?”
“A little bit. He says he’s innocent.” I took the file and slipped it into my briefcase sitting at my feet.
“And do you believe him?” She watched me with a calmness that I would love to learn to exude in front of others.
“Yes. I do.” I leaned back over and pulled a few more things from my bag. “I found evidence that the girl has filed claims of rape against four other men in the last three years, one of them being an attorney at her father’s firm. I’m not sure if she actually suffered at the hands of these men, but the allegations and claims are almost eerily similar. All of them were settled out of court.”
“Let me see what you have.” Lizzy reached for the file as her eyebrow lifted. “And you think the settlement her father sent over to Zek is being done so that he will close the case down without them having to go to court?”
“Why else? He’s a lawyer first and foremost, and a damn good one from what I understand. He knows good and damn well if he’s able to win the case against Zek. Besides that, what father would allow a man who raped his daughter to settle out of court? If she were my child, I would prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. No amount of money would thwart my rebuttal.” I took a quick breath, not realizing just how worked up I was getting.
“Do you think Jon is getting a cut off these settlements?”
I pressed my teeth into my bottom lip and leaned back, relaxing a little as I let my mind move through the possibilities. Mr. Mills was a well-known litigation attorney. There was no way he would taint his name with a scandal unless he was either unaware of it, or was being handsomely paid for the associated risk of playing a part in all of it.
“I don’t know. I would say yes just because I have a hard time thinking that the girl—”
“Melissa.”
“Right, Melissa. I have a hard time thinking that she could do something of this nature without her father catching on that she’s falsifying the situation to gain a favorable outcome from it.”
I reached up to run my fingers through my hair before remembering that I was in front of one of the senior partners in my firm. I jerked my hand down and sat up again, straightening my back and shoulders.
“I want you to take the rape case.” Lizzy glanced down and pulled her glasses from the top of her head as she thumbed through the documents, reading them quietly.
I waited until she glanced up to respond. “I can do that. I want to interview both Jon Mills and his daughter. I’ll get a statement from Mr. Kellington too.”
“That’s a good start. Dig into these other cases. We will not be settling with them out of court. I know my brother-in-law far more than anyone else.” She sat back. “He respects women and puts up with their shit more than any man I know. He’s a good man and deserves a break. This is the opposite of what I’d hoped for him.”
“Why isn’t he married?” I couldn’t help but ask, and I was sure she was going to dismiss me and shut down the conversation. She didn’t know me well enough to have a discussion about Zek’s private life.
“He’s not found the right woman yet. It seems that they all start out interested in him as a person, but soon after learning just how wealthy he is… it becomes more about money than anything else.” She shrugged. “Some part of me almost believes that he is guilty of the insider trading. If wealth brings love, then why not go in search of the one thing you need to complete yourself?”
“More wealth?”
“No. Love.” She handed me the file back. “Call him in and start with accepting the case. Work through the client files with him and make sure you put your appointments on my calendar. I’ll be overseeing this with you. We’ll stay abreast on the insider trading allegations, but there’s nothing else to do just yet. We need the SEC to present a verdict and their findings. Then we’ll move into action.”
“Okay.” I stood and picked up my bag. “Anything else?”
“Only this,” Lizzy stood up, “if you start to feel uncomfortable because of anything that happens between you and Zek, just come see me and I’ll have you removed from the case. I know you have a bit of history together. Let’s make sure it doesn’t cloud your judgment or get cause a problem in any way, shape or form. Okay?”
“Of course. Thank you for the opportunity.” I turned and walked out of the office, a bit calmer about the whole ordeal, knowing there was an out should I need it.
After checking my e-mail and working through my calendar, I bit the bullet and called Zek. I wasn’t sure how to act around him, so I chose the route of being incredibly professional. Whether it upset him or not wasn’t at all my concern. I was his attorney. He was my client. Nothing else.
“Zek Kellington.”
“Hi, Mr. Kellington. This is Alisa Manning from—”
“Hi, Alisa. How are you today? I should apologize for yesterday, I—”
No damn way you’re taking contro
l.
“It’s nothing to be concerned about. I’ve spoken with Lizzy, and I will be picking up your pressing case and sitting in as legal counsel should you need me in any meetings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.”
I paused, and he jumped back in. “Excellent. I was hoping that you would change your mind. I’ll make sure to keep our past in the past. It seems that it belongs there anyway.” He cleared his throat, giving me the opportunity I was looking for to jump back in.
“Perfect. I need to visit with you. I’d prefer that be today if you can spare an hour or so.”
“I can. I’ll be there just before lunch. Should I just ask for you at the front desk?”
“Yes. I’ll see you then.”
I dropped the call and slumped back into the large leather chair that held me. I should have told him after lunch. The possibility of him asking me out to share a meal with him was high, and I didn’t need the pressure of sitting across the table from possibly the most handsome man I knew. I was pissy and needy from not having been with a man in almost six months. Every part of me wanted to throw caution to the wind and sink down into his hold.
“Stop it,” I muttered to myself and pulled up the files on Jon Mills. I wanted to search for any additional clues that might help me discern whether Melissa’s father was involved in what appeared to be a quite lucrative scandal. It shocked me that anyone would use their body to further themselves, but it happened all the time.
Some part of me wanted to tell Zek that his cash was no good to me. I’d much prefer him pay for my services with a million long, sweaty nights and a thousand kisses. A groan left me as my body woke up with those thoughts. Much like the old days, the object of my affection was a handsome football player with blue eyes the color of the ocean, a smile that made my stomach hurt, and messy brown hair that begged for my fingers to race through it.
“What am I doing?”
Making a mistake.
*
A knock at the door pulled me from the files I was reviewing, and I’d almost forgotten about the meeting I had scheduled with Zek. He stood at the door with a beautiful smile on his handsome face, the sight of him alone melting my insides.
“Come on in.” I stood and moved toward the small round table in front of my desk. “Thanks for meeting me on such short notice.”
“No, thank you.” He unbuttoned his navy pinstriped jacket, revealing a starch white button-up that stretched across his chest and left me wanting to do things that I hadn’t thought about in a long time.
“Sure.” I sat down and reached for the extra pair of glasses I had on the table as I started to look through the various suits filed by Melissa Mills. “I know we talked a little last night about being familiar with each other in the old days, but I need us to ignore that.”
I glanced up and tried not to show just how much he affected me. It had to be my longing to belong to someone who would sweep me off my feet and leave me breathless. It was the loneliness, the neediness talking inside of me.
“If that’s what you want, then I’ll honor that. I need your help. However, I need to behave to get it, count me in.” He sat back and watched me with an intensity that left me wondering if I should fix my hair, straighten my shirt or run from the room as fast as I could.
“As I said, I’m taking the case. We will need to go through various details if we go to court. Where the interactions with Miss Mills all at the office?” I picked up my pencil and tried to keep my attention on his handsome face instead of memorizing him from head to toe.
“Once at the office, and once at the lake house. It’s my lake house, though. Mark and I go up there all the time.” He licked his lips subtly. “I can take you up there if that would help.”
I stood and walked to an ornate liquor cabinet that each of us had in our offices. I’d turned my nose up at the idea of it until now. The partners of the firm were old school and believed very much in socializing over meetings.
“Drink?” I asked as I glanced over my shoulder.
“I’d love one.” He stood, and I couldn’t force myself to turn around and take my eyes off of him. “I’m sorry I upset you yesterday. We can stick to the facts, but this is a rape case. Like you said, we have to talk about what happened. I’m worried that maybe that’s not a good idea around you.”
“I can handle myself just fine.” I turned from him as my breath caught in my chest. The scent of his cologne brushed by me and I stifled a groan at how delicious it smelled. “We don’t need to discuss the facts until we know that we’re going to trial. We’re not paying that suit, though, so let the thought go. It admits guilt to the public, which won’t help us at all with the pending insider trading case.”
He moved up beside me, his shoulder brushing mine as he took the glass of whiskey from my hand and threw it back. “I’m going to become an alcoholic around you.”
“Please don’t. My list of vices is far too long already. I don’t want them to grow as I try to keep up with you.” I gave him a cheeky grin and picked up my drink, emptying it as he reached across me for the bottle. His strong chest pressed against my side and I shuddered.
“Sorry. No contact?” His lip turned up in a cocky smirk.
“None at all.” I stepped away from him and walked toward the table as my heart beat frantically. I wasn’t going to survive taking him on as a client. I wanted too much from him eighteen years ago, and nothing had changed. I wanted it all now too.
CHAPTER 4
e
Zek
I stifled the need to sigh as she turned and walked away from me. While I was willing to play it safe with her, and keep my desires to myself, I hated her treating me like a common client. I wasn’t one, though I deserved to be after leaving her and never once looking back. Hell, I’d avoided her from time to time during the years too.
“So where do we start, Alisa?” I turned to watch her take her seat. She folded one of her shapely legs under her, which pulled her pencil skirt tight over her thighs.
I walked over, trying to keep my eyes above the table, but losing the battle fast. It might be better just to work on stealing her heart and losing the case than ignoring the raging desire that pumped through me. Too many what-ifs played along my mind, and the soft whisper of the past caused my mouth to raise in a smile.
“What?” She glanced up at me and stiffened.
“Just thinking about the good old days. I know we’re leaving the past in the past, but I can’t help it.” I sat down in the chair nearest her and reached for the file her hands rested on. “The future looks bleak. I know you’re touted as a damn good lawyer, but the past might be a better place for me to focus right now.”
Her hand covered mine, the softness of her fingers driving a stake of desire deep into the pit of my stomach.
“The rape charge will be dropped. I’ll make sure of that. I have no doubt that we’re trapped in the center of foul play.” She pulled her hand from mine as if she realized what she was doing.
“I hope so. I think paying the settlement might be a better bet, but I understand why that might not be a good course of action.” I leaned over and examined the file, looking through the other charges that Melissa had brought against various men in the past.
“Why did you give into her? She’s a pretty girl, but she’s just a girl. You’re an alpha-type guy. Why not just tell her to fuck off?” The question in Alisa’s voice softened it slightly. She wasn’t asking just for documentation in the file.
“I told you that my girlfriend and I just broke up, which was a huge relief, but left me lonely.” I shrugged. “Everyone wants someone to care about them. Sex is usually just a means of expressing that. Even when you’re being greedy in bed, you’re still giving a little too. It’s impossible not to.”
“And this girlfriend—”
“Lindsay.”
“Right. She was with you for a while? Were you guys planning to get married?” She sat back and pressed her fingers to her lips, drawing m
y attention to her inquisitive stare. Her dark blue eyes moved about my face, as if she was searching for something.
“Why did you get married?” I figured since she wasn’t exactly following the script that I could get a bit of information out of her too.
“I was lonely, and Ben was a great friend to me in college.” She shrugged. “This isn’t about me.”
“But it is.” I leaned forward and pressed my forearms into the table. “It’s about both of us. You have to believe my motives, and I have to understand yours. This isn’t just about me. It would be if we didn’t know each other, but we do. How about instead of pushing against each other, we work together and you get rich and famous, and I get a bit of hope again?”
Her eyes softened. “You should have hope. I’ve worked my way up to being one of the top defense lawyers in the country.” She pulled the files back from me and looked down, ignoring me, and effectively pulling us back to the sterile, uninvolved conversations that she seemed to enjoy.
“You remember that time when we were kids and you almost broke your damn leg sneaking out with me to go to Jerry Miller’s party? Your brother was asleep and I didn’t want to go by myself?” I smirked, not caring how upset she might get about me reminding her of the past. I wanted to catch a small glimpse of that girl again.
She looked up from the paper, her lips in a tight line. I awaited my warning, but it didn’t come.
“Clark never did find out about that night.” A smile tugged at her mouth, but she pulled it back down.
“It was our first kiss, remember? You tried that shitty homemade wine they had, and couldn’t hold your head up ten minutes into the party.” I wanted so fucking bad to reach out and touch her, to verify that she was real and sitting in front of me.
“I was so embarrassed. Remember, I barfed in your old truck on the way back?” She smiled and sat up straight before running her fingers through her hair. “You remember the kiss?”
