by Tia Wylder
“Hey, Barnes,” Thomas said. He sounded weary and tired – not like the Thomas I knew at all.
“What’s up?”
Thomas sighed. “Candy left me,” he said.
I winced. “Ouch.”
“Yeah,” Thomas said. “And I was so fucking stupid…when we got married, she told me she would leave me if I asked her to sign a pre-nup.”
I groaned. “You’re kidding.”
“You’ve seen her,” Thomas said. “Come on – how could I say no to that?”
“Yeah,” I said drily. “I’ve seen her.”
“So, look, man, I hate calling to ask for a favor when we haven’t talked in forever, but I really need your help. You’re still working divorce cases?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Although I have to be honest, I was thinking about a change.”
Thomas groaned. “Don’t do this to me, man,” he said. “I really need your help. I’ll give you whatever you want as long as that conniving little bitch can’t put her paws all over my money.”
Holy shit, I thought as I kicked my feet up on my desk. I could move to Los Angeles. That would be a hell of a change, all right!
“Barnes? You there?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m still here.”
“So? What do you say?”
“I think moving to Los Angeles would be just the change I need, at least for right now,” I said. “And yeah, man. Don’t worry about it – I’m your man.”
Thomas sighed. There was obvious relief in the sound. “Thank god,” he said. “Because I’m just about at the end of my rope, man. I can’t believe I was so stupid.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said, thinking of Angela and Harold Davis. “People do fucked-up things, man. And love makes fools of us all.”
“You’re lucky you never got married,” Thomas said bitterly. “Because this is hell. I don’t even know what I was thinking when I bought that goddamned ring.”
I shrugged. “Don’t beat yourself up,” I said. “She was a very popular star at the time.”
“Yeah, and now she’s going to wring my neck in court unless you pull some serious magic.”
A slow smile crept onto my face and I nodded. “I like a challenge,” I replied.
“When can you get out here?”
I pulled up my calendar on my laptop screen and frowned. “I need to give my employees some notice, but I could fly out next week and meet with you then. Is that enough?”
“Yeah, that would be great,” Thomas said. “And look, Barnes, I swear I’ll make it worth your while. Los Angeles is like paradise for adults…I’m sure you won’t regret this.”
I laughed. “I’ve heard exactly the opposite,” I said. “But it’s different from Boston, and that’s precisely what I’m looking for.”
By the time we hung up, I felt renewed and refreshed. I’d never have come to the idea on my own, but I was starting to think that moving to Los Angeles was going to be what saved my life.
When I heard a small, timid knock on my door, I looked up to see Tanya standing in the doorway.
“Mr. Harrington?”
“Yeah?”
Tanya blushed. “I’m sorry to be so nosy,” she said. “But I had no idea you were friends with a famous producer! That’s so exciting!”
“Thomas is a good man,” I said honestly. “And look, Tanya – please don’t say anything to the others, but there are going to be a few changes around here. I want to keep the office open, but it looks like I’ll be moving to Los Angeles, at least temporarily.”
Tanya nodded. “Wow,” she said. “Is he going to hire you?”
“He already did.”
Tanya looked like someone enjoying a guilty pleasure. “Does that mean he and Candy Turner are getting divorced? It was all over the tabloids in the grocery store, but you know those things are usually bullshit.”
I raised an eyebrow and mimed zipping my lips together. “Client-attorney privilege. Can’t say anything.” I cleared my throat and smirked. “But…if you keep reading those magazines, you might see something.”
Tanya’s eyes got wide, and she blinked. “Wow,” she said again. “That’s, um, crazy.”
“Again, nothing to the others,” I said sternly. “And nothing about my move, at least, not until things are finalized.”
“When are you leaving?”
I grinned. “Next week.”
--
It didn’t take me very long to pack for Los Angeles. As soon as there was an open suitcase on my bed, I realized that I didn’t actually need very many of my Boston things. It wasn’t like I’d ever need a heavy coat again, or any of my cashmere scarves. Plus, I liked the idea of starting fresh from scratch and buying a whole new wardrobe. Based on everything I’d heard, people in Los Angeles were pretty different from people in Boston.
But I was looking forward to the change, almost more than I was willing to admit.
I left my condo empty and called a company to come in and cover the furniture with plastic. I’d thought about subletting it, but at this point in time, that just seemed useless. Why tie myself back to Boston if I didn’t have to? Of course, I was still going to have to field the occasional call from Tanya, or others at the office. But for the most part, I was going to try to live in the present, as much as possible.
When I called Jack and told him, he joked that I was having a mid-life crisis. But I knew it was more than that – I wasn’t having a crisis, I was having a new beginning.
And I was determined to enjoy every single second of it.
As my plane lifted from the ground at Logan Airport, I stared out the window at the cold, dreary city and wondered when I’d be back. Soon, the only thing I could see from my first-class window was clouds.
I’m going to take that as a sign, I thought. It seemed like a very “LA” thing – being in touch with one’s psyche, and all of that. I’d always been a pragmatic, cynical man.
But maybe I wouldn’t be like that forever.
When my plane landed in Los Angeles, I took a cab to the condo I’d found online and decided to rent. It was in Laurel Canyon, with a spectacular view that made my stomach twist into knots the first time I saw it. And even better, it was nothing like Boston. The rooms were open and airy and large, filled with natural sunlight and a breeze that smelled almost too fresh to resemble Los Angeles. Just being there put a smile on my face.
Thomas had called during the flight. When I listened to his voicemail, I grinned. He’d already made reservations for us at one of the city’s most famous restaurants, and I found that I was actually looking forward to the meal. My body was still on Boston time, and by six-thirty, I was feeling ravenous. I took another cab to the restaurant and immediately spotted Thomas, sitting at the bar.
“You look good,” Thomas said after we were seated. “A little pale, maybe, but good.”
I looked at him and frowned. Thomas Winsell had always been one of the biggest personalities I’d ever known – even bigger than Jack Nathan. In college, he’d gotten every single girl he’d wanted. He’d tried to pledge three fraternities as a joke, and laughed heartily when two of them started competing over Thomas. Now, he looked haggard and ten years older than his thirty-eight years.
“I wish I could say the same,” I said darkly as I reached for my glass of merlot and took a long swig. “What’s been going on?”
Thomas looked at me and sighed. “I don’t have to get into it,” he said. “Candy’s been a nightmare to deal with. I never thought she could be such a bitch – I didn’t even think she had it in her.”
I sighed. “Divorce is hell.”
“Not like you’d know,” Thomas said. He sighed. “Sorry. That was an asshole thing to say. I just…” He trailed off, shaking his head. For the first time, I noticed threads of white and grey in his dark hair. “I had no idea it could be this painful. I thought agreeing to divorce was the painful part!”
“I wish I could tell you that was the truth,” I said slowly,
not wanting to piss Thomas off. “But really, you won’t be able to tell how things will go until court.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Thomas muttered.
“So, what happened?” I narrowed my eyebrows. “When did things start to get bad?”
Thomas put his face in his hands. “Since the day after the wedding,” he said. “She was angry that we went to Galapagos instead of Fiji for our honeymoon, and she stayed pissed off the whole time.”
“Christ,” I muttered.
“And I thought about, you know, asking for an annulment,” Thomas said. “But she wouldn’t hear it. Every time I brought up the fact that she obviously wasn’t happy with me, she’d pout and cry and tell me that she loved me.” His voice turned bitter, and he shook his head. “And I listened to it all because I’m a giant fucking loser.”
“Come on,” I said. “You act like you’re the first man to get his heart broken.”
Thomas sighed. “I don’t want to talk about Candy anymore,” he said. “Tell me – what do you think of Los Angeles so far?”
I looked up just in time to see a stunning woman walk past. She was wearing tight jeans that were ripped at the knee and a black silk blouse that hung from her petite frame. Her long, red hair fell over her shoulder in a golden curtain, and her pale skin practically glowed in the room. But it wasn’t just the way she looked – there was something about her, something about the way she moved and breathed.
“Yeah,” Thomas said. He leaned back in his chair and smirked. “There are a lot of those around here.”
“Is she…someone?” I squinted. “I feel like I’ve seen her before.”
“I don’t think so,” Thomas said. “But she’s hot, yeah. You should get her number.”
The urge to speak to the woman was so strong that I had a hard time pressing it down. But when I looked at the dark circles under Thomas’s eyes and his threads of white hair, I knew I couldn’t leave my friend. Not tonight, at least.
“Nah,” I said finally. “I’m here with you, man. I’m not ditching you so I can get laid.”
Thomas shrugged. He slurped the last of his wine and raised his hand in the air, signaling for the waiter.
“Your call,” Thomas said. “But you’re gonna regret it if you don’t talk to her.”
I watched as the girl made her way to the bar, climbed onto a stool, and set her clutch on the bar beside her. I wasn’t the only person looking, either – she’d attracted the attention of most of the men in the restaurant.
“I’ll be fine,” I said, forcing myself to tear my gaze away from her stunning figure. “Like you said, lots of women like that out here.”
“So,” Thomas said. “What are you planning, now that you’re here. Going to open another law office?”
“I honestly don’t know,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ve thought about it, but part of me wants to get away from the law.”
“If you’re dealing with cases like mine every day, I don’t blame you,” Thomas said with a wry grin. “It can’t exactly make you very happy to deal with crying ex-wives.”
I groaned. “Some of these women are awful,” I said. “But it’s not like the men are much worse. Divorce brings out the worst in everyone. Did I tell you, this one client actually wanted me to make his ex-wife sign a contract she wouldn’t ever sleep with anyone else again?” I laughed bitterly. “The things people expect of the law are fucking insane.”
“Sounds like,” Thomas said. He yawned. “I should be going, man, I’ve got an early day tomorrow.”
I narrowed my eyes. “We haven’t even eaten yet,” I said. The wine was sloshing around in my stomach, and I felt a little drunker than I would’ve liked to feel in public. “Isn’t this place famous for their steaks?”
Thomas shrugged. He got to his feet and reached into his pocket for his wallet, but I brushed his arm away.
“No way,” I said. “I’m your attorney now – this is considered a business expense,” I smirked as I pulled out my platinum card and put it on the table.
“We barely even talked about my divorce.”
“Yeah, well, therapy sessions with alcohol are great for bitching about the soon-to-be-exes,” I said with a smirk. “Trust me – I do it all the time in Boston.”
Thomas nodded. “But you’re in Los Angeles now,” he said, leaning closer. “Besides, this gives you a chance to get that smoking redhead in bed with you. Consider it a gift,” he added before grinning and striding confidently out of the restaurant.
After Thomas had gone, I stood there for a moment, feeling like an idiot. I was tired and starving and jet-lagged, but something inside of me wasn’t ready to call it a night.
Not just yet.
At least, not while the gorgeous redhead was still alone.
Grinning broadly, I grabbed my card and signaled to the waiter that I was moving to the bar. I sauntered over to the bar and sat down one stool away from the redhead, leaving a space between us. As soon as I sat down, she looked up at me. Up close, she was even hotter. Her eyes were a warm, golden-brown, a hue of color of honey. And her face was delicate and perfect with a patrician nose and a full mouth.
“Hello,” she said. Her voice wasn’t what I’d expected – it was both girlish and sultry at the same time.
“I’m Barnes,” I said, sticking out my hand.
The girl flushed. She put her fingers against mine and a spark leapt between our bodies. “Gianna,” she said, staring me boldly in the eye.
“Are you waiting for someone?”
To my surprise, Gianna scooted from her barstool to the one in between us. She flashed a brilliant smile at me and shook her head.
“No,” she said sweetly. “I thought I’d come get a drink. I’ve had a long day.”
My cock twitched at the honeyed tones of her voice, and for a moment, a lustful image of Gianna’s perfect lips around my manhood filled my head.
“Oh yeah?” I smirked. “What did you do?”
Gianna yawned. “I just moved here,” she explained. “I’m still staying in a hotel, but I was looking for an apartment or a condo or something.”
I grinned. “Problems with finding a roommate?”
Gianna looked offended. “I don’t need a roommate,” she purred. “I can take care of myself.”
I bet you can, I thought, picturing Gianna naked on a bed with her fingers between her legs. Hot, powerful lust flowed through my body, and I shifted uncomfortably on the stool as my cock throbbed with desire. “I’m sure you can,” I said. “As it happens, I just moved here, too.”
“Oh yeah?” Gianna grinned. She lifted a martini glass to her lips and sipped, not even wincing at the sharp taste of the gin. God, I thought. She even makes drinking look sexy!
“Yeah,” I said. “From Boston. You?”
Gianna’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “No kidding,” she said. “Me, too. Well, not Boston, exactly – just outside of the city. But still,” she added in a low voice. “Hell of a coincidence, isn’t it?”
“It is,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Do you think you’ll like living here?”
Gianna leaned closer and pressed her lips to mine. When I felt her warm mouth against my own, passion and lust flared through my body. I put my hands on her waist and pulled her close, slipping my tongue into her mouth. Gianna moaned softly. When she broke the kiss, she pressed her forehead against mine and licked her lips.
“I like you, Barnes,” Gianna said in a sultry voice. “Would you like to come home with me?”
Chapter 5
Gianna
I couldn’t believe how different I felt now that I’d escaped Boston. It wasn’t just the city, though – it was everything. For the first time in my life, I was no longer under the strict rule of my parents…and with every second I spent away from them, I saw just how very strict that rule had been. My first realization happened at the airport when I saw a group of obviously-teenaged girls walking and chatting on their own. Their parents are letting them fly alone, I thought
, in surprise, as I watched them move forward in the security line. My parents barely let me out of the house!
The little shocks didn’t end there. When I got to LA, I stood on the airport curb for over an hour because I couldn’t figure out how the taxi line. Obviously, I wasn’t expecting my driver, Curtis, to show up or anything like that…but it was still unsettling.
I’d used the wi-fi aboard the plane to look for places to stay, but everything looked so intimidating that I had no idea how I was supposed to find anything good. In the end, I called a five-star hotel, the Crown Jewel, right in Beverly Hills. When the cab pulled up in front, I was impressed – it looked exactly like the kind of place that my mother and father would have picked on a vacation.
