He knew she’d felt it. She was trying to resist the connection between them. And that had been okay, smart even…until she’d reopened the can of explosive worms with her text.
There was no point in trying to fight his attraction any longer. He didn’t want to. This situation might be complicated and messy, but he no longer cared. He would do what he had to to get out of this marriage as fast as possible, and then he was going after the woman he wanted. The time in between would be torture, but he couldn’t continue something with her until he was a free man.
But the minute he was…
* * *
“Ms. Davis, Ms. Sullivan is here,” Madison said, buzzing her office later that morning.
Like pulling off a Band-Aid, do it quick and get it over with. Olivia forced a steadying breath. “Okay, send her in.”
Through the glass window, she watched Kristina walk down the hall and open the door. Her stomach did a flip. This sucked. Never in her twelve years practicing law had she walked away from a case. Especially not for a reason like this. But that morning with Ben confirmed she couldn’t continue working on this one. Despite the fact that she wouldn’t let anything more happen between them, staying on with such a huge conflict of interest was wrong. Being off the case also ensured she wouldn’t have to deal with Ben anymore.
Disappointment crept into her chest and she sat straighter, shaking it off. It was for the best. Ben was not the right man for her.
Kristina smiled as she entered, and Olivia forced her own lips to curl into the best version of one she could muster. “Hi, come on in,” she said, gesturing to the seat across from her.
“I was surprised to get your meeting request. Is everything okay?”
The temptation to say yes was strong, but she had to grow a set and tell the woman the truth.
That she’d kissed her husband? Her stomach turned again and she thought she might throw up. Okay, she couldn’t exactly be that truthful, but, “Kristina, a situation has come up, and I’m sorry to say that I can no longer represent your case.” There.
The woman gave her a blank stare. “What do you mean you can no longer represent me?”
Her annoyance was to be expected, and Olivia had prepared for it. Kendall was on standby a few offices down, waiting to step in and take over as soon as Olivia explained this situation—or rather, lied to her. Of course, she hadn’t exactly revealed the real reason to Kendall, either. She simply stated that her caseload had gotten heavier and she wanted to make sure Ms. Sullivan’s case got the attention it deserved.
She was going to hell.
“I apologize, but when I took the case my workload wasn’t as heavy, and I feel as though you would stand a better chance in court with a different—equally competent and aggressive—lawyer by your side. Kendall is an experienced divorce attorney.” The truth of it was bittersweet.
“Oh, I get it. You’re in love with Ben.”
Blink. Blink. Blink.
Where on earth had that accusation come from? And why wasn’t a defense coming quickly and naturally to mind? This was what she did for a living.
Was the question/statement true?
She shook her head. No. She wasn’t in love with Ben. The kiss had been the best one she’d had in years, but it was just a kiss. While she knew she was attracted to him…she couldn’t be falling for him, could she?
The man was a self-proclaimed player. And that was fine with her because she wasn’t even considering a relationship with him. Right?
“Well, I guess that answers the question,” Kristina said.
Shit. All that rambling in her mind, and she’d forgotten to say the “no” part out loud. “It’s…no…I’m not.” She paused, but knowing a better, more believable statement was needed she tried to explain. “I represented his soon-to-be sister-in-law last year, and I hadn’t thought that would pose a problem, but it has. A conflict of interest has arisen.” There. That sounded professional. And technically it was true. Had she known Ben was Abby’s future brother-in-law, she never would have offered to represent Kristina.
“So, this conflict of interest is about a former client and has nothing to do with you dating Ben?” she asked, calling up that day’s People magazine on her cell phone.
Her chest tightened. Damn. The two of them together hadn’t made the big news, but the small pictures of them in the parking lot of the stadium were telling enough.
How did these publications move so freaking fast anyway? The shot had been taken less than eight hours ago. No other industry moved at such a lightning pace. Apparently, gossip didn’t sleep in.
“There’s no point trying to deny it,” Kristina said.
Obviously. “We were together this morning, it’s true…but not in the way it appears.”
“I’m not stupid, Olivia. I saw it here in your office—that connection, that sexually charged tension between the two of you. At first, I tried to tell myself I’d imagined it or that it was something between you and Mr. Sanders.”
She shuddered involuntarily at that thought. “I swear there was nothing happening that day. There’s still nothing happening.” It was partly true. Her feelings for Ben had been primarily superficial that first day in her office…things had really started to change at the charity event when they’d danced, when his arms around her and his gaze locked with hers had a knee-weakening effect she’d never experienced before.
“Maybe not for you. But he certainly was interested.”
Olivia sighed. Whether it was true then or not, didn’t matter. He was attracted to her now. “I’m sorry about all of this. I never meant for this…complication to occur.”
“Complication.” She seemed to consider the word. Then she stood. “Unfortunately I don’t agree to you abandoning my case.”
“Well, it is your right to insist that I stay on, even if I’m advising you that it is against your best interest.”
“So, you’ll stay on?” she asked.
“No. It means I’ll have to file a motion to withdraw with the courts. Which could also cause a delay in your case.”
“We wouldn’t want that, would we?” Kristina said snidely. “The longer he’s married to me, the longer you have to wait to have your turn with him.”
Olivia bit back a defense of Ben. The guy she was getting to know wasn’t the same heartless, love-’em-and-leave-’em player the media made him out to be. He wasn’t interested in a relationship, and admittedly that was a problem for most women…but not her. After all, she didn’t want one with him, either.
Kendall tapped on the door with a smile, having waited the designated time to introduce herself to Kristina, but Olivia shook her head. Her coworker rolled her eyes to signify she sympathized then continued down the hall.
Kristina gathered her things. “So, I guess I wait to hear from you?”
“The office will call you with the court date.” She stood as well. “I am sorry, Kristina.”
The other woman offered a small, humorless smile. “Guess not even the toughest hearts can resist Ben Westmore’s charm.”
Chapter 14
Olivia let out a deep breath as she waited at the front of the courtroom a few days later. Kristina hadn’t arrived yet, and the judge was giving her five minutes to appear. Olivia hoped she’d realized that her stepping down was in Kristina’s best interest—if also self-serving—and not appear that morning to oppose her decision.
She just wanted off this case.
The courtroom doors opened and Kristina rushed in, destroying Olivia’s hope for an easy, quick decision. She was exhausted, not having slept the night before, and emotionally drained. She’d canceled all of her appointments for that day, and after this, she was going home.
For three days, all she’d thought about was Ben. She’d resisted the urge to contact him to let him know she was dropping Kristina’s case, because what would be the point? She wasn’t in a position to start a relationship right now, especially not with a man like Ben. The fact that she hadn�
�t heard from him either should be making this easy; maybe he was realizing what she had: things couldn’t go any further.
The thought depressed her more than she was willing to acknowledge.
She had to pull it together long enough to get through this.
She turned in her chair as Kristina took a seat opposite her and the judge called the case to order.
After they were sworn in, the judge turned his attention to her. “You’re filing a motion to withdraw on the divorce case Westmore versus Sullivan, on the basis of conflict of interest. Is that correct, Ms. Davis?”
She nodded. “Yes, Your Honor.”
“And you, Ms. Sullivan, would like the court to deny that request?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Okay. Well, first, I’d like to advise the defendant that anything Ms. Davis says to argue her side—whether it be flattering to yourself or not—may be used by Mr. Sanders, whom I see in the courtroom today, for your future hearing on your divorce case.”
Olivia shot a glance over her shoulder. Sure enough, Kevin was sitting in the back. So much for this being private and quiet. Ben would be finding out in less than an hour. Her heart raced. Would he reach out to her then? When part of the problem preventing them from seeing one another was eliminated?
She shook it off. She was hopefully having a baby. No matter how this case went, that was enough reason not to pursue things further.
“I understand,” Kristina said.
“And you wish to proceed?” the judge asked.
“Yes, Your Honor.”
Of course she did. She knew Olivia had little that could tarnish her case. Before everything had gotten complicated with Ben, she’d seen their defense, and it was weak. Ben had admitted that Kristina’s statement was accurate. He’d even confessed to being the one who’d suggested the wedding in Vegas and had actually convinced Kristina to go through with it. He hadn’t been tricked or forced. And while Kristina’s unwillingness to sign divorce papers until Ben delivered on his drunken promise to help her son wasn’t exactly admirable, it wasn’t completely unreasonable, given the circumstances.
The judge turned back to her. “We’ll start with you, Ms. Davis. Why do you make this motion to withdraw today?”
She took a deep breath, willing her voice to remain steady and strong. “Your Honor, since accepting Ms. Sullivan’s case, a conflict of interest has arisen, and I feel that I am not suitable representation for her going forward.”
The judge made a note. “This conflict of interest is between the two of you?”
“No, Your Honor. It’s between myself and Mr. Sanders’s client, Ben Westmore.”
The judge flipped several pages in the file on his desk. “You state in the file that you represented Mr. Westmore’s brother’s fiancée last year, is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“So you have existing ties with that family?”
She did. Strong ones. Ones that were slowly wrapping around her heart. An image of his mother, followed by one of Becky and then Abby and Jackson played in her mind. They were all such wonderful people. Such a supportive family…Ben was lucky to have them. She longed to have them. Damn it, there was no more denying she also longed for Ben. “Yes, sir.”
“What about your contact with Mr. Westmore?”
She swallowed hard. “We had been communicating outside of the case.” Had being the key word. Not hearing from him was killing her, even though she knew it was for the best. She missed their teasing flirty banter and the sound of his laugh, the way his touch felt, and God, she couldn’t even think about his kiss without warming from head to toe.
The judge nodded. “Communicating…” He turned his attention to Kristina. “Given the fact that Ms. Davis is unable to be an impartial representative for you, why are you interested in keeping her counsel?”
“She believed in this case before, and I trust her.”
Still? After all this?
“Even though she now has a vested interest in your losing?” the judge asked.
Olivia swallowed hard. Did she? Could she actually reach out to Ben once all of this was over? Her hand went to her stomach and she knew the answer. Starting a relationship with him while she was trying to start a family wouldn’t be fair to either of them…or her potential future child.
Kristina must have answered the judge’s question, as he was staring at her again.
“Sorry, Your Honor, I missed your question.”
“I asked if you have found suitable representation to replace you on the case?”
“I have, Your Honor.”
“Who is it?”
“Mrs. Kendall Schiller.”
He nodded, made a note, then turned to Kristina. “With your best interest and the interest of your case against Mr. Westmore, I am ruling in favor of Ms. Davis. She will be granted approval of her motion to withdraw, and Mrs. Kendall Schiller will be your newly appointed attorney, unless you prefer to arrange alternative counsel on your own.”
Olivia released a deep breath. She hadn’t doubted this would go her way, but now it was official. She felt like a jerk. She felt embarrassed. She felt like the worst lawyer on the planet…but she also felt relieved.
Kristina looked disappointed as the judge continued. “Do you understand, Ms. Sullivan?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Case file number four twenty-eight—motion to withdraw—Davis versus Sullivan dismissed.” He banged the gravel and shot Olivia a look that said, From now on, keep it professional.
* * *
Olivia was off the case.
The text from his lawyer had him conflicted as hell. She’d gotten the motion to withdraw based on a conflict of interest by knowing Abby, but he knew there was more to it.
And thoughts about what that meant were driving him insane. He’d wanted to contact her since their skating lesson, but he couldn’t reach out. Not yet. He was feeling things he hadn’t in a long time, but he was still technically married, and he couldn’t afford the distraction of more complications right now. The Avalanche had taken the lead in the semifinals, three games to two, and he needed to stay focused.
But Olivia had dropped the case.
Leaving the locker room after practice, a sign announcing the Major Junior tryouts caught his eye. Tryouts were held in early May while players were still warm from their season and would be able to train with the new team over the summer to prepare for their first real season in the fall. An invite to tryout by talent scouts was next in line behind getting drafted as far as important and exciting moments in a young player’s career went, and it reminded Ben of his tryout day.
He’d been so nervous, he’d thrown up in the parking lot behind the garbage cans. In front of the Major Junior coach. His nerves had turned to embarrassment until the coach had pointed out several other puke piles behind the cans and said, “Looks like we have some star performers trying out today. Rookies are too cocky to be nervous enough to puke. Professional players know what’s at stake.”
The words were meant to reassure, but they’d only made him even more nervous. He did know what was at stake. Everything he’d worked hard to achieve had come down to that moment in his life.
He scanned the badly handwritten names on the sign-in sheet for Brandon’s. There it was, third from the last. Obviously he’d gotten an invitation. On his own. Without any help from Ben. He experienced an odd sense of rebellious pride for the kid.
He saw several other names he recognized, kids who’d attended the Avalanche’s hockey program last summer. He’d love to see how they did at the tryouts. He was a game away from entering the Stanley Cup finals, but it inspired him to watch other motivated kids fighting for their own dreams. And inspiration in any form right now was more than welcome.
No contact from Olivia was killing him. Ignoring the feelings he had for her when she was still on the opposition had been tough, but now it was nearly impossible. Could he break his own rules? Could he take a chance?
Heading back to the rink, he climbed the side bleachers to the far back. Most of the kids’ parents were sitting along the glass, and he didn’t want to steal the players’ thunder by making his presence obvious. He scanned the row of nervous-looking adults and was relieved to not see Kristina. Their court date was set for the following week, and he wasn’t interested in seeing her before then.
Then disappointment for Brandon sank in. His mom wasn’t there. Though it was the middle of the day on a Tuesday, and she might have had to work. Being a single mom and raising the boy alone had to be tough.
The tryouts started, and he watched the young players skate out onto the ice, wearing home and away colors for the games they’d play after warm-up. Some were fast. Some took a steadier, more calculated approach as they selected a puck from the blue line and took shots toward the net. He recognized himself in the fast ones. He knew one speed. It worked for him. But he could see the speed was affecting a lot of the boys’ accuracy on their shots.
Except one kid. The one with SULLIVAN spelled out on the back of his uniform.
He had no idea why Kristina would want his help for her son. The kid was a natural on skates. Ben leaned forward as he watched. He had great precision in handling the puck. As a defensive player, he knew his position and played within it, but he wasn’t afraid to advance the puck when he saw an opening. He protected his goalie without getting in the way, and he looked comfortable, confident, and relaxed on the ice.
Unfortunately, once the game started, his obvious skills made him an instant target for the slightly bigger, slightly less talented players. The first time his body was crushed against the boards, the kid’s gloves were off and he was swinging.
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