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That.
Again.
He means he should spank me.
Reese clears his throat. “All right then. I’ll order the pizza. I know what everyone likes by now.”
Cole gives an evil laugh that has me nudging his leg in warning.
“And I,” Cat says, saving us with a change of topic, “have something to tell you both. Your client connected with my publisher and I’m for sure writing his book. I’m going to make the world see the injustice served him and the heroes that his attorneys really are.”
Cole sucks in a breath and downs his wine. “So we can get more attention.”
“The book won’t be out until next year sometime,” she says. “And you know me. I won’t publish anything you don’t want published. I’ll let you read it. Actually, I’d like you both to co-author with me. I think it will be brilliant, and there’s a couple hundred thousand in it for you to split.”
“And a press tour and attention we don’t need,” Cole says looking at me, and I can see his demons crawling out of the box. I can feel him pulling me close and trying to shelter me. “We don’t need the money.”
“We can donate our portion to the families,” I say. “I can do the work with Cat. I think this book can expose the corruption of the legal system we want to be pure and fair. I want us to talk about it.”
He studies me for several long beats in which I sense his struggle. I can almost feel him shove those demons back into the box. “You really want to do this?” he asks, proving despite his box of demons, he’s still the man who helped me chase my dreams, who is always pushing me forward, not holding me back.
“I think I might,” I say. “Cat and I are good together.”
“We are,” Cat says. “But no pressure. I just couldn’t resist agreeing on that.”
Cole looks between us. “You are. I know you are.” He refocuses on me. “If you want to do it—”
“I want to talk about it,” I say, kissing his cheek, and taking his hand. “With you. Later.”
His eyes warm and before he can reply, Reese announces, “Pizza is on the way.” He grabs the wine. “Let’s move to the living room where we can talk about world domination.”
Reese and Cat head out of the kitchen and I catch Cole’s arm. “Any word from Walker on Ashley’s ex?”
“Nothing,” he says, snatching his phone. “I should text Royce.” He punches in a message. “How was she?”
“Rattled,” I say. “Really, how can she not be? Does she have family or anyone here?”
“She doesn’t have anyone, period.”
“Maybe we should invite her to stay with us?”
“Let’s see what Royce says.”
His phone buzzes with a return text. “No word yet,” he says, reading the message and then sticking his phone into his pocket. “He’s got calls out. They’re watching Ashley. And he’ll update me before bed. He’s already communicated with Ashley.”
“The flowers and the card were scary, considering he’s supposed to be some sort of criminal.”
“Maybe it was all a mix-up. It happens or we wouldn’t have jobs.”
The doorbell rings. “That will be Cat’s delivery she was expecting from the courthouse. I should—”
Cole pulls me to him and kisses me. “What was that for?” I ask when I can finally breathe again.
“My way of telling you I’m here.”
“You don’t have to kiss me for me to know that, Cole Brooks.”
“Then call it just because,” he says, but it’s not just because. It’s something else. Something he wants to say, but is better said alone.
