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“You can move to Reese’s team,” she says. “Now or at any point.”
“Reese’s team is full. Cole needs me. And the truth is, we connect more than physically. I can tell we’re going to get each other professionally. I studied his cases and track record. I’m lucky to get to work with him and learn from him.”
“Okay. Let’s just be straight with each other. When there’s the kind of spark you two have, it’s going to win.” I open my mouth to object and she holds up a hand. “Don’t say otherwise because this kind of attraction has a life of its own. So just entertain what I’m saying to you, okay?”
“Yes. Okay.”
“What if he’s your Reese?”
“Cat—”
“You said you’d listen.”
I purse my lips and she continues, “It starts with the kind of attraction you’ve never felt before. Intense. Uncontrollable. Palpable, like it is with you two. So, what I want to say to you is this: Cole is a good man. He will not let whatever this is with you two, hurt you. He won’t. And neither will Reese.”
“I don’t want to be the girl who slept her way to the top.”
“Be the girl who killed it in court and wins and that won’t happen. And if Cole wasn’t as damn good as he is, Reese wouldn’t have partnered with him.”
“I will,” I say. “We will.”
“Just communicate with him and us,” she says. “You’re with us and him. If you were with another firm, I’d give you different advice. But you’re not. It’ll be okay.”
“Thanks, Cat.”
“What are friends for?”
“Exactly,” I say. “So, send me your book.”
She pulls her Mac back in front of her and powers it up. “Here you go,” she sighs, punching a key on her computer. “Sent. Now I’m going to go pull out a few dresses you might like to try on. I can’t watch you read and I don’t want you to be nervous about what you can or can’t wear.” She disappears, and I flashback to the moment on the street when I’d walked away from Cole, and how much regret I’d felt. I’m where I belong and I’m going to stay the path. He’s in my path. I grab my phone from my purse and stare at Cole’s number, and finally I type: Can you call me sometime before the party?
He replies almost instantly: We’re about to meet with this potential client. I’ll call you after that before we run.
Can you text me first so I can go somewhere private?
Yes. Of course. Is this about your rules?
I consider that a moment and then reply with: I don’t know, Cole. I just want to talk to you.
I’ll call soon, he replies.
I’m not sure what I’m going to say to him besides giving him a heads up about what I told Cat. I’m not sure what I want him to say to me. No. That’s wrong. I want him to say something that makes going home with him tonight somehow as acceptable as he made me saying yes to that spanking. I want to be close to him again. I want to be naked with him again. I want to go home with Cole.
Chapter twenty-five
Lori
Istick my phone back in my purse, and do my best to set aside my one-time Prince Charming with mad bedroom and courtroom skills, and start reading Cat’s manuscript, and in a matter of a minute, I’m absorbed in a case that has long intrigued me; June Smith, a college-aged girl, was convicted of killing her dorm mate, and sentenced to death row. She died of cancer while in prison, and now, five years later, she’s innocent, and a now deceased janitor for the school was the killer.
I’m a good portion through the parts of the book I haven’t read when Cat shows back up. “Well?” she asks, sitting back down.
“It’s amazing,” I assure her. “This story is mind blowing in so many ways; tragic and compelling, and you embrace that in every way.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. Of course. You have hordes of fans for your column and books for a reason. Deep down, you know you nailed this and you’ll embrace that too, once you get past the deadline. That’s how you work. I’ve seen it with every big project you start.”
“Maybe,” she concedes. “What about comments? I always love your comments.”
