Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
I frown. “Nelson Ward wants to hire your husband’s company to protect him?”
“He isn’t pleased with the company he’s using to handle the threats he’s getting.”
“And?”
“Royce immediately declined. He just feels it’s bad mojo to aid in the defense of a guy who might have killed a pregnant woman, especially with a pregnant wife of his own.”
“I think he has a point.”
“Of course he does, but I know Reese Summer. I don’t believe he’d take this case if he believed Nelson to be guilty.”
I turn a corner and keep walking, weaving through the crowd. “You’ve met Reese?”
“Yes. I know I told you that.”
“No. No, you did not tell me that, though I suppose it’s logical, since you’re both working criminal defense attorneys. Are you telling me now that you’re going to talk Royce into taking the case?”
“No,” she says. “I tried and failed, and I know what battles to pick with the Walker men. And I read your rundown on opening statements, which was not only excellent, by the way, it cements my belief that Mr. Hotness wins again.”
“Mr. Hotness?” I ask, stopping dead in my tracks only a few steps from the coffee shop. “What does that mean?”
“Oh gosh, you don’t know Mr. Hotness? What kind of reporter are you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Reese was on TV last year, and it sparked all kinds of fantasy blogs about him. It’s insanity the way it took off. He hates it.”
“Reese Summer is Mr. Hotness?”
“Yes, but like I said. He hates it. He feels it degrades his skills. He’s a good guy. And he is hot, but don’t tell Royce I said that. He’s been very jealous since I got pregnant again, which is just silly. I’m pregnant, for God’s sake.”
“Like you have eyes for anyone but Royce anyway.”
She sighs. “I really do love that man. Anyway, I have to go. But for the record, I’ll bet you a Chocolate Avalanche Sundae at that ice cream place we found a few months back that the woman’s ex-boyfriend killed her.” There are voices in the background before she says, “I need to go, but I expect courtroom gossip you tell no one but me.” And on that note, she hangs up.
I lower the phone and blink with the realization that right now, the biggest gossip I have to share, or withhold, is me meeting Mr. Arrogant Asshole while reading about, and admittedly living, a mini-fantasy about Mr. Hotness, both of which are Reese. How is this even possible?
I glance at the time on my phone and realize how close I have to be to missing him before he heads to court. Shoving my phone back inside my purse, I hurry forward and open the door just as Reese is exiting. Before I can even blink again over this man, his hands come down on my shoulders and he turns me to the side of the door. “You’re late,” he says, his hands scorching my arms, while a fall breeze is now tinged with the spicy, masculine scent of his cologne.
“I don’t remember setting a date or time.”
“And yet we did,” he says. “But you obviously had to talk yourself into showing up.”
“I came for coffee.”
“Liar,” he says.
“I came—”
“For me,” he says, his voice a low rasp as he adds, “Come for me again. Tomorrow. An hour earlier than today.”
“I need—”
“Good,” he says. “And I want to hear more. Tomorrow. I have to go.” He releases me then he’s walking away. I rotate to watch him depart, and Lord help me, the man really is Mr. Hotness and I can still feel him everywhere, and he didn’t touch me anywhere but my arms. He’s also gone before I’ve confessed my identity, and I consider chasing him down and explaining myself, but he’s headed to court. I’m the last thing that he has on his mind today. And yet he was here. For me. I’m not sure what to do with that little tidbit of information. But then, men like him love the chase, and I didn’t fall at his feet.
It’s about the chase.
Until he decides I set him up to get the interview I still need from him. This really can’t end well, or even naked. No one is going to come, at least not Reese and myself together.
Chapter three
Cat
Iarrive to the courthouse an hour before start time, but, frustratingly, the picketers and crowds are pure insanity. I push through it all and by the time I make my way to the courtroom, I end up in the same back row as yesterday. Then again, I think, as I try to get comfortable in the hard seat, maybe I need to keep a low profile until I deal with the Reese Summer situation. Situation. There’s a way to describe what’s happening between me and that man.