Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
The reason I’d ignored all the relationship warning signs—right up until Chandler arrived, that is—was to avoid the pain currently ravishing my heart, cutting deeper than any other time in my life. And I didn’t need to allow my thoughts to go willy-nilly right now, I had to drive safely to get there in one piece.
Time was the only remedy to heal life’s traumas. I wasn’t convinced that what Dash and I lost was something I could heal from, but I’d give it a try. Perhaps one day I might find someone who resonated with me. Pain slashed over my heart again at even the suggestion.
I pushed those thoughts aside and turned up the country music station, humming along with the melody. Carter had told me years ago that the mind couldn’t think of two things at once. He wasn’t wrong. I made a conscious effort to think of anything other than Dash. And there he was again.
I fucking hated Chandler.
Dash
Monday
The grit in my eyes, along with the red rims surrounding them, prompted Lon, who planned to be in court today merely as an observer, to decide to argue the case instead of me. I was put out by the call. Despite having sleep deprivation, I was exceptionally skilled at my job. I could win this case with my eyes closed. Which they really wanted to do.
I glanced down at the cell phone that had remained in my grasp without interruption. Beau hadn’t called me back. His debit card was now sending me alerts with every new transaction. He had stopped for gas in Waxahachie, Texas, and then again in Houston. Where was he headed? Surely not to Sea Springs where our world had fallen apart the first time. What were his intentions?
“Dash, you ready?” Lon called from the end of the bench I’d sat in behind him. I looked around, astonished to see a nearly empty courtroom.
“It’s over?” I asked.
“Yeah, and I said your name a few times.” The scowl on his face wasn’t one usually directed at me and his tone had a tinge of anger lacing through it.
“Was the case dismissed?” I asked, standing and working my way out.
“Yes,” Lon said, more irritated than seconds ago, but I didn’t give a shit. He’d be truly pissed once he learned my intentions of leaving the firm. But I wasn’t ready to divulge that information yet. And I’d stopped caring about his feelings a long time ago.
I nodded, glad to see the case ended in our client’s favor. Once we were alone inside the elevator, he locked stares with me.
“Penny shared what occurred. Which one’s bothering you? Beau or Chandler? Fair warning, it better be Chandler. You risked our company by bringing him in. We have no idea what he might have had access to.”
I raised my hand, hoping to stop the reprimand Lon was intent on giving.
“Don’t belittle my intelligence. Everything he was involved in was staged. He left with paper files that held no significance. But I assure you, he’ll face consequences for whatever he did to Beau.” I didn’t look away from his stare as I spoke with sincerity and zero hesitation. Chandler was far from finished with me.
Lon gave an exasperated sigh. “You still don’t get it. Men like us don’t have relationships. We can’t give what a relationship needs in order to thrive. Our love is law.” He waved his arms wide. I imagined he wasn’t referring to the elevator, but rather the courthouse as a whole. “It’s simply the reality, Richmond. Accept it and move on. You’ve made your choice. Honestly, he lasted longer than I expected.”
Whether Lon believed it or not, I did pay attention to him. Though, what I did with his wisdom might be different than he’d intended. “Why longer than you thought?” I asked as the elevator opened on the first floor. Lon nudged me out, and I complied though I’d rather stay on and finish the conversation.
“I don’t know too many people who’d stick once they learned they were too country to take part in firm events,” Lon said, shoving open the outside doors for me. “Especially after they tried so hard to fit.”
Beau had appeared to be relieved that he no longer had to be my plus-one at client dinners. I had taken Beau at his word, but what if that actually hurt or embarrassed him? The concept was too upsetting to consider. I never wanted him to think I was ashamed of him.
“Don’t strain yourself overthinking,” Lon chastised, guiding me toward the outside parking lot. “You could discover what transpired the night he left by accessing the security cams from your building.”
I halted so abruptly it felt as if the soles of my shoes stuck to the pavement. What was happening to my brain? How had it not occurred to me? Even after we’d used the cams in my office to ferret out Chandler’s misdeed, I still hadn’t thought to access our home security data. Instead, I was just continuously dialing his cell that was now permanently turned off.