Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“You’re going to do that? Or are you going to call Carter to do that?”
Worth shrugged. “Same thing, but with less chance of messing up my shoes. They cost a fortune.”
I laughed. “True, but I don’t need either of you to go after him. That would actually make things worse. Jasper is Ms. Jenkins’ lawyer.”
“Oh shit.”
“Yeah.”
“So that’s why he showed up last night saying he wanted to talk about the case?”
I nodded, then wished I hadn’t when my head threatened to explode.
Worth frowned. “He’s up to something.”
“No doubt.”
“And he got you drunk. Are you sure you didn’t tell him something you shouldn’t?”
“I don’t think I did. It was weird. We talked about the case, and I assured him Miles would never agree to settle. Then we just…talked.”
“Is that a euphemism?”
“No. He’s straight, remember?”
Worth huffed. “I saw the way he was looking at you last night.”
“That wasn’t real. He wants me to think he might be interested because he thinks I’ll be more likely to give in to his demands.”
“You need to stay away from that son of a bitch.”
“No shit.”
“Ford, really. He’s not good for you.”
“I know. Why am I always attracted to the ones I can’t have?”
Worth grinned. “It’s too bad you can’t be like me.”
“Not learn their names and not give a damn? Just fuck them and walk away?”
“Right. Because if you could do that with Jasper….”
“You’re terrible.”
He shrugged. “Yeah. Probably. You should tell Miles about what happened last night. You and Jasper working on the same case has to be a conflict of interest.”
“If I refuse to work with anyone I know, I couldn’t do corporate law anymore.”
“It’s not that you know him, it’s that you’ve got a thing for him.”
“No, I think he’s hot, and I’d like to fuck him.”
Worth raised his brows.
“Fine. I’d like him to be straight and not be an asshole who always come up with ways to act like he’s superior to me.”
“Would you? Really? Or is that part of the fantasy for you, fucking a straight asshole?”
Why did Worth know me so well? I let out a long breath. “I’d like to think better of myself than that.”
“I’m not judging you. It’s okay to have fantasies and to act them out. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“It’s not okay to want to be with some guy who’s just using me.”
“If you’re using him too, then it is.”
“You know me, Worth. You know that isn’t how it would go, and there definitely is a conflict of interest in sleeping with opposing counsel.”
“Are you sure? Like what if you were married?”
“In my personal moral code, it’s an issue whether it’s a legal one or not.”
“That’s the problem. Your personal moral code is too strict.”
I flipped him off. Had Jay really been looking at me like he was interested? Why would he fake it when I wasn’t paying attention? I bit my lip to keep from asking Worth that question.
“Are you feeling any better now that you’ve got all that alcohol out of your system?” Worth’s words startled me from my thoughts.
I considered the question for a moment. My head was still throbbing, but my stomach was less unsettled. “Maybe. A little.”
“Let me take you to brunch, some eggs and bacon and a little hair of the dog will have you fixed up in no time.”
Before he’d asked, I would have said I couldn’t even think about food, but once Worth made the suggestion, I was suddenly starving. “On one condition.”
“What?”
“We don’t talk about Jasper.”
Worth considered that for a moment. “Alright, but you’re on notice.”
“What?”
“If you keep letting him get to you, we’re going to have an intervention.”
I rolled my eyes. “I can handle myself.”
He didn’t look the least bit convinced, and honestly, I wasn’t either.
After brunch, I tried to get Worth to tell his driver to drop me off at the office, but he insisted I go home and relax. “Do you want Miles asking questions about why you came in if you’re sick?”
“Having food poisoning isn’t the same as having a virus. I’ll just say I feel better.”
Worth shook his head. “Go home and get yourself together.”
“Damn. I never thought you’d be the one saying that to me.”
He chuckled. “I have to say I’m enjoying it.”
8
JAY
I startled awake from a dream. It felt so real that I reached out my arm and felt the bed next to me to make sure Ford wasn’t there. When I was sure I was alone, I lay there, staring at the ceiling as my head pounded. I tried to banish the dream from my mind, but it was too potent.
I’d really fucked up last night. I’d meant to flirt a little with Ford, set the groundwork for convincing him it would be better to settle out of court, maybe buy him a few drinks.
Nothing had worked like I’d planned.