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“I’m ready for my inspection, Mr. Royce,” she says in a sultry whisper designed to drive me crazy.
“Good,” I say, pushing my way in. Ruthie’s watching me from the side of the door, her lips parted, her eyes done up with smoky makeup. She’s wearing spiky black heels.
I shut the door and turn toward her, backing her into the wall, falling to my knees as I do it. “I think I’ll start here.”
I slide up the bottom of the silky teddy and say, “Yes, I like how little it covers.” A groan escapes me when I realize she’s wearing nothing under it. Her legs are smooth and warm, and there’s something even more exquisite between them.
“But you’re making me cold,” she says, looking down at my head with a sly smile. “So why don’t you put your mouth on it?”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Shane
“Has your family moved in with you yet?” Josie asks.
It’s Thursday, and we’re in my office at Freeman & Daniels. I’ve spent a good chunk of the week working on Josie’s case and digging into a few others. And, yes, I’ve spent plenty of time with Ruthie and Izzy. Burke and Leonard also came over my place with a bottle of scotch the other night. Turns out Burke’s set a date for his wedding—April 19th, the day of his parents’ trial. As fuck yous go, it’s a pretty elegant one.
They let me know I have their support, for which I was grateful, but I felt Danny’s absence, his continued silence.
“Well,” Josie asks, increasing her volume as if I might have avoided her question just because I didn’t hear it, “have they?”
“No, and can you be more discreet?” I eye the closed door.
“No,” she says. “It’s bad for my aura to restrain myself.” She gives me a pointed look. “It’s bad for yours too, you know. But you were finally honest with your friend Danny, so that’s something.”
Sighing, I say, “I happen to know that Mira talks to you occasionally for some godforsaken reason. There’s no reason for you to perform for me. I’m not the one we have to convince about your talents.”
“How are the witness interviews going?” she asks with a sniff, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder.
“Fine, although I’m not sure your old boss from the tea shop is the best witness, given she thinks she can read a person’s future at the bottom of a teacup.”
“She’s very empathetic. It’s almost the same thing as being psychic.”
“You know,” I tell her, “you didn’t have an appointment here today, but I do bill by the hour.”
She gives me a defiant look. “Not at the rate you used to charge.”
Did she come in here just because she felt like pissing someone off?
“No,” I agree, “but it’s still not cheap. A therapist would be cheaper. Or a psychic. I’ve heard they come at a bargain rate these days.”
“Not after this trial is over. I’m going to raise my rates. I might even have to hire staff.”
“For your fictional TV show?”
She gives the sniff of a lady offended. “Everything that’s real starts out fictional.”
I sigh heavily. “That’s one of those things people say to sound intelligent that doesn’t actually make any sense. Can you explain why you’re here?”
“We’re not going to lose, are we?” she asks, and for the first time I see what I should have picked up on when she first shoved my door open, upending the potted plant Izzy picked out for me earlier this week. Josie’s not here to taunt or annoy me. She’s nervous.
“I don’t like to speculate, but the chances of us losing are very low,” I say. “Like I told you, it’s a superfluous lawsuit. He’s angry, and a person should never file suit out of anger. It would be extremely rare for a judge to award the plaintiff money in an alienation of affection case, particularly since the person the defendant is suing is not the man who alienated his ex’s affection.” I smile at her. “Besides, you have me. I’m good at what I do.”
She studies me, perhaps looking for some fluctuation in my face or aura that will tell her I’m a liar. But, in this, I’m not. It’s not vain to know you’re capable.
She nods. “How do I get the most out of this? I feel like this is my big break. Maybe it’s yours too.”
“Don’t talk to the press. It would look bad, and you could get into trouble with the judge.” I think for a moment, then add, “But you could hardly be blamed if you have some friends who are alarmed for you. Friends who choose to talk.”
