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Looking over to Lois, I feel lighter after I hang up, even though the handset makes a terrible buzzing sound again straight away.
“Good news?” I ask her, and her eyes shine. “What you said about delegating, you meant it?” she asks.
I narrow my eyes and lean over, ignoring the phone for a second.
“Whatever you want, Lois and however you want it. As long as I’ve got you, I don’t mind how you handle it”.
Her kiss is so soft, so wet and so damned hot I want to toss all phones and computers out the window and take her right here on the dining table.
But… I also know what I’ve started, for us both.
I just hope she’ll stick with me until we’re both clear of it.
I know she will no matter what happens.
I take my call and she opens her laptop, busy with her own phone at the same time.
I pause to look at how sexy she looks, her eyes all focused, and her hands busy with things as her mind slots into gear. She still takes a second to look up at me, silently mouthing the words ‘thank you.’
But she’s got nothing to thank me for.
I only exist now for her, because of her.
Remembering how lawyers live in their own world, I’m reminded of the fact by my next caller.
The team I used to play for, their ‘legal representative.’ The one who does things out of hours.
The one they have on hand to handle shit fights.
Before I even finish saying hello, he’s spelling out a lengthy recitation of parts of my original contract.
I hear the handset creaking in my hand, under the weight of my clenched fist.
“I thought we just got an injunction… to stop all this-”
“You did.” The voice says, assuring me in that smarmy, legal tone. “None of what we say tonight is in the papers now, is it, Mr. Barnes…?”
I hang up quickly and fight the urge to pull the ancient-looking cord from the wall, choosing to look at Lois instead.
She looks brighter than ever, happy, and even holds a hand up when I try to say something, making my heart melt.
Oh, you go girl. I’ll try and show you the same control later.
“Sorry, Blake,” she says, finally moving her gaze from laptop to her phone, back to the laptop again before resting her baby blues on me.
“It’s done, I think,” she announces.
I smile.
Waiting for her to tell me, I don’t need to know or demand. I just know she’s done what needs doing.
Because I just know she’ll be the best at what she does.
“I’ve got… wait a second,” she says, half holding that hand up again, before swearing under her breath, looking at the laptop.
“I’ve got several interested parties,” she murmurs, then rubs her eyes.
Atta girl.
“One agency. They’re offering… oh my god! They’re offering a hundred thousand dollars for the rights to the story.”
I frown, searching the table for a menu, then buzzing for the porter.
I don’t mean to ignore Lois, I look up at her straight away, watching her eyes scroll in time with the emails she’s no doubt looking through.
The news agencies.
Their scouts.
Their money.
I feel her hand jerk wildly as I put mine over it, creasing a smile, reminding myself of something.
“Lois? We can have dinner first. It’ll all still be there in an hour,” I tell her.
“But, Blake!?” she pleads. “A European agency is offering…”
And it’s my turn to put my hand up.
“Lois, I trust you but a word of advice. Wait. Even until morning, let ‘em sweat it out. Let’s have some dinner and… dessert,” I tell her, squeezing her hand and narrowing my eyes, feeling her tremble with all kinds of excitement I vow to extract from her as soon as we’ve eaten.
“Hungry?” she quizzes me, browsing the thick menu she discovers.
“Ravenous,” I promise her.
The carriage heaves gently, and we both order what I hope will be enough to sustain us for the night I have planned for her.
Chapter Nineteen
Lois
I’m trying to explain to Blake what I’m seeing, the offers I’m getting once I put the feelers out.
It hurts a bit when he puts his hand up like he doesn’t even want to hear about a hundred thousand dollar offer for his story.
But I remind myself and the people I’ve entrusted to help me, that Blake Barnes is a man who not only knows what he wants… he’s a man that has it all.
Even though he’s had it and lost it all… Or has he? I haven’t even asked him that yet.
He’s a man in charge of his own destiny, and I have to admit, the carriage, the menu, and the prospect of the dessert he has on offer is enough to tempt me into tucking my laptop away.
For now.
Even switching off my phone so we can enjoy dinner, and then each other.
