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“Is that what smells so heavenly?” Carly closed her eyes and inhaled.
“Yes. We broil them like they do at Drago’s in New Orleans, with the Romano cheese, garlic, and butter.”
Tanner laughed. “We’ll take two dozen. And some bread.”
“I’m starving. Thank you.” She grinned at him, and Tanner was taken aback at how lovely she was. When had she become this gorgeous woman?
Carly stared out at the water and took a deep breath, then closed her eyes. The same exact thing Tanner’d done once he’d sat down.
“It’s so peaceful here.”
Becky plopped down Carly’s beer, pulling her out of what appeared to be a moment of satisfaction.
Carly knocked her longneck against Tanner’s and took a long draw. He had to appreciate a woman who enjoyed a good beer.
“So, what’s up? I was a little surprised to get your text.” Carly’s gaze was curious, and her eyes, well, they were clear, cat-eyed hazel, just like her sister Leah’s.
“Let me start by saying this stays between us until I make the move. I mean, Jake and Leah know, of course.” He told his brother and sister-in-law things he wouldn’t dream of sharing with anyone else.
“Sure. I won’t say a word to anyone.” She made a crisscross pattern over her heart, which made him smile unexpectedly.
He leaned in. “I’m working on separating from my father’s law firm, but he has no idea yet.”
Carly’s eyebrows went up. “Wow. That’s huge. Tell me more.”
Tanner’s desire to part ways from Carson was something he’d spoken about freely in past conversations with Carly present, since it wasn’t uncommon for her to be with Leah while Tanner was with Jake. So Carly likely already knew this was something he’d wanted for a while.
“I’ve purchased a building on Second Street from a friend who’s recently moved his business to Shreveport. He’s already transferred the title but held off on filing it with the city, and we’ve made a mostly cash purchase, but he’s willing to self-finance the rest. It’s the only way I could do it without Carson sabotaging the sale.”
Carly frowned. “Sabotaging? In what way?”
“The usual stuff I could see him doing. Building code violations, licensing delays, which he could still make happen, if I’m not careful who I work with at city hall.”
Carly frowned. “I know your dad can be an ass, but why would he go to such lengths to keep you at his office if you don’t want to stay?”
The oysters arrived then, and they dipped the French bread in garlic butter and added hot sauce to the mix.
“Pride, mostly. He has some weird idea that keeping me as his associate within the practice demonstrates to everyone in town my loyalty to him. Going out on my own will infuriate him. In his mind, I might as well hang a banner from the bridge across the bayou that says I’ve defected.”
“He’s not somebody I’d want to piss off—that’s for sure.” Carly’s family had had some experience with Carson’s bad side quite recently. “So, I’m happy for you, but I have to ask how this affects me?”
“I need an associate. Well, at first, it would be more like an assistant. But there would be legal work involved. And court cases. And if all goes well, opportunity for advancement.”
“Can you pay me?” Carly had just completed an internship, so he could see where she might want to clarify this not-so-tiny detail.
Tanner shifted on his stool. “Yes. Not well at first, but the sooner we win the first case, the better the odds of your pay increasing quickly.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What if I bring in my own cases?”
Tanner was impressed by her business savvy. Being such a young attorney, it surprised him how she looked him in the eye with a steady stare as if she were negotiating a contract. “Your cases would be your cases minus a small percentage. We can work it out in a contract if you’re interested.”
She grinned at him. “Let me think about it and get back to you. I’m not sure what my long-term plans are.”
“We could go into it with no strings, meaning you take the job and work with me until you figure out what you want to do. I need someone to help me with all the minutiae of setting the practice up, so think about it, okay?”
CHAPTER TWO
Carly
