AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We don’t have to stay. We can stop in, give our condolences to her family, and leave. It’s up to you, little one.”
“Maybe.”
He kissed her again, but this time he lingered, offering comfort and solace the only way he knew how. When they broke apart again, her eyes were slightly glazed, and he couldn’t help but grin. She was so adorable when she was all flushed with pleasure.
“Meet me in my office in half an hour. We’ll leave your car here tonight and drive home together.”
“‘Kay.”
Leaving her to finish her deal, he returned to his office to get some work done. But the reports he’d been working on earlier seemed like a jumble.
“Fucking weasel,” he grumbled. Realizing he wouldn’t be productive until he eased his own mind, he grabbed the phone on his desk and dialed the number of the only person he knew who could help.
“Law Offices of Keppel, Monroe, and Abrams,” an overly cheerful voice answered.
“Hello, Judy. It’s James Monroe. Is my brother around?”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Monroe. He’s in. Let me just see if he’s available for you.”
James stared at the chair where the weasel had been sitting, tapping his fingers on the desk while he waited for his brother to answer the phone.
“What do you want?”
The gruff annoyance in Bryant’s voice had a grin stretching across James’s face. “That’s a fine howdy-do for your big brother.”
“Ten minutes. You have ten minutes on me, asshole. What do you want?”
“Can’t a guy just call his brother and chat?”
“Not at one-thirty on a Wednesday. Shouldn’t you be out, dominating the real estate world?”
“That’s actually why I’m calling. I have a possible situation.” He gave Bryant a quick rundown of what had transpired with the Jacksons. “Think he could cause us any trouble?”
“Nah. He’ll make a fuss, maybe call you out on social media. But legally, he doesn’t have a case. And any good lawyer will tell him that.” There was a short, heavy silence. “Did he really say that about Liv?”
“Yeah.” Just the memory of it had him baring his teeth, wishing he could take a chunk out of the little weasel.
“Want me to go kick his ass for you?”
“As much joy as that image brings me, I don’t want to make this any messier than it already is. Thanks, though. You should come over for dinner sometime soon.”
“Sure. Haven’t seen the little brat in a while. Give her a hug from me.”
“Will do.”
Feeling centered again, he hung up the phone and refocused on his reports. He’d just wrapped up one of the financials that had been giving him a headache when Olivia knocked on his door frame. “Ready?”
“Let me shut down.” While the computer powered down, he stood and motioned for her to come closer. “Come here.”
She stepped around the desk, a mischievous smile on her lips. “Yes, Sir?”
James wrapped his arms around her, making her laugh with an overly enthusiastic bear hug. “That’s from Bryant. This,” he lowered his lips to hers for a deep kiss, “is from me.”
“Mmmm. Thanks, for both. Everything okay?”
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“If you’re giving me a hug from Bryant, you spoke to him recently. And if you called him in the middle of the day at work, something is wrong. What’s up?”
