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“What do you mean, ‘we’?”
“Weare working as co-council on this.” His smugness was revolting.
“But this is my case. And I always work alone,” I sputtered.
“Well, this is my firm and I can take on any case I want, so…” He waved the box. “Now, unless you want me to take this solo, I’ll ask one more time, shall we get started?”
“I think I’m going to take lunch first,” I said tersely.
Roarke raised a dark eyebrow. “You don’t want to get started right away? I’m surprised at you, Riley.”
I inwardly groaned. I hated that he called me by my last name. “You don’t know me well enough to be surprised by me, Mr. Brentwood,” I shot back.
“You’d be surprised what I know,” Roarke drawled, following me into my office and putting the box on my desk. “These are all the files Richard had on the case. Seems like the woman is a cheating bi-”
“Don’t use that word,” I snapped.
Roarke shrugged. “Man or woman, sometimes it’s necessary,” he said. “We’re going to have to find an interesting angle to win this case for her and get her the alimony she thinks she deserves.”
I huffed out a breath. “I’m going to lunch,” I said, not wanting to argue with him, but he blocked my office doorway, leaning against the doorjamb.
His shoulders were so broad, his hair slicked back and styled well, dark hair barely streaked with silver. His eyes a bright green and he didn’t really have any wrinkles, despite being quite a bit older than me. I guessed that he was probably in his late thirties, early forties.
The essential problem with Roarke Brentwood wasn’t that he was egotistical and annoying. It wasn’t even the way he thought that most women were man-eaters.
It was that I couldn’t stand his cocky, smug personality. And despite his traditional good looks, I couldn’t look past his narcissistic ego.
“You’re in my way,” I said flatly, and Roarke smirked at me.
“Sorry,” he muttered, not sounding sorry at all, and he moved just enough so that I had to brush past him—gross—and I got a whiff of something like sandalwood and roses. He must have showered after his workout earlier. The shoulder I brushed past was hard and his bicep muscular, and I drew in a deep breath to clear my senses from him as I headed to my car.
I banged my hands against the steering wheel, frustrated. I was going to have to work with Roarke fucking Brentwood for God knew how long until we figured out this case. But I would show him my skills in the courtroom and out, and he’d have to recommend me for partner.
I wasn’t angry because someone was “testing” me, but I was irritated that it was Roarke. I knew that he was a good lawyer but we had different angles when it came to working cases. He was ruthless in divorce and custody cases, and I approached things with more empathy. We were just two different types of lawyers, and it was certainly going to be an experience being evaluated by him.
I just hoped that he didn’t let his jaded attitude about women affect his judgment when it came to my skills. I might have technically gotten this job because of my dad, but I’d kept it because I was damn good, and I intended to show Roarke Brentwood just how good.
ROARKE
I didn’t catchup with Magda until the next morning.
“Left,” she yelled as I was jogging and I inwardly groaned.
Why did she pick this spot in the park, anyway, jogging away from me with her long, lithe legs pumping? At this point, I felt like she was doing this on purpose.
Maybe she was.
I snorted to myself, thinking how ridiculous that was. I usually took it easy, listening to rock music as I continued my slow jog around the park. I sprinted to catch up with her, barely breaking a sweat.
“You ready for today?” I asked her conversationally.
“I stay ready,” she responded, staring straight ahead. She was one of those psychopaths that could exercise without music, apparently, because I didn’t see any earbuds in her ears.
“Good to know,” I said, sprinting up ahead of her. I’d ran track in college, and I could run very quickly, but I was working on my stamina of late and preferred to do longer runs. Besides, my knee sometimes acted up I had to pace myself. I was halfway through my five miles already but I’d finish in no time at this pace. I told myself that I just needed a change, that the stamina training was getting boring and I was wearing a brace on my sore knee, but deep down, I just wanted to annoy Magda Riley.
Especially since she was wearing nothing but a sports bra and a pair of jogging shorts that were tight across her ass. I stopped myself from looking. The package might look nice but the rotten personality inside was not worth it.
I knew that I was an attractive man, and I was at a point in my life where I yearned to get home to someone. I craved the companionship and touch of a warm body against me when I fell asleep. Lately, I stuck to one-night stands and flings when things got too lonely and cold. I didn’t love it, but I needed the occasional human touch.
