“How do you mean?” I have her full attention.
“I interviewed Mr. Prescott directly.”
She listens intently.
“He simply verified everything you said about keeping the kids apart and obtaining Jackson because of his ‘pedigree.’ Like a prize racehorse.”
What I’m saying registers behind her eyes.
“Mr. Whitmore Prescott seems to me like a man who’s used to getting what he wants. Perhaps by any means necessary. I have a feeling if I start digging deep enough, I’ll find a trail of lawyers running scared. The lawyers who were supposed to help you represent the kids. I also wouldn’t put it past him to have hired someone to intimidate you.” I sit on the couch opposite Elle. “I have no evidence to back that up. Just call it a hunch.”
After she lets it all sink in, she asks softly, “What are you going to do about it?”
“I don’t know yet,” I tell her honestly.
“How did you find Lily and Max? Prescott’s had them hidden for over a month, ever since he found out I’d been seeing them regularly.”
“A lot of investigative work, using my position at the firm and my connection with Cade.”
“Are you going to get in trouble?”
I don’t respond. Truthfully, I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this with my name or reputation intact.
“So, I might not have to fight you in court?” she asks with a small smile.
I try to match the friendly-ish smile, even though I don’t know what the future holds.
She doesn’t make me answer and instead asks, “How were you able to get all three of them transferred here? Especially with Jackson in detention?”
“Cade and I came up with a strategy to keep me out of that part, so I wouldn’t be in contempt of court.”
Now she smiles and her eyes sparkle, knowing I just let her in on a huge secret.
Yeah, I put the truth in her hands, even knowing she could bury me with it. Somehow, having her trust me means more to me then my own imminent downfall.
I take a sip from my mug. “Cade used his influence. Plus, the kid has run away from fourteen homes—including three detention facilities—no one wants to risk their spotless records by being next on the list.”
She chuckles, probably at Jackson’s resourcefulness.
“Cade’s pretty incredible,” she says. “You’ve been lucky to have him in your life.”
“Incredibly lucky,” I agree. “Cade has a lot of clout, but I don’t know what’s going to happen when Mr. Prescott gets wind of what we’ve done. I have a feeling there’s going to be hell to pay.” I shrug a shoulder. “Cade and I are both used to paying those kinds of prices.” I may be trying to be confident—or cocky—in front of her, but I can’t help but wonder how high the stakes really are.
I watch as she looks off into the distance and her fingers unearth the medallion that has been neatly tucked beneath the neckline of her blouse. The action appears to be purely unconscious as she rubs the small engraved piece of metal between her thumb and forefinger.
“Could you be… disbarred? Could Cade lose The Core or North House?” She’s seriously concerned.
“You have a lot of faith in Prescott.”
“I haven’t experienced many happy endings.”
Her answer cuts me to the quick. I need to move. I stand up, unbutton my shirt cuffs, roll up my sleeves and untie my tie. As I pull it off, I notice her gaze lingering over the tattoos on my forearms. It creates a rush of burning heat in my blood.
Makes me think of all the times she came to the watering station by the sparring rings at The Core. I often wore head gear, so I wouldn’t have a black eye or a bruise across my face when I went to court or met with clients. But once I knew she’d sometimes leave the yoga studio on break and come around for water, I made sure I always had it on so she wouldn’t recognize me. I liked to indulge in the fantasy that maybe she was coming all that way to check me out. I loved the feel of her eyes as I imagined them lighting over my skin and muscle.
It’s how I feel right now. She makes my breath quicken, and I hope my poker face isn’t shit as I unbutton the top few buttons of my shirt.
A woman hasn’t had this kind of effect on me since college, and that was purely physical. With Elle, there’s something deeper. So much deeper. And I want to figure it out and explore it, then hold onto it until the burning heat consumes me.
“I’ve been struggling with myself all evening, wondering if I could trust this—or you. I even doubted Cade and Debra because of their association with you.” She locks her eyes on mine. “Just so you know, you’re on trial and the jury’s still out.”
“Got it.”
For a moment her eyes drop to the carpet as her chest rises and falls with a heavy breath. “But this, what you’ve done for them… it’s huge, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
I nod humbly. “I’m more than glad to help.”
She takes a sip of her decaf, then slowly a little smile hints at her lips. “Did you read the activities list Debra left for us to do with the kids?”
I laugh. “Yeah, I know! I’m glad I had vacation time coming to me.”
“Lucky you,” she says, still smiling.
I’m taken with how beautiful she is and the fact that she’s actually smiling at me.
“I’m still going to have to get business done remotely. Which reminds me,”—she slowly unfolds her legs from underneath her and sets her bare feet on the floor. Her toenails are painted purple—“I have an early Skype meeting before our day with the kids gets underway.”
She stands and tilts her head a bit when she says, “Thank you again… for bringing the kids together. Goodnight.”
Elle
I’M THOROUGHLY DISTRACTED during the Skype meeting, but fortunately for me, I’m not the center of attention for this Friday morning briefing.
All I can think about is Debra’s sneak-attack. She told me I wouldn’t see it coming, that if she set me up, I’d never know it—and neither would he. I shake my head, marveling at her stealth. Of course, then my body burns hot with embarrassment, knowing it was Connor Callahan I’ve been leering at and ogling at The Core this entire time. My enemy.
Oh God! That enemy’s body!
Of course, he’s just as gorgeous sweaty and shirtless in those tight red boxer’s shorts as he is in a three-piece. The simple motion of him removing his jacket and tie, then folding up his sleeves undid me. I had to remind myself who he was as he undressed. His voice poured out like smooth, sultry whiskey, and my body temperature rose to a fever. Even the man’s forearms are sexy. God, all the times I’ve watched him, fantasizing—imagining those arms around me or at the sides of my head as I squeeze my fingers hard into the muscle there as the pleasure overtakes me—
OH MY GOD, STOP! How am I going to deal with working so closely with Callahan while the man infuriates and baffles me one moment and then his body turns mine into an inferno the next?! Bad combo. I can’t process it.
Could he really be Superman? I’m not sure anymore who he is. Is he a cutthroat lawyer or white knight do-gooder? Guess only time will tell.
He has done something more than incredible. It doesn’t matter what his motives are, the children are together.
For now, I’ll play it safe, keep Mr. Callahan at arm’s length. No need to be hostile; I’ll be friendly—but no getting too friendly—he’s still opposing counsel. Until he decides otherwise. During that whole cathartic conversation last night, he never said he intended to back out of the case.
As the briefing ends, I close my laptop and get ready for what the day has in store…
With Connor Callahan.
“There you are, Elle!” Jackson runs up the stairs to greet me. “When I woke up, I had Reese’s Puffs! Oh my God I love those! Connor even let me have chocolate milk in it!”
“That sounds very healthy,” I mock, but really, I’m thinking chocolate milk with Reese’s Puffs cereal must taste like the bomb.
How cool it was that Connor—Mr. Callahan—did that for him.
Jackson is saying something about eggs, but I’m still lost in thought about—
UGH!
“I ate everything!” He’s so happy! I can’t stifle my smile. “Are you really going to be our teacher?” He dances around me excitedly.
“That’s right. Along with special online programming.” I ruffle his hair.
“This is so cool! I can’t believe this is happening!” He jumps the last six steps and lands on his feet. “And, Elle, there’s a big school room with like a hundred computers, and a library full of books and movies, and paint and markers, and…” His eyes grow wider and wider with his description. I’ve never seen him like this.
My nose stings as tears rise into my eyes. Quickly I whisk them away, so he doesn’t notice. “Where are your brother and sister?”
“Connor is playing Twister with them.”
“Really?”
“Yup!” He grabs the doorknob, giving it a turn. “I was playing too, but I wanted to see if you were coming yet.”
Spread out on floor at the far side of the room is the vinyl Twister game-sheet. Callahan is in a terrible predicament—he’s holding himself awkwardly, positioned downward dog style over the top of both Max and Lily, each of them attempting to balance on all fours.
“Lily—left hand on red,” Nicole, the teen girl staying at North House, reads off the spin board.
“RED, LIKE ELMO!” Callahan and Lily chime at the same time as he smiles down at her.
“Max, you’re up,” Callahan tells him. “Ready?”
“Ready!”
Nicole spins the dial. “Right foot on green.”
Max tries to reach his leg around Lily. When that doesn’t work, he wedges it underneath her, hits the spot but starts to wobble.
Without missing a beat, Callahan grabs the back of Max’s tee shirt to steady him. “Whoa… you got this.”
Max regains his balance and the game is back on.
“Alright, Connor, left hand blue.”
“BLUE LIKE COOKIE MONSTER!” This time Max joins in with Callahan and Lily’s side game of colors and Sesame Street characters.
All of them laugh. I can’t help but join in, the mood is so infectious.
Callahan hears me as he’s trying to maneuver over Max, and he totally loses balance, literally throws himself to the side so he doesn’t crush Lily or Max and ends up crashing to the floor in a heap at the side of the mat.
I cover my mouth to hide a giggle.
Nicole laughs loudly. “What, did you see a tarantula or something?”
“Or something,” he mutters, laughing at himself too.
“Does that mean I win?” Max cheers for himself but holds his position.
“Not yet, Max. Lily is still in the game,” Nicole reminds him.
“Ha-ha!” Lily teases. “Spin ME!”
“Yup, you’re up next, Lily.” Nicole continues with her instructions.
Callahan stands, playfully dusting himself off. “Morning,” he says to me.
“Morning.” I move my hand from my mouth, but I’m not able to hide the lingering smile.
He shrugs. “I knew they’d win, anyway.”
I bite my lip, trying to keep my smile from growing more.
Deflecting, I mention, “I saw Brandon and Tyler on the computers.” Brandon and Tyler are the other two teens staying at North House.
“They got a jumpstart on their assignments.”
“I’ll need you to show me how to get these guys”—I point at the three young ones—“set up.”
“Yeah. No problem.”
“Let me grab something to eat first. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Um, I wasn’t sure what you normally liked to eat for breakfast, but Debra said you were a vegetarian.”
“I am.”
“Right, so I had to make a bunch of eggs this morning, anyway.” He says it so fast, the words all tumble together. “And made you a spinach and feta cheese omelet. I put it in the fridge.”
“Sounds delicious, thanks.” Wow, omelets. I’m very surprised, surprised he took the time to make everyone omelets on a school day and surprised he can cook.
The omelet is scrumptious—golden, buttery, cheesy. There’s even toast to go with it. In no time I’m sitting at the computers with Jackson and Max. Lily is waiting her turn, coloring with Brandon.
“It’s a basic K12 online program. We enroll all the kids, no matter their length of stay, and tutor them. If they’re here for a longer term or have learning challenges, we hire professional tutors,” Callahan explains. “That’s what they had to do for me. I had pretty severe dyslexia and ADHD.”
“Me too,” Jackson tells him.
“This program is designed to help with that,” Callahan continues. To me, he adds, “You’re not alone, there are actual teachers on the other side who Skype, instruct and grade papers.”
“Nice program.”
“It works well.”
For half an hour he shows me the ins and outs of the curriculum. Pretty soon, I’m familiar with the program and can navigate it on my own. Once I set Jackson and Max up, they pick it up like they were born with a manual in their DNA.
Throughout the afternoon, I notice the amount of patience Callahan has while teaching the kids. When they get frustrated with their assignments, he keeps calm, talks them through it, re-explains.
Everyone makes their own lunches. Afterwards, while Callahan does math with the boys, I get to spend part of the afternoon playing dolls and having a tea party with Lily.
Evening hits, and Callahan puts the frozen burger mac and cheese casserole that Debra made ahead of time into the oven. I make myself a dinner salad and set it aside to eat with the group, then we all hit the basketball court in the backyard—while wearing winter gear. Brandon and Tyler use the shovels to remove the snow.
Callahan brings out a speaker and adaptor to set up his iPhone. Soon, Imagine Dragons is blasting.
We’re divided into two teams: Callahan has Nicole, Brandon and Max, while I have Lily, Tyler and Jackson. This won’t be cutthroat basketball, considering Lily and Max are on the court. We have two balls in play because Lily wants to hold her own and gets infuriated when anyone takes it from her.
The older kids play sweetly with the littler ones. Brandon passes the ball to Max, who has no idea what to do with it. Jackson tries to rush him, but I hold him back while Callahan coaches Max to dribble the ball down the court.
Tyler is so funny as he pretends to try to take the ball from Max but instead falls as Max runs past him, making Max feel rather invincible.
When he makes it under the hoop, his eyes get huge as he follows the pole to the top. Quickly he looks to Callahan, who scoops him up in his arms and hoists him to the basket. The grin on Max’s face stretches ear-to-ear as he drops the ball into the net, and it makes that cool swish sound. He raises his arms in the air, shouting in triumph.
In this moment, I feel my stronghold against Connor Callahan crumble just a little.
Play ensues again, with all the kids working the ball, until Lily decides she wants both balls! She zooms in, body checks Tyler in the legs like a true NHL grinder, steals the basketball and runs away into the yard as fast as she can.
I chase her down, laughing the whole way. After a few minutes—and me promising to push her on the swing—she relinquishes the game ball.
The kids resume play. Nicole gets the ball, dribbles down the court and passes it to Brandon. Jackson snags it and races across the court before shooting it to Tyler, who tosses it in for two points.
The game goes on for some time while I keep Lily distracted.
I happen to look up as Callahan passes the ball to Brandon. Tyler comes in hot, then slams hard into Brandon. The ball falls, but neither boy seems to care. They square off, ready to fight.
“Fuck you!” Brandon shouts at Tyler.
“Yeah, well I’m gonna beat your a
ss if you look at her like that again.” Tyler gets right into Brandon’s face.
Shit!
Jackson grabs Max and pulls him out of the way, and Nicole joins them on the sidelines while Callahan jumps into the thick of it.
“Nobody’s beating anybody’s ass today,” he says calmly as he steps between them.
They continue to glare at each other, completely ignoring him.
“He fucking knows what he’s doing,” Tyler flares.
“Yeah.” Brandon smirks. “And you can’t handle the competition.”
At this point, Nicole rolls her eyes, shakes her head and joins me on the playground equipment. Max wriggles out of Jackson’s arms, running over too.
“Be angry, but settle your dispute intelligently, without violence,” Callahan instructs. “Look at them.” He tilts his head to indicate us. “They just all took cover. Why do you think that is?”
Both boys look over at Nicole, Jackson and Max.
“If you get physical when you get mad, what’s to say you won’t get physical when you’re mad at your girl?” His eyes dart between the two; he knows they could still strike out at any moment. “We’ve all seen where that goes. Right here is where it starts. Right here is where it can end.”
“Girls like guys who can fight.” Brandon’s chest puffs out as he leans in a bit.
“No, dude. Girls like a guy who can defend them. Huge difference. Self-defense, sparring in the ring with gear, those are different scenarios than some punk fight ’cause you got your manhood questioned. This shit doesn’t prove you’re a man, it only shows you’re an ass with anger issues. That’s an abuser in the making. You want that?”
At Callahan’s words, you can see both boys take a breath, relieve their stance and take a step back.
“Girls want to know that when you’re mad, you won’t turn violent. They need to know they’re safe with you.”
Brandon and Tyler get it. Their muscles relax, the expressions on their faces transform from rage to remorse.
Callahan calls over, “Nicole, could you please grab a jug of lemonade from the fridge? Jackson, go with her and bring out cups for everyone.”
Risk: An Enemies to Lovers, Second Chance Romance Standalone (Brothers of Ink and Steel) Page 9