by Natalie Ann
“Sounds like you are moving on. I hope you’re happy.”
He’d liked Robin when she came to him in the beginning of the year. She could have gotten any lawyer she wanted who would have been drooling over her case, but she’d contacted him and he never knew why. Not that he wasn’t thrilled over it.
“I am. I’m getting there. You were so kind and patient and gentle with me. You never pushed me to go after Alex. I didn’t want a circus. I just wanted to move on and as quickly as possible.”
“That is probably why his family loved you so much,” he said. She had a gentle soul. He’d seen it all along. She’d been devastated over her ruined marriage, but she didn’t want revenge. Not many women were like that that he’d come across during a divorce proceeding.
Not many women were like her in general, he’d learned, and felt a pull to her right away.
He couldn’t do anything about it and didn’t. But he was thrilled she called him for this and he would get to spend some more time with her.
“I’m sure. Alex’s parents still want to maintain a relationship and I just can’t. I don’t even know if it was to save face or not, but I need to cut ties with them.”
She tucked her brown hair behind her ear and tried to force a smile. “Did you tell them that?”
“No. I should. I’m taking the coward’s way out and just avoiding them. I even changed my number, but his mother emailed me. I mean it’s been easier since I moved here and I don’t see them much. Between work and the shelter, I’ve been busy.”
He knew she had a passion for working with rescue dogs. “So how many dogs have you adopted since you’ve been on your own?”
She frowned. “None. I can’t have dogs in my apartment. When I moved in, I was still reeling from everything. It was winter and so on. Then the summer just flew by and I was trying to figure things out. I’m not sure what made me start looking for houses, but I saw this one and right away, the minute I walked in, I had to have it. I’d love to close now, but I can’t.”
“Why?” he asked. “The owners aren’t ready to move?”
“It’s a single father and his daughter. He’s getting married in a few weeks, so he can close after the wedding.”
“Makes sense,” he said.
“Not really,” she said. “He’s marrying the woman in his backyard. You’d think they’d just move in together now.”
Brian laughed at the chagrined look on her face. “It’s not that long. Since you’re paying cash I’m sure we can get through this fast. Do you know who his lawyer is?”
“Brina Shepard,” she said, handing over the card. “Guess it’s his new wife’s cousin.” She pulled the contract out. “Philip Aire is the current owner.”
“I’ll reach out to Brina and we’ll get going. She’s not that far from here”
“Thanks,” she said. “I’d love to get a puppy soon. I think I need the companionship.”
He smiled at her. He’d like to spend some time with her but wasn’t sure it’d be wise to mention that. She was his client. Not only that, she’d been through a horrible experience. She was probably a little gun shy and he couldn’t blame her if she was.
“We can all use that in our lives at some point,” he said.
“Oh,” she said. “I’m sure you aren’t hurting for any companionship.”
She blushed when she said it and he found that comment promising. “You’d be surprised.”
He was thirty-three years old and alone. Still young. Still plenty of time.
Yet he was sick of it.
A few months ago he’d stood up at the altar and watched his sister, Meena, marry his best friend, Troy Walker.
He and Troy had been inseparable growing up. They’d been through all the ups and downs in life that best friends had. They’d even pushed off his annoying younger sister when they were teens and then shielded her from douchebags.
Protective older brother? That was him. It was his job and he was damn good at it.
The last thing he’d ever thought was that his baby sister had the hots for Troy and that the two of them had secretly been pining for each other for years.
When Meena moved back to the area a few years ago to open up her own hair salon, she’d never said a word that she was coming back because Troy was single again. His engagement having ended when his fiancée turned out to be a real bitch.
His best friend and sister were happily married and living in Troy’s house in Guilderland. A nice boring cookie cutter development. Anyone who knew Meena would think it was a riot, but she’d had no problem going in and redecorating Troy’s house. With his blessing of course.
“Thank you again,” Robin said. “For seeing me on such short notice. I know you’re busy, but I appreciate it. I just felt so comfortable with you last time and knew I wouldn’t have to explain my situation or where the money was coming from as I would if I went with someone new.”
It started out as a compliment and then turned into he was better than the alternative. So much for thinking she might be interested in him. “Not a problem,” he said.
She stood up and shook his hand, the heat of her palm touching his and setting off a wave of emotions in his body just like it did every time he saw her.
He walked her out, then watched her make her way to her SUV in the parking lot. Nothing showy at all. There was nothing about Robin Masters that spoke of her newly acquired wealth and he had a feeling she preferred it that way.
Robin got in her car and started it up, then rolled the window down to get some air. The late September breeze felt good and she needed to suck in as much of the oxygen as she could.
Every time she saw Brian Dawson she felt as if the breath was knocked right out of her. Crazy, considering how she’d met him.
Even crazier if she’d said she did a search for lawyers, saw his picture online, and thought he looked honest. That was why she went with him.
What she was going through, and how messy it could get, the last thing she wanted to do was find some lawyer who tried to talk her into going for blood.
Nope. She wanted out.
She was hurt.
She was embarrassed.
She’d been a fool and she didn’t want anyone to know about it.
What she was, was just plain done.
Brian had listened to her story. He’d watched the video, and he applauded her for keeping her cool and recording it and then not confronting Alex. For just taking the next day off of work, packing her belongings, and moving in with her parents.
She’d been home when Alex got out of work that night, she’d told him she wanted a divorce and she’d ask nothing of him.
He’d had the gall to be hurt and upset, then mad. He didn’t understand where it was coming from and she’d calmly explained it to him with tear-filled eyes.
Then he’d gone into a rage and said no one ever understood him. He’d begged her not to let anyone know about the video. That he’d give her what she wanted, but he didn’t want his name dragged through the mud and asked if there was a way they could work things out.
She’d laughed at him and wanted to tell him to go F off. But she’d never been one to swear or act that way.
In the end they agreed to quickly and quietly divorce. But when Alex’s parents found out, they’d pressured their son on what happened, then they cornered her. She’d kept her lips sealed because she just wanted to move on.
She should have known that Alex wouldn’t be able to keep quiet though. He always fell to the pressure of his parents, but that wasn’t her problem. That was his.
He’d gotten drunk and confessed to his parents. They hadn’t believed their son until he said Robin had it caught on video and that he had no choice but to give her what she wanted.
No one had ever wanted to see proof of that video. She’d thought that was funny. It didn’t matter. She’d had it and when her brother, Rick, had seen it, he’d flown in from California to be there for her. Her older brother was the best there was
.
He was always there for her. Standing up for her. Protecting her. Giving her advice.
It’d embarrassed her to show the video to Brian, but as her attorney he needed to see it. She’d had no choice in the matter.
Robin had cried when she showed it to him. She’d cried a lot in his office.
And every single time, he’d gotten her tissues. He’d gotten her water. He’d held her hand.
He’d been there for her when the man she’d married and thought she loved had embarrassed her and broken her heart.
And when Alex’s parents contacted Brian with a settlement and she wanted to throw it back in their faces, he’d calmly told her that it was her right to do it, but since she didn’t want anyone to know what happened, that the least she could do was think about it.
“I don’t want their blood money,” she’d argued with Brian.
“I understand. As your lawyer, I think you should take it. They want you to keep quiet on this, but I’m recommending you don’t sign any nondisclosure either. This is going to come out at some point and you don’t want them to accuse you.”
“You’re right. He can’t keep this a secret forever. It’s going to happen again and again. I know that. Someone is going to find out and I don’t want to be associated with it.”
“How about we set up a meeting and air it all out?”
“Only if we do it here,” she said to him when they were in his office. Not even the conference room, but his office, just the four of them talking quietly.
“Of course.”
So he’d arranged it all. It was the first time she’d seen Alex’s parents since she’d left him. His mother came in crying and hugging her. His father not crying but apologizing. She’d realized they weren’t trying to buy her off, but rather compensate her and maybe...make themselves feel better.
In the end she agreed to the settlement and everyone hoped the other kept quiet.
It was Alex’s life and he could do what he wanted.
Just like she was going to do what she wanted too.
Starting with seeing Brian Dawson again.
Also by Natalie Ann
The Road Series-See where it all started!!
Lucas and Brooke’s Story- Road to Recovery
Jack and Cori’s Story – Road to Redemption
Mac and Beth’s Story- Road to Reality
Ryan and Kaitlin’s Story- Road to Reason
The All Series
William and Isabel’s Story — All for Love
Ben and Presley’s Story – All or Nothing
Phil and Sophia’s Story – All of Me
Alec and Brynn’s Story – All the Way
Sean and Carly’s Story — All I Want
Drew and Jordyn’s Story— All My Love
Finn and Olivia’s Story—All About You
Landon Barber and Kristen Reid- All Of Us
The Lake Placid Series
Nick Buchanan and Mallory Denning – Second Chance
Max Hamilton and Quinn Baker – Give Me A Chance
Caleb Ryder and Celeste McGuire – Our Chance
Cole McGuire and Rene Buchanan – Take A Chance
Zach Monroe and Amber Deacon- Deserve A Chance
Trevor Miles and Riley Hamilton – Last Chance
Matt Winters and Dena Hall- Another Chance
Logan Taylor and Kennedy Miles- It’s My Chance
The Fierce Five Series
Gavin Fierce and Jolene O’Malley- How Gavin Stole Christmas
Brody Fierce and Aimee Reed - Brody
Aiden Fierce and Nic Moretti- Aiden
Mason Fierce and Jessica Corning- Mason
Cade Fierce and Alex Marshall - Cade
Ella Fierce and Travis McKinley- Ella
Fierce Family
Sam Fierce and Dani Rhodes- Sam
Bryce Fierce and Payton Davies - Bryce
Drake Fierce and Kara Winslow – Drake
Noah Fierce and Paige Parker - Noah
Wyatt Fierce and Adriana Lopez – Wyatt
Jade Fierce and Brock James – Jade
Love Collection
Vin Steele and Piper Fielding – Secret Love
Jared Hawk and Shelby McDonald – True Love
Erik McMann and Sheldon Case – Finding Love
Connor Landers and Melissa Mahoney- Beach Love
Ian Price and Cam Mason- Intense Love
Liam Sullivan and Ali Rogers - Autumn Love
Owen Taylor and Jill Duncan - Holiday Love
Chase Martin and Noelle Bennett - Christmas Love
Zeke Collins and Kendall Hendricks - Winter Love
Troy Walker and Meena Dawson – Chasing Love
Jace Stratton and Lauren Towne - First Love
Gabe Richards and Leah Morrison - Forever Love
Blake Wilson and Gemma Anderson – Simply Love
Brendan St. Nicholas and Holly Lane – Gifts of Love
Paradise Place
Josh Turner and Ruby Gentile – Cupid’s Quest
Harris Walker and Kaelyn Butler – Change Up
Philip Aire and Blair McKay- Starting Over
Nathan Randal and Brina Shepard – Eternal
Ryan Butler and Shannon Wilder – Falling Into Love
Brian Dawson and Robin Masters – Mistletoe Magic
Amore Island
Family Bonds- Hunter and Kayla
Family Bonds- Drew and Amanda
Family Bonds – Mac and Sidney
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