Naked Love

by Jones, Lisa Renee

  “Bingo.”

  “Fuck. Thanks for the heads-up.” I end the call and dial Ward.

  “Where are you?”

  “Vermont,” he says.

  “Get on a plane and get back here.”

  “Why?”

  “Kelli will likely be charged today.”

  “Holy shit. She confessed?”

  “Yes,” I say. “She confessed.”

  “I can’t believe it,” he says, sounding dumbfounded. “I didn’t want to believe it was true.”

  “I know, but you knew she did it,” I say, testing him.

  “On some level, yes,” he says, “I think I did, but I wouldn’t have admitted that to even myself.”

  “They’re going to try to say you did.”

  “I was acquitted,” he argues.

  “Knowledge of a crime even if you did not commit it is a crime. We’ll make this go away, but it looks better if you’re here, but not with her. Get a hotel room and stay away from her.”

  “I don’t know if I have another round in me.”

  “If I do, you do. No interviews. Don’t talk to anyone but me. Call me when you get back.”

  “Understood.” We disconnect, and I call Cat.

  “Hey,” she says. “Your mom’s plane just took off.”

  “Kelli Ward is about to confess.”

  “Why do you sound so unhappy about this?”

  “They’re going to come at Nelson for covering it up. Or so Royce’s insider tells me.”

  “Did he?”

  “No. I don’t believe he did. I believe he was in love and oblivious, much like my mother for all of these years. Now you know what you’re writing about for tomorrow.”

  “And what will be consuming you. Don’t you have that old friend that needs attention?”

  “The corporate division is going after the people who got him into the mess he’s in. I need to go. I’ll call you later.” I start to hang up but stop. “Cat.”

  “Yes?”

  “I talk to you about my work.”

  “What about it?”

  “I talk to you about my work. I don’t want to stop. I need to have you sign a more extensive consulting agreement than the one you signed for the Ward case. More all-inclusive. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “No. Of course not. I was actually going to suggest we do that. To protect everyone involved.”

  “I’ll bring it home.”

  “Home.” She laughs. “Yes. Bring it home, Reese.”

  I smile. “Bye, sweetheart.” I hang up and stand, crossing my office, and passing Maria’s desk. “I’ll be upstairs in corporate.”

  I take the stairs, not the elevator, and walk upstairs into the office of the senior partner who heads up that division. I don’t ask his secretary to enter. I just pass her by and enter his office. Kent, who is as good a friend as two workaholics can be, the same age as me, and just as aggressive as me, looks up from his desk. “What’s up, man?”

  “That Allen case I have you working. How’s it looking?”

  “Just digging in. You said I had two weeks to get your answer. Why?”

  “Ward’s wife is confessing and they are going to try to get him for covering it up. I’m going to be buried again.”

  “I’ve got this,” he says, running a hand through his dark hair. “I’m going to unbury everyone involved in this firm, and their illegal operations, use it to get your guy an out, and hand that to you to voodoo it away with the Feds.”

  “This guy is a good guy,” I say. “I don’t want him fucked. I’m trusting you.”

  “This is me you’re talking to,” Kent says. “I’ll get them. I’m a master at digging up dirt that others think can’t be dug up.”

  “My guy doesn’t sign a release. Bluff them and sue the fuck out of them for putting him through this. And while you do that, I’m going to hand every dirty secret you find over to the Feds.”

  “Now we’re talking. I love when we throw down.”

  I exit his office and head back down to mine, passing Maria as she mumbles in Spanish again. I re-enter my office, with another spurt of phone calls driven my way, and it’s not long until I get the one I expect. The police want to question Nelson Ward again. I set the meeting and text Cat, giving her the heads-up. Because Cat has become a part of every inch of my life. I really don’t remember a few weeks ago before she was with me, and I don’t want to try.

  34

  Reese

  One month later…

  I’ve just gotten back to my office from a court appearance and sat down at my desk when my cellphone rings. I dig it from my pocket and glance at the number to find Cat calling. “Hey, sweetheart,” I say, answering the line. “How’d your interview with Detective Newman go?”

  “It was one of the better ones of the dozens I’ve had for this book,” she says. “He had some interesting information he said to pass along to you.”

  “Really. What would that be?”

  “He says that the only reason Nelson Ward has been questioned three times in the past month about his wife, is that Dan has it out for him and you. He’s still living the disgrace of that trial and even the decision to charge Nelson Ward. If he gets Nelson as an accessory, he saves face.”

  “Of course Dan’s behind this. I’m at the point now where I’m going to file harassment charges against them and ask for damages. They’re hurting the man’s livelihood. He has a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate to run and he’s smeared all over the news again.”

  “Dan needs to be pushed out of his job. He’s motivated by all the wrong things. Oh and a side note, a big jump in subject here: Your mother called. Your father proposed to his mistress and your mother is just fine with it because she’s now dating another professor at the college who she calls brilliant and sexy.”

  “Hold on a minute. My father proposed to his mistress and my mother is dating again? Okay. I don’t know how you know this and I don’t.”

  “Actually you do know because I told you.”

  “You knew before I knew.”

  “Your mother likes to talk.”

  “Obviously and for the record I could do without any sentence that includes my mother calling a man ‘sexy.’”

  She laughs. “Duly noted.”

  “For clarification,” I say. “Are they divorced and I don’t know it?”

  “Your father has been acting like he was divorced for years. Your mother just decided to join the party. And they will be soon, anyway.”

  “Or they could just date other people.”

  She laughs. “Right. Or that. I need to go though. I’m having a champagne brunch with Liz. She wants to celebrate the press release that went out this morning. For the book that I haven’t even finished writing.”

  “Champagne and you. Should I send a car?”

  She laughs. “I’m perfectly capable of calling my own Uber, even after champagne. I just might not find it. If that proves to be the situation, I have you on auto-dial. Though I might go to my brother’s office, while drinking of course, and demand that he give me back my mother’s letter.”

  “Still won’t call you back, huh?”

  “No. He’s such an Asshole.”

  “Now I know just how much you hated me when you called me an asshole that first day. Did you tell your father he took the letter and you want it back?”

  “The entire two times I called to check on that man and he actually took my call, no. The calls were short and he won’t care. He tolerates my check-in calls and when I bring the letter up to Gabe who gave it to him, Gabe just tells me he’ll tell him. But you don’t have time for this and I’m about to be drunk anyway.”

  I laugh and we hang up, only to have Maria buzz my intercom. “Casey Allen is on the line.”

  I grab the phone. “Casey,” I say. “I have news.”

  “I hope it’s good because I thought this would be over by now.”

  “It would have been if we could have strong-armed the investme
nt firm into certifying your lack of knowledge of the transactions, but they won’t do it. But that’s going to change. Kent filed a lawsuit on your behalf today against everyone with any interest in the firm and all the cloaked investors, of which he says there were four.”

  “And how does this help me with the Feds?”

  “It shows that you aren’t one of them and it provides financial damage for your legal defense. I know this hasn’t gone as quickly as we’d hoped, but we’ll get you through this with money to ease the pain of the stress.”

  “I just want this thing over with. It’s haunting me. I can’t sleep. I was going to propose to my girlfriend, but I can’t have her engaged to a felon.”

  “You are not going to be a felon. I’ll end this and soon. They haven’t charged you. They’re stringing you along, planning to use you wherever they can use you. It’s a sad truth, but a real one. I’ve got your back. I’ll call you soon.”

  We disconnect and Maria pops her head in the door, speaking in rapid Spanish as she walks toward me. “Why did you just have a Tiffany’s bag delivered and please tell me it’s for me.”

  “No,” I say. “It is not for you but stop cursing me in Spanish and you might get something nice for Christmas.”

  “I don’t curse you in Spanish.”

  I arch a brow.

  “How do you know I curse you in Spanish?”

  “You just admitted it.”

  She smirks. “You do know that Christmas is only two months away, right?”

  “Yes. So I suggest you have restraint.”

  “I always have restraint,” she claims, setting the bag in front of me. “You’re proposing to Cat,” she says, knowing Cat well now since she’s been to my office any number of times.

  “That’s between me and Cat.”

  Her eyes light. “You are.” She claps. “Can I see?”

  “No. You cannot see. Leave and shut the door.”

  She grimaces but does as I ordered. I open the bag and pull out the blue box inside. I inhale and think about Cat opening it as I open it, staring down at the ring that I had sized after sneaking one of her rings. It’s stunning like Cat and I pull out a card from the store clerk that reads: The Tiffany Nova Princess Cut ring was a perfect choice. She will love it. Congratulations. It was perfect and expensive, but Cat is worth every dime and a million more.

  This is my Christmas gift to her and her gift to me will be agreeing to marry me.

  * * *

  Cat

  Liz and I sit at fancy restaurant she’d insisted on taking me to, giggling over champagne. “I don’t know why I let you talk me into this,” I say. “I can’t drink. It’s doesn’t make for a good me.”

  “You signed a huge book deal, fell in love with a gorgeous man and—”

  “Wow. I never told you I love him.”

  “Oh please. You love him and you’re so much more relaxed with this man. Look at you. You’re in a pink fluffy sweater.”

  “It’s just a pink sweater and I paired it with a very conservative pink shirt,” I say. “And what does pink have to do with anything anyway?”

  “You lived in black before Reese. You’re different. I can’t explain it. Softer maybe.”

  “I lived in black in the courtroom,” I say. “And why are we talking about sweaters? Pink sweaters.”

  She downs her champagne. “Because, bitch, we’re too drunk to talk about anything else.”

  I laugh. “Okay, bitch.”

  We both laugh and I’m reminded how well we connect. I can’t believe I fired her. I can’t believe she made me. “Seriously, though,” Liz says. “You know I love you right?”

  “Most of the time. Except that time you tried to get me to work with Dan.”

  “I told you. That was a complicated political mess. And you just sobered me up. Thank you for that. I was protecting you.”

  “Yeah yeah. I don’t want details. Just don’t try to get me to do something you know breaks my moral codes again.”

  “When it’s half a million dollars, I’m obligated to present the option.”

  “But not obligated to push me or leave out details.”

  “You would have freaked if you knew Dan had a relative at the publishing house. And you would have thought that you couldn’t decline. You had to take the meeting. You didn’t have to accept. That was the freedom I gave you.”

  “You pushed me.”

  “It was a lot of money. Hell yeah I pushed you. I can’t apologize for that. I won’t. That amount of money is kind to me but you get most of it. After one big deal like that you start having freedoms and opportunities you didn’t otherwise have open to you.”

  “Okay. Yeah. I get it. Stop being sober. I don’t like it.” My cellphone rings and I glance at the number. “My brother.” I down my champagne. “I have to yell at him over something personal. Pretend you’re not here.” I answer the call. “Finally, you call?”

  “What the hell, Cat?” Reid demands.

  “What the hell yourself. What does that mean?”

  “I saw the press release,” he says. “You’re writing a book with Reese Summer. The man is suing me, Dad, and Uncle Rudolf and he set the Feds’ sights on us.”

  “What?”

  “You don’t know. Well at least there is that. That man is trying to destroy us.”

  “Reese is a criminal attorney,” I say. “He wouldn’t be suing you.”

  “His firm is, and he’s damn sure involved in this. He’s representing the man they sued on behalf of.”

  And now I know why Gabe asked about Reese. “What’s the client’s name?”

  “Casey Allen.”

  I know the name. I know all of Reese’s cases. “What did you do, Reid?” I demand, despite knowing more than I want him to know I know.

  “I have to be in the wrong? Is that it?”

  “What are you accused of doing?”

  “Securities fraud,” he says.

  “Please tell me you didn’t do it.”

  “Fuck you, Cat.” He hangs up.

  I look at Liz. “I have to go.”

  “You’ve been drinking. I’ll get you where you need to go.”

  “Believe me,” I say. “I’ve never been so sober in my life.”

  I grab my coat and pull it on, and then snap up my briefcase and purse and rush for the door. Reese is now involved in a lawsuit against my family that could ruin them. It doesn’t matter that he didn’t do it intentionally which he didn’t. I know he didn’t but it’s a problem both personally and legally for both of us. It might even be the end of us.

  35

  Reese

  I’m sitting at my desk with Maria standing next to it when Cat comes charging in without warning, her coat half off one shoulder, and her briefcase and purse on the other. “I need to talk to you now. Alone.”

  Cat’s intensity is impossible to miss and for once Maria has nothing smart to say. “I’m leaving,” she says, hurrying around Cat and shutting the door.

  Cat sets her things on the guest chair. “Casey Allen.”

  That’s the last thing I expect her to say at this very moment. “What about him?”

  “You filed a lawsuit on his behalf.”

  “My firm did, yes.”

  “My family. You filed against them.”

  I stand up. “What? No. That firm is Blue Banks Investment.”

  “My family is apparently involved. Reid called me.”

  “That can’t be right.” I punch in Kent’s extension on my phone and put him on speaker.

  “What’s up, man?” he answers.

  “Name the parties on that lawsuit against Blue Banks. It’s important. I need it now.”

  “Sure. I know them by heart” He lists four names that are non-issues, and then he adds, “Reid Maxwell, Mike Maxwell, Rudolf Elway.”

  I restrain a curse word that will set Kent off and say simply, “That’s what I needed,” before I disconnect.

  “Rudolf is my uncle,” Cat says, �
�but not by blood. I don’t know how he became Uncle but he’s a long-time family connection and friend of my father’s.” She presses fingers to her temples. “Now I know why my father was stressed enough to have a stroke.”

  “Fuck,” I murmur, running fingers through my hair, my hands settling under my jacket on my hips. “You know I didn’t know.”

  “Of course I know you didn’t know. My mind never went there.” We both lean on the desk, facing each other. “But that changes nothing,” she adds. “This is a problem: Morally, ethically, and legally.”

  “I’ll fix this. I’ll represent your family and get them out of this.”

  “No.” She pushes off the desk. “You will not change your moral code for my family and if you do that, Casey could sue you for split interests.”

  “I’ll remove myself from Casey’s case.”

  “Again, no. This is not who you are and I like who you are. I don’t like what happens to us if I change your moral code for me. That’s not an option.”

  “If I remove myself—”

  “Then the firm has to remove itself. If you do that, Casey, who is your friend, casual or not, could end up in jail. You can’t walk away from him and I won’t let you for my family. And my family will use me against you. If you think they won’t, you’re wrong. We can’t—”

  “Do not go where your about to go,” I warn.

  “I have to go there. We have to go there. We can’t be together while this is going on. You know it. I know it. You will not lose your license over me. I have to move out.”

  “No. I will fix this. We’re both in the heat of the moment right now.”

  “We’re both attorneys too who know the law and the ethical confines of the job. I’m a consultant on this case with you. That’s ten kinds of wrong. I have to be removed immediately.”

  “That’s an easy fix.”

  “Look. Reese.”

  “Cat damn it, stop going there, to us—”

  “You need to do the right thing. That’s the man you are and the man I—that’s the man you are.”

  “I’ll be honest with Casey.”