And when Kat finds out I didn’t even tell her, she’s going to kill me. I told Callie, because when she broke down and let me in on her story, I gave her the same in return. We both keep what we say to each other private, and I know she didn’t tell anyone, because she said it’s my business, not hers. I inhale and exhale deeply, trying to regain my composure and push all these stressful thoughts aside.
“I need a drink,” Hunter says from my passenger seat, where he’s been patiently waiting for me to say something. “And if you just happen to need one too, and coincidentally end up in the same place as me, that won’t be a problem. And we can talk.” He pauses and adds, “Not about the case, but we can talk about other things.”
Like my marriage?
I don’t think I’m exactly ready to have that conversation with him. It all feels too raw right now, and I’m still reeling over the way Jeremy acted in mediation. I cannot fathom how I was so blinded to marry such a man.
“Can we have a drink, minus the talk?” I ask, flashing him a hopeful smile.
Something works behind his eyes before he replies. “That’s probably for the best.” He arches a brow. “We’re just going to have to figure out a way to get through this. Everyone gets tested in life, right?”
“Ha. Is that what this is, a test?”
“What else would you call it?”
“Stupid decision making leading me to one giant moment of failure,” I reply, adding a smile to try to lighten things up.
He simply shakes his head at me in frustration.
“This is going to be so awkward,” I tell him, glancing straight ahead now. “You hearing details of my failed marriage? It’s so personal, you know?”
And it’s only going to get worse as the details emerge.
“I’ve been doing this for years, Riley. Trust me, there is nothing I haven’t seen or heard. There’s no judgment, that’s not what I’m here to do. I’d especially never judge you. I know you. And you should know me better than that to think that I would.”
I think I really needed to hear these words from him, because something in me relaxes.
“Okay,” I tell him, nodding. “Thank you, Hunter.”
“No need to thank me,” he murmurs, and I can feel his eyes on my profile. “You should’ve trusted me and known that I would have been able to handle this, Riley.”
Something in his voice makes me think that I actually hurt his feelings by not coming to him with this, but that can’t be right. He has to understand why I wouldn’t want him involved with this. I’m attracted to him. I might even like him. It has nothing to do with me not trusting him; it’s just my stubborn pride making my decisions for me. I didn’t want him knowing my secrets, it’s that simple. Hell, I don’t want any of them to know.
He scrubs a hand down his face, and I know that I’ve really fucked up when I see how torn he looks, frustration and pain etched on his expression. I wish I could fix this somehow. “I have no doubt you can handle anything, Hunter,” I tell him, then decide it’s a safe option to change the subject. “I guess I’d better head out, and maybe, I’ll run into you very soon.” Code: Meet you at the pub in ten.
He nods. “Sounds good.” He opens the door and moves to slide out of my car, but before he does, he says one more thing to me. “Your ex is a fucking idiot.”
As the car door closes and he walks back over to his car, I can’t help but smirk.
He really fucking is.
“WHO CHOOSES THE PLAYLIST?” Hunter asks, nursing his Scotch.
“Why, don’t you like it?” I ask, grinning at the pop tunes.
“No,” he admits, making me burst out laughing.
“We take turns,” I explain. “It’s fair.”
“So who’s is this? Callie’s?” he guesses, amusement dancing in his eyes. “I can see her listening to this shit.”
“Actually, it’s Preston’s,” I say, then watch as he starts laughing, blue eyes alight with humor, his smile deep.
I can’t look away.
Hunter laughing just makes me feel warm inside, like I’m sure it does most women. There’s something about being around him that calms me. It makes me feel good, at peace, and like nothing else matters. I don’t know how else to explain it, except that when Hunter is around, the world isn’t so bad.
“I shouldn’t be surprised,” he says, shaking his head. “He’s a fucking character, isn’t he?”
“Perfect way to describe him,” I say as the man in question approaches us.
“Cheffy is in a mood,” Preston tells me, eyes going wide. “I made a joke, and he just gave me an evil look and stormed away.”
“Probably because you offended him,” I remind him.
“I just told him he’d get more chicks if he got rid of the monobrow. How is that rude? I was trying to help out a fellow coworker.”
“I’ve never even seen what your chef looks like,” Hunter says, smirking at Preston. “But now I’m picturing it.”
“What? Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street? Because that’s about right,” Preston says, then pauses and adds, “Same temperament too.”
“He’s going to hear you and spit in your food,” I tell Preston, keeping my expression neutral. “Cheffy is a nice guy; leave him alone.”
“You call the chef ‘Cheffy’?” Hunter asks, shaking his head. “You’re all fucking nuts in here.”
“Probably why you walked in and it felt like home,” I fire back at him.
He studies me for a second and then says, “That’s not why it feels like home.”
My whole body stills, shutting down like it can’t function anymore as it processes his meaning.
He thinks I feel like home?
Or maybe he meant something else.
I swallow hard as my eyes connect with his. He knows I’m in the middle of a divorce and it’s messier than ever. There’s something in his eyes that wasn’t there before, although I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is.
“Okay,” Preston drawls, looking between Hunter and me. “You two need to just fuck already, because the sexual tension is so thick it’s making me hard.”
I turn and give him a look that says he needs to shut up right now, but he simply winks at me and goes to serve new customers who just walked in. I slowly drag my eyes back to Hunter’s. He’s already watching me, of course, those blue eyes always up to something. I shrug, not knowing what else to do, and his lip twitches in response.
“And on that note, I better be heading back,” Hunter says, winking at me before he departs.
I close my eyes and throw back the rest of my gin and tonic, and then lay my head on the table.
“I don’t know why you look so depressed when Hunter Brayze wants you. I’d be jumping over the moon,” Callie says, sitting down next to me. “You look like you need another drink. Or some dick. Hunter dick. Why did he leave without you?”
“Because we’re playing hide-and-seek,” I tell her, sighing. “And he’s it.”
“Well, he should be running toward you, not away then,” she huffs, grinning at me. “Looks like Hunter likes to play with his food.”
I don’t want to talk about Hunter playing with anything, because I have no idea how to feel. It’s like my brain and heart are at war. I want him, but my mind keeps telling me to not be so fucking stupid, and to be realistic about the situation. Yes, I overthink.
That’s probably my biggest issue.
That, and I haven’t had Bear to vent to for some nonjudgmental dog therapy.
I lift my head and take a deep breath. “What am I doing with my life?”
“Not living it yet,” she says, eyes softening on me. “But you will. Soon. As soon as he catches you.”
“Whose side are you on, Callie?” I ask her.
“I’m on the side of your happiness,” she replies, leaning against the bar. “I think you need to ask yourself why we aren’t both on the same side.”
“Hunter is Jeremy’s lawyer,” I blurt out.
&nb
sp; “What?” she asks, sounding shocked. “Are you kidding me?”
I shake my head.
“You should have gone to him, like I told you to,” she points out.
“I know,” I groan. “But it’s too late now, and Jeremy has Hunter, and I don’t know what the hell is going to happen.”
“Hunter will sort it out,” she says, sounding nothing but confident. “It’s a messed-up situation, but there’s always a way out, Riley. Are you going to be okay?”
I nod. “I’ll be fine.”
“You relax; I’ll take care of everything else in here,” she says, sounding sympathetic.
She walks away, and I lay my head back down on the table.
Is she right? Am I the one stopping myself from being happy? Am I my own worst enemy?
Or am I just being smart?
Self-preservation.
If I try to close myself off, I won’t get hurt.
And Hunter—oh, he’s going to hurt.
chapter 6
HUNTER
“SO WHAT YOU’RE TELLING me is your new client, Jeremy Rodgers, is Riley’s husband,” Jaxon clarifies, as he sits across from me in my office. “And she didn’t tell you that, nor did she tell you she was getting divorced in the first place? Oh, and the reason Jeremy is your client is because you’re doing a favor for a friend from law school, so there’s that added complication too.”
“Pretty much,” I reply, cringing. “How do I get myself into these situations?”
“I keep asking myself the same thing, although to your defense, how would you know that he was her husband?” Jaxon thrums his fingers on the table as he contemplates what I just told him. “So what are you going to do? Is it going to be an easy divorce, or a messy one?”
“She doesn’t want anything besides her dog and her business,” I tell him, unable to keep the pride from my tone. “But he wants to hurt her, so he’s treating the dog like a child he wants to win custody over.”
“So they’re fighting over . . . a dog.”
“Essentially,” I tell him. “But really he’s just being a douche. There’s also Riley’s drama thrown in there as well.”
Jaxon raises his eyebrows in confusion. “Aren’t we talking about Riley’s drama?”
“No, Riley’s the pub. So while the pub is hers—she started it with an inheritance she received—it came out during mediation that Jeremy owns the actual land. He’s been her landlord all this time and she never knew.”
“What. The. Fuck.”
I nod in agreement. “My thoughts exactly. So there’s another monkey wrench thrown into the mix.”
“Sounds like one,” Jaxon mutters, then looks me in the eye. “Riley has awful taste in men, doesn’t she?”
“I think her luck is about to improve actually,” I reply, ignoring his dig. “She’s not ready now, I know that, but I can still be there for her. I’m a patient man.”
Jaxon barks out a laugh. “Since when?”
“Since Riley.”
“Hunter . . .” he starts, and I can tell he’s about to say something I’m not going to like.
“What?”
“I just hope this isn’t about the chase is all,” he says, studying me. “Riley is a challenge right now, and I know you enjoy the game. Just make sure you’re going to be ready to keep her when you catch her. Because I know she’s a strong woman, but she’s also a sensitive one. She can try to hide it as much as she wants, but that woman feels everything. She’s thoughtful, caring, and kind. Yes, she has a mouth on her, and can be bossy as hell, but her bark is worse than her bite.”
I don’t like that Jaxon is talking to me like I don’t already know all this, like I don’t know her, when I do. I also don’t like that he seems to think I’m some kind of player, or a man who doesn’t know how to treat women, when that’s not true either.
“Riley is different for me, Jaxon,” I tell him. “This isn’t a game, and I’m not just looking to fuck her, if that’s what you think.”
He puts his hands up in retreat. “I’m just saying, don’t get angry. I know you’re a good man, I do, but I also know you tend to treat everything as a game. This isn’t allowed to be one of those times.”
“It isn’t,” I assure him. “I have no intention of hurting her, Jaxon.”
He continues to talk as if I didn’t just say anything. “On top of that, with the situation here, now isn’t the best time, don’t you think? Have you thought about those repercussions? He’s your client. Dropping him would tarnish your reputation and possibly bring us a lawsuit.”
“Of course I’ve considered all of this—I’m not going to drop him as my client. I am going to get Riley a better lawyer though. Someone who will actually challenge me.”
“Okay,” he says instantly, nodding. “So you’re going to get her a better lawyer to go up against you? But you think you can still win?”
“Yes, I can still get Jeremy more than what he deserves and more than what the law requires,” I admit, leaning back in my chair. “But this way, at least Riley has a fair chance. The lawyer she has now is useless. Some advice would be great right now.”
“I don’t think you have many other options,” he murmurs. “I think you also need to stay away from Riley until all of this is over. A conflict of interest exists here, and if Jeremy finds that out, he can use it against you if he doesn’t get everything he wants in the divorce.”
He’s right. I know he is.
But I don’t fucking want to stay away from Riley. I only just found I actually have a chance with her, even if it’s not right now, it could be, whereas before being with her was just a pipe dream. There’s only one solution I can think of. I might not be able to represent her, but someone I trust can. I have a few other friends at different firms all over the city. I know I could get one of them to step in and take care of her, and I know just who to call.
I pick up the phone and ask for Arabella Jameson.
One of the only lawyers in the city who can give me a run for my money, and someone who happens to owe me a favor.
I KNOCK TWICE ON Kat’s door, then enter, even though she doesn’t tell me to come in. We should probably have more boundaries here, but I know she’s not with a client.
“Hunter,” she says in welcome, lifting her head from her laptop. “Is everything okay? You have that crease in your forehead you get when something’s wrong.”
I rub my forehead and scowl. “My sister told me I should get Botox to fix that.”
Kat’s eyes widen before she starts laughing. “You have a sister? And if you get Botox, I’ll give you shit for the rest of your life.”
“Didn’t say I was going to,” I grumble. “And yes, I have a younger sister, Cleo. You’ll get to meet her at my birthday.” I normally don’t talk about my personal life, even though I consider the people I work with family. My sister has been through a lot, and her story isn’t mine to tell. I decide to get straight to the point. “Okay, so I’m here for a reason.”
“You are? Normally you’re just here to talk shit with me and steal my snacks.”
“I know,” I tell her. “Did you know that Riley is getting a divorce?”
“What?” she asks, eyes going wide.
“Yep. She didn’t want anyone to know, so she didn’t tell any of us, and yes, I know, it’s ridiculous. Anyway, I found her a better lawyer than her current one, and I know that makes no sense since I’ll be going up against her, but shit. I couldn’t do nothing.” I pause, watching the shock play on her face, then add, “And I still want to steal some snacks, so what do you have?”
She pushes her chair back from her desk. “Riley is getting a divorce and didn’t tell any of us?”
I nod.
“We’re lawyers.”
“I know.”
“This is our thing,” she mutters under her breath. “And she didn’t even fucking mention it? She has some serious issues.”
“I know,” I repeat, rubbing the back of the neck. “And ther
e’s more.”
“Tell me everything,” she says, leaning forward, that determined gleam in her eye. When I first saw it, I knew she’d be a great lawyer. And she is. She’s amazing. “And then I’m going to go and have words with a certain brunette pub owner.”
I tell her everything from start to finish.
Jeremy.
Riley.
Bear.
The pub.
Everything.
“Fuck,” she murmurs, tucking her hair back behind her ear. “You’re not in a good position, Hunter.”
“I know,” I say, scrubbing my hand down my face. “But let’s worry about me later. Right now, we need to get Riley through this.”
“Okay,” she nods, once, then twice. “We can do this.”
I’m glad she’s confident, because I have the feeling it’s not going to be so simple.
But for Riley—I don’t give a fuck.
chapter 7
RILEY
WHEN KAT STORMS INTO my bar, eyes narrowed and heels stomping, I know Hunter told her about my divorce, and she’s taking it personally. I pour her a drink and slide it over to her as soon as she drops onto a barstool. She glances around to make sure no one can hear us before she speaks.
“I can’t believe you—”
“I wanted to tell you, Kat.”
“But you didn’t,” she whisper-yells. “You didn’t tell your bunch of lawyer friends that you needed a lawyer. That’s like me going to a different bar to get drunk. Wouldn’t you take offense to that?”
I cringe a little, because I would. “It’s not the same! You aren’t bringing your problems to my bar, you’re bringing business and company.”
“I tell you about my problems all the time! We all do! You might as well be our therapist! Should I go to another bartender to complain about my life instead? No, I come to you, because you’re my friend, and because I trust you. Where’s that trust in return?”
More valid points.
I sigh, letting my shoulders droop in defeat. “I’m sorry, okay. I should have opened up and told you I was in a shit marriage and finally trying to get out of it. And that I’ve been unhappy for years and made to feel like a shit, useless wife, and I haven’t even had sex in over a year. Are you happy now?”
Leading the Witness Page 5