Lawfully His (A Dirty Business Novel Book 1)

by Michelle Betham

  He hugs me, and I hold onto him like letting go would kill me, and as I glance over his shoulder at the party in full swing behind us, Evan’s eyes meet mine.

  “We’re going to be okay this time,” I whisper, my fingers sliding into his hair, but my eyes are still locked with Evan’s. “We’re going to be okay.”

  Twenty-One

  Lola

  I smile at Albi, my favorite bagel vendor, and mouth ‘thank you’ as he hands me a cinnamon-raisin along with my coffee. Mike and me, we seem to have fallen into a bit of a morning routine over the past few weeks. We have sex, which leaves us no time for breakfast, that’s now something we both grab from carts out on the street as we head to Cavendish King. Together. It’s so wonderfully domesticated it makes my stomach flip with child-like excitement every time I think about it.

  “What you got this morning?” Mike asks as he joins me at Albi’s cart.

  “Cinnamon-raisin. You?”

  “Cheese Danish. Bite?”

  He takes a bite of my bagel and I take a bite of his Danish, and then he kisses me, and he smiles, and I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve fallen straight into a Disney dream because I am just so unbelievably happy right now.

  It’s been three weeks since Mike and I got engaged, and Evan has been fine about it, there’ve been no problems on that score. The relationship I have with my boss now, well, that hasn’t changed all that much, to be honest, bar the fact we don’t have sex anymore. And, despite everything, I still enjoy working for him. I still love my job. We seem to have settled into a comfortable, informal relationship that suits us both. We talk, just not about us; not about anything personal. We talk about movies, TV shows, our favorite whiskey-based drinks; work. He shares his thoughts on cases with me, asks my opinion even though it’s never really going to matter. He involves me, makes me feel valued. We laugh, and he gets me. I can be who I want to be with him, and I like that we’ve been able to move on. He’s a good man, and he could have any woman he wanted, he didn’t really need the kind of messed up thing we had together. I’m not sure either of us did.

  “Oh, God, you two are so sickeningly gorgeous together, do you know that?” Jess mock-sighs as she follows us into the Cavendish King building, falling into step alongside us.

  I smile and take a sip of coffee. “I thought you were in court this morning?”

  “I am. I just need to pick up some papers from my office first.”

  “Crap! That reminds me,” Mike says, shoving the last of the Danish into his mouth. “I’m supposed to be in a meeting in ten minutes with someone from the District Attorney’s office and I need a word with Evan before I go in there.” He kisses me quickly. “Is he in yet?”

  I look at him. “Who am I? His babysitter? He doesn’t wear a tracking device, I have no idea where he is half the time.”

  “You practically run his life, you know where he is.”

  I smile, check my watch, and I kiss him back. “He’s probably already in his office. Go on. I’ll see you later.”

  He almost sprints to the elevator, whereas me and Jess stick to a much more leisurely pace.

  “You do realize Evan’s changed since you started working with him,” Jess says, a remark that kind of takes me by surprise.

  “Has he?”

  We continue our walk through the sprawling main foyer of the building that houses the Cavendish King offices.

  “I mean, he’s still cocky as hell and arrogant to the end.” We reach the elevator, step inside, and Jess presses the button for the 43rd floor as the doors close in front of us. “But he smiles a lot more now. He just seems – I don’t know. Calmer.”

  I frown, because I can’t say I’ve noticed too much of a change in Evan. But then, I’ve only known him a few weeks. Jess – most of the people here, they’ve known him a lot longer. “That’s a good thing?”

  “God, yes! Didn’t Dana tell you? He hasn’t always been the easiest person to work with, has Evan. I mean, business-wise he’s great with people, it’s what he does. But when it comes to more personal relationships, he ain’t all that, believe me. He’s always been a bit of a closed book, doesn’t really take to people that easily. And Evan King smiling, that’s a rare thing. And then you come along and – well, you must have something special, kiddo. ‘Cause you made that man smile.”

  I laugh quietly and hope that nervous edge I felt just there didn’t show itself too much. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  The elevator doors slide open and I almost breathe a sigh of relief as Terri, Jess’s associate, waits for her out in reception, an anxious look on her face.

  “Oh, Jesus. What fresh hell is waiting for me now,” Jess sighs. “Later, Burrows.”

  I smile and shake my head as I step out into reception and head off to my desk, exchanging greetings with various partners, associates and fellow secretaries as I walk.

  Evan’s alone in his office when I get there, so I’m guessing Mike’s already been and gone. And I crane my neck and look over to his office and he’s in there, grabbing files and papers from his desk before he leaves and starts to head in my direction, on his way to the meeting room behind reception.

  “Hey. You caught Evan then?”

  He nods and stops by my cubicle. “He’s in a funny mood, though.”

  “Is he? Come here.” He leans forward and I straighten his tie and kiss him quickly. “There you go. Go on, you’re going to be late. And don’t worry, I can handle Evan’s moods.”

  I glance back into the office. Evan’s got his head down over his laptop, and I realize I haven’t got his coffee yet so I head to the kitchen to rectify that, and by the time I get back to my cubicle he’s out from behind his desk and at the window, talking into his phone. I go quietly inside and place his coffee on his desk, trying not to disturb him but he turns around and gestures at me to stay where I am. So I walk over to the bookshelf at the back of his office and scan the many volumes of law books he’s got stacked on there, none of which make any sense to me, of course. I’ve picked up a lot of stuff during my years working within the legal system, but I just didn’t have that urge to become a lawyer. I’m not sure I would’ve been good enough; tough enough.

  “Thank you, Lola.”

  His voice startles me slightly and I swing around, unable to keep the frown off my face. “What for?”

  “My coffee.” He smiles, and I’m a little confused now. His mood doesn’t seem that odd to me.

  “Mike said you were in a funny mood.”

  “Did he? Not sure why he’d say that.” He picks up his coffee and takes a sip, looking at me over the rim of his mug. “Do you think I’m in a funny mood?”

  I walk a little further toward him. “I was talking to Jess on the way in to work this morning, and she said you haven’t always been the easiest person to work alongside.”

  He raises an eyebrow. “I seem to have been the topic of a lot of people’s conversations this morning.”

  “Are you really that difficult to work with?” I stop by the window and rest my bottom on the ledge, folding my arms.

  He throws me that sexy-as-hell but overtly cocky smirk, and I hold his gaze. “Depends on what you define as difficult. I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, let’s put it that way.”

  I smile a slow smile, and he keeps that smirk on his handsome face. “I love that you know you’re a dick and you just don’t care.”

  He shrugs and takes another sip of coffee, his eyes still fixed on mine. “Well, there’s your problem. Or, everyone else’s problem.”

  I laugh quietly, and he breaks the stare and goes back behind his desk.

  “So, any reason why Mike would think you were in a strange mood?”

  He looks back up at me. “I have no idea, Lola.”

  I hold his gaze for a few more beats and he’s the one to break the stare again. “Okay.” I pull myself away from the window ledge and head out of his office. “I’ve got things to do. If you need me…”

  “I know where
you are.”

  I turn to look at him, and he’s standing there with his hands in his pockets and that arrogant look on his face, and I can understand completely why some people find him hard to understand. I just don’t have time for his crap.

  Evan

  She sashays out of my office, her crazy-hot curves displayed to perfection in a dark-gray fitted dress, her legs long and slender in sky-high heels, her blonde hair falling in natural waves around her shoulders. She’s beautiful and smart and I want her so much I can’t sleep at night. And when I want something I usually get it. I usually win. But I lost this one.

  I lost Lola.

  I still want Lola.

  She belongs to someone else now.

  That means shit to me.

  I want Lola Burrows.

  And one day, she will belong to me.

  I don’t intend to lose a second time…

  Twenty-Two

  Lola

  I open the door, and I’m unable to keep the surprise off my face when I see him standing there.

  “What’re you doing here?”

  “I’ve come to see Mike. I need a quick word, is he around?”

  “Evan, hi… Is there something wrong?” Mike asks, coming up behind me, resting a hand lightly on my hip as he maneuvers me away from my – somewhat deliberate – position blocking the doorway. “Come on in.”

  I reluctantly stand aside to let Evan through, but I don’t want him in our home. I don’t want him this close to me and Mike, I’m not comfortable with this.

  “I just wanted to bring you up to speed with a few things regarding the Jenson Taylor case. Dana asked me to stop by, let you know she’s had a call from Jenson. His agent’s kicking up some major shit.”

  “And Jenson’s not happy, huh?”

  “It complicates a few things, yes. You and Dana have a meeting with him in the morning. Eleven-thirty. He’s filming in New York right now so he’s coming to us.”

  “That’s gonna provide some excitement amongst the female staff.”

  Mike grins at me and I shrug. “What’s that look for? Jenson Taylor does nothing for me.”

  “His presence is going to be a distraction we don’t need,” Evan says, walking further into the room. He’s still wearing his suit, so he’s come straight from the office, and I know he didn’t have to come here in person to deliver that message from Dana. And she wouldn’t have told him to stop by, she wouldn’t have even asked him to pass a message on, Evan doesn’t do favors. Not even for another named partner. He’s taken it upon himself to come here, because this could easily have been done over the phone, and I’ve no doubt that was Dana’s intention, for Evan to call or email Mike. So I don’t appreciate his unwelcome intrusion.

  “You really didn’t have to come all the way over here to pass that message on, Evan. I’m sure you could’ve called, or dropped Mike an email, you didn’t have to put yourself out.”

  Mike throws me a look but again I just shrug. I don’t care. He didn’t have to come here. This is a deliberate move on his part and I have no idea what he’s playing at. But I don’t trust him.

  Evan turns around and he smiles at me. I don’t return it. “It isn’t a problem, Lola. I have to pass here on my way home. Besides, when it comes to certain clients I prefer to pass on messages in person.”

  I’m not convinced, but maybe I’m just being paranoid. I thought we’d moved on, thought everything was on an even keel now and maybe this really is nothing more than a purely professional visit on Evan’s part. I just don’t think it is. And I’m still wary.

  “Listen, Evan, I’m just preparing dinner, so, how about you stay and join us? I mean, it’s nothing special, just some pasta and salad, but there’s plenty of it.”

  “That’s very kind of you, Mike. Thank you.” Evan looks at me, and he smiles again, and now I know this isn’t just him innocently passing on a message. There’s more to it than that. I really had thought we’d moved on. Looks like I was wrong. “I’d love to stay, if that’s okay with you, Lola?”

  I nod, what the hell else am I supposed to do? Tell Mike I’d rather Evan left because, you know, I used to have hot and heavy sex with my boss before we got back together and I’m not entirely comfortable with him joining us for dinner?

  “Great! Well, I’d better go check on that pasta. It shouldn’t be long now. Lola, get Evan a drink.”

  Mike retreats back into the kitchen and I head over to the sideboard to pour Evan, and myself, a drink. And I don’t even ask him what he wants, I know what he likes.

  “You smell incredible,” he murmurs, coming up behind me, so close I feel his breath on my neck as his mouth brushes my ear. “That perfume… you were wearing it the night we met, I remember. The night you first opened your beautiful legs for me.”

  I swing around to face him, and I hand him his drink.

  “If you’re here to play games, Evan, I’d rather you left. I’m really not in the mood for your crap.”

  “I don’t play games, Lola. I’ve already told you that.”

  “Then what the hell is this?”

  He takes a sip of his whiskey and looks at me over the rim of his glass, raising an eyebrow.

  “What’re you trying to do here, Evan?”

  “I’m not trying to do anything, Lola.”

  I narrow my eyes and I stare at him, but I’m prevented from saying anything else by Mike’s reappearance. He slips an arm around my waist and I look at him as he takes my drink from me and steals a sip.

  “Everything under control?” I ask him, and I try to ignore the fact that my appetite is receding fast.

  “It’s all ready to serve now. So, come on, let’s go sit down.” He lets go of me and turns his attention to Evan. “We were just gonna eat over in the kitchen, if that’s okay?”

  Evan puts down his drink and slips off his jacket, laying it neatly over the back of the couch, rolling up his shirtsleeves as he follows us to the kitchen.

  “I’m a guest in your home, guys. Kitchen’s fine with me.”

  I go over to the counter to fetch the bread, watching as Evan and Mike talk and laugh and my stomach is tying itself up in all kinds of knots.

  Placing the bread on the table I sit down next to Mike and start piling salad on to my plate. I’m not really hungry anymore but I have to eat something; I have to make this normal. And I’m almost glad that the dinner conversation seems to be mainly work-related, because I can deal with that. I can flick a switch and deal with that, but every time Evan looks at me I avoid his gaze because I can’t deal with him. Not like this, not here, not in my home.

  “So, how’s it working out with you guys, then?” Mike asks, and I look up, and this time my eyes do meet Evan’s, and he holds my gaze for just a second too long, but Mike doesn’t seem to notice that. “You seen her bossy side yet, Evan?”

  Evan smiles, and he looks at me again, but I can’t smile back. I should, just to try and ease a tension I think – I hope only I’m feeling, but that smile just won’t come. And even if it did I know it wouldn’t reach my eyes.

  “She’s become someone I can’t function without now,” Evan says, switching his gaze from me to Mike, but I know his words are loaded with a meaning only I’m meant to understand, and I feel my stomach dip again as I try to force down a mouthful of pasta followed by a large sip of red wine. “She’s indispensible. To me.”

  “Wow!” Mike laughs, taking my hand and giving it a quick squeeze. “High praise from the boss there, baby.” He leans over and kisses me quickly and my fingers tighten around his. I love this man so much, and I don’t want to lose him again, I can’t, lose him again. “But, y’know, I always knew she was the best.”

  I smile, and I reach out and touch his cheek and I kiss him again, mouthing ‘I love you’, because I do. And Evan needs to know that.

  “I was very lucky to get her,” Evan says. “Very lucky. She’s very much in demand, from what I can gather. It seems everybody wants her.”

  My eye
s lock on his for the briefest of seconds but it’s long enough for me to know that he’s lied to me. Evan King does play games. He’s playing one now. And it’s a dangerous game, one I’ve got to put a stop to. Before I lose everything.

  Twenty-Three

  Lola

  He’s not at his desk when I get to the office, but I know he’s in the building because his jacket’s hung over the back of his chair and his door is open. He never leaves his door open if he isn’t in the building. So he’s here, somewhere.

  “Have you seen Evan?” I ask a passing associate, who informs me she saw him head down to the copy room, so that’s where I go. And because it’s still early it’s fairly quiet down here, and I’m grateful for that. I really don’t need an audience.

  I push open the door and quietly close it behind me, scanning the room to see if anyone else is in here, but it doesn’t seem like it. And then I see him, in the corner, his head down over a stack of papers and I stride over to him, and he senses me approaching, but he doesn’t anticipate the slap that knocks his head to one side. That takes him completely by surprise.

  “What the fuck was that last night?”

  It’s an anger that’s been burning up inside me ever since he left our apartment. He had an agenda, he knew exactly what he was doing, and I am so pissed at him for changing the game. So fucking pissed.

  He slowly turns his head back to face me, his hand against his cheek, and he smiles, and I want to hit him again, and again, until I get all this frustration out. But I’m better than that, and I can’t do that here. I’ve sent the message, I just need him to get it.

  “I don’t appreciate what you did last night, Evan. That was low, and you were way out of line…”

  “What was I doing, exactly, Lola? To deserve this?”