“Are you sure you want to continue?” Steven shifted in his chair to address his client. “I explained the repercussions.”
Brent nodded. “Gwen needs to hear the truth from me. Her lawyer can do what she wants with the information.” He picked up the glass of water in front of him and swallowed a mouthful. “Members of my political committee talked me into a few money transfers. All I had to do was sign my name and I’d get a cut. The transfers grew larger. I got in over my head and wanted out, but they needed me, more importantly, my position in order to complete the deals.” He leaned forwarded, rolling his hunched shoulders. “When I refused, I received threats.”
“Against Gwen and the children?” Christina raised a brow.
“Yes.” Brent answered Christina’s question, but didn’t break his visual connection to his wife. “The only way to remove you from the danger was to create a distance and then eventually leave.”
Gwen placed a hand over her husband’s. “You should have told me.”
“I couldn’t.” Shaking his head, he lowered his gaze. “I told them I was leaving my family, but they didn’t believe me and had you followed. That’s when I asked for a divorce.” He squeezed his wife’s hand. “I haven’t broken our marriage vows. I was never unfaithful. I love you.” Brent’s eyes filled with tears.
Christina passed her sobbing client a tissue. This case was closed. There would be no divorce.
“Gwen, I’ll accept whatever divorce conditions you want. I don’t deserve you and the children, not after what I’ve done.”
With the exception of Gwen’s sniffles, the boardroom went quiet.
Christina dared a glance toward Steven. His blue eyes were tempting. Why did life have to be so complicated?
“Could I speak with Christina privately?” Gwen glanced toward Steven.
“Of course.” He tapped Brent’s shoulder and they left the room.
Christina already guessed what Gwen wanted to talk about.
“I want to thank you for working so hard on this case.” Gwen smiled and dabbed her cheeks. “Is it too late to stop the divorce?”
“Are you sure?” Love had triumph over this case and saved this marriage. Christina wasn’t sure she could place faith on the optimism.
“You probably think I’m crazy, but I still love my husband, even after all he’s put me through. We need to talk and work this out. Forgiveness isn’t always easy, but my duty as his wife is to stand by his side.”
“I understand.” Christina stood. Indecision split her thoughts. While she understood her client’s decision, she didn’t believe heartache could be influenced so effortlessly. “I’ll ask your husband to come back in. Take all the time you need.” She opened the door, asked Brent to step inside, and closed the door behind him.
“No divorce?” Steven’s brow rose as his gaze flicked between her and the door.
She shook her head. “Not for those two.”
He leaned against the door frame. “You did good. You kicked my butt.”
Christina beamed with pride. “That was my plan all along.”
He smiled. “After listening to Brent confess his sins, and Gwen giving him another chance, I drew hope from their bond…and for us. A few minutes of your time, that’s all I ask.”
“Let’s clear this case first. I’ll hear you out, later.” Again, she couldn’t deny her heart led.
A half hour later with papers signed and the file closed, Christina ended the meeting. Steven left the boardroom with his client. Mr. Fraser would face a new trial and Gwen would stand by his side. Christina admired Gwen’s strength to allow her husband back into her life after the damage he caused. She wondered if she could forgive and forget as easily.
****
Just as the sun began to set, Christina received a call from Vince to inform her he didn’t need a drive to the office party. She wanted to spend a quiet evening with her sister, but Stan and his wife would be disappointed if she didn’t make an appearance. Despite Tanya’s raised brows and stares of curiosity, she didn’t ask a single question about Christina’s somber mood the past two days.
Tanya laid a strapless, short-skirt dress on the bed for Christina to wear, stating the maroon color would highlight her tan. Christina opted to wear a thin shawl over her shoulders. After a little makeup and pinning back the sides of her hair, she was ready to go.
Christina arrived at Stan’s house and was greeted by Sheila, who talked her ear off before guiding her to the patio where Stan and several co-workers mingled. The chain-linked fence surrounding the huge yard was lined with red maple trees. Several torches cast a soft glow throughout the backyard. Tables were set up on the stamped concrete patio with candles to match the linens.
“Congratulations on the case.” Stan shook her hand. “I expected nothing but a win.”
She spied Vince standing by a trellis of red roses and excused herself. His slumped shoulders and brooding expression surprised her. “What’s with the pout? I thought you’d want to celebrate our victory. You deserve half the credit because without you, I wouldn’t have found the information to win my case.”
“I may have had the information, but you found the report. You knew there was more going on.”
Vince stood in front of her, but his attention was elsewhere. His gaze roamed the yard.
“I’ll get us a refill.” He took her glass and went into the house.
What the heck was going on?
“Christina.” Sheila approached wearing a wide smile. “There’s someone I want you to meet.” She slipped her arm through Christina’s and led her to Stan, who was talking to a gentleman. She couldn’t see his face, but the jump in her pulse rate gave away his identity.
Without a word being said, Steven turned and took her hand in his. “Christina, always a pleasure to see you.”
She smiled and tugged away her hand. Sheila grimaced at the exchange.
“Christina and Steven already know each other.” Stan wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist. “She defeated him with little effort.” He laughed. “Steven, I warned you she would wipe the floor with you.”
Steven joined Stan’s laughter. “And I should have listened.”
Sheila, smirking a devious grin, made an excuse for Stan to accompany her to the kitchen.
For just a second, he frowned, but didn’t argue.
“Could she be less obvious?” Steven winked.
Christina sighed. “Sheila has been trying to set me up for quite some time.”
“So, has her matchmaking worked this time? Am I the man of your dreams?”
“Not even close.” The disappointment shadowing his eyes made her want to take back her words. “What will happen to your client?”
“Brent met with a lawyer in your firm who is investigating the illegal operation of city funds. He’s taking responsibility for his part and by doing so, his testimony will help considerably.” He brushed a hand over the sleeve of his jacket, removing a piece of lint. “Brent’s information will also decrease the length of any sentence he might receive.”
“That’s good…” A scene across the yard caught her attention. Jill’s cheeks were red and she argued with someone, but Christina couldn’t see who, until the man turned and stormed away. Vince? “What the heck?” She glanced at Steven. “Please excuse me. I have to talk to my assistant.” By the time Christina reached Jill, she saw that tears filled her assistant’s eyes. “Jill, what’s going on?”
Jill wiped her hand across her watery eyes. “Nothing.”
“This time, I’m not taking nothing for an answer.” She wasn’t leaving until someone told her what was going on.
“I’m resigning my position as your assistant.”
“What?” Her jaw drooped and her thoughts raced.
“I’m sorry.” Jill started crying again. “I can’t work for you anymore.” She peered over Christina’s shoulder.
Christina turned to follow her assistant’s stare. She had been so wrapped up in her own em
otional mess, she dismissed the subtle hints. The pieces now connected. The change in Jill’s appearance, the sweet smiles and winks when they thought Christina wasn’t looking, and the caller’s number on Vince’s phone.
“Come with me.” She grabbed Jill’s hand, dragged her across the yard, and pushed between the two arguing men. “I’ve had your antics up to here.” Christina waved a hand over her head. She glared at Steven and Vince. “Have a little respect for Stan and Sheila. This is a party, not a wrestling match.”
The men apologized, and Steven opened his mouth to speak again.
She stopped him with a raised hand. “I’ll deal with you later.” She pushed him, and then turned to Vince, pulling Jill to stand beside her. “Vince, is Jill the woman you’ve been dating?”
Steven snickered until Christina silenced him with an icy stare.
“Yes.” Vince glanced at Jill, his shoulders drooping.
Christina put her hands on her hips. “Why the big secret?”
“We know how you feel about office dating,” Jill answered first, her gaze flicking around the small group.
“That’s my personal rule, which doesn’t apply to everyone.” She scowled, wondering if she’d ever said anything about this in the office. “I’m not sure though how I feel about my best friend dating my assistant. What if you break up? I can’t afford to lose my assistant or my best friend.”
Jill and Vince both looked at the grass beneath their feet.
“Oh no, you’re already having issues.” Panic froze her movement.
“Jill doesn’t trust me and wants to give up on us,” Vince blurted out.
“Trust you? Why should I when you give me so many reasons not to.” Jill’s voice rose.
“I’ve told you.” He held up his hands. “I’m not in love with Christina.”
Glancing between the two, Christina pressed her lips together to hold back laughter. “Jill thinks you’re in love with me?”
“I explained we’re just friends, but now she believes you and I had sex.” He shoved Steven’s chest. “Don’t look so smug because you believe the same.”
While she was intrigued to learn Steven was involved, she gave Jill’s arm a gentle squeeze. “Why in the world would you think Vince and I slept together?”
“You spent the night there. I called and he didn’t answer.”
Oh, great. “I can’t believe that night is what all the fuss is about.” Christina inhaled a deep breath. “Jill, Vince and I are not in love, and we haven’t been together. I went to Vince for help with my case. We worked late and I fell asleep on his sofa.” Fighting back a smile, she made the sign of a cross over her chest. “I swear.” Christina grabbed Steven’s arm as he took a step to move. “Oh no, you don’t.” She held tight to his sleeve. “I’ll get to you in a moment.”
“I’m so sorry.” Shaking her head, Jill stared at her feet.
At the sight of her assistant’s chagrin, she smiled. “Just go and make up. I don’t want to hear another word about a resignation.”
“Thank you.” Vince mouthed the words as he took Jill’s hand and guided her to a secluded area near the trees.
****
“You are an incredible woman,” Steven whispered in her ear.
“Don’t butter me up.” Christina punched his arm. “How did you get involved in their mess?”
Forcing his eyes wide, he held up his hands. “I’m an innocent bystander.”
“You’re hardly innocent. Start explaining.”
Steven loved the way she looked when she was mad. Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks flushed. She took away his breath. “If you hadn’t found the information that broke our case, would you have gone through with our deal?”
“What deal? I told you, the first night we met, that I manage my career with scruples. I’ve stood true to those words.” An eyebrow arched high. “Can you say the same?”
He squeezed Christina’s hand and pulled her to follow him, across the lawn, through the kitchen, and to the large dining room that had been transformed into a room for dancing. Two large crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and candles glowed against the walls. As he’d wanted to do since she walked into the room, he drew her close and held her tight to his chest.
She edged backward, her eyes wide.
“You were about to tell me how you became involved in tonight’s mess.”
He closed his eyes and rested his head against hers, breathing in a coconut scent from her hair. “I felt bad about making the deal, especially knowing Brent Fraser’s hands were dirty.”
Her body went rigid and she moved her head back. “You knew?”
“No, not about the illegal money transfers, well not at first. I had a gut feeling my client wasn’t being completely truthful.” He ran a hand over her back. “I left him with no choice but to spill the beans. I called you that evening, but Tanya said you had gone to Ciccone’s.”
“So, you immediately assumed I went there to sleep with him?”
“Of course not.” His palms warmed from the sway of her hips against him. She met his gaze. “Okay, maybe. I’ll admit I don’t like the guy. He hovers and touches you. I thought you should know about Brent’s confession, so I drove by Ciccone’s place, and…”
“And what?”
“I saw you together in the window.”
Christina gripped her nails into his shoulder. “You assumed the worst.”
“You appeared quite cozy.” He shuddered at the memory of that sighting.
“Not as cozy as you and your girlfriend.”
“That was a mistake. Rebecca thought—”
“A mistake.” She pushed hard against his chest. “You’re unbelievable.”
“You said we could talk, so I could explain.” He attempted to pull her back into his embrace, but her upheld hand warded him off.
“I lied. I already told you what you do with your girlfriend is no concern of mine.” She crossed her arms over her chest, creating a barrier between them.
After searching her gaze, he leaned close and whispered, “You’re lying. You can pretend all you want. You care more than you’re willing to admit.” At least, he hoped this was true.
“You have a have a girlfriend. I’m not anyone’s mistress.”
“Rebecca and I are not together.” Steven gazed into her beautiful eyes, hoping she would read the truth about his feelings that lay there. “Rebecca and I dated, we didn’t work out. We only reconnected recently because she needed someone she could trust to handle the legalities with her new company. That’s our only relationship.” He waited for Christina to say something, but she remained silent, which made him incredibly nervous.
“I saw you kissing her.” Christina’s eyes narrowed.
He had been stupid to ignore his instincts. “She kissed me. Rebecca said your reaction to seeing us together would confirm your feelings toward me. I didn’t agree. She took the situation upon herself to…” Wishing he could take her back into his arms, he shoved his hands in his pants pockets instead. “The kiss meant nothing. You must believe me.”
“I don’t know,” she said after another lengthy silence.
“You can deny how you feel about me as much as you want. Your eyes tell another story.” He had to remind her how great they were together, before he lost her for good. Steven made a couple of stupid mistakes—okay, several of them—but he had worked too hard to leave now. He wasn’t about to let the love of his life walk out of his life again. “You are the only woman I want. The only one I’ve ever wanted.”
****
Christina allowed Steven to convince her into exiting the party to spend time alone. Sheila’s wide smile and shooing gesture proved she was more than happy to see them leave together.
He took her to a small café, very reminiscent of their first coffee date. Within the first hour, Steven charmed his way into her heart as he had all those years ago. She wanted to believe him—to believe in a second chance. She couldn’t deny her heart the love it longe
d for. She loved Steven, but was love enough?
He drove her home and walked her to the doorstep. Steven brushed her hair from her face and placed a kiss on her nose. “This is the start of our new beginning.”
Christina rested her head on his chest. “But you’re moving.” She felt her limbs grow heavy. “Tanya said you’re starting your own firm. You’re one of the best lawyers in town, at the peak of your career. Why give that up?”
“I don’t see my leaving as giving up.” His brow rose. “I’ve always wanted to open my own practice. I’m tired of the big city corporate lawyer. I want a place to call home with my wife and our children.”
“Sounds like you’ve given this a lot of thought.” She wanted to ask where she fit into his plan, but his kiss stalled her question. The warmth of his lips curled her toes.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her closer. “You’ve never left my thoughts.”
His warm kisses teased her earlobe. Christina closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth surging through her body as tender kisses trailed down her neck and over her shoulder. “Steven,” she said in a breathless whisper. His lips returned to hers and his tongue teased and danced.
The porch light flicked on, blinding her vision for a moment. As the door opened, she stumbled backward.
“Not again.” Tanya stood in the doorway.
Christina stepped inside, tugging a hesitant Steven. The expression on Tanya’s face was one of familiarity. “You know the truth.” Christina stared at her sister.
Tanya nodded, a frown creasing her forehead. “I’ve known for a while. My suspicions started that first day you arrived at Brian’s parents, but I wasn’t sure. Then seeing you so distraught the past few days, I felt like I had stepped back in time.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” She didn’t know whether to feel relieved or apprehensive over her sister’s admission.
“I thought you’d come to me, and when you didn’t, I called Brian. He told me the truth.” Tanya glared at Steven, hands jammed on her hips. “Imagine my shock to find out my soon-to-be brother-in-law is the man who had my sister fired.” She faced Christina. “Did he tell you why?”
Law Of Attraction Page 15