Now, she was supposed to be acting in an official role as Drew’s counsel.
Yet Hazel was chewing on a teether in her stroller between them. And Molly had just accepted a personal phone call. Hardly professional and the entirely wrong way to run her practice. But the business and personal lines had been blurred since she’d run into Drew at the courthouse. She would reestablish boundaries after her call.
She shifted, wedging herself into a corner of the glass elevator. As if that suddenly granted her privacy. She quickly finished her phone call.
“Everything okay?” Drew asked.
Molly tucked her phone into her briefcase, not the outside pocket of the diaper bag. She was with a client, not on an adventure to the park. Time to set those boundaries. “Fine.”
Drew looked at her. “Are you sure?”
She had to keep the focus on her client and his case. Her personal business was just that...personal. But the concern in Drew’s voice and the warmth in his gaze loosened her resolve. The truth spilled out like wine from an overturned bottle, unstoppable. Unavoidable. As if Drew weren’t simply her client. As if boundaries never existed. “That was the office of Judge Martina Reilly. I’m filing for full custody of Hazel. I don’t foresee any issues, but in case of a hearing, I want to have it here, not Los Angeles. I’ve been granted time Monday morning to state my reasons in person.”
He pushed away from the glass wall. “What do you need?”
She needed him to stop acting as if she could always lean on him and that he would expect her to. To stop being concerned. To stop making her think she could forever count on him. “I think I’ve got it covered.”
Or she would have everything covered after the nanny interviews she’d scheduled for the afternoon at Sugar Beat Bakery. Once she hired a nanny, Hazel wouldn’t have to return to the day care. And Molly could concentrate on her practice, follow up on her networking and grow her client list, locate an office space. Then she’d stop looking to Drew as if he were meant to stand by her like a partner in every sense of the word.
He was not hers.
And a picture with Santa from their past and his fondness and affection for Hazel would not change that. Hazel filled her heart and her career filled her life. Nothing more was required.
“I can help if you need me,” Drew offered.
The elevator doors opened. Molly stepped behind Hazel’s stroller, gripped the handles and blocked Drew from pushing. Time to recommit to those boundaries. Right now, she had to concentrate on the case at hand and get the information that would help them prove Drew’s innocence and restore his career and reputation.
Hazel launched her teething ring into the air as if testing those boundaries. Drew swooped in and caught the colorful ring before it hit the floor.
Drew acknowledged several employees and led Molly and Hazel toward a corner office. He knocked once on the closed door and strode inside without waiting for permission. Molly pushed Hazel’s stroller into Brad’s office and offered Drew’s brother an apologetic smile.
“We need to find this man.” Drew slapped a piece of paper on Brad’s sleek glass-topped desk. “Now.”
“Reuben Cote? Isn’t he the one who recanted his testimony recently?” Brad nodded a greeting to Molly and shifted his chair, booting up his computer.
“Yes. He’s also the man who will prove I had no part in manipulating a witness,” Drew declared.
Brad tapped on his keyboard. “This is welcome news.”
Molly wasn’t surprised Drew had confided in Brad. Or that Brad seemingly dropped everything at Drew’s arrival to assist his brother. Family first seemed to be an unwritten rule with the two brothers. She’d watched them work together to rescue the puppies and mother dog. Both refusing to give up. Heard their banter and good-natured ribbing on the basketball court the previous night. Remembered Drew talking about his older brother’s achievements when Drew and Molly had their reunion.
As an only child, she’d never had that same kind of relationship with anyone. The kind built on a foundation of complete trust and unconditional love. She had Drew for a short while in college. Maybe they could have had that kind of connection. But that seemed a lifetime ago.
She lowered onto one knee and unbuckled Hazel from the stroller seat. She wanted more for Hazel. Wanted her daughter to have a sibling if possible and a bond that no one could take from her. Molly coughed, dislodging her sudden disbelief. She could not be considering more children. She didn’t even have full custody of Hazel yet. Or a potential future father in mind.
Her gaze tracked to Drew as if he were the sign she’d been looking for. But Molly never relied on fate or luck or signs. She wouldn’t allow her heart to offer a plea bargain now.
With Hazel propped on her hip, Molly rose and paced around Brad’s office, locking down her errant thoughts and restoring her focus.
“Last night, Molly received a package we think came from Gina Hahn.” Confidence filled Drew from his easy smile to optimistic tone. “We have actual proof now.”
Molly leaped to insert the reality of the situation before Brad jumped on Drew’s hope train. “Evidence that is not admissible without a sworn testament from the witness. Nothing is a given yet. We still have a lot of work to do.”
Work. Molly had to concentrate on work too. Then she would shake the idea of Drew as her partner for life.
Drew rubbed his hands together and hovered over his brother’s shoulder. “Even better would be Reuben attending my hearing.”
“Let’s locate Mr. Cote first.” Brad kept his attention on his computer screen.
“Gina left us more than we could ever imagine.” Drew shook his head from side to side as if still stunned Gina had dropped the flash drive on Brooke and Dan’s front porch.
“I have more information on Gina Hahn.” Brad tapped a purple folder on his desk.
“Keep it.” Drew stepped around Brad’s desk and scooped a squirming and slightly cranky Hazel out of Molly’s arms. He flipped Hazel upside down and transformed her into giggling and content in an instant. “We don’t need anything more from Gina.”
Molly eyed Drew and Hazel. If only she could have a quick moment in Drew’s arms to leave her so content. She squeezed her forehead. Drew’s embrace was not part of their attorney–client agreement.
Brad glanced away from his computer screen and shifted his focus from Drew to Molly. “Gina Hahn sounds like a key witness too. Not that I’m a lawyer.”
“She gave us the evidence that’s gotten us here. There’s no reason to keep Gina involved.” Drew tipped Hazel upside down again and considered Molly. “You agree, don’t you?”
“It’s worth taking the folder Brad put together on Gina.” Molly moved toward the desk and the purple folder and away from the distraction that was Drew.
Drew lifted Hazel against his chest and stepped closer to Molly. “Gina asked us not to involve her further.”
“We never promised to stay away from her completely.” Molly reached for the folder on Brad’s desk. “We may need her. You know that.”
“We have Reuben Cote.” Drew set his hand on her arm, keeping her from picking up the folder. “Gina has moved on. She has a daughter to protect. Her family has a viable business in this city. I don’t want to put her or that at risk.”
“Even if it means proving your innocence?” Molly set her hands on her hips. “Are you willing to give up your life, your career, to protect Gina’s?”
“It’s not relevant,” Drew argued. “We have Reuben.”
“You’re too close to this,” Molly countered. “You’re not thinking clearly.”
“For the first time in months, I am thinking very clearly.” Drew held his hand up for a Hazel high five. His serious gaze returned to Molly. “I ruined one man’s life. I won’t do that to Gina too.”
Molly straightened. “I won’t ruin Gina�
��s life either.”
“That’s right.” Drew nodded. Hazel patted his cheek, tugged on his ear and his hair, but his focus never trailed from Molly. “Because you’re going to promise me you won’t involve Gina any further. You’ll leave Brad’s file folder alone, as well as Gina.”
Molly crossed her arms over her chest. He hired her to be his counsel. He had to allow her to do her job. Her way, not his. “You have to trust me.”
“Just promise me, Molly.” He tickled Hazel to get the little girl to release her grip on his hair. “Please.”
Please, trust me. Molly tucked the burp cloth over Drew’s shoulder to protect his shirt from Hazel’s drool. If only it was so easy to protect her heart from him. “Fine.”
Drew smiled and looked at his brother. “How much longer?”
“The Cotes cancel phone lines faster than teenagers text.” Brad tapped on his keyboard. “And they relocate even more often.”
Drew strolled to the door. “I’m going to show off Hazel to the team. They keep walking by and peering inside to see her.”
Molly waited for Hazel’s laughter to fade in the hallway and stepped up to Brad’s desk. “I’d like you to put a twenty-four-hour surveillance on Gina Hahn.”
Brad paused and shifted in his chair to face her. “Why?”
“I believe the former administrative assistant is a flight risk.” Molly slanted her gaze to the open doorway. She hated to defy Drew. Or break her word. But she had a client to look out for. A job to do. After all, Drew had hired her.
“But you have the information you need from Gina,” Brad said.
“I also have a strange feeling in my gut.” Not that she only ever relied on her instincts, but she always listened. Like right now. One more quick glance at the empty doorway. “Call it a contingency plan.”
“You’re thinking this is all too good to be true. That it’s been too easy.” Brad returned to his keyboard and computer screen. “Drew will not like this.”
“Drew’s life is at stake.” Molly set her palms flat on the desk and leaned toward Drew’s brother. Determination fueled every inch of her. “I don’t have time to consider his feelings.”
“Just wanted to be clear. Make sure we’re both on the same page.” Brad stilled and stared at Molly. “Drew will be mad about this. He’ll be mad at me, but he’ll blame you.”
“I know the risks and accept the fallout.” Molly pushed off the desk and stepped away. Just as she understood the risks of falling for Drew and why she wouldn’t accept that fallout. “I will not lose this case. Or watch Drew’s livelihood shatter when Gina or someone else on the sidelines might’ve been able to change the course of the hearing so that the right decision was made. The same applies to overturning Van’s verdict.”
Brad pressed a button on his keyboard. His attention never veered from Molly.
Molly crossed her arms over her chest and tipped her chin up. “If you won’t do it, I’ll find someone who will.”
“I like you, Molly. I really like you.” Brad rose. A wide smile stretched across his face. “And that twenty-four-hour surveillance is already done. Set it up while we were talking.”
Molly’s shoulders released. “Just like that.”
“Yeah.” Brad picked up the folder on Gina and set it on a shelf behind him. “You’ll let me know if you want this.”
Molly nodded and exhaled. In another life, she would’ve welcomed Brad as a friend. And an ally. But she knew his loyalty would always remain with his brother. “What about Drew?”
“My brother believes his way is the only way. He’s a lot like our mother. Though he’d argue just the opposite.” Brad motioned to the open doorway. “But I’ve learned that other ways are not always wrong. And if it comes from the heart, how can that be wrong?”
From the heart. No, Molly relied on her mind. She’d put an unbreakable wall around her heart. She followed Brad into the hallway. “You know Drew is a client. And I’ve built a career on leaving my heart out of the courtroom.”
“But you technically aren’t in the courtroom.” Brad stepped around the corner and paused. He tipped his head toward a glass wall, separating a large break room from the offices and cubicles.
Inside the break room, Hazel removed Drew’s baseball cap, handed it to a laughing older woman who passed it back to Drew. He settled the hat back on his head and the cycle was repeated. Hazel laughed and squealed. And Molly’s heart, the one with the unbreakable wall, squeezed.
Brad opened the door to the break room for Molly to enter.
Drew turned and smiled. “Come on in and join us.”
Drew thrust his free arm out to his side as if inviting Molly to step into his embrace. As if welcoming Molly into his inner circle.
As Molly passed by Brad, he murmured, “Are you sure Drew is only a client?”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
OUTSIDE BRAD’S OFFICE building, Molly paused Hazel’s stroller and shoved her sunglasses on. The polarized lenses filtered the sunlight, reduced the glare off the sidewalks and concrete buildings, but failed to do anything about her concern.
She wanted to rush back inside, take the elevator to Brad’s floor and convince Drew’s brother that, Yes, Drew is definitely only a client. She wanted to argue until she removed all doubt from Brad’s mind and her own.
“Hazel and I want ice cream.” Drew leaned forward and adjusted Hazel’s headband.
Molly blinked and focused on Drew. More specifically the one corner of his mouth tipping into his cheek. Boyish and charming. She shouldn’t be enchanted. Crossing her arms over her chest, Molly arched one eyebrow. “Hazel told you that she wants ice cream?”
“What kid doesn’t want ice cream?” Drew straightened and stretched his arms to his sides. His voice was good-natured, his smile ratchetting into captivating. “As if she needs to tell me.”
“Why ice cream?” Molly asked.
“It’s a little early for cocktails.” Drew dropped his chin the tiniest of notches and settled his gaze on Molly. “And I really don’t think we should bring Hazel into a bar. Bad form and all that. Baby blue here will have too many hearts breaking when she gets older as it is. It’s better she learns to avoid bars now,” he teased.
Molly adjusted her sunglasses and her surprise. “You’re serious?”
“Every day I swear her blue eyes get brighter and wider.” Drew grabbed the stroller and spun Hazel around to face Molly. He motioned to Hazel as if in a courtroom presenting newly discovered evidence. “Haven’t you noticed that?”
No. Hazel’s blue eyes had always been the most prominent feature of her face and reached right into Molly’s heart. But she had noticed Drew was much more animated whenever he talked about Hazel, as if she somehow energized the world he saw. Hazel had changed Molly’s view, but that was expected, since she was her daughter. “So, we should have ice cream, not cocktails, because...”
“Because I feel like I want to celebrate.” He held his hands up, palms out. His tone was buoyant. “I know we have a lot of work to do. I know nothing is settled. But it’s the first time I have real hope. That’s worth celebrating.”
She wanted to celebrate too. With Drew. As if she shared that same full hope. But she couldn’t lose her professional objectivity. Attorneys and clients shook hands and retreated to their own homes once their business concluded for the day. Brad had given Drew and Molly the information they needed to contact Reuben Cote. Their time together was now officially concluded. “We can’t join you for ice cream.” At Drew’s frown, Molly quickly added, “I have interviews with potential nannies already booked this afternoon at the Sugar Beat Bakery.”
“I should join you guys then.” Drew settled his hands on the stroller handles as if he intended to do just that.
Molly sputtered. “Why?”
“Second opinion.” Drew turned the stroller toward the street corn
er. “You’re a first-time mom. You need to hire a nanny. What if you miss something and hire the wrong nanny?”
“And you believe you’re qualified to pick out a nanny?” Molly walked beside him, unable to think of a good way to shake off Drew. He’d outrun them for sure. Her heels were not conducive to running. And she’d already told him their destination.
“Well, growing up I had nannies, so that might qualify me to pick out a good one, but not necessarily.” Drew tipped his head at her, then pressed the crosswalk button on the light pole. “Also, I’m pretty good at reading people and can spot a liar or a fraud quickly. Reuben Cote notwithstanding.”
“You think my nanny candidates are going to be lying about their qualifications?” Molly asked.
“I hope not.” Drew waited a beat before he pushed the stroller into the crosswalk.
Molly appreciated his caution. And his protective nature.
He added, “But who wants to hire a nanny without experience? No one, so, you’d have to embellish your résumé.”
“Tell me again what you bring to the table for these interviews?” Molly lifted the front of the stroller onto the sidewalk. “You’re going to know that a candidate is overselling herself.”
“A second opinion is what I bring,” Drew said. “You can’t just leave Hazel with the first nanny you meet because she’s available. You can’t do that to this cutie. It’ll leave an indelible mark.”
Molly chewed on her bottom lip. She already worried Hazel’s bad two weeks at the Tiny Sweet Giggles Day Care had left a permanent bad memory with her daughter. But Molly had to hire a nanny quickly. Though Drew offered a good point. Would urgency shadow her objectivity? Perhaps Drew could help. “Do you have a scar from an old nanny experience?”
Drew shook his head. “We had terrific nannies. Hazel deserves the same.”
Molly studied him for a long moment. “You aren’t going to leave, are you?”
“Took you long enough to catch on.” Drew smiled. “Besides, Hazel and I can have cupcakes at the bakery and still celebrate.”
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