He nodded his head, eyes downcast as if he was expecting the worst. “Yes, ma’am.”
She found a quiet corner and sat down, opened his file. “The judge is probably going to want to make an example of you today. Because this is the second time you’ve been picked up DUI, it’s not a good look, and he’ll want to stop you from being picked up a third time or injuring someone. How are we going to convince him that you’ll behave in future?”
Forty-five minutes later, she stood on the steps shaking the hand of a very relieved client. “Can’t thank you enough for what you did today, Miss St. Martin. I could’ve gone to jail but you talked up a storm and saved my butt. Don’t know how to thank you.”
She walked down the steps as she said, “I did my job, and now you have to do yours, Cyril. You can’t go on like this. At some point, you have to move on from the past and make the best of it. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but you still have your kids to think about. You’re no good to them locked up.” She looked over the town, smiled at people she knew. Living here was beginning to mean more and more to her each day. She’d saved one family from being split up, and her work wasn’t done.
“I think you can do anything you put your mind to if it’s what you want. You have to convince yourself you’re doing the right thing, and the rest is quite simple if you focus on it.”
“You sure make it sound too easy.” He dropped his shoulders and sighed. “Life has a funny way of taking you by surprise, you know? Some days I wonder what I did to deserve the hand I got dealt, then I think of the children and thank God I still have them. My Mabel would be rolling in her grave if she could see me now and how I’ve let them all down. I sure never planned on being a single father.”
“Nobody believes in planning more than I do. But there’re some things we can’t plan for, no matter how we try. Days when everything goes wrong. It’s called life, I guess.”
“Bet that don’t happen to you. Seems to me like you have everything mapped out, your goals set in concrete.”
If only he knew. “I thought I did, Cyril. But even I’ve found out that you have to roll with the punches and sometimes go with your gut. It’s the only way. And I want you to know that if you ever need to talk, to plan things out, I’m your girl. I want to see you succeed.”
Her mother called later that evening. “Darling, Daddy’s booked your flights, and I’m going to pick you up from the airport. We’re going to go shopping for something special for your meeting with James.”
“Mom, I haven’t cleared it with my boss yet.” Not that she would have trouble doing it, but she wasn’t keen on being pushed.
“Honey, it’ll be so good to see you. I’ve missed you.”
“Missed you too, Mom.”
“Guess what I heard at the club yesterday? Young James Jr. is working back at the firm, too, now he’s back from his stint in the London office. You two always got on so well.”
“Oh, really? Well, that’s interesting.” But was it interesting enough to tempt her to join the firm? He was certainly handsome; they got on well and had similar interests. Not that they’d actually dated seriously, as in exclusive. More like hung out with the same group and caught up for the odd dinner or theatre. But he was the type of man she’d imagined marrying. Good looking, a go-getter, a good match. Focused on his future just like she was. Or had been.
“Yes. I was thinking we should invite him to dinner. No harm in doing everything we can to encourage his father to accept you into the firm. Of course, being married to the senior partner’s son wouldn’t harm your chances either.”
Oh boy. This was where things were going to get awkward. Her affair with Jethro was ticking along nicely. A few quiet dinners, followed by delicious sex, and Sadie liked it. He was calm, easygoing, and everything James wasn’t. But could she imagine spending the rest of her life with him, especially since it wasn’t what she thought would happen?
*
“You’re going where?”
“Denver. Home.”
“You’re coming back though, right?” She had to be. He wouldn’t survive without her now that he’d found her.
“Of course I am, silly. It’s only for a few days. I have meetings I need to get out of the way. Things that were in the works before I came out to Marietta.”
“Okay. Well, I guess you gotta do what you gotta do, then. I’ll hear from you when you get back?” Why did he have the feeling that this was the beginning of the end, that there was more to this story than what she was saying? They’d only just gotten into a routine where they shared a meal a couple of days a week followed by amazing sex. More than a few times over the past couple of weeks they’d woken up together, and he liked having her by his side more than he thought possible. He was going to miss her. Miss knowing she was only in town and they’d be together before sundown. Miss seeing her happy face across the dinner table. Miss waking up with her hair spread out on his pillows.
“I’ll call you.” The sigh she gave him melted his heart. It sounded remarkably like she didn’t want to go.
“Sure. I’ll be here waiting for you to come home.” Watching the clock, checking my messages, and hating every minute you’re away.
“Okay. I have to go. I’ve a plane to catch. Bye, Jethro.”
He hung up and slipped his phone into his pocket. Her voice sounded different, much like it did when they first met and she was the up-and-coming lawyer who’d been called in to help out Layla. Over the last few weeks, her tone had softened, partly because they’d shared the baby’s arrival together. It’d changed everything about her. The way she talked to him, how she acted around him and others, her outlook on life. He tried to tell her that once and she brushed it aside, disagreeing with him. But Jethro had gotten a sound impression of her before their morning had been turned on its head. She’d been prim and aloof. Untouchable even. Nothing like the woman she was with him now.
She’d become more easygoing, calmer even. Less stuffed shirt, more small-town girl. The right girl for him.
“What’re you moping around for?” Nate walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door, stared blankly at the contents.
“Nothing.”
“Looking at your face, it’s something, all right. Looks like someone stole the last piece of cake and you were saving it.” He pulled out a plate of leftover roast beef and picked at it. “This still good to eat?” He sniffed the plate.
“Guess. Only made it day before yesterday.”
Nate searched the fridge for the cheese. “Sadie coming over tonight? Hear she did well in court for Cyril the other day. That girl is getting some fans in town from what I gather.” He grabbed a loaf of bread, a knife, and a plate and sat at the table, making himself a sandwich.
Jethro stood, watching him layer the meat one way, cheese the opposite before squirting the whole thing with mayonnaise. “No. Had meetings in Denver. She’ll be gone for three or four days.”
“Damn. That’s a shame. Was looking forward to a decent meal again. That girl can cook.”
Her cooking wasn’t what was in the forefront of Jethro’s mind. It was how much he was going to miss holding her against his chest with the sweet smell of her perfume soothing his senses as they both fell asleep. “Yeah, she can.”
“What’re you gonna do about it?” Nate spread a thick slab of bread with golden yellow butter before layering wedges of meat on it and squirting a stream of hot sauce over the whole thing.
Jethro shrugged. “Nothing. She’ll be back soon, I guess.”
“Wasn’t what I meant. When she gets back. Are you gonna marry her or what?”
“What? We’ve only just met, for goodness’ sake.” Not that the idea hadn’t crossed his mind more than once in the last couple of weeks.
“Bullshit. You’ve been sleeping with her for ages now. And you’re happy for the first time in God knows how long. Wouldn’t let her get away if it was me.”
“You kidding me? You don’t know the first thi
ng about keeping hold of a girl. You go through more women than clean shirts.”
“’Cause I haven’t found the right one, fool. Anyone can see that she does it for you. Stupid if you don’t do something to keep her here.”
He’d be the fool to take dating advice from his brother. Especially since Nate never dated the same girl more than three times. That was how long it took for them to find out just how hopeless he was. The joke between the brothers was, first date ’cause he was handsome, second because she thought she might be onto something good and everyone made at least one mistake, third because she couldn’t believe how wrong she was and had to double-check that she wasn’t imagining his shortcomings.
“Sadie has things to sort out before we even go down that route. Supposed to be going back to work in the city when her stint here is over anyway. Moving to Marietta was only a temporary thing.” Much to his dismay now that he was beginning to get to know her. How tempting it was to drop hints about Layla wanting to offer her a partnership. But Chance would kill him if he did, and at the end of the day, it wasn’t his business to interfere. Better he be here for her to bounce ideas off of, if that was what she wanted.
“Surely you can talk her into staying?” Nate slapped the top piece of bread on his sandwich and picked it up. “Gotta be something that’d make her want to.” He bit into it and leaned back in his chair, chewing contentedly while Jethro tossed his words around in his mind. “Maybe you need to up your game with the lovin’ or something. If you want lessons or ideas, you need only ask. I have all kinds of magic tricks the ladies love.”
As if. They were from two different worlds. That was the problem. It’d worked for Tyson Watson though. Why couldn’t it work for Jethro?
Because he didn’t have the Watson brothers’ charm, that was why.
Chapter Fourteen
“Thank you for asking me to come in, Mr. Milton.” Sadie shook his hand and sat in the chair opposite his big mahogany desk. She smoothed her skirt down again and straightened her back. This law firm was a step above what Layla had before she moved to Marietta. Even though some of her clients were top-notch, her offices weren’t as upscale as this. The senior partner’s office took up the entire corner of one of the tallest high-rise buildings in Denver, with 180-degree views over the city. The internal glass walls gave him constant contact with his team and a sense of light and exposure that threw her off balance for a moment. He looked so much more formidable in his office than he did when their paths crossed at the country club.
“Let’s dispense with the formalities first, keep it professional, then we can catch up with family.” He smiled and leaned forward on his desk. “I’ve looked over your résumé, and I have to say I’m impressed. Tell me, Sadie. Why do you want to join our firm?”
“It’s what I’ve always strived for.” Her practiced spiel kicked in. “To join a top team of the best litigators in town. I’ve watched you build your firm over the years, and to be honest, there’s nobody I admire more. I think you have a lot you can teach me. I can bring youth and enthusiasm to the team. I don’t give in easily if it’s something close to my heart, so you know you’ll always get the best out of me. And I’m very dedicated once I set my mind to something.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“And, I’ve wanted to pursue a career in law ever since I can remember.”
He put his hands together and smiled at her. “So I understand. Your father was most insistent that you’d be the perfect fit for the firm.”
“As much as my father likes to push me forward and speak for me, I’d rather I got the position on my own. Let my track record speak for me.”
Mr. Milton reached out and picked up a sheet of paper in front of him. “You’re working in, where was it, Marietta?” He peered at her over his black glasses.
“Yes. I owe Ms. Cox quite a bit. She’s responsible for my love of the courtroom. I’ve watched her ever since I started studying and was lucky enough to intern for her after I passed the bar, when she worked here in Denver. She’s been a great mentor for me.”
“But Marietta. Surely it offers nothing to stimulate someone of your intellect? I have to admit to being surprised when James told us you were working there.”
“You’d be surprised. I know I certainly was. It’s a small town, for sure, but it’s interesting. Merely on a smaller scale than what I’m used to. I also believe in seeing the law from both sides of the coin. Limiting myself to the wealthier side of town doesn’t give me a true picture of life in general.” A niggle of unease trickled down her spine. “I felt I owed it to Ms. Cox to fill in while she was on maternity leave when she asked. It’s also a good opportunity to see how I manage on my own.” And she’d surprised herself by enjoying it more than she would have thought possible, winning small cases and bringing in new clients.
A tray with an expensive brand of scotch sat on the cabinet behind him, the light shining through the amber liquid shooting golden rainbows up the wall behind it. Sadie could imagine him drinking with colleagues after winning big cases. She celebrated with Emily’s coffee and homemade chocolate chip cookies, and it certainly felt more real, more comfortable, than what she was interviewing for now.
“And, your verdict about being in charge?”
“I’ve coped well. Brought in new business and taken care of day-to-day problems. Obviously nothing like you’d experience here, but as I said, all good learning material. Not all of our big clients will always have big issues.” She smiled across the table. “Sometimes small issues can cause as much pain.”
“Too true. I gather you’re open to bringing in new contacts for this firm, too, if you’re successful today. Perhaps some of your old clients and those Ms. Cox left behind? Her billable hours and retainers must be considerable.”
“They are. Some of them have gone to other partners, but I did retain a couple of contacts. Not that I’ve had to do anything lately, of course, but they’re still in my logbook and we’re on good speaking terms.”
He nodded, watching her over the rims of his designer glasses as if wondering how far she’d go to extract a promise for their continued loyalty. “When does your contract in Marietta run out?”
Too soon it seemed, something that hadn’t crossed her mind until now. “A month.”
He stood up. “It was good of you to come in, Sadie. I’ll talk this over with the other partners and get in touch. Say hello to your parents for me. It’s time we got together over a meal at the club, get you and James together and talk future plans. Maybe next time we do, we’ll have something to celebrate.”
“Thank you, sir.” She stood up and followed him to the door, where she shook his hand and left. As Sadie walked out toward the elevator, she glanced around and tried to imagine herself working here. This was who she was and everything her dreams were made of. The glossy timber, shiny steel, and expansive glass was nothing like the office she had in Marietta. The two receptionists manning the front desk here could’ve been out of a Dior collection. Just as she imagined.
So why did she have a case of butterflies in her stomach? Was it because she was so close to getting her dream, or was it because she was terrified of making the wrong decision?
Later that night, she voiced that same question at the dinner table. “I’m not sure I want to jump in and make a mistake, Daddy.” She put down her crystal wine goblet and smiled at him, ignoring the raised eyebrow. “I rather like what I’m doing now, and I don’t want to lose that and find out it was what I wanted all along.”
“I hardly think that will be the case. This was everything you had your heart set on.” He dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. “You only went out to that place as a favor to Ms. Cox. Nobody will think anything of it if you leave early and take up the opportunity being offered to you.”
“But I won’t do that until my contract has run out. You know I’m not the type to walk out when someone needs me.”
Her mother put down her wineglass and leaned forward. “Bu
t, darling, you need to be cutthroat to make it in this world. Being a top litigator in the firm is all about taking care of what or who matters most. I’ve seen you in the courtroom.”
“Mother, please. In the courtroom things are different. I have to fight for my client because it’s the job I chose to do, but Layla is more like a friend. I’m not going to let her down when she’s put so much trust and faith in me. Don’t forget, she took me on when I first started out wet behind the ears and full of enthusiasm and little experience. Heaven forbid, what kind of message would that send out to the world if I walked out on the one person who stood up for me?”
Her mother tipped her head toward her. “I suppose you’re right. If anything, you’re the fairest person I know.” She glanced across the table at Sadie’s father and smiled. A smile that worried Sadie because it was full of innuendo and secrets.
While they were talking over coffee, she found out what that smile meant. “Sadie, we invited James Jr. for dinner tonight because I know he wanted to see you again and you’re only here for a couple of days. Unfortunately, he had a prior engagement but did say he’d be here shortly. You can go out for a drink and reacquaint yourselves. I’m sure that when you take up the partnership with his father’s firm, the two of you will get to work together often.”
So this was what they were up to. “I wish you’d mentioned something earlier. I’d planned a quiet night with you and Daddy.”
Her mother preened. “That’s generous of you, darling, but you’re young. And I’m more than happy to lose you to James if it means rekindling the friendship between the two of you.” She put down her glass and gave Sadie an earnest look. “I know we didn’t encourage a relationship between the two of you when you were in law school, but your father and I wanted you to concentrate on your studies. Now that you’re at the partnership stage, we think you need to rethink that part of your future.”
Cowboy to the Rescue Page 10