“I haven’t already scared you off, have I?” he asks after I have yet to respond, and his warm smile helps to melt some of the nerves.
“Not at all, Mr. Welch,” I lie. “I’m a quick learner, so if you want to give me a rundown of what you’ll need me to do, I’ll get to work.”
“I like you already, Brenna. You are going to do great here. And it’s Richard; none of those formalities here.”
His friendly demeanor puts me at ease. Turning, he motions me to the desk, and I take a seat as he goes over my duties for the day. The usual receptionist is pregnant and recently began to have complications. She had planned to train a temp before taking maternity leave, but last night, her husband rushed her to the hospital and she was put on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. I don’t know much about pregnancies—my sister wasn’t around while she was pregnant with my niece—but I can’t imagine bed rest being good.
The Welch Law Firm is well known around the city for being powerful and tenacious. If you need something taken care off and have the money, this is the place to come. The office is located in the heart of the city and conveniently near the courthouse.
Richard explains that my job today should be fairly simple. The attorneys are all busy with their heavy caseload and their paralegals will assist in the majority of the work. My biggest job is answering the phone and transferring the calls to the proper person. I will also accept deliveries and make sure they end up in the right office. I am to treat everything with time sensitivity; as soon as it comes in, I need to get it where it needs to go. As many of their cases are high profile, I am required to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Once Richard finishes his explanation, he also walks me around the office to introduce me to the other staff. I pay close attention to the office layout during the tour because the last thing I need is to get lost or forget where an attorney’s office is. I am feeling more pressure with this job than I have with any other, but that only makes me want to succeed that much more.
The phone has been ringing off the hook all morning, and so far, I haven’t had any problems with their phone system. I have been moving at a fast pace, not leaving me with much downtime, but I must admit I don’t hate the work. This kind of routine and atmosphere is something I could see myself getting used to. Typically, I am bored out of my mind before lunch and end up watching the seconds tick by on the clock. One of the good things about working with the temp agency is I don’t often end up in the same office for more than a couple of days, but if it wasn’t for my shifts at the bar, I wouldn’t mind spending more time here.
Keeping up the two jobs helps me to afford the apartment where I live. It’s far from luxurious, but it’s a two bedroom in a decent area and close to downtown. I grew up in a rough part of the city, so I hightailed it out of there as soon as I could. Sadly, my sister, Lynne, never seemed to make it out. She wasn’t the only one either.
I dated Patrick all through high school, and we made plans to leave together. Go away to college and make something of ourselves, but during our senior year, he ended up falling down the same path as everyone else. He was so caught up in drugs and the lifestyle that came with it that I didn’t recognize who he had become. We broke up and I left him behind, just like the rest. He called and came around a few times, claiming he was getting clean, but then three years ago, I received the call that he had lost his battle. Hearing Patrick had overdosed put me in a dark place, and I questioned every decision I had made, wondering if I could have helped.
Since then, I lost touch with my family and only hear from Lynne when she is in desperate need of a sitter for my niece. I would do anything for that little girl, and it kills me to think of her growing up in that place. There have been multiple times when I have attempted to help Lynne get out. Interviews were lined up only for her to never show, and I even opened my door and invited her and Jane to stay with me. It lasted for three days before I came home after work to find them both gone, along with any jewelry and the cash I had in the apartment. That night, I learned some people just couldn’t be helped unless they wanted it. Every night, I pray for my niece, hoping and wishing she is safe.
“You did very well today, Brenna.”
I look up from the keyboard as I am finishing an email to find Richard standing next to the desk. This is the first I have seen of him since lunchtime; he has been locked away in his office working on a criminal case.
“Thank you. You gave me a great lesson this morning, and everyone here is so kind. If I had a question, they jumped to help. You have a great group working for you, Richard.”
“I have to agree with you. We have come a long way since I first opened the doors. Listen, your day is over, but I wasn’t kidding. You did great today, and I would like nothing more if you would come back Monday and continue to work with us. It doesn’t look like Rita will be back anytime soon, and you picked up on everything so quickly. It would be a shame to have to train someone new.”
I think about his offer and am honored he wants me to come back. It isn’t often as a temp that you get asked to return. But with my job at Déjà vu, I don’t know how I would swing both without killing myself in the process.
“Thank you for the offer. I actually had a fun day today, but I also have another job working primarily nights, and I worry it would interfere.”
“Do me a favor,” he says, and I nod my head. “Think about it over the weekend before you decide.”
“I will. Have a good weekend, Richard.”
“You too, Brenna. I look forward to hearing from you.” Turning around, Richard walks back into his office and closes the door.
When I glance down at my watch, I am shocked to see that it is already five thirty. My shift at the club starts at seven, which doesn’t leave me much time to get home, eat, and change before I have to leave again.
I can already feel the exhaustion from the past two days begin to set in as I walk through my apartment door.
Tonight will be a long night.
Reaching into the refrigerator, I pull out my leftover pasta and toss it into the microwave. While that heats up, I rush to my bedroom and change out of the dress and heels I wore to the law firm today and into my jeans and work tank.
The microwave dings just as as my phone goes off. Glancing at the clock, I have enough time to scarf this pasta down before running out the door.
Checking my phone as I eat, I see I have two missed text messages.
Lynne: need u 2 watch Jane 2night
Tanner: See you tonight, beautiful.
I take a moment to process the message from my sister. Of course, it would be too much trouble for her to actually ask me for something. In true Lynne fashion, her needs outweigh anyone else’s. It hurts my heart to think about what will happen when I turn her down. Usually, when she reaches out to me for help these days, it is because she doesn’t have any other option.
Biting the bullet, I type out a quick message, letting her know that I have prior commitments tonight but would be more than willing to pick up Jane first thing in the morning.
Three hours later, I pull my phone from my pocket, and there is still no response from my sister. Figuring I will most likely not hear from her, I stuff my cell back in my pocket and go check on my tables.
Originally, I was scheduled to work behind the bar with Jordan, but Missy somehow suckered Ian into allowing her to train to bartend, leaving me to work the floor. I didn’t mind the constant running around as much as I did the difference in the tips I would make tonight. I always bank on working behind the bar and rely on that money.
I make my usual rounds, picking up any empty glasses and taking orders before waiting at the bar for Jordan to get my drinks ready. It was a little different being on this side of things, and it took restraint to keep myself from going back there and doing it myself.
The Friday night crowd is starting to fill in, and I notice a new group of guys occupying two of my tables. After dropping off the last drink from m
y tray, I walk over to greet them.
“Hello, gorgeous,” says the dark-eyed stranger.
“Cruz, lay off my woman,” Tanner says, before wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “Find your own.”
I shift out of Tanner’s hold and turn toward him with my brow raised in question. “Your woman?”
“In my heart, you will always be mine.” If I didn’t know Tanner as well as I did, I would think he was sincere. No wonder so many girls drop their panties for him.
“You are so full of shit, Tanner Tate.”
Turning away from him, I take the orders of the group before facing him again. “Your usual?” I ask.
“You know it. And how about a round of whiskey shots? Seven of them.”
Only five other guys are sitting with Tanner, so I guess another will be joining them momentarily.
“Okay, boys. I’ll be right back.” Before I can walk away, Tanner wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me to his body, placing a kiss on my cheek.
Laughing, I shove him away and turn around, only to be met by a pair of angry blue eyes.
“Hey bro, about time you got here,” Tanner says, slapping his brother on the back.
“What can I get you to drink, Logan?” I ask, noticing his eyes wandering around the space, looking at anywhere but me, which throws me off. He has always been friendly when around, but maybe he’s had a bad day.
He could wear a burlap sack and still ooze sex appeal. It really isn’t fair that something as casual as jeans and a long-sleeve shirt could be so hot on someone. Even though his eyes dart all over, I don’t miss the way the blue material of his shirt make the color of his eyes pop that much more.
“Scotch. Neat.” Without further acknowledgment, he walks away to join the group and is quickly joined by a female, leaving me feeling dismissed.
That is definitely out of the ordinary. I walk back to the bar and try to brush off Logan’s aloofness, but I can’t help but wonder what brought it on. I am sure his job stresses him out, and with the recently broken engagement, maybe he is having a rough time. Although it doesn’t give him the right to be so rude.
Shots and drinks are delivered to the boys, and Logan is preoccupied with the blonde, not paying any attention to anything around him. Tanner is being extra sweet to me tonight, and it helps me ignore the constant heat of Logan’s eyes glaring at me. Every time I feel the burn, I glance in his direction, only to be met with his deep scowl before he averts his eyes. I am unaware of what might have crawled up his ass, but it is my goal to keep my distance from him tonight.
He doesn’t appear to be overly friendly to anyone in the group, but I can’t help but take offense when he is extra rude to me.
My shift seems to drag on the rest of the night longer than humanly possible. Logan only hung around for about an hour before heading out. No one else seemed to notice his attitude, or if they did, there wasn’t any mention of it, so maybe this was a common thing for him. We definitely don’t have the relationship that I have with his brother, so it’s not like I really know that much about him. Of course, his icy demeanor did nothing to cool the warmth that courses through me when he is near.
At the end of the night when I count out my tips, I am pleasantly surprised to discover I made more than a normal Friday night behind the bar. It probably helps that Tanner and his friends occupied most of my tables, and they all tipped me extremely well.
When I make it back to my apartment, I strip down and crawl into bed, not even bothering to shower because I am too exhausted.
Chapter 3
The first thing I do when I wake up is check my phone for any missed calls or texts from Lynne. I don’t find any, so I try calling her twice only to end up catching her voicemail. Instead of bothering to leave any messages, I hang up and search the local arrest reports online. It wouldn’t be the first time I had to use such resources to locate my sister when she was missing, but today, I don’t find her name listed. My best guess is that she is pissed off I wasn’t able to keep Jane last night, and this is her way of punishing me.
I am pulled from my thoughts when I hear a knock on my door. Removing myself from the comfort of my bed is a struggle, but I manage to get up and throw on some clothes. On the other side of the door, I am greeted with Claire’s cheerful face.
“Hey, Brenna. I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No, I have been up for a little while. What’s up?” I ask, opening the door wider to invite her inside.
“Emma wants to make homemade chocolate chip cookies, and I don’t have enough butter. Do you happen to have a stick you can lend a neighbor?”
I smile at the mention of her five-year-old daughter, Emma. She is a little older than Jane, and they love having playdates. She is an adorable little girl with blond ringlets and baby blue eyes that match her mother.
“I do, but only if you bring me a few of those cookies.”
Claire laughs and agrees as I get the butter from my refrigerator. I am handing her the stick when a head of blond curls comes bouncing through my apartment.
“Mama, Mama! Jordan keeps eating the chocolate chips. I told him we needed them for the cookies, but he won’t listen to me.” Emma stands with her hands on her hips, tapping her little foot against the floor.
Jordan and Claire began dating when Emma was just a small toddler, and she has had Jordan wrapped around her tiny finger from the moment he met her.
“Looks like I have a chocolate thief to stop. Thank you for the butter. You’ll have a plate of cookies when they’re finished.”
The two girls leave my apartment, and suddenly, the space becomes too quiet for me. I have the entire day free with nothing planned, and the last thing I want to do is spend it locked away inside this apartment. I don’t usually get a Saturday off, so this free day is welcome.
After a quick shower, I throw on a pair of shorts and loose tank, and sliding into my sandals, I bolt out the door. Unsure what to do with my day, my first stop is at my favorite coffee shop a couple of blocks away.
The weather is beautiful today—sunny with a slight breeze—and it would be a shame to waste it indoors. Ordering my customary tea-lemonade, I stand to the side to wait and consider traveling to the beach and relaxing in the sun on this gorgeous day.
Before long, my name is called, and I step over to the counter. Grabbing my beverage, I reach for a straw, but my hand collides with another, and a jolt runs through my veins.
Already knowing who is standing beside me, I turn to meet Logan’s deep blue eyes. “I’m sorry,” I say.
“No worries. How are you, Brenna?” he asks with a smile that throws me a little off balance.
“I’m good. Just out enjoying this amazing weather.” I do my best to act nonchalant while I stand so close to him.
Today he is dressed in navy board shorts and a light blue shirt. It appears he hasn’t shaved by the sprinkling of facial hair across his jawline. I think I am beginning to like his casual wear more than business. He also seems more relaxed today than he was last night, which is a pleasant surprise.
“Yeah, it is beautiful out today,” he says, sparing a glance out the wall of windows in the front of the building. “Well, I hope you have a nice day.”
His name is called, ending our short conversation, and I toss him a wave before turning for the exit. The door opens right as I reach for it, and I am surprised to see Tanner holding it open on the other side.
“Fancy seeing you here,” he says, staying outside and letting the door close after I pass through.
“Getting my Saturday morning fix,” I joke, holding up my drink. I have never been a coffee drinker, so tea is typically how I get my daily dose of caffeine.
“Are you working today?”
“Nope. First official day off in what feels like forever.”
“Perfect,” he exclaims. “My buddy is having a pool party, and you have to come.”
“I don’t know, Tanner.”
All Tanner’s friends have always b
een nothing but nice to me, but I come from a different world.
“Stop it. I won’t take no for an answer.” Tanner places his finger across my lips to keep me from speaking. “I’m going to text you the address. We’re headed there now, so I want you to run home and change into the tiniest bikini you have and come to the party.” Leaning forward, he kisses my cheek and walks inside the coffee shop.
Tanner has already sent me the address along with a friendly threat as to what will happen if I don’t show up before I even make it back home. After much consideration, I change into my new black bikini and pull a sundress over my head. Grabbing one of my hobo bags, I toss in my lip balm, sunscreen, and a beach towel. Once I have everything I need, I lock up and jump in my car, inputting the address in my phone’s navigation.
The party is less than ten miles from my apartment, but the moment I enter the community, I realize I am way out of my element. Each house—more like mini-mansion—sits on a perfectly manicured and landscaped yard; so nice that you don’t even want to walk on the grass.
When I reach my destination, I know I am in the right place by the luxury cars lining the circular driveway. I am surrounded by every top-of-the-line car make you could imagine—Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, Porsche—making my six-year-old Honda stick out like a sore thumb.
As I near the door, I can hear the music coming from around the back of the house. I am unsure of proper protocol in situations like this, so I ring the doorbell to play it safe.
The massive wooden door opens right away, and Bethany welcomes me. She is a cute blonde I had the pleasure of meeting through Tanner.
“You made it. Tanner said he invited you. Come on in, girl.”
Bethany pulls me into the house and gives me a quick tour on our way to the back patio where the party is in full swing. The massive house is gorgeous, and each room is more amazing than the next. What I like most about the house is even with all the money I imagine is invested inside, it still feels homey. You can tell it’s lived in and a family grew up within these walls. This is the home where Bethany and her brother were raised. After their parents had passed away unexpectedly, the house was willed to them and neither one could bear to leave. I envy Bethany. Not because she grew up in such a beautiful home and had all these extravagant things, but because I can tell just from the way she speaks of them, she had loving parents. They shared so many fond memories within these walls that the thought of moving kills both her and Bradley.
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