by Nicki Night
Cadence sat on the sofa, gesturing for Blake to have a seat on the opposite couch. She watched him crack his knuckles and twist his hands, waiting for him to state his reason for showing up. While his head was down, she surveyed him, taking in the broad masculine lines of his shoulders.
Blake finally spoke. “I didn’t do the things that they are saying.”
“You told me that.” Cadence said because she didn’t know what else to say. She wanted to believe him.
“I know.” Blake sighed. “I never got a chance to really talk to you and tell you my side. Things were going well with us and I felt that you at least deserved some kind of explanation.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” she said, even though she was anxious to hear his side of the story.
His smile was genuine. “Thanks, but I believe I do. My brothers and I have spent the past few days trying to unravel this whole situation and figure out how I became tangled up in it. Congressman Banks has been a mentor to me for years. I filed the paperwork to start the organization when he came up with the idea to start Billy’s Promise. Since then, I’ve handled most of their legal affairs more so as a favor, only charging for certain services. Then I got involved in mentoring the kids and now we have this great bond. I’ve literally watched some of them grow up. I have never been involved with the finances of the organization.” The look on Blake’s face pleaded with Cadence to believe him. “He’s been more than a friend to me—at least until now.”
Blake fell back against the couch and let out an exasperated breath. “I know one thing for sure,” he continued. “I’m sure my extensive involvement with the boys at the center had a lot to do with me being implicated, but I’m doing everything I can to clear my name. We issued a statement a few days ago, but it didn’t seem to be enough.” Blake released a nervous laugh. “I always wanted to be on TV, but this is not what I had in mind.”
Cadence listened intently, desperately wanting to believe him. Deep inside she felt that he was telling the truth, but her father’s voice kept creeping up on her, reminding her that she should cut her ties. Cadence kept her mouth shut, not trusting herself to speak. Part of her wanted to comfort the forsaken man that sat before her. She wanted to feel herself in his arms again and let him know that she would support him because she didn’t believe he was capable of the things the media said. She wanted to turn back time and continue on the exciting journey that had been derailed by the scandal. The frightened side of her wanted to protect her heart. She wished she could hit a switch and silence her conflicting emotions. She also wished she could quiet her father’s voice, warning her to stay away.
Blake continued to reveal how the past few days had taken a toll on him and his family. Cadence only picked up bits and pieces of the one-sided conversation as her thoughts continued their battle. Finally, she heard something he said clearly and injected herself into the conversation.
“Since this is weighing so heavily on your family, maybe you should let another firm represent you. That will take some of the pressure off, and the fresh perspective could be helpful.”
Blake pulled and gnawed at his bottom lip. “I don’t know.”
“You know a bunch of attorneys. Get one of your friends from the NYAA to represent you.”
Blake twisted his face at the mention of the organization, so Cadence didn’t say any more. After a few notes of silence, he finally said, “The NYAA president asked me to step down from the board until this whole thing blows over.”
Cadence’s mouth opened, but she didn’t say a word. Knowing how much the organization meant to him and the amount of time he put into it made her feel bad. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”
Again, Cadence’s conscience pricked at her. It appears that everyone had already convicted Blake. Neither of them spoke for several moments.
Finally, Blake stood, releasing another breath. “I should be going.”
Cadence stood to her feet. She needed him to go, but she wanted him to stay. “Yes. Thanks for stopping by,” she said in that same cordial tone that felt awkward. Less than a week ago, he’d taken her to new sensual heights within a few feet from where they currently stood and now she was speaking to him as if he were practically a stranger.
Though he alluded to the end of his visit, he had yet to move. Cadence started toward the door in hopes that he would follow. He did. At the door, he stopped just before walking through. Catching Cadence off guard, he stepped to her, leaving only a smidgen of space between them. Cadence could feel the heat of his exhale. The scent that she missed so much filled her nose. Her breath caught. She had been looking down. Finding the courage to lift her head, she stared into his eyes. Beyond the forlornness, she saw desire. Blake’s narrowed gaze burned through her. She stood straight and closed her eyes, resisting his effect. She knew that at any moment she would feel his lips against hers and wasn’t sure if she would protest. She missed his kisses and recalled how weightless she felt after he devoured her with his mouth, how electricity seemed to flow through her when they connected.
Cadence felt Blake’s forehead rest against hers. His strong hands held both arms. She opened her eyes and noticed that his were closed. Blake moved his lips closer to hers but paused just before they made contact. Cadence felt her heart quicken and swallowed the lump rising in her throat. Blake pulled back, released his hold on her arms and sighed. Slowly he turned and walked out the door. Cadence pushed it closed and watched him through the pane as he sluggishly made his way down the walk, mounted his cruiser and sped off. She stood there for several more moments until her breathing returned to its normal rhythm. She couldn’t deny the fact that he still affected her. For the sake of her sanity, she had to find a way to get over him—fast.
Chapter 23
Once again, Blake pushed through the throngs of reporters camped outside his family’s law offices. The number had dwindled slightly in the past few days, but many still hung around to catch a glimpse of him and push their microphones in his face hoping for a fresh development. When he arrived upstairs, Hunter was in his office engaged in a heated conversation.
Blake leaned against the door frame and waited. He could tell by Hunter’s knitted brows and agitated tone that his morning was equally horrible. Blake still hadn’t had a full night’s sleep and the stress of the situation had now affected his appetite. Worst of all, things were still shaky with Cadence.
Blake knew he was taking a risk by going to her house unannounced last night, but he just had to see her. The sound of her voice lingered with him, tickling his ears. He hadn’t made any headway with her by phone and longed to be in her presence. He also needed to feel her out. The distant manner in which she dealt with him confirmed that he had a good chance of losing her for good. He had only hoped his explanation gained some kind of ground.
Hunter ended the call and stood abruptly, steering Blake away from his thoughts of Cadence. “Bad news!”
Blake sighed, readying himself for what Hunter was about to say.
“You should sit.” Hunter gestured toward the chair in front of his desk, but he remained standing.
Blake watched Hunter walk back and forth, waiting for him to speak. “Just spit it out, man!” He was losing his patience.
“Banks was just arrested. This is going to take over the news for the next few days.” Hunter shook his head.
Blake deflated as if the air was being sucked from him. Reaching for the arm of the chair, he took his time sitting down.
“The attorney general has taken over the case. This means...”
“They found something that they think they can use against him.” Blake finished his brother’s sentence and rested his head in his hands.
“Exactly! From what I understand, all of his financial records have been seized. I have a feeling they may come and try to snoop around our records since we’ve received checks fro
m Banks before for legal services.”
“You think they are going to try to arrest me, too?” Blake stood, no longer being able to sit still. “Ugh!” Now both he and Hunter were pacing on opposite sides of the desk.
“They shouldn’t, especially since they really don’t have anything on you other than a couple of pictures of you with Banks and the kids. We’ve never taken money from Banks, or anyone, for that matter, that wasn’t attached to legitimate invoices.” Hunter stopped pacing. “Wait!” Blake stopped pacing, too, alarmed by the nervous tone of Hunter’s voice. “Has Banks ever given you money for anything else—payments for something that could potentially look suspicious?”
Blake stood thinking for a few moments. “Not that I recall. In fact, I hardly ever charge him when he asks me to review contracts.”
“Whew!” Hunter took a breath. “Then there really shouldn’t be anything incriminating in his financial records that points in our direction. We just have to worry about the media. They love a good scandal and can sometimes do more damage than the law. The sooner we can get your name out of this, the better.”
The brothers paced in silence for several moments. Suddenly, Blake stopped moving. “I have an idea.”
“What?”
Blake thought about Cadence’s statement from last night and the fact that their firm’s financial records could be subpoenaed. With Banks now under arrest and the attorney general taking over the case, things could really go awry.
“Cadence works for Maco, Dunlop and Norman, one of the largest law firms in the metropolitan area.” Blake started walking again. His eyes narrowed as the idea unfolded in his mind. “We’ll have Cadence take over the case. Her company has mega clout, for one, and two, it will take the pressure off our firm, especially if the attorney general decides to start rummaging around our accounts.”
The look on Hunter’s face told Blake that he wasn’t keen on his idea. Hunter went to speak, but Blake held up his head. “Just hear me out. Please.” Hunter dropped his shoulders and gave Blake a look that encouraged him to continue. “I’m not saying we can’t handle this case, but with the AG involved and the amount of publicity the case is getting, it may benefit me to have representation from a legal giant. It can take the pressure off the family and the firm.”
At least Hunter was hearing him out. He took that as a license to continue. “Just think about it,” Blake pleaded. “We’ve been consumed by this for the past few days. With Cadence’s firm handling my case, you could get back to handling cases for our paying clients.”
The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. Not only would this help Hunter, who had been working countless hours free, but it would help him get back in Cadence’s good graces. What better way to prove his innocence than by having her be directly involved in unraveling the truth behind the allegations? That would force her to be around him—not in the way that he’d prefer, but at least he could get close enough to start chipping away at her stiffened demeanor. He would do just about anything right now to see her smile again.
That last thought stopped Blake in his tracks. The depth of his feelings for Cadence struck him. He wanted her and had already tried to make that clear, but it was at this moment that he realized just how badly he wanted her. Cadence was the woman that he could see himself marrying. She could be the mother of his children one day, and his daughter, if he was really lucky, would be just like her in every way. Suddenly, involving Cadence became even more important. Blake was so wound up in his thoughts that he didn’t hear Hunter speaking.
“That’s it!” Blake rushed out of the office.
“Blake!” Hunter yelled after him.
“This will be good for both of us,” he shouted over his back to Hunter. “I’ll be back.”
Blake was out the door before anyone could call his name again. Outside, he ignored the reporters clamoring after him as he hailed a taxi and headed to midtown. His mind raced with possibilities. Tossing the driver the fare plus a few extra dollars, Blake got out in a rush and within a few steps found himself inside the polished lobby of the building that housed the Maco, Dunlop and Norman law firm.
Nervous energy coursed through him as he ascended the elevator to the forty-third floor. He felt hopeful. Smiling widely as he got off the elevator, he greeted the receptionist cheerfully.
“Good morning!”
“Good morning to you.” The wattage in the receptionist’s smile matched his. “How can I help you today?”
“I’d like to see...” Blake paused and decided to change up his strategy a little. “Who does Counselor Payne report to?”
The receptionist appeared to be taken aback. “Well...”
“Not that there’s anything wrong. In fact, I think she’s a brilliant attorney and I’d like to communicate that to her boss.”
The receptionist’s eyes shifted away from him and Blake followed her line of sight to the silent flat screen on the wall in the lobby. Congressman Banks was cuffed and being led from his offices. The next image was that of him, Banks and the other two men implicated in the recent charges.
“And as you can see, I have a serious matter for which I’m seeking immediate representation.” Blake flashed his best smile before adding, “Right now.”
In the most poised fashion, the receptionist nodded. “Sure. Just give me a moment and I’ll see if Mr. Benjamin is available.”
Instead of calling, the woman disappeared behind mahogany doors. Blake took a seat and tried to channel his nervous energy. His foot shook involuntarily as he thought about how Cadence might react to what he was about to do.
Chapter 24
It was another unbelievably crazy day. Cadence found herself up against a cougar of many sorts. Not only was the opposing attorney known for her proclivity for younger men, but also she was fast on her feet and giving Cadence and her colleague Seth Ferguson a real run for their competencies. Cadence hated being up against her, but secretly admired her fire and tenacity. She made Cadence dig deeper and sharpen her skills. The case presented an unwelcome but constructive challenge. Win or lose, Cadence could see herself walking away from the situation as a better lawyer.
Despite Cadence’s clients’ strong reputation, there was a good chance that they would have to reach deep into the bowels of their reserve and pay richly for allegedly stealing and profiting from their accuser’s ideas after breaching his contract. Now that Cadence and her colleague were done with court for the day, they planned to go back to the office and brainstorm creative ways to gain an advantage over the prosecution. First, they stopped for something to eat and began discussing strategies. Fortunately, they were seated quickly at one of her favorite Italian eateries, not too far from the courthouse.
“I feel like I just got a whipping and then had my wounds licked by my assailant.”
Cadence laughed. “I know. Did you see how she winked at you when we were leaving the courtroom?”
“I wasn’t sure if she was flirting or if it was one of those I’m-gonna-win-this-thing kinds of wink.”
“Ha!” Cadence snickered as she took in a mouthful of pasta. “I think she likes you.”
“Pfft!” Seth waved her accusation away. “That woman is almost old enough to be my mother.” Cadence shook her head and then Seth paused, bringing his fork to an abrupt stop midway between his plate and his mouth. His pensive look lingered for a moment before he spoke again. “She is pretty hot for an older woman,” he said and stuffed the fork in his mouth. “Did you check out her legs?” He raised his brows.
“Seth!” Cadence chided.
“What? It’s true, but I’d be afraid she’d eat me alive.” Seth stretched his eyes. “Literally!” he added.
Cadence held her hand over her mouth to keep food from spraying as she laughed. The conversation moved to strategies for winning their case as they finished
their meal. They left the restaurant with renewed faith in their plans and hopped into a taxi en route to their midtown office building.
They were still engrossed in their deliberations when they stepped off the elevator. The receptionist had to call Cadence’s name twice to catch her attention.
“I’m sorry. What can I do for you?” Cadence asked.
“Adam would like you join him in the war room upstairs. He said to let you know as soon as you arrived.”
“Oh!” Cadence raised her brows, tossing Seth a questionable expression. He shrugged his shoulders. The war room was the nickname for the conference room on the partners’ floor where they congregated to debate major cases and big decisions.
“Okay,” Cadence said. “If you could please let him know that I’ll be right there, I’d appreciate it. I just need to drop this stuff off in my office.” Cadence held the files in her hand a little higher.
“No problem,” she said.
“Thanks.” Cadence nodded.
Cadence walked through the door Seth held open for her. She threw another pondering look at him and again he shrugged, holding his hands up innocently.
As she hurried to her office, Cadence wondered why Adam wanted to see her. She set down the documents in her arms and put her purse away. She took a deep breath before grabbing a notepad and pen. Nervous energy whirled in her chest as she rushed upstairs to the war room. Stopping just outside the open door, Cadence took a moment to catch her breath and stand straighter before entering. Hearing laughter coming from inside calmed her nerves a little. However, when a familiar laugh sparked immediate recognition, every muscle in Cadence’s body tensed. Moreover, when she stepped in and her eyes landed on Blake mid-laugh, she thought her legs would give out.
“Ah! Here she is,” Adam said as he and Blake stood respectfully. Adam waved his arm in a sweeping gesture as if he had just introduced her to a welcoming audience. “I understand you may already know the firm’s newest client, Mr. Barrington.”