“You’re going to London?” Deflection never works with Barrett, but there’s no harm in trying.
He nods. “I fly out early tomorrow. You’re going to tell me what you and Eden have been up to since I left you in her very capable hands.”
“We’ve hung out.” I try to keep my voice level.
“Hung out?” He pops both brows. “Is that a polite way to say you’ve been fucking?”
“It’s more than that,” I correct him. “We’ve gone out for dinner. We went dancing.”
“You’re dating Eden?” He cracks a wide grin. “Look at you acting like a stand-up guy. I’m proud of you for keeping your dick on a leash.”
I move to take a seat on a chair across from him. Coach Conrad was an influential force in Barrett’s life too. He was the one who broke the bad news to my best friend that an athletic scholarship wasn’t in the cards for him.
Barrett took the news like a champ.
He thanked Coach for his honesty and then got drunk on cheap beer.
“I need to tell you something.” I edge into the conversation slowly. “It’s about Eden.”
Curiosity draws his body forward. He rests his elbows on his knees. “What?”
I scratch the back of my neck. There’s no easy way to do it, so I come right out with it. “Coach Conrad died three years ago. He’s gone.”
The look on his face mirrors the one I know was on mine last night.
I go on, “It was cancer.”
Barrett’s head drops into his hands. “Dammit. Life’s not fair. He was the best. You know he was the best.”
“I know.” I exhale on a sigh. “I was as surprised as you are.”
He looks up at me. “How did Eden handle that on her own? Was she on her own when it happened?”
I didn’t bother to ask, because she made it damn clear that talking about Clark is off limits. “I don’t know. She didn’t say.”
“Coach had our backs.” He pats his thigh. “He looked out for us at every turn. We should have been there to say goodbye to him.”
I can’t argue with that, so I don’t. “I know it.”
“I should talk to Eden.” He looks at my phone on the coffee table. “Give me her number so I can text her. I need to tell her I’m sorry.”
Shaking my head, I lean back in my chair. “I’ll tell her that you’re sorry when the time is right. It’s painful for her to talk about it.”
“Whatever you think is best, Colt. You know her better than I ever have.”
I can’t say that I do. I want to, but time is ticking on my relationship with Eden. The clock is about to run out, and when it does, I’ll become a memory from her past again.
Chapter 29
Eden
Frustration brought me to the offices of Kent & Colt.
The court clerk called me thirty minutes ago to tell me that the Alcester case was set back another ten days at the request of Judge Mycella.
I noticed the rapport between Dylan and the judge.
They referred to each other by their first names during our sidebar. It’s evident that they have a connection outside the courtroom.
This unexpected delay is his doing. It has to be.
He knows that my client wants this case wrapped up as soon as possible. Prolonging the proceedings is an amateur tactic that some lawyers resort to when they want the other side to settle.
It won’t work with me.
I spoke to Troy Alcester right before I left my office.
I assured him that I’d do everything in my power to get the divorce finalized as quickly as possible.
His concern isn’t for himself. Troy wants his two daughters to have balance again. They’ve been stuck in the push and pull between their parents for months.
I walk toward the reception desk in the lavish office that Dylan shares with his partner Griffin Kent.
I did my due diligence once I realized that Dylan was my opposing counsel.
He set up this practice right out of law school with Griffin.
The reception area is decorated beautifully. It’s an elegant space. Kurt’s offices aren’t as lavish, but he hasn’t updated the flooring or the paint on the walls in the last decade.
“Can I help you?” A blond haired man wearing a black suit pops up from around a corner.
I glance over at the empty reception desk. “I’m here to see Dylan Colt.”
The man rushes toward me, his gaze on the phone in his hand. “I’m Gunner. I’m Mr. Colt’s assistant. He doesn’t have a meeting scheduled for the next two hours.”
Of course, he doesn’t. It’s noon.
He must be off somewhere enjoying a long, leisurely lunch.
“I’ll set you up an appointment for next week. Or if you prefer I can tell him that you stopped by.” Gunner stands directly in front of me. “If you give me your name and number, one of us will be in touch.”
Dylan’s assistant runs interference like his life depends on it.
“My name is Eden Conrad.”
His gaze drops to my wrist and the watch I always wear. Something has shifted in his expression when he locks eyes with me again. “Come with me, Ms. Conrad.”
I don’t question where we’re going. I follow Gunner down a long corridor. A few people come in and out of offices as we pass. All of them smile at me and offer quiet, “hellos.”
Dylan’s staff is polite and well dressed.
I’m impressed by what he’s built here.
Gunner slows as we approach the closed door of an office at the end of the corridor.
He knocks softly before he swings the door open.
“Jesus Christ, Gunner,” Dylan’s voice booms through the corridor. “You’re supposed to wait for me to tell you to come in. Get lost.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“Hold on,” Dylan’s voice is louder. “I know that laugh.”
Gunner takes a step back as his boss appears in the doorway of his office dressed in a light gray suit and blue tie.
“Look at what we have here.” He rakes me over. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
***
“You look beautiful today, Eden.” Dylan flashes me a grin as he takes a seat on a brown leather couch in his office.
He sent Gunner on his way before he closed and locked the door to his office.
I don’t know what he thinks will happen between the two of us, but it’s not going to involve me taking off my navy blue dress.
I came to talk business.
“Why aren’t we going back to court this week?” I stand in front of him, propping one hand on my hip.
He leans back on the couch, crossing his legs. “You got a call from Judge Mycella’s clerk.”
“Peggy’s clerk,” I say with a smirk. “I know you two are friends.”
He fights back a smile. “That’s not a crime.”
“I’m not falling for your tactics.” I punch my hip out even more. “Troy won’t settle, Dylan. Your client’s terms are completely unreasonable.”
“Your client fucked my client over.” He exhales in a rush. “As much as I’d like to take credit for the delay, I had nothing to do with it.”
Studying his face, I narrow my eyes. I can’t tell if he’s being serious or not. “Why the delay?”
“Did the clerk not explain that there was a scheduling conflict?”
My shoulders stiffen.
The clerk did explain that Judge Mycella had a conflict that required the rescheduling of a few upcoming cases on the docket. I thought that was a cover for Dylan manipulating things in his favor.
“I play by the rules.” Dylan pats the couch next to him. “Come sit down. Let’s talk about this.”
I shake my head. “You’ll try and kiss me.”
That perks both his dark brows. “You’ll let me kiss you.”
I take a step back. “It’s not a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“You know why.” I grab the strap of the purse slung
over my shoulder. “A kiss will lead to more.”
“My face between your legs?” His gaze drops to the skirt of my dress.
A knock at the door draws him to his feet. “Give me a second. I need to fire my assistant.”
My hand jumps to my mouth to cover it as I let out a giggle. “You wouldn’t fire him for knocking.”
He shoots me a quick wink. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
I turn to watch as he opens the door. Standing on the other side is a tall man with brown hair. He looks at Dylan before his gaze lands on my face.
“You’re Eden Conrad,” he says quietly.
Dylan blocks the doorframe with his body. “I’m busy, Griffin. “
“We have a situation.” His eyes scan Dylan’s face. “It involves one of your cases.”
“It can wait,” Dylan insists with a glance back over his shoulder at me.
“It can’t.” He pauses before he lowers his voice. “Trudy Alcester is here. She’s in my office. She’d like a word.”
Chapter 30
Dylan
Trudy is as frustrated by the delay in her divorce proceedings as Eden is. I didn’t call and break that bad news to my client because I planned on handling that in person later today.
Her estranged husband phoned her to tell her all about it.
That’s what brought her to my office.
She wanted to know why Troy was in the loop, and she wasn’t.
I give Eden credit for keeping her client informed. I wish she hadn’t beaten me to the punch.
I calmed Trudy down, assured her that we’d have our day in court soon, and sent her on her way.
“Dylan!”
I turn at the sound of my partner’s voice as I enter the lobby of our building.
I went for a coffee run after my short meeting with Trudy. I briefly toyed with the idea of picking up a coffee for Eden and dropping by her office, but I decided against it.
She left in a hurry after Griffin told me Trudy was waiting in his office to see me.
Griffin stalks toward me. “Where did you run off to?”
“Gee, dad.” I take a sip from the cup in my hand. “Did I miss curfew?”
“Funny.” He points at my coffee. “You could have brought your best friend one of those.”
“He’s in London,” I quip. “You can walk the few steps it takes to get to Palla on Fifth. I recommend the dark roast.”
His hands disappear into the pockets of his black pants. “What’s going on between you and Eden?”
I saw that coming as soon as I opened the door to my office and he caught sight of her.
“Your office door was locked,” he goes on. “You only lock it when you’re…”
With a woman.
I don’t know why he doesn’t spit the words out, but they hang there, unsaid.
“Are you asking if I’m fucking her?”
That raises his brow. “I know that you’re fucking her. I’m asking how that’s going to impact your case.”
I don’t need to ask him how he knows that I’m sleeping with Eden. He can read me. He’s always had that ability.
“The case in on track,” I say with confidence.
“Our client’s needs come first.” He points out with a jab of his finger in the middle of my chest. “I know that you won’t lose sight of that.”
I look down at his hand. “Trudy will get everything she deserves.”
“Good.” He taps my shoulder lightly. “You’re taking care of you, aren’t you?”
One night in college, I confessed to Griffin that I had it bad for a girl named Eden. He knows about the car accident. He’s aware that I made the judgment call to walk away and leave Eden with Clark.
“I’m fine, Griffin.”
“I’m around if you need me.” He straightens the lapels of his jacket. “I’m going to grab a coffee. I’ll see you at four at the staff meeting?”
Just like that, we’ve slid back into business partners.
I know he has my back. Griffin would do almost anything for me, including giving me the space I need to work things out on my own.
“You can count on it.”
***
I asked Eden to meet me at Calvetti’s because I wanted to give her a second chance to enjoy the spaghetti.
I interrupted her dinner the other night when I showed up at her office.
That’s why I sent her a text earlier telling her to stop by here at seven, so we can share a meal.
I watch as she walks through the door wearing the blue dress from earlier.
The owner, Marti, approaches her with the greeting she gives almost everyone.
She takes each of her patrons’ hands in hers and explains how happy she is that they chose her restaurant out of all the restaurants in the city.
Marti Calvetti is the grandmother of a friend of mine.
She’s a sweetheart and without a doubt, the best Italian chef in the five boroughs.
She offered me a hug when I arrived. I gladly took it.
“I found a pretty little lady who knows you,” Marti says as she brings Eden to my table. “I told her she was lucky.”
I stand and button my suit jacket. “I’m the lucky one.”
Marti’s gaze moves from my face to Eden’s. “There’s something special here.”
Eden lets out a nervous giggle. “We’re fighting each other in court.”
Marti tugs on the back of a wooden chair next to the one I’ve been sitting in. She motions for Eden to take a seat. “You’ve been doing a lot more than that.”
Eden’s mouth drops open. “What?”
“He looks at you like you know the secret to his heart.” Marti smiles. “You look at him the same way.”
Eden doesn’t respond, so I step in to change the subject. “I’m starving. What do you recommend tonight, Marti?”
“Sit.” She points at my chair. “I’ll bring some wine. You’ll both have the spaghetti. I made it myself.”
Chapter 31
Eden
I glance over at a family of four enjoying a platter of spaghetti and meatballs. The parents are busy talking while their two young sons slurp up long strands of pasta in a race with one another.
I never had a sibling.
I didn’t realize how much I missed that bond until my dad passed away, and I was left alone.
Noelle thinks she fills the role of my sister, but our connection isn’t the same as the one she shares with her brother.
“What’s on your mind, Eden?” Dylan asks from across the table.
We ate dinner while we traded stories about law school. Dylan went to NYU. I studied at Harvard.
My dad had invested every penny of my mom’s life insurance policy in a college fund after her death. I had scholarships in addition to that, so I’m one of the lucky ones who passed the bar without the burden of student debt weighing me down.
Dylan did the same. His parents took care of his education.
“I was thinking about Troy and his daughters.” I drag my gaze back to Dylan’s face. “He only wants the best for them.”
“Their mother is what’s best for them,” he says without missing a beat. “She’ll see to it that they grow up with everything they need.”
They need stability and love. They need peace and a sense of belonging.
I met both girls two days ago. Lulu is a spitfire. She’s sixteen and set on a career in medicine. Aria is nine. Piano is her passion.
They’re lovely and polite, but they’re stressed.
I saw it in their eyes when I ran into them and their dad on the sidewalk outside an ice cream shop.
“Have you met them?” I ask. “Have you met the girls?”
He nods. “I stopped by Trudy’s one day to deliver some documents. The girls were there.”
“They need time with their father.”
Dylan sips from the wine glass in front of him. “His work comes first. Everything in his life comes before those two kids
including other women. I doubt like hell he knows when his daughters’ birthdays are.”
His inability to see even a speck of decency in Troy is annoying. I don’t consider Trudy perfect, but she’s their mom. My goal is not to steal them away from her completely. Troy and I both want equal time for him and his wife.
“I’ll fight you hard on this, Dylan,” I tell him. “Custody is a big issue for Troy and me.”
“I’ll win.”
The words are curt and final as if he’s holding the gavel and taken on the role of the judge.
“You won’t win,” I shoot back. “I’m going to prove to Judge Mycella that Trudy isn’t the better parent.”
“I’d like to see you try.” He leans back in his chair.
I don’t know if it’s the frustrations of the case being put over for another ten days or if I’m annoyed with Dylan’s callous attitude about the custodial rights of my client, but I’ve had my fill of spaghetti and my dinner partner.
“We’ll work this out in the courtroom.” I push away from the table.
Dylan’s hand is on my wrist before I can stand. “Where are you going?”
“To Noelle’s.” I tug my arm free. “I need to pack.”
By the time I’m up on my feet, Dylan is too. He edges closer to me, but I ward him off with a hand in the air.
“You’re packing? Why?”
“I’m flying to Buffalo early tomorrow.” I shoulder my bag. “I have work there that I need to take care of.”
He steps closer. His breath skirts over my cheek when he leans down. “I’ll go with you. You can bring your things to my place. I’ll take you to the airport in the morning.”
“I’m staying at Noelle’s tonight.” I look into his eyes.
“Don’t let the Alcester case impact this.” His finger circles the air between us. “That’s business, Eden. This is…”
“Complicated,” I interrupt. “I need to focus on Buffalo for a few days.”
“When will you be back?” Frustration edges his tone.
“Soon,” I don’t offer a specific time even though I know exactly when my flight will land in Manhattan three days from now.
VERSUS Page 11