Loyal Lawyer by Lauren Runow

Chapter Seven

“Someone is smitten.” Charity shimmies her hips as we walk down the street.

There’s a vendor on the corner, selling flowers. I stop and smell a bouquet of roses. They have a fruity and spicy scent with a bit of moss. So fresh and invigorating, like a certain man.

“What makes you think that?” I ask as I check out the sign to see how much they are.

“You’re practically skipping, and you’re buying yourself flowers.”

I hand cash to the gentleman at the booth and grab a pink bouquet. The smile on my face is huge as I look over at my best friend. “Let’s just say, I’m enamored. Punch-drunk,” I say and then add, “Hooked!”

Charity stops walking. It takes a second for me to realize she’s not by my side. When I turn around, I see her jaw has dropped, and her brows are raised.

“I was wrong. You’re not smitten,” she says. “You’re love-struck.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not there … yet.”

“Hell yes, you are. When was the last time you spoke to me about a guy? I’ll tell you. It was Hardin, and you were so in love that you moved in with him. You, my friend, are not a kiss-and-tell kind of lady, but I’m going to demand you tell. Because with that goofy expression on your face, you most certainly kissed him.”

I smash my lips together and grab her by the arm, bringing my nose close to her face and declaring, “We kissed. Oh my God, did we kiss. It was … amazing.”

I’m practically dancing at the memory of just how heated our make-out session became last night. My toes curled, my thighs tingled, and my senses came alive. Today, I feel like the sun is hotter, the sky is brighter, and everything smells extraordinary.

“Does he have a brother? Because I’m ready to drink from whatever fountain you’re tasting.”

“Sorry. Only child.”

“Of course he is.” She stops again, holding her arms out to her sides and looking up at the sky when she yells, “What does a girl have to do to meet a good man in this city with a steady job and a semi-decent face, who doesn’t want to dip and ditch?!”

I grab her forcefully and pull her to walk again, away from the woman with her dog, staring at us like Charity is a mental patient. “Maybe you need to ditch the dating apps.”

“And what, start randomly texting guys to see if they’re single?”

I shrug. “Worked for me.”

She lowers her chin and stares up through curved brows, as if to say, Fuck you, Amy, and the white knight you humped last night.

“Teasing. Kind of. Swiping left and right isn’t getting you anywhere. Maybe you need to hit the clubs like Shawn. He always has a girlfriend.”

“That’s because he’s hot.”

Now, it’s my turn to freeze and face her with a wild expression. “You think Shawn’s hot?”

She points a finger at my face. “If you ever tell him that, I’ll kill you.” With a sway of her hair, she starts to walk again. “That man’s ego is already huge.”

“I knew you felt something for him.”

She waves a hand in dismissal. “No. I was just making a point, and you can’t deny that he’s not a catch.”

“I suppose you’re right. He does make a steady paycheck, has more than a semi-decent face, and probably won’t … what was it? Dip and ditch?”

“Mock away, my friend. My standards are starting to become lower and lower. Did you know that in Philly, there’s point-seven-six-nine men to every woman? I can’t even get a whole man! I have to share a piece of him with some other broad who’s also looking for her true love!”

A car drives by and honks at us, the driver screaming obscenities about our butts. We both turn and give him the finger as he rolls on by.

“Where is my Romeo? When am I going to find someone to snuggle and watch movies with? To take me dancing and laugh with?”

Poor Charity. She might come off needy to some, but she’s just vulnerable to love. She wants it badly. It breaks my heart for someone so beautiful, successful, and fun to still be on the lookout for her guy.

I snake my arm around her shoulders and pull her in as we stroll. “Tell you what. I’ll ask Sebastian if he has any friends. There’s a whole law firm of men. I bet he can find someone who has Romeo potential.”

She grips my hand that’s resting on her shoulder and perks up. “A lawyer, huh? I can definitely go for some courtroom role-play in the bedroom.”

I laugh loudly. “That’s my girl.” I give her the flowers in my hand, which makes her smile in thanks.

Charity takes off for her apartment while I head back to my place. The gym is bustling today, but I sneak into my secret door without a strange look, making sure to lock it behind me since Shawn isn’t coming in.

I put on some music and tie my apron on, getting to work on making extra-dark truffles. I grab a cutting board, metal bowl, and Santoku knife. The chocolate bars are in a box on the counter, so I unload the bricks of semisweet chocolate and start chopping it up. The trick to successful truffles is to get the chocolate into very small pieces. The finer the chocolate chunks, the quicker they are to melt.

I’m getting things ready while singing along to the music when there’s a ring at the back door. I look at my phone to see a man on my Ring app, holding a bouquet of flowers toward the camera. After I wipe my hands on the side of my apron, I head toward the door to see who it is.

“Delivery for Amy Morgana.” He hands a large vase to me with an impressive assortment of sunflowers, and I falter a little, not prepared for how heavy it is.

“Wait one second,” I command. I put the vase down on a table and then rush over to my purse to grab money for a tip. I hand it over, and then I close the door behind me and look at the arrangement.

It’s covered in cellophane and tissue paper, so I peel away the decoration and remove the card that’s stapled onto it.

A little something to brighten your day.

—Sebastian

A giggle escapes my lips. It’s so ridiculous since I’m alone, but this guy has totally gotten under my skin in the best way. I place the flowers closer to the window and throw out the excess paper. Then, I snap a picture to send to him.

A beautiful display of flowers just arrived.

Looks like you have an admirer.

Shame for him because I met this very handsome,

very loyal lawyer who has whisked me off my feet.

Sounds like a catch.

If not a little cocky. ;-)

I’ve heard cocky can be very good …

My teeth are gripping my lower lip as I let out a frustrated growl. Sebastian put the brakes on us fooling around, and it’s all I can think about. I’m usually not the one who is desperate to jump into bed with a man, but this wild and crazy energy has taken over me lately, and I’m dying to move things to the next level with him.

I’d love to see you tonight.

I’m making truffles … are you interested in trying them?

Death by chocolate and a beautiful woman.

How can I say no?

You can’t.

I’ll even whip you up my famous lobster bisque.

I’ll bring wine.

Make it a champagne blanc.

And I’ll come to you. My place isn’t the best for company.

Lucky for you, my place is.

See you at eight.

There’s a knock at the back door as I slide my phone into my back pocket. I lean over and open it, only to try to close it immediately when I see Hardin on the other side.

“What the hell, Amy?!” Hardin pushes his palm against the door, halting me from closing it fully. “Are you trying to take my hand off?”

I let out a deep, exasperated breath and reluctantly open it up. “You’re lucky I haven’t tried to cut something else off. What do you want?”

He’s standing in the alley, looking devilishly rugged, wearing a black leather jacket over a blue T-shirt, and his dark hair is styled back, which is kinda cute.

“I’m here because Gerry won’t return the security deposit.”

I balk at the audacity of him coming here with this gripe. He’s flustered, too, like he can’t imagine why the landlord would hold on to our funds.

“You skipped out on two months’ rent.”

“So?”

“And you trashed the place!”

“It wasn’t trashed. That sink was old as fuck. I called him and told him it fell off the wall. He’s the landlord. He should deal with it.”

I place a hand on my hip while the other runs up and down my face, flabbergasted by his reaction. I try to hold back, but I can’t.

“You rat bastard!” I’ve been dying to yell at him. I suppose now is as good a time as any. “Get it through your thick skull that you can’t bail out on rent, especially when the lease is in my name. You haven’t a clue what I’ve been through to save my credit from getting destroyed because of your carelessness.”

He places his arm on the door and tries to taunt me. “You didn’t do a good job. He kept the money.”

My hands spread wide, my fingers outstretched, as I shake with how dense he is acting. “Go home, Hardin.”

“Not until you give me my half of the security deposit back.”

“Why would I pay you?”

“You lived there too.”

There’s a skillet hanging on the wall. I grab it and lift it, ready to hit him over the head with the steel pan. I’m not really going to hit him—at least, I don’t think so. I’m just so angry that I need a physical show of how much I want him to get the hell out.

“You are such an asshole! You cheated on me with the dog walker!” I cock the skillet back like it’s a bat ready to crush a ball.

He holds his hands up. “Calm down. You’re acting like a lunatic.” His dark eyes widen as he backs up a little.

“In my own bed!” I step closer and pull the pan back a few more inches.

“We have a connection. These things just happen.”

I move closer and force him back into the alley. “I want my dog back.”

“No. Mindy is really attached to her.”

I swing the skillet in the air, missing him. It was on purpose, but if I accidentally hit him, I wouldn’t be too upset. Mindy, the dog walker, is attached to my dog—that was the straw that broke everything.

“I want Lady Featherington back—now,” I demand.

“Not gonna happen.”

“Fine. What do you want for her?” I ask, and his hands drop to his sides.

He narrows his eyes and shrugs. “Ten grand.”

Of course he’d put a price on her. He doesn’t love her nearly as much as I do. She’s just a pawn in his game of taking whatever he wants.

“Jerk! You damn well know I don’t have that kind of cash.”

“Five.”

“Are you fucking serious, Hardin?”

“If she means that much to you, you’ll figure out a way.” He saunters over to his car like a peacock, looking proud of his accomplishment.

The man came here for money. He didn’t get it, but he sure seems to think he’s gonna get it one way or another.

I can’t believe I once loved him. He strolled into my life with a bad joke and a devilish smirk that I fell for like a fool. Our first date was tacos from a food truck, followed by a wild night on the lower east side. We drank and laughed, and I was foolishly led into a life that I thought was filled with love.

He nursed me when I was sick and was there for me when my grandmother died. My dreams were big, and he never shot them down. Hardin believed in me, and yet … he never helped.

When he needed money to pay off medical bills, I gave him my savings, which had been for a new stove. He bought himself a car instead. He never worked, and yet every time I asked for help on a delivery, he was busy. His friends, his car … the dog walker. Everyone was more important than me. I didn’t see it then, but I do now.

He just used me.

I’d rather burn my car to the ground than give him a dime.

Maybe I can kidnap her,I ponder. I bet Charity would help me.

No. I shake my head, realizing I’m just not that kind of girl. I should be though. I should go and take what is rightfully mine. Instead, I’m the one who has to do everything the right way. Damn my parents for raising me right.

Hardin starts his car and drives away.

I slam the door shut, dead-bolt it, and then hang the skillet back on the wall. While that visit from Hardin was shitty, the sight of Sebastian’s flowers sitting in the sunlight, cheerful and happy, brightens my mood.

My shoulders fall, and I breathe a little deeper.

It’s good to know there are decent men in the world. At least I know Sebastian Blake won’t break my heart.

At least, I hope he won’t.

Don’t let me down, Sebastian.