“That was a great dinner,” he said.
“I’m sure it’s not as fancy as you’re used to, but I’m glad you liked it.”
“Are you assuming I have a chef that cooks for me all day every day because I have money?”
“All I know is I’d have a chef that cooked for me all day everyday if I had money.”
He chuckled and the sound spread a smile across my cheeks.
“So, I came here originally to talk about this whole marriage thing,” he said.
“Then maybe we should get to talking about it,” I said.
“Well, I guess in the grand scheme of things, there isn’t much to say.”
“Why not?”
“Well, things have been pretty hectic since I got back. I’ve gotten phone calls back from the three lawyers I left messages with over the weekend, but I haven’t had the time to get back with them.”
“Do I need to call someone on our behalf?”
“No, no. I can do it. And from the sounds of it, nothing sounds too bad. But, I did have an idea.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“One lawyer can’t represent us both. Even though it’s an uncontested divorce, it’s still a conflict of interest. So, I thought about hiring each of us a lawyer so we wouldn't have to appear in court back in Vegas.”
“I’m not sure if I can afford a lawyer, honestly. I could afford splitting one with you or something. But one on my own?”
“Did I ask you for money?”
My eyes met his as he took a sip of his sweet tea.
“Really good tea, by the way. I’d like your recipe, if you don’t mind,” he said.
“I didn’t marry you for your money,” I blurted out.
His eyebrows raised up onto his forehead as a flush of embarrassment quickly permeated my cheeks.
“Well, I should hope not. Especially since we don’t remember it,” Everett said playfully.
“I’m sorry. It’s just… I didn’t understand that you and your brothers had so much money and now I’m scared you think I somehow roofied you and convinced you to marry me because you’re rich and I don’t want you paying for my side of the lawyer just because you’re rich and now I’m being all paranoid and—”
I felt his hand come down over mine and it halted my rambling. His thick fingers wrapped around the edges of my palm before picking it up and settling his other hand underneath it. My hand was trapped between his. No, not trapped. Engulfed. Devoured. His hands dwarfed mine, and the warmth from his skin shot tingles up my arm.
“I don’t think anything like that, Andrea,” he said.
My eyes fluttered up to meet his as I drew in a deep breath.
“It’s simple. I hire two lawyers. One for you, and one for me. One of them fills out the paperwork, faxes it over for us to sign, a copy goes to the other lawyer, then they meet in court on our behalf without us ever having to step foot back into Nevada. Simple process, and by the sounds of it from the lawyers’ messages on the phone? Shouldn't take more than six or so weeks.”
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I nodded my head as my fingertips curled into his palm.
“Take a breath, Andrea. I could never think anything like that of you.”
“That I would be a gold-digger or that I would try to drug you?”