She laughs, puts her phone away and then follows behind me.
After a hot shower, I climb into bed and close my eyes, ready to do it all again tomorrow.
“Good morning, Natalie,” Cole says as I step into the office the next morning, my heels clicking with each step.
“Mornin’,” I reply, checking him out as he turns around. Expensive suit, dark hair slicked back and polished leather shoes. The man is all business, and I appreciate that.
He faces me once more, a folder in his hands. “Looks like Mr. Bentley has a case he wants us to work on together.”
“Oh, really?” I reply, intrigued.
He nods and checks the time on his expensive watch. “Yeah, he wants us in his office now. After you.”
I step in front of him and click-clack my way to Mr. Bentley’s office. Cole knocks and opens the door for me when we are called to enter, winking at me as I pass him.
Now this—this is my type.
A man on the right side of the law, a man whose weapon is his brain instead of a gun.
Sexy.
I spend the rest of the day in the conference room with Cole researching and going through discovery.
“I know I probably shouldn’t say this,” he says as we’re packing up our things. “But I don’t think it will be long until I’m given a promotion, don’t you agree? I work hard here, and I know that Jaxon has noticed.”
“Yeah, I have no idea,” I reply. While Cole has a bit more seniority than me, I think he graduated only a year before me. I don’t know if that puts him in a position for a promotion.
“I can’t wait until a few years from now. I will eventually open my own firm, and I’m going to be rolling in money.”
“We have to put the hard work in first,” I say, trying to appreciate the fact that he has goals. They may not be the same goals I have, but at least he has them.
He nods slowly. “It will pay off in the end, though. Everyone needs a good lawyer, even the morally corrupt, so long as they have enough money to pay.”
I stay silent, because although he’s right, that’s not why I wanted to become a lawyer. Shit, if money was my sole motivator, I would’ve tried working in one of the Wind Dragons’ businesses. They make loads more than what I’m making now.
Cole is a puzzle I can’t figure out. On one hand he checks all the boxes of what I look for in a guy—good job, ambition, dresses well, educated. But there is something that rubs me the wrong way, and I can never put my finger on it. It could be that he comes from money—maybe this is the way people in his world speak.
After work I head to meet Cara and Decker for dinner and drinks. We do this about twice a week. Decker will join us when he’s free; otherwise just Cara and I go out.
“Today was a long day,” Cara comments as she sits down at the bar, placing her bag on the counter, while Decker gives me a hug. Cara is a teacher, and a damn good one. “I had to deal with some really difficult parents.” She always says dealing with the parents is worse than the students.
“What happened?” I ask her.
She sighs. “I have this child who has behavioral issues in my class and I’m trying to work with the parents to make a plan, but they don’t want to hear anything I’m saying. They think their kid can do no wrong, but she’s gotten into a few altercations with students and staff. They just have a lot of excuses.”
“Love is blind,” I say.
“I’ll run you a bath and give you a massage when we get home,” Decker says, kissing her cheek. I’ll always love Rhett like a brother, and that will never change, but seeing how Decker treats my sister lets me know she made the right choice. These two were meant to be together. It’s hard to not like someone who treats your sister like a queen and makes her so happy.
“I had to work with Cole today,” I reply. “So it definitely wasn’t as bad as your day.” I grin.
Cara rolls her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re into guys like that.”
“Who’s Cole?” Decker asks.
“He’s a lawyer I work with,” I answer Decker, but then turn to Cara. “Guys like what?” Despite my close relationship with my sister, I don’t really talk about my romantic life with her. I don’t like being judged.
“Guys from a whole different world than us,” she replies in a dry tone. “You know...suits. Pretty, preppy guys. Trust fund babies.”