Southern Attraction (Southern Heart 3)

He doesn’t say anything as he runs his fingers through my hair. I feel myself relax even more into him. We have this pull between us; it’s strong and vibrant and scary as hell. I think about the couple of months of our conversations and the things he’s said the last couple of days. It’s a lot to take in.

“How’s work going?” he finally asks.

“Good, I think. It’s still really slow, and I’m just waiting for the day he tells me that he’s closing the doors.”

“You mentioned he might sell the practice?”

“You know, I don’t think he will. We’ve not taken on a new case in months. It’s as though he’s cleaning up loose ends to shut the doors.”

“What will you do?”

“Find another job. The city’s full of attorney offices, and I’m sure one of them needs a paralegal. When I started college, I always saw myself working for a big firm, being involved in the big important cases. I never imagined that I would be where I am.”

“I thought you loved it.”

“I do. My boss is the best, but it’s just not where I thought I would end up, you know?”

“So have you started looking?”

“No, I can’t leave him now. I’ll wait until he tells me, then go from there. I have savings that’ll get me by until I find something. Worst-case scenario, I can move back in with my parents.”

“If you need anything….”

“Hey, it’s all good. Promise. I’m not worried. It’s just sad, that’s all. It’s a chance for me to seek out the big corporate guys and land the job that I’ve always dreamed of. I started at my current job as an intern and just happened to stay on full time. I fell into it and I’m comfortable. It’s change that’s the scary part, you know, but it’s what I’ve always wanted. It’s scary and exciting all at the same time.”

“You’re going to kick ass in whatever you do,” he says, kissing the top of my head.

“What about you? How’s the bar going?”

“Great. I talked to Olivia again. I really wish she would take an active role in management.”

“She any closer to giving in?”

“I think so, maybe.”

“What do your parents think?”

“They don’t pressure her. Liv has always been one to do things on her own terms. They know that about her. I can be patient, but I also feel like I need to keep reminding her that she has every right to make decisions and be a part of it like I do. I know she doesn’t like the staff part of things—she never has been one for conflict—but there’s so much more to running a business than that. I don’t want her to be tending bar the rest of her life.”

“It’s not a bad gig when it’s your family business.”

“No, but I hate to see her dealing with all the drunks. I know Liv and she wants kids. I can’t see her pregnant behind the bar.”

“I don’t know David that well, but I can’t see that he would be too happy about that.”

He laughs softly. “You’re right, he wouldn’t. He loves her but it would be a fight with them, for sure.”

“You’re a great big brother.”

“Oh go on,” he laughs. “We probably should head back. We have plans tonight.”

“We do?”

“Yep.”

“Is that all I’m going to get? No hint?”

“You’ll see when we get there. First we hike back to the truck. Then we grab something to eat. I’m starving,” he says, rubbing his belly.