“If you’re interested, I’ll have the hiring partner reach out to you. Is it okay if I give him your number?”
“Sure.” Why not? I doubt I’m the only person they’ll consider. Someone’s buddy or a son of one of the partners will probably get the job but David’s endorsement has further boosted my ego after my court victory. “Thanks for thinking of me.”
* * *
“You don’t lookhappy for me.” I didn’t expect Marcel to jump for joy when I told him about my lunch with David. But some reaction would be nice.
Marcel sighs and runs his hands through his hair. “I just know how a lot of those old men still behave. And if one of those fucks pats your ass or talks down to you”—he stops and punches his fist into his palm— “I’ll have to go in there and crack skulls.”
I should’ve known that was what would run through his mind.
“So sweet and savage.” I pat his cheek and he playfully bites my wrist. A ticklish sensation trails up my arm. Giggling, I pull away. “Down, beast.”
I might as well wave a red flag. He growls and lunges for me, grabbing my waist and lifting me in the air.
“Mine.”
“Always yours.” I loop my arms around his neck as he sets me on my feet. “So, that’s a no? If they call, should I decline to interview?”
The playfulness vanishes from his face. “Hell, no. If you think it will be better for you, then do it. I’m proud of you no matter what.”
“Thank you.”
Three quick taps on the glass of the side door draw our attention. The knob twists and Carter slowly peeks inside.
“Geez,” he moans, quickly averting his gaze, “are you ever not molesting my sister?”
Marcel rolls his eyes. “Come on in, why don’t you?”
Carter glances at me. “Well, at least you’re dressed.”
“Watch it,” Marcel growls.
Carter closes the door with a quiet click, turns, and grins at us. “See, that’s why I like you, Teller. I can poke fun at you all day long, but if you think I’m dissing my sister”—he lifts his fists in the air and pretends to take a swing— “you’re all over it.”
“You could, oh, I don’t know, not poke fun at either of us,” I suggest.
“Nah, that’s no way to live.” Carter lifts his chin. A bit of seriousness flattens his lips. “How was your trial?”
Marcel winks and releases me. He roughs his hand over Carter’s hair and pulls him into a headlock. “You should’ve led with that question. Your sister kicked ass today.”
Carter struggles to extract himself from Marcel’s choke hold. “Ugh, Char, why are you letting him abuse me?” Since he’s laughing, I don’t think he’s as upset as he wants me to believe.
“Let go of me, Neanderthal.” Carter swings his arm wildly toward the front of the house. “Your chickens are on a suicide mission. I tried herding them back here, but nooooo. They’re biker’s chickens, for sure. Yearning for the open road.”
Marcel shakes so hard with laughter, he ends up releasing Carter. “The shit that comes out of your mouth, kid.”
“Thought you’d appreciate that.” Carter raises his eyebrows. “So? Tell me you wiped the floor with David?”
“So much so that he offered me a job at his firm.”
Carter’s eyes widen. “Seriously? That’s not the kind of law you want to do, though. Is it?”
“Actually, he’s recommending me to the hiring partner. It’s not a firm offer, yet. They’re looking for someone to do the firm’s pro bono work.” I shrug. “It sounded like I’d be doing the same kinds of cases, just with the benefit of a big firm behind me.”
Carter’s gaze shifts from Marcel to me. “Almost sounds too good to be true, Char.”
“It does,” I agree. “I’m not getting my hopes up. I’ll see if they want to interview me and go from there.”