VERSUS (Second Chances 2)

Handing the case over to him would be the easy way out, but I don’t do easy, or simple. Challenge is what gets me out of bed in the morning.

I can handle the case. Shit, I can even handle Eden in the courtroom.

What I can’t handle is that I fucked her last night, and I felt something more than a satisfying orgasm.

“Kurt brought his co-counsel to court this morning.” I lean back in my chair. “You’re not going to believe who it is.”

“It’s not Darren Macon, is it? That guy is a weasel. I swear to God he lied to the judge’s face during the Campbell trial. I almost lost that case because of his bullshit.”

“It’s Eden Conrad.”

His eyes narrow. “Say again.”

“Eden Conrad is representing Troy Alcester from here on.” I tap my fingers on my desk.

“The Eden Conrad you went to high school with?” he questions. “How the fuck is that even possible?”

“You tell me,” I say jokingly with an exaggerated chuckle. “Apparently, she’s a lawyer and Troy Alcester is her client.”

Griffin bolts to his feet. “I’m taking over the case.”

I follow suit, rising from my chair. “Like hell you are. I’ve got this.”

His arms cross his chest. “I know enough about your past with this woman to see that this is a disaster in the making. We owe it to Trudy Alcester to give her our best.”

“I am our best,” I point out. “I’ll see this through to the end.”

“When’s your next court date?” He glances down at his watch. “I’ll get Joyce to work her magic so I’m available for that.”

Joyce, Griffin’s assistant, is a miracle worker, but her time is better spent keeping his current cases in order.

“I’ve got this, Griffin,” I stress again.

He rakes a hand through his brown hair, anxiety dictating his movements. “Have you two talked outside of the courtroom?”

Telling Griffin that I took Eden to bed last night serves no purpose, so I keep that information to myself.

“You need to put the past to rest with this woman.” He drops into responsible partner mode. “It’s best for the Alcester case.”

I’ll win the case regardless of what is happening between Eden and me.

“I’m down the hall if you need anything.” He manages a half-smile. Worry is knitting his brow.

I offer the only words I can think of to reassure him that I won’t let my past with Eden impact the firm’s reputation. “I have a solid case. Trudy Alcester is going to come out of this a very wealthy and happy woman.”

“That’s the end goal,” he says with conviction. “Get the job done and I’ll buy you a beer to celebrate.”

I toss him a curt nod.

I’ll get the job done. Eden Conrad may have owned me last night, but she doesn’t stand a chance against me in the courtroom.

Chapter 8

Eden

“Did Eden tell you that she saw an old friend in court today?” Kurt grins from ear-to-ear. A small piece of broccoli stuck between his two front top teeth is a beacon I can’t take my eyes off of.