“I should go.”
“No, I’ll take you.” He grabs his coat, not really giving me much of an option at this point. On the plus side, at least I’ll be getting home fast, which means I’ll be eating sooner.
Right now I’ll take whatever wins I can get.NineJayThe nights I spent in subzero temperatures in Russia went by faster than the hours that it took Dove to come home from work. I worked for a few hours, but when the sun began to set and I still hadn’t seen her pretty head below my window or heard her door open, I couldn’t concentrate. She didn’t use my number, and I wasn’t smart enough to steal—er, gather hers. I guess I dumbly thought she would text me, even if it was just to tell me no.
I glance out the window again and rub my jaw. There’s an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I may have gotten her in trouble at work, which fucking sucks. I need to remember I’m back in civilization, and I can’t just do whatever I want. Normal people require normal interactions. That also fucking sucks. Like, just get on my level, and we’ll all be good.
I consider whether I should play up the Pulitzer thing. Like all superficial assholes, that means something to the lawyer. If I give him some made-up business like working through a contract issue that my agent has already reviewed, would he go easier on Dove? Do I want to do that? I suppose I need to find out how much this job means to her. If it’s her dream job, then I’ve got to step back. If it’s not, isn’t it open season on this suit guy? He should understand. He thinks in terms of alphas and betas anyway.
I grab my laptop and scroll through the latest batch of documents Davis has marked for me to sign. I select a half dozen of them and send them to the printer. Even if this lawyer sucks, which he probably does, I won’t be harmed because Davis has already vetted them. But this gives me a reason to be at the law firm. I can require him to sit all day with me and that would free Dove to...well, I don’t know. It would get her away from him. That’s the important thing.
I’m in the midst of stacking the contracts when I hear an expensive engine pulling into the parking lot. This isn’t the type of place for fancy cars.
When I check the window, I see Dove climbing out of a low-slung sedan. The lawyer from earlier that day cuts the engine and follows her. I can’t hear the conversation, but it looks like he wants her attention and that she doesn’t want to give it. I run my tongue over my teeth and consider whether she would be fired immediately if I went down and slugged him in the face or whether he would wait until the morning.
I leave my window and jog down the stairs, meeting the two in the lobby. The lawyer has his hand on her arm. Dove is not happy, but she’s trying not to show it, which means she needs her job. Fuck.
“Hey, Dove.”
“Oh, Jay, hi.” She smiles, but it’s not a genuine one. Weariness is evident in every line of her body from her drooped shoulders to the way the corners of her mouth pull down. I want to pick her up, carry her to my nicely reno’d apartment, and hide her away for a year.
“I’ve got dinner ready. You look tired. Let’s go up.”
“Found your keys, did you?” the lawyer snarks, probably thinking he was going to catch me in a lie.
“Yeah, I did. Locksmith came and everything. Thanks for your concern.” I grab Dove’s purse and tuck it under my arm. “Come on. I bought your favorite drink.”
“Peppermint chocolate frappucino?”
“Extra scoop of chocolate.” I nod as if I know anything about what she’s talking about.
“It’s a pump,” the lawyer inserts irritatingly.
“Pump. Scoop. All the same. Thanks for seeing Dove home. You won’t need to do that in the future. I’ve got it covered.” I cup Dove’s elbow and start her toward the door. She moves slowly, like her limbs are stiff. I know we’re only neighbors, but...man, I’d do this for a wounded animal. I have done it, in fact. I reach down and scoop her into my arms.
Her eyes widen in surprise. “Jay, I can walk.”
“I know. I need the exercise. Night, lawyerman,” I call over my shoulder.
“It’s Mr. Thomas,” she says.
“Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.” The lawyerman is burning daggers into the back of my head, but Dove doesn’t seem to be bothered. She lays her head against my chest and by the time I reach our floor, she’s out. Shit, the girl must’ve been exhausted. I debate for a half second about what to do, but in the end, my apartment wins out. It’s because I have the keys and I can easily access it, not because I want to see her in my bed. Nothing like that.