7 Months (Time for Love 8)
My name in that voice had my head swinging up in shock.
Brady had never been to my office before, and he was the absolute last person I’d expected to see entering it now.
He was in uniform, and my heart kicked painfully as he walked in and gestured to the chair.
“Please,” I replied, inviting him to sit.
Cleanly shaven and looking oddly nervous, he looked so handsome as he settled across from me.
When Brady tapped his knee with the fingers of his right hand, I prompted, “What can I do for you, Brady?”
Being on my turf, in my office, in my law firm, made me feel a calm and confidence that I didn’t often feel around Brady. Wearing a slate-gray power suit, with my hair pulled back in a loose bun, my face made up perfectly for court, I gazed at him from behind the safety of my desk and felt in control of the situation.
I liked it.
I was worried the next time I saw Brady, I’d be a bundle of nerves and throw myself at him, begging him to take me back.
This was better.
“I’m not sure if you’ve heard about Natalie and her husband…” he began, then trailed off as he seemed to try and search for the words he wanted to say.
“I have,” I said helpfully, not wanting him to feel uncomfortable around me either. “How is she?”
“Healing,” Brady replied, then lifted those dark eyes to mine and added, “Physically at least. She’s pretty shaken up about what happened.”
“I bet,” I replied, feeling sympathy for the other woman.
I knew why Brady was there, and if I was kind, I could just offer my services and give him an easy out. But although I didn’t want him to be uncomfortable around me, I also wanted him to ask me himself. To finally talk to me.
Even if it was to ask me to help another woman.
At least it was something.
“I talked to Nat, my brothers, even Tori and Bronagh, and we all agreed that you’d be her best chance of putting that asshole behind bars. Nat was going to call you, but I said I’d do it … figured after everything, I owed it to you, and to her, to ask myself.”
“Why’s that?” I asked softly, seeing how far I could push him.
Brady blinked slowly, then ran his hand over his mouth before taking a deep breath and answering, “Because of what was between us. Because you know I’ve been concerned about Nat, that I’d promised to find her husband, and I failed. She needs you, and I’d hate for you to not take her case because of me.”
That pissed me off…
“Do you really think that?” I asked, not keeping the anger out of my tone, which caused his eyes to widen. “Do you really think that I wouldn’t take the case of a woman whose been battered, a woman I know personally, a woman who is friends with my friends, out of spite? Or some sort of petty jealousy? You really don’t know me at all, do you?” That last bit came out as a whisper.
Brady blinked again, then frowned and said, “No … that didn’t come out right.”
“Hey, Ming, would you like to join the gang for drinks tonight, since you won your case and all…” Christian stopped talking when he rounded the corner and realized I wasn’t alone in my office. “Excuse me, the door was open. I didn’t realize you were in a meeting.”
“No,” I practically shouted before he could walk back out. “We were just finishing up here. That sounds great, I’d love to join you guys.”
Christian hid his surprise at my acceptance. A handsome smile moved across hi
s face and he said, “Great, I’ll be back by in thirty minutes. Does that work?”
“Perfect,” I replied with an answering smile, then turned my attention back to Brady, who was watching me through narrowed eyes.
“Here’s my information,” I said, rounding my desk, my arm outstretched as I offered him the business card. “Have Natalie call me as soon as she can and I’ll set up a meeting.”
Although I could tell by the stubborn set of his jaw he didn’t want to, Brady rose, took the card out of my hand, and slipped it in his back pocket. Then, in true Brady fashion, he didn’t say anything else, just tipped his head and walked out my door.