Damn it. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Any time. Call me if you need anything else. I’ve got to go, my next client just arrived.” Donna hung up. Life at the firm was like that. Each minute recorded so a fee could be allocated to it. Faith had hated it. But something Donna said resonated with her. She needed a law firm name behind her. No way Darcy could afford her firm’s rates, but did she have another option?
She scanned the area. The blue ocean sparkled in front of her as the sun edged towards the horizon behind her. Tourists and locals alike sat in the café enjoying the warm weather and tasty food. While she’d been here, her parents’ friends had asked her to review a contract or talk about a legal issue they had.
Could Retribution Bay sustain a law firm of one?
Would she be satisfied with the kind of work she would deal with? She wasn’t interested in criminal law, but she could do contracts and estate planning. And if the work wasn’t there, she could explore expanding the pony club and her idea of trail rides. Would it be too much to juggle two new businesses?
Did she really want to stay?
Darcy and Lara walked out of the water, done for the day. Darcy brushed his wet hair out of his face, and the grin he gave his daughter made her own heart flutter. He’d be another reason to stay, but he couldn’t be the only one. She wouldn’t be happy without her own job and her own challenges.
Sofia had returned to the towels and handed them to Josh and his children.
Faith wandered over, taking her damp beach towel from her beach bag. She gave it to Darcy. “It’s a bit wet still.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” He rubbed it against his chest and she looked away. She might never wash it again.
“Did you enjoy your swim?” Faith asked Lara.
“It was nice.” She wrapped the large beach towel around herself. Sofia was talking to Josh.
Darcy spoke in a low voice. “Are you ready to go home, pumpkin?”
Lara glanced at her mother and then nodded.
He put his T-shirt and hat back on and collected his boots and socks. “We’d better head off.”
Sofia nodded. “What time should we come on Sunday?”
“It’s nicest early in the morning—say eight o’clock.”
“All right.”
Darcy placed a hand on Lara’s shoulder. “Do you remember the way?”
“Yes.”
“Bye, Mum.” Lara stepped forward to hug Sofia, but Sofia held her at a distance.
“You’re all wet, baby.” She air-kissed Lara’s cheeks.
Faith heard Darcy’s grunt of disbelief. Lara slipped her hand into Darcy’s and Faith walked with them across the sand to the car park. Lara dumped her things in the back seat of the ute and then climbed in the front, staring out the window.
Darcy sighed.
“Give it time,” Faith suggested. “It won’t be easy for any of you.”
“I know.” He turned to her. “Thanks for coming today.”
“Any time.” She hugged him and kissed his cheek. He turned his head, their faces only inches apart. Heat shot straight to her core. Kissing his lips would take this to the next level and would be difficult to come back from. The temptation was so strong. She stepped back, glanced down, swallowing hard, and then smiled at him. “I’ve, ah, got an update on the contract,” she said. “When you’ve got time, I’d like to go through it with you in person.”
“How about tomorrow night?” he suggested. “We could do dinner in town.”
She shook her head and noted the disappointment cross his face. “Tomorrow night would be great, but we should discuss the details in private.”
“Lara’s got a sleepover at her friend’s place,” Darcy said. “You could come out to the Ridge and share the details with Brandon too. If we finish late, you can bunk in the shearers’ quarters.”
