“Uh-uh, not so fast. You need to reinstate me as your lawyer.”
“Just to get a cup of coffee?” Up until now, I missed having him around. Now, I remember why I fired him.
He shrugs, pops the top of one of the cups, and the aroma floats under my nose. After a long slurp, he swallows, and grins. “Damn, that’s good.”
“Fine. You’re my lawyer.” While I drool, he takes his time tearing off a perfect little hole in the cover. Meanwhile, the roses in the windowsill haunt me along with Peter’s voice in my head.
Suddenly, I recall the little issue of driving under the influence and wonder if I’m still going to be arrested. For the first time in my life, I realize I need help and it scares me shitless.
Maybe that’s why I sit up fully and blurt out, “See those roses? Can you find out who sent them?”
One dark brow raises, “Why?”
“I’m pretty sure they came from my dead husband.” Wow. It sounds crazy to me but he doesn’t seem fazed.
He just slowly stands, strolls across the linoleum, and inspects the flowers. “The yellow one in the center?”
I shudder and a chill goes down the center of my back. “Yeah. Other than the florist, who would know his special order for me?”
“Any number of people, I expect.” Frowning, he scribbles a few notes on his electronic tablet, and looks up at me. Damn, sometimes his eyes are amber. I’ve never seen anything like them.
“Why? Why do you think he might be alive?” His voice startles me back to reality and I lose my nerve.
“Never mind. It’s stupid. Nothing.” I give him a shrug and try to make a joke of it. “I just wanted my coffee. Figured it would help.”
Brows wrinkled, his thick lips turn down and his voice goes low. “You need to start trusting me.”
When I look up, Dahlyla dashes through the doorway as best she can in four inch heels and gives me a giant bear hug.
“Oh my Gawwwd. I was sooo worried about you.” She eyes my lawyer like he’s crème brûlée or maybe Chunky Monkey, depending on your level of sophistication. No matter, she practically drools when she holds out her hand, her Pandora bracelet heavy with silver charms.
“And who would you be?”
I butt in real fast. “He’smylawyer, Andrew Quinn.”
“We’ve met,” He smirks, all full of himself, no doubt because I admitted he’s representing me.
She bats her heavily mascaraed lashes at him. “Well, well, well. I suppose we have.” Then she turns her gaze toward me, and I sense a bit of resentment. “I had no idea you needed a lawyer. I would’ve helped you out.”
Her offer doesn’t make any sense at all because she knew yesterday a possible arrest was looming. Maybe she just forgot.
“How have you been, Ms. Stevenson.” Quinn smiles into her perfectly made dark face and catches her eyes.
“Dahlyla, please.”
Oh, plah-eese. I’ve had enough. “Can you give us girls a minute, Quinn?”
He nods and backs out of the room, a stupid grin on his face which seems totally out of character but my friend does that to men.
When he’s gone, she leans over the bars on my bed. “Holy shit, girl, are you going to let that beast into your cave? If not, I call dibs.”
“I am not going to… whatever you just said. My lawyer is bossy, arrogant, and full of himself.”But he’s mine so keep your hands off.
“Are the police going to arrest you for driving under the influence?” She offers me a piece of gum which I take, spearmint bursting apart in my mouth.
“Not sure, which is why Andy is hanging around.”
“Andy? Not Quinn?” Her brows raise as she unwraps the paper from two sticks of gum and places the pieces between red lips, the perfect shade for summer in some beauty e-zine.
