He steps forward until my back is flush against his cold wardrobe door and his face is buried in my shoulder. He grips my hips, clenching and unclenching as his hot breath rushes over my neck.
The part of me he cracked open, igniting a desire for something more permanent in my life, longs to wrap around him and never let go. But I press my palms to his chest, guiding him to step back. The distance between us feels like a chasm. “Roger is waiting.”
He closes his eyes and squeezes the bridge of his nose.
For a moment I think he might stay, say yes to meeting me in Europe, and tell me I’m not the only one feeling this connection between us.
Instead, he pushes off the wall and leaves.
CHAPTER 10
Mr. Carlson
Roger signed a contract and officially became a client today. With his retainer and fees, I’ll have enough to cover the costs for all of my current and future pro bono cases. I should be celebrating.
Instead, I’m staring at Roger’s open file, dreading the extra work.
Why?
Because there are no outlandish sticky notes to look forward to.
I lift my gaze up and across my office space to stare at her empty desk.
Paige is gone.
I don’t know why I expected her to still be here when I finished my last meeting. I knew she was flying out today, but typical, arrogant me always focused on his work, didn’t prioritize asking what time.
I was so worried about losing a client that I didn’t even take the time to kiss her goodbye.
“You look like you need a drink.” Alex walks into my office holding a crystal decanter full of whiskey and two glasses.
“Or two.” I agree, closing the file and leaning back in my chair.
The glasses clink as he places them on my desk and pours. “I thought things went well with Roger.”
“They did.”
Alex offers me a glass. I take it and swallow it in one mouthful. The warm rush of alcohol eases some of the tension in my chest.
Alex arches a brow at my empty glass. “You sure?”
“I spent the night with Paige.” The confession hangs heavily in the air, each syllable a sharp slice to my heart. I take a deep breath, trying to will away the pain. “And I left this morning without saying goodbye.”
“Ah.” Alex pours me another glass. “And now you’re feeling like shit.”
I watch the amber liquid swirl and glint in the light. “Something like that.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
I let out a resigned sigh. “Nothing. She’s on her way to another continent to live the life she wants. I’m doing the same.”
“It looks like it.”
I narrow my eyes at the guy who’s supposed to help me through a crisis, not berate me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Alex waves his hand toward me. “Look at you. You’ve just landed the biggest client in the city, and instead of feeling excited, you’re already dreading the extra workload.”
I am. But I can’t say it out loud because this opportunity means I can take on more pro bono cases and hire more associates to help. Yet the passion and drive that used to fuel me seem to have diminished.
