“You’re pretty smart for a cowboy.”
“And you’re pretty funny for an uptight lawyer.”
He nudged my shoulder, and I quirked a brow. “Yes?”
“If I haven’t said it yet, I’m proud of you. I know it can’t be easy to apologize to all these people. I’d bet you weren’t the type who ever said ‘I’m sorry.’”
“You’d win that bet. Sorry wasn’t a word in my vocabulary. I was brought up to believe the world was mine, and there would be no consequences for my actions.”
“That don’t do a person any favors.”
“Obviously.” I shut down the computer. “Look at how I turned out.” I stretched and wiggled my fingers. “I’m done.”
Strong hands came down on my shoulders to massage them, and I leaned into his touch, unable to resist the groan of pleasure escaping my lips. The memory of Cort’s hands on me from that one night together had kept me company the past thirty days.
“I think you’re just fine as is, in case you’re wonderin’.”
“There aren’t many who’d agree with you. I’ve done some bad things in my life, Cort. I’ve treated people horribly and deliberately hurt them.”
“Then I guess you got a lotta stops to make on that tour. You’re good with going to the club? With the drinking, I mean.”
“I think so. I have to be.”
“Okay.” Cort nodded. “We’d better get going.”
An hour laterwe walked into Man Up, and Hector, who sat at the desk by the door, working on a laptop, raised his brows and whistled.
“Well. Look what the cat dragged in. Good to see you back, Harlan.”
A rueful smile touched my lips. “How’re you doing, Hector? I don’t think I’m back, per se, but is James around? I’d like to speak with him.”
“Yeah, he’s in his office. Want me to tell him you’re here?”
I nodded. “If you would, please.”
Hector picked up the phone on the desk and pressed a button. “James? Harlan and Cort are here. Harlan would like to talk to you.” His gaze flashed to mine. “Okay. I’ll tell him.” He set the receiver on the base. “You can go to the back. He’s waiting for you.”
With Cort a step behind me, we crossed the club and walked down the hallway. I’d played this scenario over in my head so many times, I thought I had it down pat, like the opening argument before a judge. I’d thank him for the help and referral to the rehab center. I’d be strong. But at the sight of James waiting by the open door to his office, my brain shut off and my heart pounded.
“Welcome back, Harlan. You’re looking good. I’m glad to see you.”
Shit. I never cried, yet I knew if I spoke right now, I’d make an idiot of myself, so I nodded. James stepped aside and let us come into his office.
“Take a seat, you two.”
I managed to get my stupid emotions under control and center myself. “I came to both thank you and apologize.”
“Okay,” James said, settling back in his chair, looking cool and unruffled as usual. James reminded me…of me, two years ago. Detached, unemotional, always thinking. But where I stumbled and descended into a spiral of alcohol and drugs, James remained in total control. “Go ahead.”
“Uh, well, first I want to thank you for giving me the chance to work here when no place else would. And I really need to thank you for getting me into rehab. It changed my life. I’m stronger, and I hope smarter and able to accept certain things I couldn’t before.” My throat was dry, and for the first time all day, I wanted a drink.
Fuck. No, I didn’t.
Doing this will make it easier to live.
He remained silent, staring at me, and sweat rolled down my back.
“You’re nervous. I’m sure that’s a first for you. From what I know, you never gave a damn what people thought of you.”
