“So? You ain’t joining the firm to make friends. You’re there for business. It’s a large firm. You ain’t gonna have to see him if you don’t wanna. And you know how to act if you do come face-to-face. Just like how I told you about those snooty kids when you were growin’ up. Shoulders up, head high, and look ’em straight in the eye. You got nothin’ to be ashamed of.”
God, I missed him.
“You’re right, I know. Just sometimes I forget.”
“Well, kiddo, that’s why you got me around to remind you.” He snickered, and I laughed along with him. “I thought maybe you was callin’ me to say you found a nice girl and was gonna get married. That’d be the only way you’d get me to come up there again.”
“No. Nobody yet.”
He grunted. “I ain’t gettin’ any younger, you know. Wouldn’t mind seein’ a coupla grandkids.”
“I’ll see what I can do about it. I have a date tonight.” In the excitement over lunch and the offer, I’d almost forgotten.
“Listen. You’ve worked your ass off your whole life to prove you weren’t the names those kids called you. Don’t think we didn’t know. You deserve to be happy and have a family of your own.”
My face burned. “I tried to keep it from you. I didn’t want to be trouble. I didn’t want you to send me away.”
“We neva woulda. Your mother loved you as if you were born to her. And you were my son. Those kids’ parents were lucky your mother held me back, ’cause I mighta done somethin’ stupid to them.”
Tears burned, and my throat tightened. “Thanks. I guess no matter what, when you’re a foster kid, the fear never leaves that you don’t belong and it can all disappear in a flash.”
“Thirty years ago, it was almost impossible for an over-forty couple to adopt. But when you came to us, all scared and skinny, we knew you belonged with us. And I woulda gone to the mat for that.”
“I know. And I’m glad families these days don’t have to jump through all the hoops we did.” By the time things had changed enough that Bill and Pearl could adopt me legally, I’d been pasteighteen. It hadn’t made sense for them to adopt me as an adult, but they were my parents in every sense of the word.
“Now tell me about your date. Who’s the lucky lady?”
My lips twitched. “I met her online. We’re having drinks, and we’ll see how it progresses. She’s a stockbroker—I haven’t had much luck with lawyers, so I’m branching out.”
“Good,” Bill agreed. “Maybe she can give us some tips. Ha-ha.”
I joined him in his laughter. “I’ll wait for the second date, if you don’t mind.”
Talking to Bill always put me in a better mood, and after we said good-bye, I dove into my cases for the day with little chance to think of the lunch with Daniel Roth or the offer. It wasn’t until I was walking into Cipriani Downtown to meet my date that I realized I should’ve sent a thank-you to Roth. I made a note on my phone to send one that evening.
“May I help you?” The hostess awaited at the entrance.
“I have a reservation—Brenner Fleming. I’m expecting someone to join me.”
“I’m here, Brenner.” A husky voice had me spinning on my heel. “Lydia Grant.”
“Nice to meet you.” She was beautiful, and her cheek was smooth and cool when she leaned in for a welcome kiss. A delicious scent wove around me, and my pulse quickened. A good sign—great, in fact. I hadn’t had this kind of reaction to a woman in a year.
“This way, please.” We were led to a table tucked away in the corner and presented with menus.
“Do you feel like having food, or should we start with just drinks?” Lydia met my eyes over the cocktail listing.
“I’m easy.”
“Good to know.”
Her brown eyes danced, and my cheeks burned. Not that I was a prude, but I’d never been the kind of person to enjoy sexual banter. Some things were better off left in private.
We ordered drinks and some appetizers to share, and she asked me about my job and where I worked.
“I’m not familiar with that firm.”
“We’re a boutique firm. I like it that way.” Her frown surprised me. “What’s wrong?”
