“What can I do for you?”He casually slides into the black leather chair behind his desk while running a hand through his wavy dark hair.
Piercing blue eyes stare at me, willing me to speak.He is a pretty man, maybe too pretty.Too much of a good thing, and that doesn’t appeal to me.I like my men edgy and unconventional.The opposite of this man.He’s so pretty, he’s guaranteed to be boring.
“What did Drew tell you?”
“Not much.He mentioned I may be able to help you.I owe him, so tell me more.”
My curiosity hijacks the topic at hand.“How does a guy like you owe my brother?”
I’m not surprised Drew has crossed paths with Rothwell.When living in Toronto, my brother practiced law for the Ministry of the Attorney General and knew many wealthy and powerful people.
“A guy like me?”His voice is a deep rumble and his eyes twinkle roguishly.“What exactly do you mean, Paige?”
He lingers on my name as if I’m a wicked proposition and I’m intrigued.He’s certainly holding my attention even if his ultra-confidence irritates me.He’s unlike the men I am used to in many ways.
While the men I’ve dated are rough around the edges, most are a cliché, and even if they come off cocky, it’s usually false bravado covering for something they feel they are lacking.Now that I think about it, most of them were one-dimensional and for the most part, predictable.What you see is what you get.Simple.
“I didn’t mean anything.”I bite my bottom lip to stop from saying more.
One dark brow quirks, and his eyes drop to my mouth.Super intense, hot even, and heat floods my core.“Didn’t Drew tell you?”
“I wouldn’t be asking if he did.”
“True.”He chuckles and shifts ever so slightly in his seat, adjusting the lapels of his suit.“Drew helped me out with a client in New York.He took the case and, more importantly, won.”
“Okay.Drew’s an awesome lawyer, but you would have paid him for his expertise and counsel, right?”He nods, prompting me to go on.“So why do you still owe him?”
“That’s between Drew and me.”His comment is meant to be vague and mysterious and I huff, now unamused.
He’s toying with me and while that might not be his intention, I don’t particularly care for it.“Mr.Rothwell, will you help me or not?”
“Firstly, it’s Zach.And secondly, I can’t help if I don’t understand the circumstances and what the problem is.”
He steeples his fingertips in front of him, elbows on the edge of the desk, and the ends of his suit sleeves slide back to reveal a Rolex Submariner around his left wrist.
This guy is the real deal.The watch costs thousands of dollars and here I am proud of my one and only pair of Louboutins.Shaking off the bizarreness of this meeting—I don’t belong in this world nor do I want any part of it, yet I want to know how he can help me—I tell him everything about Joel Hummel and end with my conversation with the housing agency.
“Well, it does sound like you need help.But I should tell you that I’m not a lawyer.”
“Yes, Drew did mention that, but he said once I explained, you’d know what to do.”
“I have a stable of top-notch lawyers, experts in residential law in every province in Canada and a number of states.I’ll get one of them on this right away.”
“You will?”My excitement is evident, and his lips spread into a confident smile and he nods.“If it’s easier, you can give them my name and number and they can contact me directly.You must be very busy and I don’t want to waste your time with this.”
“Give me your number.”He hands me his mobile and at first I falter, questioning that he’s going to personally take care of this.“I’ll pass on your details.”
“Oh.”I drop my chin to my chest, hiding my embarrassment at thinking he’d have the time to deal with this, or that he’d even care to.I’m a stranger.I quickly add my name and number to his contacts.
“Thank you very much, Mr.Rothwell.”I stand and shake his hand.It’s warm, strong, and firm.
“Zach—and no thanks are necessary.I haven’t done anything yet.”
I laugh and he joins me but there’s now a glint in his eyes that takes away from his mirth.His gaze is laser-focused, staring at me.The air around us shifts.Thickens.
“Well, I’ll let myself out.Goodbye, Mr., um…Zach.”
I turn on my heel, heading for the door, hyperaware of his eyes on my backside and grateful to my mother for always telling us to dress the part.If this were any other day, I’d be wearing jeans, leggings, or a casual summer dress, but I decided on my form-fitting cream dress with scooped neckline and capped sleeves.Simple and classy.
