I growl. “It’s Noah again.”
“Put it on speaker, going to give that boy a piece of my mind.”
I answer it and hit speaker. “You better be calling because you forgot something here and not as my lawyer.”
“Dallas,” Noah starts, car engine in the background. “Listen, I’m traveling for a case this week, but I’ll keep you posted on a court date—should be soon.”
“As long as Ellie doesn’t have to be there.”
“I don’t think so. But you’re in good shape. The house is done, you’ve got a legit partner in crime. It’s just a matter of getting it over with, and .?.?. hoping there’s no surprises.” Concern laces his voice.
“What about the photos from the bar fight?”
“Took care of that. Turns out Carl’s been trying to get Ricky and his crew to stop comin’ around, causing too many problems and bringin’ the wrong crowd. He’s happy to be a character witness if it comes up.”
“Always liked that man.”
“Also said he’d take Willow back in a heartbeat if she’s willing to give it another chance. Said the crowd’s been askin’ for her.”
I chuckle to myself. “I’ll leave that up to her.” I sigh. “For now, we got more important things to tackle. And while I have you, do me a favor and tear up that prenup.”
“Or what?”
I think about the one thing this man cares about. “Or I’ll tell Charlie you ambushed a woman with a prenup on her wedding day.”
There’s a beat before he sighs, relenting. “Look, what do you know about this woman besides her being Rose’s friend? What if she’s hiding something? Broken the law or something. Imagine that coming out in court.”
I glance at Dad with a smirk. “She checks out—told me she had nothing to do with the dead bodies found in her old apartment. And I believe her.”
Dad and I chuckle.
“All right, fine, laugh. But this is how people get screwed. You don’t do enough digging.”
My smile fades quickly. “Noah. Whatever you’re thinking, don’t.”
“I’m not just your lawyer, I’m your friend. Dallas, she showed up three weeks ago and didn’t want to go back. You don’t find that suspicious?”
“No, I find it convenient.”
“Exactly.”
“Noah. I’m going to tell you this once. Stay out of her business. Willow’s personal life is not up for discussion.”
“Fine,” he tells me. “I’ll call you this week.”
I hang up with a frustrated sigh. Dad watches me.
“I’m not doing it.”
“You afraid you’ll find out she’s not as perfect as she seems?”
“She’snotperfect. No one is. But she hasn’t had it easy. She’s selfless, she loves Ellie, helped me make this place a home. I’m not repaying her by letting my lawyer look into her.”
He holds up his hands. “Look, son, I get it. We trust until they prove we can’t. That’s the Thorne way. But we’re dealing with Glenda Lost.”
I swallow.
“I’ve never seen Noah get this rattled over a small-town case, have you?”
