“Oh, of course.”Rix cleared his throat.“If you need anything, call me.”
Vance crossed his arms over his chest, resembling my bodyguard rather than my lawyer.“She won’t need anything.That’s why she has me.”
Stepping around him, I put a hand on Rix’s arm, ignoring Vance’s growl.Rix’s offer was nice, and he meant well.“Thank you so much, but I’m fine.”
He nodded at me, his carefree smile back in place.“See you ladies next week.”
As soon as the door closed behind him, I turned to Vance, who looked perfectly at ease.Before I had a chance to yell nonsense at him because I seemed to have forgotten most of the English language again, he cleared his throat.“I have a meeting in five minutes.”
And with that, he turned and disappeared into his temporary office.
Malena leaned against my desk.“Well, that was odd.”
I logged into my computer and brought up my email program.Too many unread messages waited for me to get through in the two hours I had left.
I shrugged, not sure what had happened and not willing to overanalyze it.Unlike Malena, who leaned closer.“Vance is always in control.But he looked ready to punch Rix.And all because he offered his help.”
I shrugged again.Letting myself think that Vance might actually like me and felt protective was a road too dangerous to walk down.Because if it was only his sense of duty as my lawyer, I’d be crushed.And there would be absolutely no more crushing in my future of any variety.
Realizing she wouldn’t be getting anything else out of me, she huffed and straightened up.“Fine.Be like that.I’ll get it out of you on Saturday, when you’re coming over while you have your open house.”
That’s exactly what I was afraid of.But for now, all I could do was get through as much work as possible and not think about my lawyer.Or his odd behavior.
Chapter eleven
“Addysaidasquareword,” Elana singsonged.
My oldest squeaked in outrage.“I did not.And it’s ‘swear word,’ not ‘square word.’”
I huffed out a breath, squeezing the steering wheel tighter.The realtor had ushered us out the door two minutes before the official time for the open house.
My car was crammed full of things that I couldn’t find a place for; the rest I’d stuffed under beds and into closets.But the house now looked unlived-in, and there was not a toy or stray sock in sight.
“Stop fighting, girls.”
I was sweaty, I was exhausted, and the last thing I wanted to do right now was play referee to my girls.
“I only said cheese and biscuits.That’s it.”
I watched her stick her tongue out at her sister in the rearview mirror and sighed.It would be a long ten-minute drive.
“Hey, you’re not allowed to do that.”
And then commenced the screaming and throwing of things.Unfortunately, there were plenty of things to throw.I’d stacked toys and clothes up behind the passenger and driver seats, so the kids had to rest their feet on everything.The middle seat was also stacked high.
The trunk was crammed full, and I’d had to tie down the door to keep it somewhat closed.
I also had to take both Orange and Winston with me.Winston was in a cage in the trunk, and Orange sat in the passenger seat, sticking his nose out of a gap in the window.
When we pulled into Malena’s driveway, my eardrums were ringing and the clothes that had previously been on the seat were now covering the girls.
I dropped my head on the steering wheel, counting backward from a hundred.The girls were still bickering, but I couldn’t get up the energy to talk to them yet.I’d been up since four.I was tired of doing this on my own.I should have been used to it since I hadn’t had any help since they’d been born, but somehow it seemed to get worse rather than easier with every year that passed.
A knock on the window made me grimace before I lifted my head.I didn’t want anyone to see me having a moment.Everyone had them, but I liked to have mine in private.Usually in the bathroom with the door closed.
Not in my car with Vance looking inside with a little frown on his perfect forehead.
Hang on, what is Vance doing here?
