“But you know this is going to be a high-profile case. It’s the sort of thing you’ve been waiting for.”
“I know that too. Let’s move on to the glowing reference you gave him about me.” That was enough time spent on David Hartford. If he decided not to change solicitors, I had a decision to make, one I’d maybe make with my new partner, who I was trying not to think about.
Max shook his head. “If this lunch ends with me drinking whisky, it’ll be your fault.” He took another mouthful of beer. “I told him that you were qualified, all of it true. Don’t let it go to your head.”
“I don’t think you’d let me.”
His grin bordered on being evil. “I’m not going over what I said. It was all factual. What’re you ordering?” He gestured to the menu. “I’m going for the club sandwich.”
“Victoria still on the healthy eating thing?”
“Yep. No red meat, no beer in the house, everything’s organic or blessed by nuns on the third day of the crescent moon, or some shit like that.” He finished his pint. “I’m hoping this weird nesting phase is done with soon.”
I’d no advice to offer him. I knew jack shit about such things other than what I’d seen with my sisters.
“I’ll have the same.” No point in having food envy. “And I won’t tell Victoria.”
“We both know you will.” He glared at me. “Just like we both know you’ll mention to everyone what I said about you to David Hartford.”
“Probably.” No pointy lying about it. “Georgia’s brought some big clients.” I’d briefly looked over the list of files she’d come with. There were some big cases ongoing, and some clients who were impressive, given that she was around the same age as me, and had been a little fish in a bigger pond than Callaghan Green.
“She has. She should be a real asset. And we thought she’d fit in with everyone too.” Max smiled at the waiter who was arriving at our table. He placed the order, asking for another beer for himself.
I wanted to talk about her hair. I’d grown up with three sisters: one quite a bit older, one the same age as me and another almost two years younger. Girls’ hair was something I’d found blocking the shower drain, in my hairbrush, occasionally in my food, sometimes around my toes. They’d spent hours straightening, curling and moaning about it, and to escape being whinged at, I’d learned to plait, braid and even do a semi-decent French pleat. The fact that I knew what all of those were probably meant I was at risk of losing my man card, but I was sure at some point, they’d gain me brownie points.
Because of this, women’s hair had never been something that fascinated me, unless it was spread across my pillow or draped over my dick – maybe my man card was firmly in place.
Georgia’s hair had been something else completely when she’d taken out the pins holding it together. It had dropped slowly, with a wave and a bounce like on a shampoo commercial. Thick dark red hair that fell down to the small of her back.
I hadn’t been able to take my eyes away. Luckily, she’d clearly been feeling self-conscious and hadn’t noticed me staring like some kind of stalker.
I’d never been so glad to have to go to a meeting.
“I’m catching up with her this afternoon.” I kept my face expressionless and my eyes focused on the menu, even though I didn’t need it. Max could read me all too well.
“Good.” His phone began to ring. “Hang on, it’s Victoria.”
He started a conversation, his tone changing from grumpy, irritated boss man to soothing, sweet husband and future father.
“Course, I’ll bring you one home. Extra cheese? Chips? With aioli?” There was a pause during which I heard Vic yelling. “I get it, you wouldn’t ask for anything that would do any harm, I know. So double cheeseburger from Pickled Rick’s with two portions of chips and aioli, and extra what… bacon and baconnaise sauce. I’ll remember that. I’ll get something for me too. Go put your feet up. Yeah, love you.” His eyes closed as he ended the call and he rubbed his eyes in a similar way to Jackson this morning.
“The healthy eating?”
“Appears to be over. Thank fuck.” He groaned. “I think I did the right thing agreeing to pick all that food up.”
I looked at him, trying not to let my amusement show. “I think there’s only one correct word you can say to Vic at the moment.”
“What’s that?”
“Yes.”
A shiny curtainof red hair fell down onto the new desk that had been set up in my office, a pile of books next to its owner. I stood in the doorway and turned into that weird man who stared at women again, watching Georgia’s lips move as she read through something on her laptop screen.
I was fully aware she had no idea I was standing there, and I didn’t want to start our working relationship off with me scaring the crap out of her.
Her lips moved again and this time she muttered something that sounded like a quote from a precedent. Beneath the red hair was fair skin and dark eyes. She’d worn lipstick this morning, but by now it was gone, pressed onto her coffee cup by the looks of things.
Her eyes flickered up and she sat up straighter, her attention torn away from her work and onto me.
