I think back to watching her through the two-way glass. How she held her shoulders high whenever the detectives were talking to her, but the second they weren’t looking, they’d drop just an inch, as if the weight of the world was just too heavy and she needed a moment’s reprieve.
I remember how fascinated I was by her strength and the layers I know are right under her skin. It makes me want to peel every single one away so I can get to the core of what makes Lily who she is.
But I once again hold back from telling her all that. “I got a call from a friend who said you needed someone because he thought you were innocent. And he knew I would be up for the job.”
Something flashes into her eyes, but she looks down before I can identify it. When she looks back up, it’s gone. “Was it Detective Martinez?”
Feeling an urge to give her something, since I have withheld so much, I admit, “It was, but if you can keep that between us, we’d both appreciate that.”
Her smile is a little brighter, and I’m shocked at the bolt of jealousy in my chest. I remind myself why that’s ridiculous. I’ve represented plenty of attractive women.
Hell, for all I know, she might be guilty of killing her husband in cold blood. Maybe she’s the black widow type, and she’s looking for her next victim.
There’s no scenario in which giving in to my attraction would end well.
Or so I tell myself.
Mandi,who’s talking to a client loudly on the phone, greets me with a wave of her hand and a roll of her eyes as I step into the office. She’s telling whoever it is that they need to make an appointment and discuss whatever the issue is with me then. They seem not to like that answer when she repeats it two more times before I’m even seated behind my desk.
The clatter of the phone being hung up, and an exasperated yelp, echo through the small office seconds before Mandi materializes in my doorway.
“Can I help you, Mandi?” I keep my eyes locked on my computer as I organize the emails that came in this morning.
The clicking of her heels as she crosses the room has me lifting my gaze to find hers. She stops in front of my desk and folds her arms over her chest, her foot tapping rhythmically as she stares down at me. I raise my eyebrows and return the stare.
“I wasn’t sure if you still worked here, given how much you haven’t been in,” she chastises.
I sigh. “I was in on Monday, and I’m here now.”
She isn’t wrong that I’ve been out. I rarely take a sick day, and unless I’m in court, I’m here all day and usually into the evening.
“Uh huh. You sure are. And will you continue to be? Because your schedule for the rest of the week is packed, since I had to reschedule everything from the carryover of last week and yesterday.”
I hesitate before grinning up at my paralegal. “At this moment, I have no immediate plans to be out of the office.”
She narrows her eyes. “Why am I not comforted by that?”
I shrug before going back to my emails. “No idea, but you should really get back to work. I hear we’re very busy.”
The growl she lets out does scare me a little, even if I chuckle as she stomps out of my office. Checking my calendar, I see my next meeting is in thirty minutes. I drum my fingers on my desk as I contemplate whether what I want to do is a good idea.
I know my calling will just piss Barrington off. We were never on good terms, but things worsened after Tom’s case. Barrington wasn’t the main detective on the case, but he assisted for most of it. He refused to look at any information I brought him, telling me the case was already being moved forward. I may or may not have cursed him out on multiple occasions for not doing more. Given that, I’m mature enough to admit he might have a reason not to be my biggest fan.
I rub my hand across my lips in frustration. Picking up my desk phone, I dial. It rings a few times before someone answers. After their greeting, asking how they can direct my call, I ask, “Can you connect me to Detective Wilcox?”
“Sure, just one moment.”
Grabbing a pen, I tap it against the legal pad on the desk, my thoughts racing. Lily pops into my mind, and a smile sneaks onto my face. Going to see her at work was impulsive. I had something I needed to do for Tom this morning, and on my way into the office, I decided to make a stop. My intention was just to call and check in on her, because I wasn’t lying when I said I was worried about how her firstday was going to go, but then the thought of actually seeing her appealed to me way more.
Plus, these monthly errands I promised to make for Tom always put me in a weird place mentally. I’m going to blame that instead of my growing attraction to my client.
Shaking my head, I toss the pen and scrub my hand down my face, needing to get my shit together.
“Detective Wilcox.”
Wilcox’s voice has me sitting up straight in my chair, immediately switching into attorney mode. “Wilcox, it’s Chris Rivers. How are ya?”
His answering sigh tells me everything I need to know about how this call is going to go, but I can’t give up yet.
