Nothing and no one.
CHAPTER 21
Alexia
The party of the year.
Or so I’d been told. I had to laugh. We weren’t a huge firm by any standards within Miami, but there were prosecutors and judges who feared our tenacity.
Working with victims to provide justice had been our signature, created by a woman who’d been a victim herself a long time before.
That was the reason we’d been drawn to each other. We both had stories to tell. I admired her greatly, which was the only reason I’d agreed on coming to the party.
“You look stunning.” Maverick crowded my space, his hand firmly placed on the small of my back.
I tilted my head as I turned slightly, giving him a onceover. “You clean up pretty nicely.” I rubbed my folded fingers across his jaw, enjoying the white-hot tingles. “You even shaved.”
“That’s what happens when you force me into a penguin suit.”
“I adore you in a tuxedo. Very handsome and debonair. Besides, we’re celebrating your new contract. You remember. The one I helped you obtain? I am a damn good attorney.”
“And you’re never going to allow me to live that down.” He pushed us further into the room and toward one of the bars.
I could feel all eyes on us and while I knew a number of people in the room, I still had a strange feeling of being watched. “Not a chance. But I am excited for you.”
“Uh-huh. You’re just a very bad girl.”
“Don’t you forget it.”
“Why are we here again?”
“Because my boss asked me to attend. A big night for our company. Plus, you can’t fool me. I know exactly what you’re doing, Mr. Bestseller.”
I spun around to face him, adjusting his bowtie. Almost immediately, we both sensed the presence of the photographer they’d hired for the evening. I knew all about the game plan. It felt a little like we were spies, pretending to be two people we weren’t.
With the jazz musicians already providing a sensual backdrop, the entire office suite festively decorated, the lights dimmed, and the champagne flowing, I could easily pretend this was a fabulous date and nothing else.
Instead of hoping to lure a killer into the midst.
I leaned against my date, taking full advantage of the photographer.
“This is a who’s who of Miami stars,” I told him, nodding toward a group of men. There were a half dozen judges, attorneys from other firms, as well as media personnel.
“The mayor was even invited,” Maverick said with disdain.
“You know him?”
“Let’s just say he wasn’t my greatest fan back in the day.”
“Don’t look now, but my boss is headed in our direction. Now, be nice.”
“I’m always nice.”
“You’re usually a grouch. Who are you kidding?”
He playfully swatted me on the bottom and I laughed.
“This must be the famous Maverick Callahan. Betty Landers. One of the founders of this company.” She held out her hand.
