She sank into the seat and stared out the side window.
“Doug, thanks for checking things out and running interference with the governor.”
“Anything for you and Brooke. In fact, now probably isn’t the best time to talk about it, but I’ve heard some rumors about you and your law firm.”
Cody raised a brow. “What rumors?”
“That Kirk Wagner is trying to get you fired.”
“He can try, but they’d be stupid to let me go. My billable hours are higher than some of their partners and I win my cases.”
“I know. I’ve been keeping tabs on your career like everyone else who knows your family. Which is why I want to make sureno one else scoops you up if they’re stupid enough to give in to Kirk Wagner and offer you a partnership.”
Brooke sat up and turned toward Cody, her mouth agape.
Cody’s stunned gaze stayed on the road as he took a left and stopped in a grocery store parking lot. “Are you serious?”
“You’re young and hungry. You’ve proven yourself over the last few years. I’m surprised your firm hasn’t fast-tracked you for partnership. Their loss will be my gain. We’re so busy, we’re turning away potential clients. We’ve hired a new crop of lawyers, but none with your potential. The ones I’ve got in the pipeline to partner don’t have what you have. Drive. Ambition. The innate ability to read people and cases the way you do. Quite frankly, you remind me of myself. So are you interested in leaving someplace that hasn’t fast-tracked you and is willing to let you go to repay a debt to a guy who uses favors as fuck-yous?”
Cody rubbed his finger over his forehead. “Has Mindy Sue filled you in about me and Brooke?”
“She told me that you and Brooke have the epic kind of love that people rarely find, that Brooke’s loss was your loss, and that when Kristi told you she was pregnant, you did what you thought was right for your child, at the expense of your own happiness. And Brooke’s. That about sum it up?”
“Yes.”
“While I think what you did was honorable, you should have used that brilliant mind to figure out a way to keep the love of your life. But I get that you didn’t know all the facts. And that’s how we lose cases and you lost Brooke.”
“Biggest mistake of my life.”
“One you won’t make again.”
“Never.”
“So about my offer. Interested?”
“I’m not stupid enough to make a second mistake by turning you down.”
“Good to hear. We can talk details and compensation tomorrow, and then I’ll have my assistant draw up an official offer letter if we come to terms.”
“Sounds great. Thank you, Doug. I really don’t know what to say. I never expected this.”
“You know, you could have used the connection between us because of our girls to get a job here in the first place.”
“I wanted to earn it.”
“You did. And then some. I really hope to see you here soon. Brooke?”
“Yes?”
“I love you. I just wanted you to know that you’ve been such a bright light in Mindy Sue’s life and mine and Rochelle’s. You’re like a daughter to us. If Cody makes you happy, the way Mindy Sue says he does, don’t ever let that go.”
“I won’t. And I love you, too. Thank you for everything you did for me, for coming when I needed you.”
“Anytime. Talk soon.” He hung up.
Cody turned to her and a smile spread across his face, so big and bright and joyous. “Fuck! Can you believe that?”
“Yes. I can. Because you deserve it. Let’s go home and celebrate.”
