That was another thing almost every client said and thought.It was almost neverfairly straightforward.
“We’ll do what we can to facilitate that for you.”
He guided Liam through the signing of the retention agreement and directed him to Mattie, who’d collect the initial retainer.
They stood and shook hands.
“Thank you for your help.”
“Of course.I’ll wait to hear from you on next steps.”
The second the door closed behind Liam, Julian went to his desk to check his phone, hoping for a text from Isla.He was disappointed that she hadn’t reached out and furious with himself for caring so much.What the hell was wrong with him since he’d met her?Why was he so interested in her sick children and whether Isla had gotten any sleep?
Mattie knocked and came into the office, catching him staring off into space, contemplating his next move with her.
“Everything all right?”
“Yep.What’s up?”
“I wanted to remind you that today’s the deadline to RSVP to the premiere ofValiant.”She laid the embossed invitation from Quantum Productions on his desk.In light of his history with Flynn Godfrey’s sister, he’d been surprised to be invited to the film about Flynn’s wife, Natalie, and her brave journey to bring a rapist governor to justice.But the entire Remington family had been invited in deference to the longtime friendship between his parents and the Godfrey parents.
As he gazed at the invite, an idea came to him.“I’m allowed a plus-one, right?”
“Yes.”
“Go ahead and accept for two.”
“They’ll want the name of your date for security purposes.”
“Isla Santana.”
She gave him a curious look but wrote down Isla’s name.“I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks.”The thought of taking Isla to a movie premiere filled him with the kind of excitement he rarely experienced.He endeavored daily to keep his emotions even, omitting things like excitement, joy and anger.It was easier to function when he wasn’t all over the place.
But regulation had become a huge challenge since Isla had strolled into his office and turned things upside down.After their encounter at his house, all he wanted was more of her and the fully alive, electrified way she made him feel.
He was aware enough to recognize he was standing on a slippery slope where she was concerned.He’d never once wavered on the vow to remain single or even been tempted to waver.
Until now.
He’d seen her a handful of times and already knew he’d do whatever it took to keep her in his life.Why her?Why now?Had seeing Aimee made him vulnerable, creating an opening to his heart that Isla had walked straight through?If so, how did he get her out?He didn’t want to be vulnerable to anyone.The whole reason they’d made the vow in the first place was to protect themselves from the very situation he was now in with Isla.
Even as he tried to figure out how to undo what’d already been done, he wondered how she was, how the kids were feeling and if she was thinking of him as much as he was of her.
And ugh… He was a grown-ass man with a shit ton of work to do and was wasting time wondering if a woman was thinking about him.
Ridiculous.
A knock sounded on his door.
“Enter.”
Jackson came in, shutting the door behind him.
Without looking up from the file he’d only just flipped open, he said, “What’s up?”
“Jules…”
