Page 13 of Love Set Me Free

Paisley’s skin took on that familiar red hue as she nodded shyly. “Yeah. This is the place I spend most of my time.”

“Shit is fancy,” he mumbled, looking around and feeling like he didn’t fit in.

The fresh cut he got earlier had him feeling like a million bucks, but even that feeling seemed to dull once he stepped foot into the law firm. Glancing down at his sweats and hoodie, he felt way too under dressed to step foot in there. Even Paisley looked like she fit in, though she only wore leggings and a hoodie that cut off and showed off her mid section.

He couldn’t help but look at her throughout their busy day. While he got his hair lined, he watched her from the barber’s chair as she scrolled on her phone, oblivious to all the men vying for her attention. At the mall, he watched the way she walked so confident but also so unaware of how she affected the people around her, especially the men. When they shopped for his new phone, he watched while she interacted with the salesman completely unaware that the nigga was trying to sell himself to her more than the phone.

She was gorgeous, and he knew he looked good, but he also knew he had nothing to his name other than the things she had bought him and the little bit he bought himself that day. He had nothing to offer a woman like Paisley at that juncture in his life other than his friendship, and for her, that friendship was the most valuable thing she could have from him. Nobody else could have a friendship from him on the level that she had. He wouldn’t leave her side until death claimed him, and even then, he would still pledge himself to her in the afterlife and in any lifetime they were blessed enough to meet again.

While on the elevator, Paisley checked the time on her diamond-studded watch. “It’s almost time for us to head to dinner. I was hoping I would have time to go home and change, but I don’t think we will.”

Kydrick pulled her hand toward him, ignoring her statement and eyeing the watch. “This is cold. I really like that.”

“Thanks,” she uttered. “It was a part of an exclusive collection. It’s one of my favorite watches.”

“Yeah? How many you got by now? A hundred?”

Paisley giggled. “Not a hundred… yet. I do have a solid collection, but not as big as my earring collection.”

“You’ll have to show me later. What ever happened to becoming the next Vera Wang?”

Paisley snorted. “Vera Wang isn’t known for jewelry, Kyd. I mean, she has jewelry, but she’s more known for wedding dresses.”

They walked off the elevator, and Kydrick put his arm around her shoulder. “Whatever, man. You know what I mean. You were supposed to become the next big jewelry designer and make me a chain. You promised, remember?”

She giggled. “I do now. I honestly forgot about promising to design you a chain. Feels like a lifetime ago.”

Kydrick noticed her eyes go hallow as she looked around the office as if she despised the place, but before he could say anything, she said, “Here’s Steven’s office.”

She knocked, and a moment later, Steven called out, “Come in.”

Paisley pushed the door open, and Kydrick followed behind her, allowing him to see over her head. The first thing he saw was Steven and the way his eyes zeroed in on Paisley. Kydrick’s face immediately frowned up.

He had met Steven a few years ago when Paisley started at his firm. Since this law firm took over his case, he’d never met with Steven and Paisley in the same room. In the courtroom, they kept things professional, but the way Steven looked at her now had him wondering if something was going on between his Pooh and her boss.

“Paisley, I’m glad you could come today. With you taking the week off, I thought maybe you would wait to stop by. I was glad when I got your call earlier,” Steven said from his seat behind his L-shaped desk.

“You asked me to come with Kydrick,” Paisley said, confusion evident in her tone.

Steven’s brows pulled in slightly. So slight that a normal person wouldn’t have caught it. Kydrick wasn’t normal, though. After twelve years in prison, he learned to pay attention to not only his surroundings but people’s body language.

When Steven’s eyes finally met Kydrick’s, almost as if he hadn’t even noticed him standing behind Paisley, he knew what was up. Steven had eyes for Paisley only and had most likely used Kydrick to get her there just so he could lay eyes on her.

Kydrick chuckled and shook his head while Steven stood and walked over to them, standing a little too close to Paisley for his liking. When Steven stuck his hand out for Kydrick to shake,Kydrick decided to play nice while discreetly moving Paisley away from him.

“Kydrick Sutherland, it’s good to see you.”

Kydrick nodded as he shook Steven’s hand, adding a little extra pressure to the shake.

“Heard you had some things to discuss with me.”

“I do,” Steven said, turning and rounding his desk to sit down again. “I wanted to talk about your options as far as suing the two people that wrongfully convicted you as well as the state since they didn’t do their due diligence with the case. We can take this to civil court?—”

“Steven,” Paisley snapped, cutting her eyes at him.

Steven glanced at her and chuckled before looking back at Kydrick. “Sorry, man. Paisley warned me not to get into all that today. She’s really protective of you. Said you needed some time before we got into all that, but I think the best thing to do right now is to take action.”

The tension in the room felt thick, and Kydrick didn’t like it. He looked between Steven and Paisley before clearing his throat.

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