Page 5 of The One for Forever

“There she is,” Cliff says in a sing-song voice, striding over to me. Then he whistles, giving me a once-over. “Who areyoutrying to impress tonight?”

I smack him on the shoulder of his tuxedo jacket. “Shut up,” I murmur. “You look like you should be serving champagne on tiny trays.”

He leans into me. “I know, right? Thereareguys here in tuxedos serving champagne on tiny trays. This event is swanky. I can’t believe they let us in.”

I snort. “Me neither. Where’s Lia?” After an endless string of girlfriends, Cliff’s latest relationship finally seems serious.

“Gossiping with some of her SWAT friends.”

We both survey the scene, grabbing two glasses of bubbly when a waiter passes by. The West Oaks Bar Association is putting on this gala to celebrate the Lawyer of the Year winner, Jane Holt. It’s a mixed crowd tonight. Public and private lawyers. Prosecution and defense. And because Jane is married to Sean Holt, the chief of police, the place is crawling with cops too. Like my best friend, Cliff Easton.

We’ve both come a long way since high school, though we still bicker like siblings. I’m not that shy, quiet girl who struggled to stand up for herself. In fact, tonight is about the older, wiser, more independent me. A woman who splurges on a slinky, strapless gown for a black-tie event. The kind of woman who isnothung up on an unattainable man.

A certain man who might be here tonight.

I tug at the bustline of my gown and take a gulp of champagne. A picture of elegance, right here.

A finger brushes across my bare shoulder, and I turn around to find Derek Keller standing behind me, wearing a fancy custom tux and his signature smirk.

“Hands to yourself,” I say.

“You had something on your arm.”

Cliff narrows his eyes. “Sure she did.”

Derek pointedly turns away from Cliff. He has a glass of champs too, and he holds it up to clink with mine. “Looking good, Ms. Ainsley. Didn’t know you could clean up so well.”

He’s not flirting. Derek knows exactly what he’s doing. Back when we were One Ls in law school, his little digs got under my skin. But not anymore.

“Thanks,” I say. “You look nice too.”

“I should. This is a Tom Ford.” Derek takes a drink, flashing his cufflinks. Which I’m sure wasn’t intentional.Right. “Did you see the motion my office filed yesterday?” he asks.

On Friday afternoon, like they were hoping to ruin my weekend? “Yeah, I glanced at it. But we shouldn’t talk work tonight. Neutral territory.”

Derek just smirks. “You think a group of lawyers can resist talking about work? Especially with the celebrity trial of the decade coming up?”

Well, he has a point.

In about three weeks, Derek and I will be on opposite sides of the courtroom for the trial of Amber Printz. She’s a former child star and model who rocketed into super-stardom after murdering her movie director husband.Allegedly. It’s also my first big murder case as a West Oaks deputy district attorney. I’ll be second chairing the trial with the district attorney herself. It’s a huge deal for me. For our entire office.

And after the way the story has caught fire in the media? Pretty much the entire country will be watching. Criticizing everything we do. ThatIdo. People have been showing up to picket our office with handmade signs.Free Amber. Amber was framed.

“But we’re all friends tonight, right?” Derek says.

“And all of our bosses are here,” Cliff cuts in, draping a protective arm around me. “Which means we’re on our best behavior.”

“True, can’t have too much fun.” Derek sips his champagne. “But that’s rarely Quinn’s problem.”

Cliff steers me away from my former law-school classmate, which is a good thing, because I’m fresh out of witty zingers. “Asshole,” Cliff mutters. “He’s wrong. You’re fun.”

“I appreciate the best friend vote of confidence, but he’s not that far off.” I shake my head. “I mean, who cares about DerekKeller’s idea of fun? But he’s right that nobody expects anything but good behavior from me.” My reputation hasn’t changed much in the last decade. I’m not shy anymore, but I’m still the good girl who doesn’t intimidate anyone, least of all opposing counsel. “But that was the old Quinn.”

Cliff nods. “Ah, yes. The ‘New and Improved Quinn’ Project.”

“The new Quinn is a formidable prosecutor. She eats snarky defense attorneys as happy hour snacks.”

“And she lives by herself now instead of with her best friend and their awesome roommates.”

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