Page 4 of Sackett
She had a case in court in Boulder starting on Wednesday.Since Fort Collins was only an hour away, she, Donna, and Savage had decided it was worth the time to go speak with the judge in person.She had explained that it may or may not save them the time and hassle, not to mention expense, of the whole divorce process.Especially if Mr.Harrison were to fight it.From what they’d told her about him, it seemed likely.Which meant this case could drag on for years.As much as she might make off something like that, she hated putting most of her clients through it.
As she finished the last of her paperwork for the day, packed her bag and cleared off her desk, she found herself thinking about her evening ahead and wishing she had more to go home to than a frozen dinner and another Gossip Girl marathon.
Selena wished sometimes that she had a more interesting life, something someone might find entertaining enough to be on one of those shows.But since her last date had been more than a year ago, and even longer since she’d gotten laid, she had little hope of that.
The only places she went where she might meet someone were work, and dating a client was out, and the courthouse which had its own pitfalls.Partly because she’d sworn off dating attorneys, and this time she was determined it would stick.She’d made the decision the first time nearly four years ago, after breaking up with Erik.And had decided she might have been hasty twice since, but knew now for sure that she wouldn’t end up with another lawyer, even if it meant she lived alone with a dozen cats.But that would mean getting even one cat first and she didn’t have the heart to adopt an animal when she was home so little.
She shook her head, picked up her briefcase and headed for her car, the debacle with Erik running on repeat in her brain, driving home why she couldn’t make that mistake again.
Selena wished she could fall into something easy and happy, but Erik had broken her trust too badly for her to ever trust another attorney with her heart and that softer side of herself.Now, it was easier, and safer to keep that side locked up at home, where no one but her saw it.
She spent the whole drive home thinking about how things had been going so well, then he’d been hired by the husband of one of her clients to represent the douche canoe in the divorce and keep her from finding out about all his assets and financials.Selena had discovered a long trail of deceit.The man had been having a long-term affair with another woman, and supporting her and their shared ten-year-old child.When things had started, the wife had wanted to get what was promised in the pre-nup, that was all, even though he'd broken his part of the agreement, and she was entitled to much more.
It wasn’t until Erik tried to use their personal relationship against her in the mediation that things got bad.When Selena’s client realized what was going on, she was done and had finally given Selena permission to go for everything they could.In the end, Selena and her client won.As soon as the verdict was over Selena had told Erik they were through and swore off seeing other lawyers.That had lasted about a year.
Then she’d been lonely and agreed to go out with another attorney, this time she thought she was being smart by refusing anyone who practiced in the same branch of law.If she never had to go against them on a case, they couldn’t use personal information against her the same way.
That hadn’t worked either.She thought the first time was a fluke, so she’d tried a second time and eventually realized she just couldn’t trust them with her private self, and being ‘on’ all the time was exhausting.Thankfully, things had never gotten past the occasional night here or there.She’d never tried to live with them, forcing herself to be her professional self all the time.
As she let herself into her apartment, she told herself there was no point in dwelling on the past.It wasn’t going to change and all she could do was learn from it and move on.
Selena pushed all thoughts of Erik and the rest of the losers who had found nothing but flaws with her out of her mind.She put her briefcase away then went into the bedroom to change out of suit and heels.She would need to pack this weekend because she was leaving Monday morning for Colorado.She’d considered taking the weekend and driving up on her personal time, but it was hard to justify fourteen hours in the car, even just so she would have her own car and not a rental, when the flight was only two hours.
She pulled out her oversized hoodie and fuzzy pants, then spotted her ereader on the nightstand and remembered her best friend, Bella had sent her a book that she swore Selena would love.Lounging in the tub with a hot, steamy read sounded much better than another evening on the couch.
She took her phone and reader into the bathroom, set them on the counter then started the water running, adjusting the temperature and adding bubble bath before she went to pour a glass of wine to enjoy while she read.When she returned, the tub was almost half full, though the bubbles mounded higher than the rim.She stepped out of her underwear and into the steaming water, letting out a small hiss at the heat, but sinking down into and closing her eyes anyway.It might sting at first but it the heat would soak into her muscles and help her to relax.And after this week, she needed to unwind.
Not that today had been all that difficult, but it had been a long one, and if she had any hope of relaxing over the weekend, she needed to start now.She picked up the reader, leaned back and opened the book, ready to enjoy her softly scented bubbles as she lost herself in the world unfolding in her mind.
Later, she wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but a shiver pulled her from the story.She realized that not only had the water grown cold, but she’d forgotten her wine and now it sat lonely on the edge of the tub, half drunk.She shook her head and set the reader and wine glass out of the way, pulled the plug and stood.A quick hot shower would warm her up again, then she could put on her pajamas and depending on the time, maybe read a little more.She wanted to get to bed at a reasonable time, not because she had to be to the office tomorrow but because she’d worked hard to establish a healthy sleep pattern, and she didn’t want to throw it all away.
Two hours later, Selena set her reader down beside her, yawned and stretched.Despite her intentions not to stay up too later, she was later than she’d planned but the book Bella had sent over was too good to put down.It wasn’t until she finished it that she realized it was only the first in a series.Now she wanted to start the next one, because she cared about the characters and couldn’t wait to see what happened next.But she wouldn’t.Not tonight.She’d bought the next book in the series so she wouldn’t forget it, but starting it would have to wait until tomorrow, or maybe the next day, depending on how things went.Now though, she needed to put together a list of what she needed to take to Colorado with her, so she didn’t forget anything she needed for the two cases while she was there.
5
Sackettmovedfromoneend of the bar to the other, serving drinks, taking orders and disposing of empties as several of his brothers sat in different places around the room.It was an average Saturday afternoon at Drifter’s except that Sackett was covering an extra shift as the usual bartender for someone who’d needed the afternoon off at the last minute.
Tending bar wasn’t the worst job he’d had, nor was it the best.But it was flexible enough he could take whatever time he needed for the Souls or wanted for anything else.That was why when there had been an opening at Drifter’s he’d jumped at the chance.Working for the club treasurer was both good and bad, because his brother was also his boss, but there was more good to it than not.Besides, Ruger didn’t do much of the day to day running of the place.Krissi handled most of it, though these days she often had the baby in the back room with her while she took care of things.
It sometimes meant he did a few things for her so she could take care of the little one.He didn’t mind the extra chores like inventory or letting her know when they needed to order things.It made things easier for her when she was taking care of the baby.Not that he wasn’t willing to help with Amber.He did, he just wanted to make sure Krissi was comfortable with it.She was, most of the time.But he was careful, at least while she was this small with how much he did with her.Both Ruger and Krissi were protective of their little girl.Not that Sackett could blame them.Not with what had happened to Krissi shortly after she’d arrived in Tucson, and at her father’s order.Or at least that was how he’d heard it.He hadn’t been part of the Souls yet then, not even as a prospect.
The bell over the door rang, catching Sackett’s attention.He glanced in that direction to see Savage and Donna come in.He waved as he moved to the far end of the bar to deliver the beer he’d just poured.
“Hey, didn’t expect to see you two in here today.What can I get for you?”Sackett said as he moved to where they’d taken seats at the bar.
They placed their orders, then continued while he prepared their drinks.“We came in to say thanks again for taking Donna to the lawyer’s office yesterday.I appreciate it,” Savage said, one hand holding on to Donna’s where it lay on the bar between them.
“No problem.I don’t mind.Now, when Krissi asks me to watch the baby?”He let an exaggerated shudder pass through him for effect, then laughed as he wasn’t completely serious.
“Don’t like kids?”Donna asked, tilting her head to one side.
“Kids I’m good with.Babies though?They’re too small, too fragile.I wouldn’t know what to do with them.”Sackett gave them their drinks then kept his hands busy, drying the glasses he’d washed a few minutes ago and putting them away before wiping down the counter.Moving down the bar to help another patron as the two talked to each other.
Saturday afternoons weren’t very busy, but they weren’t dead either.He could take his time and talk to people, and had plenty of time to visit some, but he also needed to make sure everyone was taken care of.He liked that Krissi and Ruger trusted him enough to leave him on his own, not even another bartender working with him on slow shift, and they took his word for it if he said it was busy enough to call someone in.Now, it wasn’t but it probably would be later, thankfully unless the evening staff called in, he wouldn’t be working that.Not that he wouldn’t work busy shifts, but today had been his day off and he’d been planning to go for a ride.He still could, it would just be later than planned.
After the three-day ride back from Wyoming, he’d been glad to not have a ride of more than a half hour for a while but that had been a few weeks ago and now he itched to get on the road again.Not for days at a time, like that trip, but an hour or two would go a long way toward lifting the darkness from his psyche.
A glance at his watch told him he had another hour.He could do another hour.He just hoped the night staff was on time so he could get out of here.
