Page 3 of Linc
She puts her hand out to take the card and I make sure to brush my fingers against hers, feeling that buzz again when our skin touches.
“Thank you, Lincoln, for helping me find the right office,” she says as she places my card in her back pocket.“And I’m meeting with some friends at a bar tonight if you’d like to come hang out.”
“If you’re there then count me in.”She tells me the name of the bar and time she’ll be there just as my phone vibrates again.“Can I get your number and call you later?”
She shakes her head, “If you show up tonight then I might give it to you.I can’t be giving out my digits to strangers or possible criminals.”
That makes me chuckle.
“Angel, the only law breaker between us is the one who’s here to settle a ticket,” I say then lean in and give her a soft peck on her cheek.She smells like vanilla.“See you tonight, Everly.”
I turn and walk back down the hall.When I’m almost to the stairs, I stop and turn back.
“Do you want me to get you out of that ticket?”I call out right before she’s about to enter the room to 208.
Everly stops and looks up at me, “No, I did it so I need to pay the price,” she admits.“Maybe next time.”She laughs, then waves at me before she walks through the entryway and is out of sight.
I wait a few beats before descending the stairs, not looking back for fear I’d never leave her side if I didn’t get out of there soon.When I reach the bottom of the steps, I see my team still waiting on me.
“Everything okay?”Olivia asks as she approaches me with the oddest look on her face.
“Everything is perfect.Why?”
Olivia shakes her head, “You have the biggest smile on your face, and you were whistling.”Was I?“Who was that?”
I’m sure I’ve caught her off guard with my actions.I’ve never let anything interfere with clients or business before, so I’m sure I’ve thrown her for a loop.
I look back up toward the second floor where Everly is and can’t stop the smile from forming on my lips.My aunt always said growing up, “If you want something bad enough then say it into existence.”So, with every part of my being, I give it a try for the first time.
“That, my friend, was my future wife.”
Linc
“Mr.Thorne, I’m heading out for the evening.Is there anything I can get you before I go?”Ruby, my ever-efficient secretary, asks.She’s been with me from the beginning and was my first hire after Olivia, my business partner, when I started Thorne Law Firm.She is fifty-eight and has three grandkids who she gushes about on the daily.Her desk is littered with photos and finger paintings.
“No, that will be all, Ruby.Have a great weekend and kiss those grandbabies,” I say as I press the button on the phone to respond.
The thought of babies makes me cringe slightly.I’ve never thought of myself having kids with the lifestyle that I’ve grown accustomed to.My life consists of work, sex, more work and buying the latest toy for my car collection, or something else to get my adrenaline pumping.
“You too, Mr.Thorne.Don’t forget you’re meeting Mr.Levi and Reid for drinks in thirty minutes.”
“Got it,” I answer, not letting her know that I’m really meeting up with a woman I met just hours earlier.Levi, my brother, is tagging along after chatting with him on my way from the courthouse earlier back to my office.I’d told him I’d met his future sister-in-law and that I was meeting up with her later this evening.Him being the nosy prick that he is, decided to meet me there as well, to see the woman who brought me to my bachelor knees—his words not mine.He also called our cousin, who we think of as our brother, Reid, and shared the news to him.
She says her goodbye and my office goes silent once again.Shutting down my computer, I gather up my case files and lock them away for tomorrow.I’ve got no plans this weekend so working on a Saturday and Sunday is nothing new for me.I’ve got a huge case next and can’t afford to get behind.My client has been accused of murdering two people and I think I’ve got just what I need to get him off and have the entire case thrown out of court.
The elevator dings and I step out into the garage that hosts my Limited-Edition Bugatti.She is my favorite baby and I only get her out on Fridays, when I know I’m going out on the town.Being photographed and my face splashed across every outlet on a weekly basis is part of being a high-powered attorney, so making sure to arrive in style is something that is expected of me.
Los Angeles traffic is absolutely horrendous, so when we hang out, I make sure Levi and Reid always pick a place close to where we live.We usually avoid the crowd on Friday nights, but I’ve got a date with an angel, and I’d meet her anywhere she wanted.
One thing I love about LA is that just about every place has valet parking.Tossing my keys to the guy, I slip him a hundred dollars, telling him to make sure she stays in the same shape as I’m leaving her, and to keep her parked in front of the bar for an easy getaway when we’re done here.
“Lincoln!”I hear my name being yelled as I walk in and see both Levi and Reid sitting on a stool in the middle of the bar.They are already halfway through their pints of beer as I approach my brothers.
“Hey bro.”We greet each other the same way we’ve always done, a hard man hug.
One thing I always love about Reid is that he is never jealous of me or Levi for coming into his family and stealing some of the attention of his parents.He welcomed us with open arms and never thought of us as anything other than his brother.Of course, we fight like cats and dogs, but at the end of the day, we know he is our best friend.
“I see you couldn’t wait for the evening to start.”I nod towards their almost empty glasses.
