Page 53 of Paradise West
Charli’s lip curled in disgust. “Nope. Nice try, jackass. That won’t save you. You’re the attorney of record, and blaming the board isn’t an excuse for an ethical breach. You need to back out of this now and file the summary judgement that I had ready to go the morning you stole my clients. If it isn’t too late, that is.”
She stopped and listened as Evan released a torrent of words in an ever higher pitch. “Well, then you’re screwed. Once Alan’s done with you, you’ll never practice law in Massachusetts, or any other state in New England, again.”
Charli ended the call and tossed her phone on the bed, her face twisted in anguish. Jack could tell she was torn and he was nearly beside himself. He didn’t know how to help her and it was killing him.
He walked to her and rubbed his hands up and down her arms in a soothing manner. “Is there anything I can do?”
She shook her head absently. “The only thing that may help is if I go back to Boston and demand to have the case back.” She shrugged. “But even then, there’s no guarantee they’ll give it to me. Or that anything I do can undo the damage.”
Jack’s heart twisted at her words. “Is that what you really want? To go back to that? To Boston?”
Charli released a deep breath and dropped her head. “I don’t know, Jack. It’s all I’ve ever done, and what I’ve worked for my entire adult life. I don’t know anything else.” Her voice was small and she sounded lost. At that moment, Jack just wanted to take her in his arms and shelter her from the world.
She drew back, her face blank. “I need to think.”
Jack sighed, trying to keep his expression neutral and the disappointment out of his voice. “I understand, baby.” He tossed his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m gonna take a shower and then head across the street. The team should be here soon. Take all the time you need. There’s no need for you to do anything at the site for the next couple of days.”
11
Key West, Florida
“Damn, dude. What the hell crawled up your ass today?” Gus griped, giving Jack an annoyed look as they walked up Whitehead Street to The Spent Pickle for lunch. “You’ve been biting heads off all morning.”
Jack huffed and brooded in silence, not certain he was ready to talk about it. His conversation with Charli that morning had shaken him and the thought of her taking off to Boston for any length of time scared the shit out of him.
What if she didn’t come back?
Gus chortled at the silence. “Man, I know that look from a mile away. Women troubles...” He smacked Jack on the shoulder. “What’s wrong? Did Charli finally come to her senses and turn you down?”
Jack stopped in his tracks and glared at Gus for a moment. “No!” he practically yelled. He shook his head and started walking again, his stomach twisting.
Gus caught up and nudged Jack with his elbow. “Come on, man. We’ve been friends since grade school. You can talk to me.”
“She’s talking about heading back to Boston to handle a case that’s in trouble,” Jack spat out. “And I can’t do anything to convince her not to.”
Gus was quiet for a moment as they walked into the bar and took a high table in the corner. Jack sat and scrubbed both hands through his hair, clenching his eyes as his stomach twisted in knots.
“Hey!” Steve shouted from across the bar. “You two prissy boys too good to sit up at the bar like real men?”
Gus gave the old man a wave. “Just talking business and strategy over here, Steve. Can we get the usuals?” The old, grizzled bartender gave them a nod and turned to put in their order.
Gus smacked Jack on the shoulder. “Snap out of it, man. You just need a game plan, that’s all.”
Jack grunted, not feeling the urge to talk.
“I’m serious, Jack. Show her what she’ll be missing if she leaves,” Gus urged. “It’s not fair for her to make a decision like that without knowing what’s on the line. Romance the shit out of her.”
Jack glared at Gus. “I have been romancing her, dick. That’s all I’ve been doing since she stepped off that plane.”
He glanced down at the scarred table. “I took one look at her in the airport terminal and I was done, man. She was so beautiful, even buttoned up and tidy in that damned wool suit that all I wanted to do was undo her, if you know what I mean.”
Gus snorted. “Well, from what the gossip mill has been circulating, you’ve already unbuttoned her.” He punched Jack in the shoulder. “And what you’ve been doing for the last month is not romancing. You’ve been tiptoeing around this chick ever since she arrived.” He offered his thanks as the waitress delivered their drinks.
“Food’ll be out in a minute, fellas,” she droned as she walked off.
“You’ve been helping her settle her aunt’s estate and maybe copping a feel every once in a while,” Gus continued.
Jack snorted. “Fuck you.”
