Page 75 of Legally Mated
Laine sank down onto the armchair in the corner of the room. "I don't remember. It wasn't important to our case, it wasn't an argument I was making. If you told me, I forgot about it." He leaned forward in the chair, but his gaze was fixed on the floor. "I never guessed until spring that you were anything but a gamma. It never even occurred to me--you act like one, you talk like one. Everyone treats youlikeone."
"Why didn't you tell me? Why did you let me go on believing Iwassafe?"
He stood abruptly from his seat. "God, Garrick. Really? You think you weren't safe? You think that secret wouldn’t have gone to the grave with me if you didn’t tell me I could talk about it?” He grabbed at his hair and pulled. “Did anyone else in the pack find out? Did Ieverbring it up to you?No. That secret stayed with me. It never passed my lips. Because if you hadn’t told me about it, then I knew you weren’t ready for it to be public.” He stared at me with betrayed eyes. “I’m sorry if I made the wrong choice, but I’m doingmybest.”
I turned away, holding back a frustrated scream, because I wanted so badly to hold him and tell him it was okay. "I can't talk about this right now. Not like this." I turned back to see him watching me with those intense eyes, the ones that always made me feel seen as who I wanted to be. It was unfair to use my panic as a weapon against him, even if the sharp edge of it cut me for every blow I dealt him. "I'm sorry. I should have told you. I don't know why I didn't, I--" My voice broke off as he closed the distance between us. His palm was warm against my cheek and even with the first creeping chill of the Rush in my veins bolstering whatever Holland had done, I wanted so badly to step into his arms and for us to take our pleasure of each other. It was definitely the heat—the desire had that sharp, unrelenting weight to it—but now that I could think more clearly, it became obvious that I just liked him. Trusted him, despite my earlier words. “Laine, I need to go. I can’t do thisrightnow.”
“I know.” His smile was gentle. “I should have said something. I should have asked. Call me when you’ve got this sorted out? And we’ll talk. Honestly. Abouteverything.”
I nodded, then leaned forward to risk a kiss. He gasped, as if my heat was affecting him too, and his hand flexed against my face as if he was worried about controllinghimself.
When the kiss ended, I started to step back, but found myself caught in his gaze. His hand stayed where it was, stretched the length of my jaw, the fingertips with their neatly manicured nails just grazing the pulse in my neck. “I know you’re angry with me. I don’t want to stepontoes.”
Damn you. Why do you have to be so fucking reasonable?It would be have been easier if he’d been a jerk about it, and I could have broken that connection, and buried my secret in the past with it. “I don’t know what I feel. Give me sometime,okay?”
He ran the pad of his thumb over my lower lip. “I can do that. I do patientverywell.”
That made me snort with laughter. “I’ve nevernoticed.”
“I can learn.” He sounded so solemn, except for the slight quirk of his lips. “Youbettergo.”
I gave him a shaky smile and backed slowly away, keeping him in sight until I was outthedoor.
Holland and Quin waited patiently in the car. Once I had my seatbelt fastened, Holland reached back between the seats and patted my knee. “It’ll be allright.”
Chapter62
"We should decorate for Christmas,"Jack said as he and Laine carried their office chairs up the stairs and into their newoffices.
"We're not even open yet," Laine protested, though in his current good mood, it was tempting. "Maybe we can do something for Valentine's." They needed to hire someone for Family Law too, though maybe Family Law and Valentine's decorations weren't a fantastic combo. And he hadn’t quite finished Christmas shopping for Garrick yet, so he didn’t want to spend the time decorating for non-existentclients.
"Yeah, but we're here, right?" Jack said. "Damn, but I'm looking forward to making private practicemoney."
"I have a couple of clients that will come with me," Laine promised. "And I've asked a few people to spread the word." One of these clients that was jumping ship with him was big, and had business interests that would be following him. Laine could deal with that--the guy tended to skate close to the not-quite-legal side of things. It meant lots of billable hours, and that's what a start-upneeded.
"Good, because I'm not bringing anything to the table." Jack put his chair down and fellintoit.
"You were a prosecutor. I think that counts for a lot." Laine pulled his chair over next to Jack's and sat down as well. "You know, we still need to get the desksupstairs."
Jack made a face. "Movers would have beenworthit."
Laine laughed. "Next time,Grampa.”
Jack looked around for something to throw at him, then shook his head. “Are youhungry?”
“I could eat. After we get the desksuphere.”
“Jeez, slave driver.” But he got up from the chair. “We should have hired movers,” he saidagain.
“They only have to come up one flight ofstairs.”
Jack had borrowed his brother’s half-ton truck and they’d loaded the back with as much furniture as they could fit into it. Three desks, chairs, lamps, filing cabinets, and most of it scavenged by Jack’s sister-in-law from used furniture stores, for which Laine was exceedingly grateful. Not that he was broke, but the money was running out faster than he’d anticipated. Jack’s sister-in-law had good taste, though, and the office was comfortable and calm, while at the same time managing to look like they were a profitable firm. It felt more like home than hisoldone.
Jack looked up from checking his phone. “Alicia says she found some more art today if wewantit.”
“Is it at herplace?”
“Yeah.”
