Page 13 of Just for Her
I wanted to believe her. I really did. But I also knew my sister. She’d lose focus and eventually let her guard down. Plus, Caleb was adept at manipulation. He knew her weak spots.
Across the room, Paul laughed and stood, as if ready to leave.
Now or never.
“Then, prove it,” I said boldly, shamelessly taking advantage of her willingness to convince me and the fact that Paul Cerasino was only a tome’s throw away. “Talk to him.”
Her eyes widened. “What? Right now?”
I pressed on. “Talk to him. If you’re right and Caleb really has accepted your divorce, then you’ll be doing nothing more than making a new acquaintance. But if thingsdogo south, you’ll have a backup plan and a powerful ally already in place.”
I could tell she was considering it. It was time for my closing argument. “Please, Miriam. If you won’t do this for yourself, do it for me. I’d feel much better, knowing someone has your back when I return to Boston.”
Yes, I was playing on her good, soft heart, but I was doing so with pure intentions, so I felt zero guilt.
She worried her bottom lip, and then her expression turned to one of resolution. “All right, fine.”
I stood, ready to follow him out if need be, but he paused before the door and turned. Those dark eyes zeroed in on me like smoldering lasers. And ... there were those pesky tingles again.
“Mr. Cerasino,” I said, annoyed with the breathy quality my voice had somehow acquired.
“Ms. Kearney. A pleasure to see you again.”
I made quick introductions. “Miriam, this is Mr. Cerasino, the lawyer I was telling you about. Mr. Cerasino, my sister, Miriam.”
They exchanged polite greetings.
“Miriam would like to speak with you concerning the matter we touched upon this morning.”
His eyes moved to Miriam, and like the tingles, that unpleasant swell in my chest resurfaced. Maybe it was because I was holding my breath.
“Is that so?”
“It is,” she confirmed. “May I call your office for an appointment tomorrow?”
“Please do.”
“It’s okay if I bring Ally with me, isn’t it?”
His eyes slid back to me. His lips curled at the corners, and just like that, the tightness in my chest loosened. “Of course.”
