Page 51 of Shared By the Highest Bidder

“And still likes spending Friday nights with you?” Bernie presses a hand to her heart. “I think that’s sweet.”

“She’s a good kid.”

“I hear she goes to Yale. That’s impressive.”

Emery grins at me, wondering what else I filled Bernie in about him. “Indeed. You’ll meet her eventually.”

“I look forward to that.”

Emery finishes the bottle of wine by dividing it between him and Bernie.

That’s two bottles down and we haven’t had a biteto eat. Bread sits on the table untouched.

I’m fucking starving. I reach for it and turn to Bernie.

“Bread?”

She shakes her head tightly.

“I heard you tell Nell you don’t eat breakfast. Come on, have a bite. For me. I don’t want the wine going to your head.” I’m tempted to say I don’t trust leaving her tipsy with these two.

“I’m perfectly capable of making sure she’s okay,” Ash defends his honor.

“He is.” Though Bernie agrees with him, she takes a piece of bread, and after taking a bite, her eyes roll into the back of her head.

Christ, is that what she looks like taking a cock in her pussy?

Soaking in my stare, she smiles and turns back to Emery probably because I’m just too fucking intense.

“What is your daughter studying, Emery?”

“Jess. Her name is Jess.” He lights up talking about her. “Cyber Security.”

“Nice.” Bernie whistles. “Won’t have any trouble getting a job.”

“Especially since I want her to be my Chief Security Officer someday.”

“That’s so cool,” Bernie gushes at him, but it’s sincere. “Working with your daughter.”

“What do your parents do, Bernadette?” Emery asks.

She freezes, and I touch her leg under the table. Staring at me, her eyes beg me to say the words she’s struggling for. She’s so young, she must get asked about her parents all the time.

How many times did she have to repeat the awfulstory she told me in my office?

“They’re passed, Emery.” I tilt my head to suggest I don’t want a follow-up question.

“I’m so sorry, Bernadette.” He sends her a sympathetic look that is pure and honest.

“Thank you.” Bernie smiles sadly.

Emery paid good money for her, and I’m cock-blocking him.

I wish I could take her on a date tonight, but I’m meeting a client for dinner.

She’s living with me. And she’s paying me to represent her ex. I immediately stuck her in the off-limits category. Then flip-flopped and propositioned her, because these lines feel fucking blurry as hell.

Ash’s words ring through me that she’s an adult. My Harvard Law classes stressed honor and ethics. But we live in a different world.

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