Chapter 15

fifteen

. . .

Easton

We’d spent the day going over all the files that Bruno had sent over in a conference room at the hotel. Tomorrow, we’d be interviewing employees and investigating every possible angle so we would be prepared.

The way to win cases was to know what you were getting into. What you were dealing with.

You lost a case when you were caught off guard.

I would never be caught off guard.

I did the work, and I prepared for every single angle that could come my way.

But I had the greatest distraction I’d ever faced working beside me, and to say I was frustrated would be a massive understatement.

Henley was definitely fucking with me. She’d bent over the table, reaching for a file multiple times.

Did I mention she had the most perfect ass?

Like if you were to line up the best butts on the planet—those of supermodels, athletes, and women with shit injected into their ass cheeks—hers would stand out amongst them all. It was small but perfectly peach-shaped. Like she’d done thousands of squats just to mess with my head.

And her perfume… it was obviously injected with some sort of sexual stimulant.

I was sure of it. I’d smelled roses and jasmine before, and I hadn’t reacted this way.

The worst part? Henley Holloway seemed completely unaffected by me.

But that kiss.

That fucking kiss.

I never should have let that happen because now I couldn’t think of anything else.

How many women had I kissed in my lifetime?

Too many to count.

Yet only one was haunting me.

I knocked on her hotel room door, which was directly across from mine. We’d both been put in large suites on the same floor.

“Hey, let me just grab my purse,” Henley said, and I stepped inside her room.

It was exactly like mine, only flip-flopped in the layout. She wore a black dress that ended just below her knees, and it hugged her curves in all the right places.

It was a perfectly appropriate dress for a work dinner event, yet all I could think about was hiking it up to her waist, dropping down on my knees, and burying my face between her thighs.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

“Hello? Are you okay?” She waved her hand in front of my face.

“What? Yes. I’m fine. Why?”

“I asked you if you were ready for the meeting, and you didn’t respond.” She held her purse up and headed to the door.

But my gaze was on the black lace bra that was lying on her bed. I snapped out of it and followed her to the door. “You know, Princess, everything does not require a response. Of course, I’m ready. I’m always ready.”

She pulled the door open, and we made our way down the hallway and toward the elevators. “Did my father tell you that Will and Jamison Waterman were attending the dinner?”

I held the elevator open for her so she could step on. My gaze moved from her nude heels up her legs, before I stepped in beside her. “Yes. I have no idea why Jamison would be coming. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Her head fell back in laughter. “Tell me how you really feel.”

“I am.” I smirked. “Let me guess, you and him are old family friends.”

“Yes. We do go way back, but it’s not like we’ve kept in touch, so you can speak freely.” She chuckled.

“He’s a rich dude with a last name that carries some weight, so he went to prestigious schools and works at a top law firm in the country as a senior partner,” I said, leaning against the wall and studying her. Her hair was tied back in some sort of twist at the nape of her neck, her face flawless, and lips plump and painted pink. She looked sexy as hell. “But Jamison knows very little about the law, and he has no desire to learn. He wants everyone around him to do the work while he sits back and takes the credit. I can’t get on board with people like that.”

“He’s not all bad. He’s just had everything handed to him, so he doesn’t know anything different,” she said as the door opened, and I held it so she could step off.

I leaned down close to her ear and whispered, “Haven’t you had everything handed to you? Yet here you are, working your ass off.”

And a perfect ass at that.

But before she could respond, her father, Will, and Jamison were waving us over. I shook each of their hands, and while Charles hugged his daughter and told her how beautiful she looked, I didn’t miss the way Jamison was checking her out. His eyes roved over her ass.

The fucking audacity.

Sure, I’d checked her out. But not in public and not so blatantly. And definitely not when she was hugging her father.

I don’t know, maybe it was jealousy.

I’d never been a jealous man, but I was exhibiting all the signs of it, according to my brothers and my cousin.

I still believed that Gary Rite had a pickleball to the groin coming.

“Gentlemen and one beautiful lady,” Bruno King said as he approached. “I’m Bruno, and I appreciate you coming out to see me tonight.”

We went around the group, making introductions, and he lingered a long time on Henley. I didn’t miss the way Charles moved protectively closer, just as I was preparing to do so.

Meanwhile, the wolf in sheep’s clothing didn’t notice and was busy kissing our new client’s ass.

My new client.

I didn’t know why he was here. The partners always joined in on meetings like this when we were just getting started, but Jamison was here because his father brought him. He had nothing to contribute to this meeting. What I couldn’t figure out was why he’d agreed to come. The man hated to work. He didn’t do after-hours events that were for work unless there was something personal to gain.

And there was a lot of rumbling going on in the firm behind closed doors about Jamison having some major issues with alcohol and drugs. I didn’t do company gossip, but Rosie was always in the know on all things happening at the firm.

She’d told me there had been several different episodes that had been covered up by his father.

I didn’t give a shit, as I never saw the dude.

Yes, we had the same title at the office.

But he didn’t do shit, so no one paid him much attention. I was out here proving my worth.

Bruno escorted us to the table in a private room in the back. I pulled out the chair for Henley, and Jamison quickly hustled to sit beside her.

I settled in the chair on the other side of her as Charles and Will each took a seat beside Bruno. The table was round, so we’d all be able to speak comfortably.

I began the conversation, thanking Bruno for choosing to work with our firm and assuring him that we would do everything in our power to give him the best representation. Out of my peripheral, I could see Jamison whispering in Henley’s ear.

He wasn’t listening to anything I was saying, and over the next hour, it was clear why Will’s son had joined us for dinner. And it had nothing to do with Bruno King or this hotel.

And everything to do with Henley Holloway.

She appeared notably uncomfortable every time he touched her shoulder or brought up a personal story from their childhood.

She was here to meet a client, not talk about Turks and Caicos, circa ten years ago.

Jamison had ordered multiple drinks and appeared heavily intoxicated.

I shot Charles a few knowing looks, and he gave me a quick nod. He was more than aware that he’d brought an employee who was not here for the same reasons that everyone else was here.

But the wine was flowing. The appetizers and salads had come and gone, and dinner was just being set down. Jamison managed to derail the conversation and the reason that we were here, talking about every fancy hotel he’d stayed at throughout his travels.

The South of France.

Paradise Island.

The Amalfi Coast.

Yeah, we get it, asshole. You’re rich.

But so is everyone at this table, and we aren’t fucking flaunting it.

Charles was clearly surprised, and I hadn’t missed the looks he’d shot at Will, who appeared extremely uncomfortable. I’d always liked Will. He was a good man, and he clearly loved his son. He tried like hell to build Jamison up every chance he had. It had never mattered much to me until now.

Because at the moment, Jamison Waterman was fucking up my meeting.

And that was not okay with me.

“So, we’re looking forward to meeting with the employees tomorrow,” Henley said as she spoke directly to Bruno, making an attempt to steer the conversation back to the reason that we were here.

“Yes. All the people who work for me have been told to be open with you and give you whatever you need.” Bruno cut into his steak. “I’m sure it won’t take long to dig through it all. We have nothing to hide.”

They never do. Until they do.

“We will keep you updated. We’re planning to be here for three to four days, and then we’ll be able to do everything else that we need remotely,” I said, glancing over to see dumbfuck Jamison swing his hand and knock his cocktail over. He jumped up, and I watched as his elbow connected with the side of Henley’s cheek. I was on my feet now and pissed to all hell.

I bent down and met her gaze. “Are you all right?”

She had a hand on the side of her face, and she nodded, but I didn’t miss the way her eyes watered. “Yes. Yes. Of course. I’m fine.”

She was trying to salvage this dinner, and I was ready to take off Jamison’s head.

Charles’s gaze landed on mine, and he gave me that knowing look.

Get this guy the fuck out of here.

I was already moving, one arm around Jamison, as I guided him away from the table. The waiter hurried over, and I stopped him and asked him to bring an ice pack to the lady at our table.

And I walked Jamison straight out of the restaurant and into the lobby and turned to face him. “What the fuck are you thinking, getting wasted at this dinner? You just hit Henley in the fucking face.”

He shoved me back. “You don’t even deserve a seat at this table. You’re a small-town hick who impressed Charles Holloway. He’ll tire of his shiny new toy eventually.”

“Well, I’ve been here for four years. Longer than you. And by the looks of your father walking this way, I don’t think I’m the one who needs to be worried about my job, asshole.”

“What the actual fuck is wrong with you?” Will said through gritted teeth.

“I was having a good time, Dad. I think Bruno appreciated it. If I were a betting man, I’d say he’s going to be requesting to work with me instead of Easton. Chadwick can’t keep up with people of our caliber.”

“Shut up right now, Jamison.” Will turned toward me. “I’m sorry, Easton. I made an excuse to leave the table, and Charles is doing damage control. Go on back and see if you can work your magic. I’ll get our driver to take us home.”

I nodded, and he extended a hand, and I shook it. “We’ll talk soon.”

I turned to leave and glanced over my shoulder to see Will hurrying his son out of the hotel toward their waiting car.

I made my way back to the table, and Henley was chatting with Bruno as if nothing had happened, and Charles shrugged as if he wasn’t sure what to do. I slipped into my seat beside her and glanced at her cheek to see that it was red and swollen.

“Did the waiter bring ice?” I asked close to her ear as Charles insisted Bruno let him cover the bill, and Bruno laughed at the idea.

He owned the hotel.

There would be no bill.

“I’m good. I’ll ice it when I get to the room,” she whispered, before clearing her throat and turning her attention back to our client when he spoke to her.

“I’m guessing that guy won’t be getting a date anytime soon?” he said over loud, boisterous laughter.

I didn’t laugh.

She’d been hit in the face, and I was fucking livid.

“We’re old family friends and coworkers, so there will be no dates in our future.” Henley’s smile was forced, and I didn’t miss the way her father winced when she looked at him.

“We’ll touch base with you tomorrow, once we get started, Bruno.” I made an effort to move the conversation back to work. This dinner had been a complete shitshow, and I was just grateful that Bruno hadn’t left the table and fired us on the spot.

But right now, I didn’t even care.

I wanted to get her out of here.

I wanted to get ice on her face and comfort her.

What the fuck is happening to me?

A few weeks ago, I would have sold my soul to sign this client. And now, he was here, and I couldn’t get out of this place fast enough.

“Sounds good. I’m going to go meet my lady at the bar for a nightcap, but I’ll speak with you all tomorrow.” He pushed to his feet, and we did the same.

I saw a napkin wrapped around something bulky where Jamison had been sitting and lifted the fabric to see the bag of ice she’d hidden beneath the cloth. I took it from the table, tucking it inside my suit coat pocket.

We shook hands with Bruno, and he walked with us toward the bar and waved goodbye. Once we were in the lobby, I turned to Charles.

“What the actual fuck was that?” I hissed, anger radiating from my entire body as I turned to inspect Henley’s face.

“I don’t have a fucking clue.” He turned toward his daughter. “Are you all right? I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

“I’m fine. But it was a bad decision to bring him, Dad. He derailed the conversation multiple times and then proceeded to get completely wasted.”

Charles shook his head, placing a hand on his daughter’s chin and turning her face to see the swollen area starting to bruise on her cheek. “It’s inexcusable. I’ll be phoning Will immediately. Jamison hasn’t been coming to work much, and I guess it’s time to sit down and have a hard talk with him.”

“You think? He just made a fool of himself and made the firm look like a joke—and then he punches your daughter in the fucking face?” I ran a hand through my hair and tried to tamp down my anger.

Henley did what I least expected, and she laughed. She laughed hard. “Relax, Chadwick. He didn’t punch me in the face. You’re being dramatic. His elbow collided with my cheek. It was an accident. But yes, he was sloppy, and it’s not a good look.”

She placed a hand on my elbow, in what I guessed was a gesture to calm me down. I didn’t miss the way Charles’s eyes tracked the movement.

Did he track the movement when his rich prick lawyer elbowed his daughter in the face?

“All right. Everyone is upset, and I am, too. Let’s call it a night. I’ll phone Will when I get in the car. Let him know that we need to have a sit-down with his son. You go get ice on your face, and I’ll be in touch in the morning.”

Henley hugged her father, and I clapped him on the shoulder before watching him leave the hotel. He lived downtown, so his penthouse was only a few blocks away. I placed my hand on her lower back and guided her toward the elevators. Once we stepped inside, I pulled the ice from my pocket and placed it on her cheek.

“You stole the ice pack from the restaurant?” She chuckled, her hand moving over mine.

“I believe ice is free and can’t be stolen.”

“Nice argument, counselor.” She smiled.

When the doors opened, we walked down the hall toward our rooms, and I didn’t even hesitate. “I’m coming in with you.”