Chapter 4
Chapter Four
GRAY
“ Y ou’ll pay the fine to the clerk on your way out of here,” the judge instructs my client, looking over the frame of her glasses to stare him down. “And I don’t want to see you back in my courtroom. Understood?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” Pete says with a nod. “Thank you.”
“Court adjourned,” she says, hits the gavel on the desk, and then exits the courtroom.
“Thank you,” Pete says to me, shaking my hand. “I didn’t want to go back to jail, man.”
“Then clean your shit up and stop getting into trouble,” I suggest. “For real this time.”
“That’s the plan,” he replies and leaves as I gather my papers and put them into my briefcase before walking to the courtroom door. I don’t usually handle matters like these, but it was a favor for a friend.
“Mr. Sterling?” A young woman approaches me with a big smile. “I have a delivery for you.”
She passes me a white to-go cup of coffee.
“I didn’t order this.”
“No, sir. It’s from Stella McKenna. The note is on the side of the cup. Have a good day.”
She rushes off, and I hold the cup up to read it.
Are you still awake?
With a laugh, I walk to the wall of windows that look out across the city, set the briefcase on the floor next to me, and pull out my phone.
She may be in meetings, so I shoot her a text rather than call her.
Me : Thanks for the shot of caffeine. Still awake over here. You?
I take a sip of the drink and scowl down at it. Jesus, it’s so sweet it’ll put me into sugar shock. But the gesture was sweet, as well, so I just shrug and chance the coma as I take another sip.
I have another case in thirty minutes, so I check my email and drink the coffee. A few moments later, I get a reply from Stella.
Stella : No one could sleep with these gorgeous flowers on their desk. They’re too pretty. Thank you.
The florist worked fast. Excellent.
Me : You’re welcome. Have a good day.
I sip the sugary coffee as the three dots bounce on my screen.
Stella : You too! Talk to you later.
“Why are you all smiles?” Brandon asks as he joins me. “You never smile.”
I drop my phone into my pocket and eye the other man over my cup as I take a sip.
“I smile.”
“Rarely,” he amends. “What’s up?”
“I saw Stella last night.”
“Jesus, you really are moving fast.”
“I like her.”
“Are you taking her to the thing tomorrow night?”
I frown over at him. “What thing?”
Brandon rolls his eyes. “The thing. The celebration party McMasters is throwing.”
“Ah, that thing,” I reply and rub my hand over the back of my neck. “Is that tomorrow?”
“Yep. Bring her. I’ll have Danny with me, and she’ll have fun.”
“Are you insinuating that she wouldn’t have fun if she only knew me ?”
“Okay, she’ll have more fun. And so will Danny. He comes with me because I want him to, but he’s usually bored stiff. Can’t really blame him.”
“Actually, it’s not a bad idea. I have to go, but I want to spend time with Stella, so it’ll work.”
“Excellent,” Brandon says and pats my shoulder. “I’m due in court. See you later.”
“Good luck,” I reply with a nod.
Am I ready to introduce Stella to everyone I work with? It seems fast, given that I’ve been on exactly one date with her.
“Fuck it,” I mutter quietly and grab my case, headed for the next courtroom. “I’m not going to overthink it.”
“So, we’re going to an apple orchard on our second date?” Stella asks and smiles over at me from the passenger seat of my car. “How…cute.”
I smirk and take in her dark denim jeans, pink sweater, and sneakers. “It’s a company party.”
“Wait, what?” She sits up straight and stares at me. “Go back. I have to change. Shit, Gray, I’m dressed too casually.”
“No, you’re perfect,” I assure her and gesture at my jeans. “It’s at an orchard. Heels wouldn’t work where we’re going.”
“I didn’t fuss with my makeup at all. I just did the bare minimum because I thought this would be the laid-back outing you said it would be.”
“It is.” I reach over and take her hand, giving it a squeeze. “People are bringing their dates. It’s a BBQ spread with an open bar and a DJ. It’s not a fancy affair. McMasters, our president, saves the fancy shit for mid-December when they do the holiday thing.”
“At least I brought my lucky lip gloss,” she mutters and fishes the tube out of her purse, smoothing it on her lips using the mirror on the back of the visor.
“You look fantastic,” I assure her and retake her hand, bringing it to my lips. “You take my breath away.”
I can feel her gaze on me as I merge onto the freeway.
“You’re charming,” she says at last.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“Not a bad thing, just sometimes difficult to trust. People can be charming and say what a person wants to hear to get their way.”
“That’s called manipulation. There’s nothing charming about that. I’m not a liar, Stella. I won’t say things to get on your good side or for any other reason. If I say something to you, it’s because it’s fact, and that’s how I feel. You’re a beautiful woman. And you do, indeed, take my fucking breath away.”
“Glad we cleared that up,” she says brightly and makes me laugh out loud.
“You are unlike anyone I’ve known before, I’ll tell you that.”
“Good.” She checks herself one last time in the mirror and then sits back to enjoy the ride to the orchard just outside of Seattle. “How often does your company throw these parties?”
“A couple of times a year,” I reply. “Usually, when someone wins a big case and McMasters wants to celebrate.”
“And what case was won?”
I shrug a shoulder and guide my car onto the exit I need. “One I’d been working on with Brandon for about a year.”
“Wait, this party is to celebrate you ?” she demands, her sexy voice going a little shrill. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”
“I just did.”
“This is a big deal.”
“It’s just a party,” I reply and turn down the road that leads to the orchard. I park next to a brand-new Mercedes, and when I get out of the car, I walk around to open Stella’s door for her.
She nervously brushes her light blond hair over her shoulder. I just kiss her temple and whisper in her ear.
“You’re amazing. Don’t even worry about this. Easiest party you’ve ever been to.”
She sighs, and with her hand clutched firmly in mine, walks over to where they have the tent set up with tables and chairs under it. People mill about.
“Babe!”
Stella and I turn at the sound of Danny’s voice. He sweeps her up in a big hug.
“I wasn’t expecting to see my wife here,” Danny says with a wink and then tips his head back and laughs. “And those are words I never expected to hear come out of my mouth.”
“Welcome, Stel,” Brandon says and kisses Stella on the cheek. “I’m glad you came.”
“Oh, God. Me, too ,” Danny says. “With you here, it won’t be so incredibly boring. Sorry, B, you know I love you more than anything, but I’m only here because I love you to the moon and back.”
“The sacrifice is noted and appreciated,” Brandon replies with a grin. “Let’s go grab a seat, shall we?”
“Oh, crap,” Stella says and immediately reaches for my hand.
“What’s wrong?”
“That woman hates me,” she replies and nods to where Mrs. Hadfield stands speaking with a woman I recognize from accounting.
“Why do you think that?”
Stella shakes her head and blows out a breath. “It doesn’t matter. I just hope I don’t have to talk to her.”
I pull Stella aside and stand directly in front of her, my back to the crowd so she can’t see the others. “What happened?”
“Let’s just say that if that is the face you want greeting everyone when they come into your offices, you’re setting people up to immediately be on edge. She was rude and treated me like I was in high school and got caught giving a blowjob in the bathroom. I’ve never had someone look down their nose so hard.”
I feel my mouth drop. I’m not accustomed to being at a loss for words—in any situation.
Until Stella.
“You’re kidding.”
“I wish I were, but no. Just don’t make me socialize with her, okay?”
“Okay. Take a deep breath. You have nothing at all to worry about. We’re actually a really welcoming office, so I don’t know why she would treat you that way. I wish you’d said something when you came in.”
“Yeah, well, you weren’t much better, if we’re being honest.”
I narrow my eyes on her, and she just shrugs.
“You’re an intense guy, Gray.”
“Why are you two over here alone? Stop hogging the prettiest girl here,” Danny says as he interrupts us.
“We’ll continue this conversation later,” I murmur in Stella’s ear before she clasps arms with Danny, and they walk over to the bar.
I join Brandon at our table and sigh as I take my seat.
“Have you ever heard of Mrs. Hadfield being rude to a client or anyone who comes into the office?” I ask him.
“Not that I recall,” he says with a frown. “Why?”
“Because she was rude to Stella, and I don’t know why.”
Brandon blows out a breath and shakes his head. “I know why.”
I raise a brow. “And?”
“She probably heard why Stella was coming in to see you. You know how protective Mrs. H is of everyone in the office, Gray. She probably thought Stella was a homewrecker, and the home being wrecked was mine. ”
“Still, it’s unprofessional. She knows better than that.”
Before Brandon can reply, Danny and Stella return, each holding two drinks.
“We got you started,” Danny says and sets what looks like a gin and tonic in front of Brandon.
“I hope you like dirty martinis,” Stella says and offers me a glass. “That’s what I usually order, so I got you one, as well.”
“How dirty?” I ask her, and Stella’s eyes narrow in mischief.
Danny snorts.
“Pretty damn dirty,” she replies and eats the olive out of her glass, making me grin.
God, she’s something else.
Stella’s phone vibrates, and she checks it, then stows it in her purse.
“That was Liv. I’ll text her back later. Did you like the coffee I sent over?” she asks.
“You mean the coffee-flavored sugar?”
Stella’s grin doesn’t falter.
“Is that also your usual drink?”
“Yep. I didn’t know how you took your coffee, so I just sent it the way I’d drink it. Too sweet for you?”
“The gesture? Not at all. The drink? Dear God, how do you not live in a perpetual sugar coma?”
“Look at that banter,” Danny says to Brandon, not even trying to be quiet. “It’s so damn sexy.”
Stella and I laugh, still looking at each other.
“Thank you for the coffee, Stella.”
“Thank you for the flowers, Gray.”
“Flowers and coffee,” Danny says and wipes an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye. “I love having a front-row seat to this little romance.”
“Who said it’s a romance?” Stella demands.
“Who said it isn’t ?” I counter.
“Touché,” Stella mutters, making the others chuckle.
“Are they?—?”
“Getting McMasters to do a tequila shot?” I finish for Brandon as we watch Stella and Danny at the bar. “Affirmative.”
“They only do stuff like this when they’re together,” Brandon says, shaking his head slowly from side to side. “It’s like they just feel safe enough to let go a little and have fun when they’re together.”
“Yeah, enough to accidentally get married in Vegas.”
Brandon smiles.
“That didn’t make you mad?”
“Nah. Aside from me, Stella is D’s person. And let me tell you, Danny’s rarely had someone in his life that he trusted wholeheartedly. Now, he has the two of us, and I wouldn’t deny him that for anything. Sure, I was worried that their fun little stunt in Vegas might postpone our wedding, but aside from that, it didn’t bother me.”
“How long have they worked together?” I ask as we watch our dates laugh with McMasters.
I’ve never seen our boss laugh like that.
“They started at the same time,” Brandon replies. “So, going on five years now. They both moved up from apprenticeships to designers with their own teams. They may seem silly in their downtime, but when it comes to work, they’re both dedicated.”
Danny and Stella try to coerce McMasters onto the dance floor, but the older man just shakes his head and puts his hands up in surrender. The two of them go shake their asses without him.
To our surprise, McMasters makes his way to our table.
“I think you two brought the party with you,” he says as he sits in a chair and sighs in relief. “I don’t remember the last time I had a buzz at one of these stuffy functions.”
“I hate to remind you of this, sir, but you are the host of the aforementioned stuffy functions,” Brandon reminds him.
McMasters just laughs. “Not anymore—so long as you bring those two. What a breath of fresh air. Did you get plenty of food?”
Brandon and I simultaneously pat our stomachs, and McMasters laughs again.
“Good. I’d like to give a little speech about you two and the reason we’re here.”
I glance around at everyone laughing, dancing, and having fun and shake my head.
“There’s no need, Bill. Don’t interrupt everyone’s fun. We appreciate the gesture, and the party has been a lot of fun.”
“Agreed,” Brandon says with a nod. “Thanks for doing this. It’s more than enough.”
McMasters raps his knuckles on the table and nods. “All right, then. I’m proud of you both. And I’m damn proud to have you as partners in our firm. There’s no one better, and I’ve been in this business for a long damn time.”
“Don’t look now, B, but Bill’s a little drunk.”
Bill tips his head back and laughs, then stands to leave. “Have a good night, you two.”
“It’s decided,” Danny says, out of breath as he and Stella return to the table and collapse into their seats. “From now on, Stella has to come to work parties.”
“That doesn’t hurt my feelings,” I reply and wink at Stella as she twists her hair onto her head and fans herself with her hand as if she’s too hot. “I hope you’re having a good time.”
“Are you kidding? I just boogied to Lady Gaga and ate my weight in spareribs. This is the best party I’ve been to in a long time.”
“And that’s saying a lot given who her family is,” Danny adds. “Hey, when’s the next cousins’ party?”
“Next weekend,” Stella says after sipping her water. “Saturday night. All of you should come. It’s at my house. You’re welcome anytime. Most people start showing up around six or so, mostly so they can eat all the food.”
“We should go,” Danny says to Brandon, who nods.
“I’m in,” he says.
“What about it?” Stella asks me. “Wanna meet all of my crazy cousins?”
“You do,” Danny says.
“Looks like I do.”
“That was way more fun than I expected it to be,” Stella admits as we drive back into the city. “Your coworkers are really nice, and Bill was just the best.”
“You call him Bill?” I ask in surprise.
“Well, yeah. He told me to. Why?”
“I’ve known that man for fifteen years, been his partner for five, and I barely feel comfortable addressing him by his given name.”
“He likes me,” she says with a shrug.
“Yeah, he does. I’m glad you had fun. I did, too.”
“You know, you are welcome to take me back to your place.”
I glance her way and see her smiling at me in the dark.
“You’ve been drinking, and I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
“Psh.” She waves that off. “I’m not drunk, Gray. I’ve had a nice little buzz hanging in there for a bit, but that’s it. I’m certainly not get-married-in-Vegas drunk.”
“Good to know,” I murmur and feel myself stir at the idea of having this woman in my home. So, I exit and drive through downtown Seattle toward my building.
“Are you taking me to my parents’ place?” Stella demands, looking around. “How did you know where they live?”
“Uh, no.” I turn onto my street. “I have no idea where your parents live.”
“They live here. ”
I frown over at her and turn into the underground garage for my building.
“I live in this building.”
“Oh.” She sighs. “Theirs is next door. Same complex, though. What a small world.”
I escort Stella up the elevator and do my best to keep my hands to myself.
One day, I’d like to fuck her in this elevator.
But not today.
“I’m at the end of the hall,” I inform her and take her hand as we walk to my doorway. “This is Betty’s place.”
“Wow, she’s literally next door.”
I nod and unlock my door, then gesture for her to walk in ahead of me.
As I’ve come to learn about Stella, she’s not shy. She immediately goes about looking around my space. She lets her bag fall onto my couch and crosses to the windows.
“We can go out on the veranda if you’d like.”
“No, I’m fine,” she says and then saunters into the kitchen, dragging her hand along the island’s countertop. “I like your kitchen.”
“It doesn’t get much action,” I inform her, and she raises an eyebrow, giving me a knowing grin.
“Maybe that’s about to change.” She makes her way through the whole place. When she finally reaches my bedroom, she turns to me and props her hands on her hips. “Well, now that you have me here, what do you plan to do with me?”