26. Vivian
Chapter twenty-six
Vivian
Hearing my name, I look up from the steamy novel that was just getting good on my Kindle. Savannah’s husband, Shane, walks over after grabbing his coffee; I didn’t even see him come in. “How’s it going today, Vivian?” Shane sits down at the table across from me.
“Hey, Shane. It’s going fine, just reading a bit before I go get Eloise from Daddy’s. The girls were going to help him decorate his front porch and then work on their never-ending Christmas lists for Santa.”
“Sounds about right for our girls. I didn't know my girls were going over there today, but I bet Murphy is thrilled to have Eloise around for the festivities, they’ll have a good time.”
He rolls his head a little and seems distracted. Savannah mentioned they’ve been fighting over trivial things recently and I don’t really need to add gasoline to their fire by telling him that in order to know where his children were, he would have to be home or talk to his wife. “Are you headed back to the office or off to court?” It’s the middle of the day so I’m not sure why Shane is in Java Jive, he has multiple assistants to do coffee runs for him.
“Yeah, I just needed some of the best coffee in town, you know how it goes, darling.” His reply didn’t actually answer my question. Shane notices someone getting up from another table and with a huff, dramatically rolls his eyes. I turn to try to see who it is, but I don’t recognize the handsome man approaching our table .
“Mr. Shane Williams, how are you, sir?” A striking, well-dressed man says to my brother-in-law. I’m assuming this is the same person that elicited the eye roll, but Shane stands and shakes his hand.
“Hello, Theodore, I’m well, how are you?” Shane obviously does not like this guy so of course I need to find out who he is, plus he’s really good-looking, and I don’t recognize him so he must not have grown up around here. I flash a big smile, tilt my head, and look expectantly at Shane. Shane ignores my silent request, but Theodore notices right away.
“Excuse me ma’am, I don’t believe we have been introduced. I’m Theodore Smith-Harrington.” He extends a hand to shake mine and as he moves closer, I can’t help but notice he smells really good too.
“Hello, Mr. Smith-Harrington, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Vivian Stone. Shane is my brother-in-law.” I take his hand, which is soft and warm, but his handshake is firm.
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ms. Stone, but please, my friends call me Theo,” he says as I notice he has the best dimples when he smiles. Paired with his well-defined jawline, and barely there but intentional stubble, his face is straight out of the movies.
“Alright then, Theo. Please call me Vivian.” I cast a glance at a visibly uncomfortable Shane. This is interesting, indeed. “How do you two gentlemen know each other?”
“Theodore is a lawyer over at Smith and Harrington.” Shane again addresses him as Theodore, letting me know Shane does not consider this man a friend. “Their firm is based in Nashville and opened an office here in Forrest Falls five years ago, two years after my firm opened our location in town.” Shane looks quite smug about that fact .
Theo chuckles, and his gray-blue eyes sparkle with amusement. “Yes, something like that. How are things going over at Brown and Lewis, Shane? I haven’t seen you at the courthouse lately.”
“You should know Theodore, good lawyers represent their clients in the courtroom, but great lawyers keep their clients out of the courtroom in the first place. And it’s Brown, Lewis, and Williams and has been for over two years, as you are well aware.”
Shane is letting Theo get to him but Theo seems to be finding this all quite entertaining, and I am as well because Shane is always so controlled and even keeled. Theo smiles as though he’s joking with an old friend. “Oh, you know how it is, Shane, it’s hard to keep track with all the trendy name changes with the smaller firms.” Theo looks over to me and winks; he knows he’s riling him up. This interaction and banter is becoming more entertaining than the scene I was in the middle of on my Kindle.
Shane’s shoulders go rigid before he huffs. “I would hardly call being appointed a named partner a trendy change. We both know not all of us are fortunate enough to be handed a named partnership, Theodore, so I understand if working for something is a foreign concept for you.”
Shane is not amused but Theo openly laughs in response. “Man, it is always good to see you. I hope we can cross paths in court sometime soon, it’s been too long since we’ve sparred. Take care of yourself, buddy. Miss Vivian, it was a pleasure to meet you. Please don’t let this crabby guy ruin your day or that lovely smile.” Theo tips his coffee in my direction as Shane shoots a dirty look at Theo.
“The pleasure was mine, sir. Don’t worry about Shane, I’ve known him for years and how very serious he takes himself.” My smile in response is genuine because this is really bothering Shane and really entertaining me. Theo’s rich and bright laughter rings out as he walks away .
“I hate that guy.” Shane glowers as Theo walks out the front door.
“No, really? I couldn’t tell at all.” I roll my eyes. “Why do you hate him so much? He seemed nice.”
“Theo Smith-Harrington is an entitled, schmoozing, spineless excuse for a man. He’s a named partner because he is a fifth-generation lawyer at his family’s firm. Big whoop. He didn’t have to do anything other than be born into the right family then pass the bar to earn it.” Shane picks up his coffee and looks out to where Theo is getting into an expensive, flashy convertible. “He isn’t even that good of a lawyer either, he’s lucky at best.”
I have to school my features so I don’t burst out laughing at his temper tantrum. “Don’t let him get to you, Shane. It’s clear you don’t like the guy, but you can’t let him rile you up so much.” I reach out and touch Shane’s arm to try to calm him down.
“It’s complicated, Vivian. You wouldn’t understand.” He dismisses my comments as he checks his watch, looking annoyed. I wouldn’t understand beef between lawyers? Apparently my brother-in-law forgot I’m also a lawyer and have worked for very large firms, filled with their own drama. “I need to go; I’m already running behind. Please let Savannah know I’ll be home late tonight and not to wait up.”
Shane should tell his wife himself, although does she really need to be notified if him being late is their normal routine? “Of course, have a good rest of your day, Shane.” He nods and gives a small wave as he walks out to wherever he was headed to, apparently already late.
Although Shane has always been tightly strung, he did seem a little extra stressed today. Maybe whatever history he has with Theo Smith-Harrington is deeper than Shane let on? I make a mental note to ask Savannah later, she always has the best gossip about these things. I pick my Kindle back up and get lost in my book as the heroine is just about to discover her sworn enemy is actually the secret admirer she has fallen in love with and is also a secret billionaire. It’s not realistic but people don’t read romance for reality, they read it for an escape, knowing the story will eventually end in a happily ever after.
My phone vibrates with an alarm, pulling me back out of my story. I send Daddy a text letting him know I’m on my way back and quickly pack up my stuff. I start walking and glance down to dig through my tote for my keys but immediately run into a brick wall, dropping my bag on the floor in the process. Thankfully I didn’t run into an actual wall, but the man I bumped into is built enough that he may be able to step in if a building needs support. “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying enough attention!” I exclaim as I bend down to pick up my things as he does the same.
“My apologies, ma’am. I didn’t see you there. Are you alright?” I look up into the prettiest and most extraordinary eyes I have seen in a long time. The brick wall is actually an exceptionally good-looking guy with a far too pretty smile, wearing one of the best smelling colognes I have ever smelled in my life. He must buy it from the same place as Theo Smith-Harrington. He looks familiar but I can’t place him, until I realize the brown eyed brick wall I collided with is Hot Jogger from Eloise’s school.
I blush at the recognition. “No, no, it’s my fault. I’m so sorry, yes, I’m fine.”
His responding grin makes me think he isn’t really that sorry for running into me. This guy is dangerously good-looking, and worst of all, he absolutely knows it too.
“I’m glad to hear it, and maybe I’m not so sorry after all. Hi there, I’m Hunter Miller.” He takes my hand to help me stand as he hands me my bag.
I locate the keys I was looking for in the first place and slide my bag onto my shoulder. “Hi, Hunter. I’m Vivian Stone. Goodness, I really am sorry, are you alright?” As if I could hurt him, even with a running start I’m not sure he would move an inch. I would probably just bounce right off him.
“Yes ma’am, I’m just fine.” He winks at me and hot damn, the man can even pull off winking. What is with the good-looking winking men today at Java Jive? Did they put something in the espresso? If so, can they make that a regular thing? I don’t hate it.
“It’s nice to meet you, Hunter.” I smile and must admit while I noticed he was pretty from a distance, he is even prettier up close.
“I have to confess, it’s nice to finally put a name to your pretty face, Miss Vivian. I believe you have a daughter that goes to Forrest Hills Academy, right? I don’t remember seeing you around last year so you must be new around here.” Hunter smiles knowing that we have been exchanging smiles for a while now at drop off.
“Yes, my daughter Eloise goes to preschool there. We moved back from Chicago earlier this year, but I grew up in town. So it’s not really new to me, more like coming home.”
“If you are from here, then you’re familiar with how the small town of Forrest Falls works then?” He lifts his chin toward a group of women sitting at a table in the front of the coffee shop that are clearly watching us. “The soccer moms will all know about this collision by drop off tomorrow so be prepared to hear all kinds of juicy gossip about me,” Hunter jokes as he leans in, as though telling me a secret.
“Oh yes, the gossip lines of Forrest Falls are legendary.” I’m just being friendly, but Hunter’s body language makes it clear he is flirting openly with me as he takes a step toward me.
“And like all things, some things you can believe and some things you know you can’t. But anything favorable about me is all true, and anything terrible is from my ex-wife and is a total lie,” he smoothly replies. Hunter is smooth, and honestly a little too smooth. “Being one of the rare single dads in town, there are all kinds of stories. You know, I’m a rare find, Miss Vivian.” He trails a finger up and down my arm, which I think he intended to be sexy but it’s a bit much. I can’t help but compare how Hunter’s touch doesn’t make me feel the same way as Walker’s does. Instead of leaning in, I want to lean away from Hunter and his touch. He is obviously confident, but I think maybe I liked admiring him more from a distance than being this close with him touching me.
I smile and take a step back. “I was just headed out to pick up my daughter, but it was nice to officially meet you, Hunter. I hope you have a good day!” I start to head toward the front door but he stops me by placing a hand across my body on to my opposite arm, effectively blocking me in place.
Hunter flashes a big grin and leans close to me. “You too, Miss Vivian. I do hope to run into you again sometime. Maybe not accidentally next time though.” This guy doesn’t quit.
Shaking my head with an uneasy bark of laughter, I step around him and wave goodbye, briskly walking out of Java Jive to my car. I have enough things to figure out in my life that prohibits any room for a smooth-talking, handsome, winking guy in my life, let alone ones that gives me a little bit of the ick. Although, he really was good looking but with a name like Hunter, he’s probably all about the chase. Shaking my head as I climb into my SUV, I know I don’t have time for games like that at this point in my life. I already have enough puzzles to figure out.
I can’t help but notice the stark difference between how Hunter touching my arm gave me a little bit of the ick, and any time a certain backwards hat wearing Special Agent touches me, it’s electric. When Walker met us at the park the other week, I couldn’t get close enough to him. I also felt so safe in his presence, whereas Hunter made me feel borderline uncomfortable.