CHAPTER EIGHT
Linc
I message Dale, my security, the plans and type everything I need.
I really want to spend as much time as I can with Everly and make the most of it, so enlisting Dale to help will free up some of that time.
I’ve told him to pick up some beach clothes for myself and Everly and anything else we might need for the rest of the day.
Hopefully, he was able to handle the Kevin situation quietly so as to not alert the other associates.
I’d hate for it to get out, causing the rumor mill to ignite like wildfire.
Dale arrives thirty minutes later with a change of clothes for me at the food trucks, after I devoured another three tacos while waiting for him.
My mind has been changed on food trucks and everything I ever thought about them.
Maybe I can have the truck set up outside my building and offer lunch to the staff one day.
Huh. Or maybe I’ll keep this little treasure all to myself and I’ll be able to sneak away for lunch, from time to time, to get out of the office for a bit.
I definitely need to let Levi in on this food area.
“Are you going to let me know where you’re taking me?” Everly asks when we head west on the highway.
I can’t help but smile. I’ve come to know that she hates surprises but that’s one thing she’s going to have to get over because I plan on surprising her as often as possible.
“Thought we could hang out around the Santa Monica Pier.”
When her eyes light up, I know I made the right choice. I’ve spent the last eight years working my ass off, growing my firm into what it is now, and I think I’ve earned a little reprieve.
We spend the rest of the day and evening along the pier playing games, riding the carousel and roller coaster.
We eat burgers and fries, then have ice cream while walking on the beach.
Everything seems easy with Everly. We talk and laugh and it’s like I’m this young kid experiencing life for the first time.
She brings out the kid in me that’s been hidden for so long under briefings and court cases.
On our way back to Beverly Hills we cuddle in the back seat, stealing little kisses and touches while Dale drives down the highway. It’s as if our parents are driving us back from a date and we’re trying to not get caught. The things this woman makes me feel.
All too soon we arrive back at her apartment. Dale pulls up to the curb and places the car in park.
“Did you want to come up for a bit?” She bites her lush bottom lip that I’ve nipped at during the drive home.
As much as I’d love to go upstairs, I can’t quite bring myself into trusting what I’d do with her alone. We’ve only just met a few days ago and I know from watching and hearing her talk that she’s not ready for what my body wants to do to her.
“I’d love to but not tonight.” Her face drops in disappointment and my chest tightens.
She does her best to recover at the rejection but I’m doing this for the both of us.
Lifting her chin so that her hazel eyes are staring back at me, I say, “I’ve got court first thing in the morning and need a good night’s rest. Some of us mere mortals need all the beauty rest we can get. ”
She rolls her eyes and the area below my belt sets on fire. Most of my blood already shifts southward when she’s around but this is something else.
“You know, we used to get swatted as kids when we rolled our eyes,” I tell her and give her some insight into being brought up with my family.
“Oh really?” Everly gets a look in her eye and a mischievous grin on her face. “So, is that what you’ll do if I roll mine? Spank me?”
“Well, it’s never too early to learn basic manners, baby. Grandma was very adamant about us not being raised up as delinquents.”
There’s a fire of lust in her eyes and if I don’t stop all this talk about spankings then I might actually give in, throw her over my shoulder and caveman walk her all the way up to her place.
So instead, I lean into her ear and whisper, “You’re playing with fire, angel.
” My lips lightly bite her lobe and the low moan and hitched breath from her makes my dick jerk.
She’s almost in my lap and if the sight of Dale exiting the car wasn’t like a gush of cold water reminding me that we’re in a parked car at the curb of a busy street, I’d lay her down and give her what her body is so desperately needing and begging for.
Reaching around her, my hand clicks the handle on the door and the interior lights invade the darkness.
With a peck on my cheek, Everly gathers her stuff and moves out of the car and onto the curb of her apartment entrance.
Not wanting to be left with only a peck, I climb out of the car and in a few strides, I’ve swung her around so that I’ve boxed her in at the glass door of her apartment entrance.
“Did you think a peck would satisfy me until next time?” Her smirk says that she’s got me right where she wants, and for some reason I’m okay with that.
“Thought you might be in a hurry to get home for that beauty sleep,” she coyly says.
Everly is the first woman I don’t mind playing games with.
Our banter is refreshing, and I love it.
She makes me work for every inch of her and isn’t one to throw herself at me to get any monetary or media notoriety.
I hover over her as I bend down to capture those plump lips.
With one arm wrapped around her tiny waist pulling her even closer to me, the other is still flat on the glass.
I’m lost in the moment until I hear the sound of footsteps and the noise of someone annoying clearing their throat.
Everly is either lost in the moment and doesn’t hear them or just doesn’t care as I slide us over from the front of the door to the side, letting the person move by.
Fixating back on my angel, I can hear the mutter of the person mention getting a room or something, but I don’t care and neither does Everly apparently.
She’s the one to break away, catching her breath and giving me what can only be described as bedroom eyes.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” I say then open the door for her to enter through. If I don’t then I’m likely going to pack her up and put her back in my car and head home. And she isn’t ready for that yet. Soon, though.
“Thanks for today,” Everly says then turns as she walks through the door a little wobbly and it makes my chest expand. “It was amazing.”
“Only because you were there,” I admit.
“Night.”
“Sleep well, angel.”
I watch her walk over to the elevator before I make my way over to the car where Dale is.
“To the office,” I instruct him.
Going back to an empty home has no appeal and now that the entire Kevin Jenkins debacle came to light, I need to get caught up on some much-needed work.
Two weeks.
That’s how long it’s been since I’ve been able to spend any quality time with my angel. Two very long, very tiring weeks of late nights at the office.
I’ve been swamped with acquiring half of that asshole Kevin’s workload.
“Your Honor, if it would please the court, I’d like to request an extension for the trial.” I’m standing at the table with my client, Dustin Barker, and two other firm associates that I’m questioning as to why I hired them.
Olivia and I decided to split Kevin’s caseload, instead of pushing it off onto the other busy associates.
Apparently, Kevin was a go getter in obtaining cases.
He had multiple trial court cases that were happening all at once.
I guess he thought he could slide in those false reports, and they’d go unnoticed until the right time to implode my world.
“Your Honor, we’ve already been delayed twice now, and the people would like to move this along so that justice can be served,” District Attorney Burt Buttons pipes up, interrupting what Judge Border was about to say. His nasally voice still irks me ten years later.
“Yes, we have. Mr. Thorne, what is the reasoning behind another delay?” Judge Border questions as he pulls off his black rimmed glasses and tosses them in front of him.
“I’m,” I pause quickly, almost admitting that I’ve lost my witnesses that Kevin had down. “There have been a few new developments that are crucial to my client’s innocence. If we could just delay another few weeks—”
“Few weeks?” D.A. Buttons squeaks. “You’ve had over seven months to prepare for this Thorne.”
I refuse to turn my head and sneer at the fat fuck in a cheap suit, who desperately needs hair plugs.
“Your Honor, this was one of my associates’ cases and he is no longer with the firm. So, I’m asking for more time so that I’m able to fully prepare and be brought up to date.”
“You have one week. That is all, one week Mr. Thorne. Both of you get with my secretary, Patty, for a time slot.” He bangs the gavel, then stands to exit back into his chambers.
I sigh a huge relief. I’ve never had a case that is a clusterfuck of epic proportions before. I swear, if I were to run into Kevin, I think I’d beat the shit out of him right on the steps of the courthouse.
“Can’t seem to find the rabbit to pull out of your magical hat on this can you, Thorne?” Button taunts.
There are some days I’d wished I’d gone into a different occupation, like boxing, especially when I have to deal with pompous assholes like him.
“I don’t need a hat or rabbit when you’ve got a leak in your office,” I volley to get under his skin. He doesn’t have a leak but that doesn’t mean I can’t start trouble or put doubt between him and his workers. His face turns bright red with fury, and I can’t help but smirk.
Gathering up my files, I decide to leave him with those parting words. I shake Dustin Barker’s hand and tell him that I’ll be in touch, then leave without so much as a word. I’ve got my work cut out for me and all I see are a lot of late nights at the office and black coffee in my future.
Dale parks the car at the curb of my office, and I see Olivia approaching. She looks just as worn out as me.