Chapter 4 – Natalie
Chapter Four
NATALIE
“ T his case is actually horrible. The defense lawyer is dumb as hell. The judge is biased, and the client keeps trying to stick his hand up my skirt.” I thump my head against the desk a few times.
“Yikes.” Frankie drops down into the chair in front of my desk. “Sounds like you need a happy hour too.”
I lift my head. “Too?”
“Yeah. Luna called. Her new friend needs another girls' night.”
“That bad?” Julie had been throwing back those drinks the other night. I wasn’t judging her or anything because everyone deals with their stuff differently.
Then, I overheard her discussing with Luna the possibility of going to her ex's place. That sounded like a horrible idea. I’m sure Luna tried to talk her out of it, but sometimes when you’ve had a few too many, things tend to get out of hand.
Luna, Frankie, and I could get into some shenanigans back in college. The three of us always stuck together. We’d never been big into the dating scene. We kept our heads down and plowed through law school together. In rare moments, we’d have a girls’ night out to let loose a little.
“Actually, I think it's good.”
“Really?” That’s a bit shocking. “I didn’t think it was ever good to show up at your ex’s drunk.” I mean not that I would know from experience. I’ve never had a boyfriend, which means I’ve never had an ex and have no clue how these things go, but I read a romance novel here and there. Okay, maybe one every night before bed.
“I guess he took care of her or something. Probably had crazy hot make up sex. I didn’t get all the details. I’m sure we’ll hear them tonight.” Frankie rubs her hands together, ready for gossip, not caring where it comes from. She says the one big plus side to having to be in an office filled with men all day is they are bigger gossips than women. That they love them some drama.
“Fine, I’m in.” I shut my laptop. Julie is gorgeous and super fit. I bet she does have wild sex stories. At least someone is having sex. I’m not going to lie, it’s kind of nice to have someone new in our little circle. Plus, I’m nosy as all hell and really want to know what happened.
Less than ten minutes later, Frankie and I are walking into Hot Spot. Of course, Luna isn’t here yet. Luna can be rather predictable, and she is always late. She has all her little bubbly quirks, and they make up who she is, and I hope that never changes. I hope her new, very wealthy fiancé won't attempt to erase them and confine her to a Stepford-style box.
“They are really busy today.” I nod in agreement, my eyes roaming across the bar. “Oh, I think they might be leaving. He’s going for his wallet.” Frankie points to a table across the room. “Let's go over there and make it awkward for them.”
She is already moving before I can tell her I don’t think those men are going to be made to feel awkward. Both are handsome, but the one with thick, black hair is better-looking. A few women at the tables near theirs are batting their eyelashes toward them, trying to get their attention. It’s not working. But I can’t say I blame them in the least.
As if sensing my gaze, the black-haired man turns his head and locks eyes with mine. My breath catches. I think handsome might be an understatement. I almost trip before I jerk my eyes away from him. What the hell was that? I'm blaming it on the heels. They are half a size too small, but I couldn't pass up the sale. I still have college debt to pay. I can't be forking over full price for anything.
I want to tell Frankie to stop before we get any closer, but I swear it’s as though this handsome stranger has some sort of hold on me. My feet continue to move toward him. Never in my life have I had a reaction like this to a man.
“You guys planning to wrap it up soon?” Frankie asks. Did I mention she’s anything but subtle? I swear I want the floor to open up and swallow me. “Holy shit, are you Kaden Gunner?”
“Yeah, you need me to sign something?” He doesn’t even look up at her. His attention is on his phone.
“Nah, I want to buy you a beer. You know how much money I won when you fumbled that ball on the one yard line?” Kaden’s head finally snaps up to lock on to Frankie. “You had the boys at the office so pissed, and I cleaned house!”
“Is she serious right now?” Kaden asks my black-haired man. No, bad Nat. He’s not your anything. Knock it off . I silently chastise myself. I think I have been hanging out with the new client too much.
“Why don’t you ladies join us?” Mr. Handsome suggests. Even his voice is nice. It’s deep but has a hint of softness to it. It’s sexy but also soothing. Did I mention his smile is killer?
“All right. Move over, Kaden. This round's on me.” He actually does as Frankie orders. “We should get a picture, and I’m going to post it and piss everyone off.”
“Take this one.” Handsome pulls out a chair for me next to him. “I’m Dylan.”
“Natalie,” I tell him as I take a seat. “And my subtle friend over there is Frankie.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Sorry, we thought you were leaving and wanted to snag a table.”
“Not going anywhere.” He leans back in his chair as if to prove the point. For some strange reason I can’t explain, a sense of relief fills me with his words. I find that I don’t want him to go anywhere, which is absolutely insane because I don’t even know this man. “Can I buy you a drink?”
“I think I’d like that.” I see Frankie watching me out of the corner of my eye. Yeah, we don’t let men buy us drinks. It tends to be a pain in the ass when you won’t hand over your number or leave with them. For once, those two options don't sound too bad.
Dylan orders me a drink and one for himself. I get lost in conversation with him about where he went to school, which is crazy impressive. He even has his own law firm.
“How chaotic is your life when you own a law firm?”
“It used to be, but I have been taking fewer clients and letting others in the firm handle more and more.”
“You’re bored of it.” I say this with a sense of understanding.
“I just don’t want to give my whole life to it.”
“I get that. I too wonder if I’m just with the wrong firm, so I’m not loving it like I thought I would, or if I want something…”
“More,” he fills in for me, making me smile.
“Yeah, maybe more,” I agree.
“What would your more be?” Heat fills my cheeks. I pick up my drink and take a sip. “Come on, out with it.” Dylan’s smile has me breaking. I'm beginning to realize how good he is at it.
“Maybe write.” I shrug, wanting to play it down.
“What about?” He leans in closer, as if we're about to share a secret. I suppose we are because I have never told another soul this before.
“Our secret?”
“Promise.” This time it’s me that’s leaning in.
“Romance,” I whisper.
“Love,” Dylan whispers back, his eyes lowering to my lips. Is he going to kiss me? My heart picks up, starting to race. Then his phone goes off.
“Shit, sorry.” He jerks back. “That’s my mom's ringtone. I have to answer.”
“Of course.” I lean back into my chair, taking a sip of my drink.
“I’ll be right back,” Dylan says as he stands. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“Promise,” I respond, making him smile as he answers the call, stepping away from the table and toward the bathroom, where there is a hallway that is quieter.
“What was that?” Frankie asks the second Dylan is out of earshot.
“Yeah, what was that?” Kaden is right there with her, eager to know.
“Why did you say it like that?” Frankie turns her question to Kaden. I don’t know if these two are flirting or fighting at this point.
“I just didn’t expect it. He’s?—"
“Started without us again?” Luna asks, cutting right in. Crap. I’d totally forgotten she and Julie were meeting us.
“You’re late.” Frankie takes a sip of her beer. “Grab the table.” She points to one next to ours. “I’m talking to you, big guy.” She bumps her shoulder into Kaden’s.
“You’re bossy.” He grumbles but gets up. I see a whisper of a smile on Frankie’s lips before she quickly covers it by taking another sip of her beer.
“Thanks,” Julie and Luna tell Kaden as he moves the other table in with ours.
“You’re in a better mood, I see,” I say to Julie, who is all smiles tonight. I think she might be glowing too. Does good sex make you glow? Dylan flashes through my mind. Wow, I need to get it under control, or maybe for tonight I don't. He really does seem genuine and sweet.
“Well, the boyfriend and I?—”
“Sorry about that,” Dylan says, returning to the table.
“Dylan?!” Julie squeals. “Oh my gosh. I didn’t know you’d be here.” She proactively throws herself at him. My stomach sinks.
That’s the boyfriend. No longer the ex.