Chapter Seven
Janet
You know that thing where if something feels too good to be true, it probably is? That’s how I felt about Riptide practically bending over backward to get me set up in my dream career. Everything on my wish list had suddenly fallen into my lap. Yeah, it definitely felt too good to be true.
Jason Witherspoon was a good lawyer and I’d known him since I was a child, but he was also a family friend.
Knowing how close he was to my parents, I’d debated the wisdom of calling him, but I really need to have someone I trusted go over the legal stuff that Riptide’s lawyer had prepared.
I’d called his office after hours, knowing his receptionist would be gone but he’d still be there.
Guys like Jason didn’t work the nine to five.
He answered the phone with his usual charm, his voice gruff. “This better not be a scam call or I’m going to sue your ass.”
“Well, hi to you too, Jason. We haven’t talked in ages, but you’re as charming as ever.”
“Janet?”
“Yup, It’s me.”
“How the heck are you? Your parents said you had a big blowout and ghosted them.”
“Depends on how you look at it,” I answered wryly. “They said if I didn’t agree to marry Maxwell, I was out of the family. I’m definitely not marrying Maxwell, so it seemed best to move on.”
“I’m sure they didn’t mean that literally. Your parents just want the best for you. Maxwell’s family has money and connections. You’d never have to worry about anything again.”
I doubted that, but I let it pass. “I have a legal question for you, but first I need to know if what we discuss is going to get back to my mom and dad.”
“Absolutely not.” He sounded all professional now. “Client-lawyer privilege is sacred. You can tell me anything up to and including who you murdered, and I will not tell a soul.”
“Well, it’s not quite that serious.” I took a deep breath. “It’s a business deal I’m looking at, and I need someone I can trust to look over the contracts and make sure there’s nothing in there that can trip me up.”
“What kind of business deal?”
“A lease with an option to buy on a building. I plan to open a flower store and the place is perfect. With a few changes, it will work just fine. It just needs a bit of sprucing up to get it ready to open. The owners will pay for the improvements that I want.”
“Sounds ideal. Are you working with a realtor on this?”
I shook my head and then realized he couldn’t see me. “No. The guy I’m seeing belongs to a group that is looking to invest in real estate.” I explained the situation to him, trying to make it sound more formal than it was.
“It sounds like a great opportunity for you. Right place at the right time and all that.” He paused, and I held my breath, waiting for the “but.” It didn’t come. “Can you bring me a copy of the contract before you sign it? I can give it a look over and make sure it’s as good as it sounds.”
“Absolutely!” I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I would trust Thor and Riptide with my life, but it made sense to get an outside opinion before jumping into such a big commitment. “I’ll let you know when I have it.”
“Great. I’ll let my receptionist know to squeeze you in, and I’ll make sure you don’t accidentally run into any family while you’re here. And, Janet?”
“Yes?”
“Consider giving your parents a call. They miss you.”
“I’ll think about it. But I’m not marrying someone just to please them.”
He chuckled. “If you did, I’d have to feel sorry for the guy. Talk to you soon.”
I ended the call and turned to see Thor toweling his hair dry, a second towel wrapped low around his hips.
He’d slept over last night. We’d ordered pizza, and he’d picked up a case of beer.
The plan was to figure out what I wanted to take to the new apartment, and what I needed to get rid of.
There was a woman’s shelter a couple of blocks from the hospital, and they were always looking for donations for the women who needed to start a new life from scratch.
Whatever I didn’t need they’d be happy to come and pick up.
We’d spent hours making lists, packing, and sorting.
I couldn’t believe how much stuff I’d accumulated in the few years I’d been living here.
After we called it for the day, we ended up sitting on the sofa, eating pizza, drinking beer, and watching stand-up comedy on YouTube.
We fell asleep wrapped around each other and stumbled to the bedroom in the middle of the night when I woke up with a cramp in my leg from the awkward position.
I stifled a giggle when I realized how domesticated that was. I kept saying I didn’t want to be Thor’s old lady, but we sure fit the picture of an old married couple.
I sobered up when I caught sight of the angry looking scar where the stitches had been just days ago. It reminded me that his life wasn’t exactly safe.
“It will fade. Give it time.”
It always amazed me that he could tell what I was thinking. “I know, but it kind of jumps out at me.”
“You mean it makes me look rakish, like you can’t wait to jump my bones?”
“You are so full of it. No, more like you’re hurt, and I want to kiss it all better.”
He grinned. “We could start there, but I’ve got a meeting to get to at the clubhouse and Ace can be a real fucking prick if guys are late.”
I could see that. They might not be in the SEALs anymore, but Ace ran Riptide with a military type of discipline. Mention of the club reminded me of the conversation I’d just had with Jason. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” He lowered the towel and shook his head to straighten his hair out. “What is it?”
“Are you okay with me getting my own lawyer to look over the contract for the building?”
“I’d expect you to.” He stalked over to me, slinging an arm around my waist. “This is a business deal, and Daryl will insist on it just to keep things on the up and up. I want you to be absolutely sure about this deal before you sign anything.”
I felt a surge of relief. If I were honest with myself, I would be crushed if this fell through now but there was a tiny voice in the back of my mind telling me that my family could still come between Thor and me, and I didn’t want my dream shop to be the leverage they used.
“Thank you. Once I have the contract, I’ll call and set up an appointment with a lawyer. ”
Thor nodded. “Anything else bothering you?”
I shook my head. “Nope, not a thing.” I crossed my fingers behind my back.
I still had to call Maxwell, the guy my parents wanted me to marry, and make sure we were both on the same page, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to involve Thor in that.
I hadn’t explained my family situation to him yet, which was one of the big reasons I couldn’t commit.
I had a feeling he’d just barge into my family’s mansion and tell my parents to go to hell.
Only not that nicely.
He tossed the towels into the hamper just inside the bathroom door and sauntered toward me, buck naked. Not a great move if he wanted to get out of here any time soon. I admired the way his muscles glided beneath his skin as he walked. The man made my pussy cream just looking at him.
He caged me between his outstretched arms and lowered his head to sear a kiss across my lips. I wound my arms around his neck and kissed him right back.
“Got to get to the club.” He murmured the words against my lips.
“I’ll miss you.” The admission slipped out before I had time to think.
Thor slid one hand down to fondle my ass through the thin material of the T-shirt I’d pressed into service as a nightie. “I’ll be back tonight. Ace would have warned me if we were going to be out of town. Okay if I come by?”
“You think you need to ask?”
He gave a faint shrug of his shoulder. “Maybe. Not like you’re my old lady or something.”
I ignored the dig. “It’s okay. If it’s going to be late you might want to let me know in case I fall asleep.”
“You could give me a key, so I could come in without waking you up.”
I had a feeling he could get in without the help of a key, but it was nice of him to ask.
It showed respect. “Good idea.” I slid out from his embrace and crossed to the kitchen.
The spare keys were in one of those magnet things stuck to the top of the fridge.
They were secure and there was usually enough crap up there to keep them out of sight.
Standing on my tiptoes, I reached up and snagged them. Pivoting, I tossed them to Thor. “Catch.”
He plucked them out of mid-air. “Thanks. I’ll try not to be too late.”
“If you are, try to be quiet.” I tipped my chin back and gave him a haughty look. “I need my beauty sleep.”
“Babe.” He grabbed me for another steamy kiss. His eyes twinkled as he lifted his head and swept me with a heated gaze. “If you get any more beautiful, I’m going to have to keep you hidden away so you don’t break any more hearts.”
“More?”
“Yeah. It’s too late for me.”
I laughed, rolling my eyes. Palms on his chest, I pushed him away from me. “Go. I need to get dressed and get down to the store. The electrician is coming in today to get things ready for the new cooler, and the sign guy needs to take some measurements.”
He headed back to the bedroom. “Not so fast. I need to get dressed.”
I wanted to say no he didn’t, but then neither of us would get any work done today.
* * *
Thor
I shrugged into my cut and grabbed my helmet off the table by the door.
Turning to give Janet one last kiss, I headed out to my bike.
I’d be happy when she moved to the new place.
The rent on her current apartment might be good, and it was close to the hospital where she’d worked up until now, but the neighborhood was a fucking nightmare.
Drug deals went down right out in the open, and the cops avoided the area if they could.