Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
ZOE
“What?!” I blurted, promptly spewing coffee on the counter.
Ethan quickly snagged a napkin from the holder sitting against the wall and wiped up the coffee.
We were sitting on the stools at my kitchen counter.
He was seated to my side, angled toward me, with our knees bumping.
This morning had been so good it almost hurt to think about it.
Waking up beside Ethan was a little slice of heaven I’d never considered.
He was always warm, as such I was warm whenever he was beside me.
I’d woken to his lips and hands mapping their way down my body.
He’d proceeded to leave me boneless with his fingers and mouth.
I’d never thought much of oral sex. In fact, the few guys who’d bothered with it left me thinking it was a waste of time.
With Ethan, I saw stars and my body scaled heights of pleasure I hadn’t considered possible.
Before I caught my breath, his weight was settling over me, and his cock slid into me with ease.
My body still reverberating from the echoes of my first climax, I’d rolled right into another once he set to surging into me.
He’d tugged me into the shower with him and now we were having coffee before he left.
It was fair to say I was completely relaxed.
Up until he told me Coach Hoffman had asked him to talk with me about obtaining a new attorney to handle Ethan’s charges.
I spit my coffee out and now my stomach was churning.
It wasn’t that I’d forgotten about this worry.
I’d just shoved it out of my mind because everything happening with Ethan was too tempting and felt too good.
I closed my eyes and took a breath, only to feel his hand curling into mine.
The warmth and strength of it made me suddenly want to cry.
I wasn’t supposed to fall for him. But I had.
Hard. I was in deep, and I had no idea how to get out.
I opened my eyes to find his worried gaze on me. “I told him I didn’t want another attorney, so that’s what we’ll do,” he said firmly.
I shook my head. “No, no, no. It may seem like forever ago, but this is the whole reason I tried to tell you I couldn’t do this.
This is my mistake, not yours. I’ll call Coach Hoffman today and make some recommendations.
Your case is very straightforward. We were just waiting on the court dismissal on the charges. ”
He shook his head firmly. “I don’t want another attorney.”
His haughty British accent made him sound ridiculously arrogant just now. As if he could magically wave this problem away by saying it so.
“Ethan, the mess is already made. I’m mortified that Coach Hoffman knows anything about us. I can live without being on contract for the team, but I don’t want this to get out. It will look terrible for me.”
“Bloody hell. Why are you worried about that? Coach won’t say anything. You’ll fix everything with the legal thing and then we can carry on and none of it will matter,” he said, so earnestly, my heart squeezed.
I took a fortifying gulp of coffee and eyed him.
“Ethan, you have to understand. If it gets out—at all—that I got involved with one of my clients, it will look bad, really bad. Trust me, I’ll get dragged through the mud.
It will definitely affect my business, and I can’t do that.
I can make some calls and have you set up with someone I trust right away. ”
He muttered something else under his breath and then looked back at me, giving my hand a squeeze. “I don’t like it.”
“It’s either that, or we stop this. Today.”
I couldn’t quite believe I said that, but it was the only other option.
Ethan’s eyes widened and then narrowed. “No.”
I couldn’t help the joy that bloomed inside. I wasn’t supposed to be allowing any of this to happen, but I didn’t want to stop. At all.
“Okay then, you have to live with someone else being your attorney.”
He glared at me before taking a gulp of coffee. “Fine. It’s bloody stupid, but if it’s the only way you’ll keep seeing me, then that’s what I’ll do.”
I started to free my hand from his, meaning to call Jana to ask her to make a few calls for me. I thought I might be better positioned to avoid questions about why I was handing over Ethan’s case if I wasn’t personally calling to ask a colleague to take over.
“You gonna let me make a phone call?” I asked, smiling slightly when he tightened his grip on my hand.
His eyes had gone dark. In a flash, the air around us was heavy. “In a sec,” he said, right before he closed the distance between us and kissed me senseless.
The following day, I walked down the stadium hallway to meet with Coach Hoffman.
He was my main point of contact for the Seattle Stars.
I’d come to respect him deeply for his hands on involvement with his players and their lives.
I’d seen him go to lengths to instill values in his players if he thought they were lacking.
I’d been leery of accepting this retainer offer, in part because I didn’t want to be anyone’s lackey.
There were more examples than I could count of professional sports players who were complete assholes who got off the hook legally because the wheels of justice were greased with cash and sleight of hand representation. Coach Hoffman didn’t expect that of me.
As such, I wasn’t feeling too great to stumble the way I had with Ethan.
To be fair, Ethan could likely sweep any woman off her feet.
It’s just I’d thought I had more discipline, and I’d let things get away from me.
I’d already handed his case over to another attorney, who was happy to take over.
Jana assured me she’d spun it that I was too busy down with other matters to handle it with the white gloves it needed.
I reached Coach Hoffman’s door and rapped my knuckles lightly on it. When he called for me to come in, I stepped inside, glancing to him where he sat behind his desk.
“Should I close the door?” I asked.
At his nod, I closed the door and went to sit down when he gestured to the chair across from him. He finished a phone call and spun to face me.
“Hello Zoe. It wasn’t necessary for you to stop by. From what I hear, we’re all set,” Coach Hoffman said with a slight smile.
“Yes. I spoke with Sarah Dutton this morning. We sent the files over, and she’ll finish up.
Honestly, there’s not much left to do,” I replied.
I forced myself to take a slow breath and say what I’d come here to say.
“I’m aware it wasn’t necessary for me to stop by, but I wanted to apologize.
I shouldn’t have gotten involved with Ethan while I was representing him, and for that I apologize.
If you think I need to speak with team management about whether they’d like me to continue with the contract for my representation, please let me know. I…”
I started to say something else, but Coach Hoffman was shaking his head, so I stopped.
He leaned back in his chair and narrowed his eyes.
He had a thoughtful, measured air about him.
“Zoe, I don’t really care about what happened.
I only mentioned it to Ethan because I was concerned about how it might affect you if it became known you two were seeing each other.
Ethan is perfectly capable of handling the blowback.
But you’re a very good attorney, and I know how things can be made to look bad even when they’re not.
As far as speaking to management, that’s not necessary.
I’ve run by them the change in his attorney, and there’s nothing left to discuss.
If you’re worried this changes my opinion of you, it doesn’t. ”
Relief washed through me. I’d steeled myself to deal with whatever reaction I had to face, but this was certainly the best option. “Thank you.” I took a fortifying breath. “I can assure you, I don’t usually let things like this happen.”
Coach Hoffman’s perceptive gaze held mine before he nodded slowly.
“I’m aware of that.” He paused and picked up a small ball off of his desk, which he proceeded to toss lightly between his hands.
“You know, it’s probably none of my business, but for what it’s worth, it’s obvious Ethan cares for you.
As far as I can see, you’re good for him.
In fact, if I were a betting man, I’d say Ethan probably loves you.
I doubt he’s figured that out for himself, but there you go. ”
His words hit me hard—a thump to my chest with warmth blooming in my heart immediately afterwards.
I couldn’t quite believe what he’d just said.
I had no idea what to make of it, and I wanted to jump up and down and squeal.
Which, of course, I didn’t do. That would’ve been ridiculous.
I stared back at Coach Hoffman and tried to corral my wild thoughts.
“Um, I… Well, I’m not really sure what to say,” I finally said.