Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Carter sat at his desk, head bent over a case file, completely absorbed in the details when a knock on the door captured his attention. He jerked his head up and met Edward’s silvery-blue eyes.
“Mind if I come in for a second?” Edward asked.
Carter lifted his chin at him. “Sure.”
He watched curiously as Edward stepped inside and then closed the door behind him. Edward’s gaze flitted around the room, over the degrees hanging on the wall behind Carter, then out the window at the perfect summer day.
With his hands in his pockets, Edward walked slowly toward Carter and stopped in front of his desk. Carter leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankle over his knee, adopting a casual pose. Edward remained standing, taking a position of power, towering over Carter.
Carter hated feeling at a disadvantage, and he had a feeling that was exactly what Edward intended. He wiped any trace of expression from his face and stared up at Edward impassively, refusing to let him see his ire. For several heartbeats, they remained that way.
Finally, Edward broke the silence. “You have a great record.”
For some reason, it wasn’t what Carter was expecting. “Thank you, sir. I do my best,” he replied.
Carter’s father had always told him he was too stubborn for his own good, so it was probably a good thing that he got paid to argue for a living.
Once he decided on a course of action, he rarely, if ever, strayed from it, and more often than not, he got exactly what he wanted.
The only contradiction to that recently was Dr. Audrey Stanton, but he had been working on his game plan for her too.
He pushed thoughts of Audrey away as Edward spoke again. “How long have you been with us?”
Carter was sure Edward knew exactly how long it had been, but he answered regardless. “Three years, sir.”
Edward gave a tight little nod. “I have several other men and women who have been here much longer than you.”
“Yes, sir.” Carter wasn’t sure where Edward was going with that.
“You may have heard that Walker is retiring at the end of the year.”
Carter had heard the rumors, including the speculation that they would be looking for a new partner. He hoped to be the man to fill that spot, but he didn’t come out and say so. Instead, he gave a little nod. “I did.”
“I’d like you to join me tomorrow night for dinner with a client. I’ve already had Mrs. Hodges add it to your calendar. I hope that won’t be a problem?” Edward lifted a brow, almost as if he were daring Carter to decline.
“Of course not. I’ll be there,” Carter replied.
“Good, good. You’re always willing to step up. I appreciate that.” Icy blue eyes bored into Carter’s. “Kaylee seems quite taken with you. She says you’re always nice and helpful when she needs something.”
Somehow, Carter managed to mask his initial reaction.
Kaylee was a complete space cadet, and she was probably just grateful that he didn’t scream at her for her mistakes like some of the other lawyers there.
Still, he didn’t know what to say, so he went with the first thing that came to mind.
“I know how hard it is just starting out. I’m glad to be of service. ”
Something entered Edward’s expression, but he blinked it away as quickly as it came. “I’m glad to hear that. She means the world to me. In fact…” He let out a little laugh. “I think she has a crush on you.”
Carter’s gut tightened, and he fought to school his expression.
The last thing he wanted was for his boss to think he was hung up on his daughter, the apple of his eye.
He couldn’t defend himself without looking guilty, even though he had zero feelings for Kaylee, so he turned it around.
“Like you said, I’m sure she’s just grateful for the help. ”
Edward stared at him for a moment, then said slowly, “I’m sure. You know, you’re like a son to me.”
It was a rather strange thing to say, considering Carter knew Edward had a son of his own.
If he remembered correctly, the kid was somewhere in his mid-twenties, approximately ten years younger than Carter.
He vaguely recalled Edward holding a grudge against him because he’d chosen not to follow in his father’s footsteps.
“Thank you, sir,” Carter said. “I appreciate the compliment.”
Edward’s gaze left Carter’s again for a moment before returning. “It would be nice to have family here. Wouldn’t it be nice to be a partner, with Kaylee to help us?”
Was he implying what Carter thought he was? He couldn’t formulate a suitable response, so he merely nodded and said, “I’m sure everything will work out.”
Edward eyed him for another long moment, then nodded. “Well, I’ll let you get back to it.”
Carter watched, confused and more than a little irritated, as Edward left his office. If Edward thought he was going to pressure Carter into dating his daughter just for a partnership, he had another thing coming.