Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“I need half a pizza down me before we talk. That has to be the deal.”
He studies me for a few beats. “All right. Should I go and grab ice cream? I know how you are.”
He means how a pint a day keeps the tears away. Okay, maybe not a day, but in a crunch, it works better than a therapist. “I like that new Black & White Cookie Häagen-Dazs one. If not, then I’ll take the Ben & Jerry’s Mint Chocolate Cookie. If they don’t have that then—”
“Häagen-Dazs Cherry Vanilla. I know my sister.” He steps forward and kisses my temple. “See you in thirty.”
“Actually,” I say. “Let me walk down with you.”
He arches his brows. “You really want to avoid him, don’t you?”
“Not avoid. Just buffer.”
His lips curve. “Same thing, different name.” He motions to the door. “I’ll be your huckleberry.”
I laugh. “Tombstone? Really? That movie is as old as you.”
“But it’s so good,” he says. “The characters and the way they play together. It’s written and acted to perfection.”
He has me laughing by the time we’re safely alone in the elevator, but on the ride down, reality hits pretty hard. Tyler and I have to find a way to work together or I have to leave Hawk Legal. It’s not the first time I’ve had this thought, but it’s the first time it’s felt this real. I have so many clients who trust me and whose careers feel personal to me.
Tyler’s words play in my head, “I would never let our personal relationship affect your job. Never. And now that you said that, as much as I want to pull you close and kiss you, and keep you here, I feel like I can’t. I have to let you go, but I don’t want to let you go, Bella. Don’t go.”
I can’t go.
I cannot leave. Tyler and I have to figure out a way to work together that doesn’t include getting naked. I have to find a way to cope with him and a new fiancée.
Once I’m in my car, and Dash is on his way to get ice cream, I just sit there and process a moment. I don’t know if my head is on straight. I have to talk to someone and that someone is Dash or Allie, but in the process, I can’t have Dash deciding to beat Tyler’s ass, either. I start my car because I have no idea how long I’ve been sitting in the garage. I’m directly across from the elevators and I watch the doors to one of the cars open and Tyler steps out.
I suck in a breath, too affected by him for my own good, and watch him stride athletically toward the parking area. He halts abruptly and oh, God, he sees me here, but how can he not? I’m in the spot right in front of him.
Our eyes lock, and a million moments in that LA hotel play in my mind. God, his mouth, his hands, his body pressed to my body. How am I going to work with him when he’s playing house with someone else? But I have to, for so many reasons. I have to. I place my car in drive and I accelerate out of the parking spot. I drive away, but all I can think is that I want to be that woman. But I want it to be real.
And now, I’ve lost it so badly, I might actually lose everything because of it.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Bella
An hour later, me and Dash are sitting on the floor in front of my couch, munching down on pizza and Molly doesn’t even care. She is crashed on the floor next to me with her head in my lap. “I love this puppy, Dash. Thank you. I’m stressed about leaving her alone, but what you did for me with her and the nanny is amazing.”
“You’re alone too much, Bella. I want you to find someone like I did.”
“You know from experience it has to be my version of Allie.”
He shuts his pizza box and turns to me. “Talk to me, sis.”
I shut my box and shift as much as I can without waking the puppy. “I don’t even know where to begin. And I can’t have you beating my boss’ ass, Dash. I’m just as active a player in this as he is.”
“I promise not to beat his ass.”
“Do you really? I mean no matter what I say, you promise not to try to fight him? We both know how you like to fight.”
“I’m not going to try to fight him. I promise.”
I huff out a breath. “I think I need the ice cream.”
“I can make that happen.”
He starts to get up and I catch his arm. “Not yet. I love you, Dash, by the way. I’m really lucky to have a brother that’s here for me.”