Page 6

If only he wasn’t sogoodat it. Bastard.

I tap out a quick response, shoving down the urges that pop up in spite of his stupid fucking text.

Me:Sorry. Better things to do.

I feel smug for about three seconds before my phone pings again.

Asshole:I highly doubt there’s better than me, but keep telling yourself that.

I scowl, shoving my phone in my pocket.

Fucking Ezra Hart.

Two

Dani

“Do you havethose files on the Preston case?”

I glance up from my desk to where Nate is lingering in the doorway. He’s older than me at thirty-five, but his cornsilk-blond hair and bright blue eyes give him a boyish sort of look that makes you want to baby him. It’s something he capitalizes on frequently. The man has dimples, for Christ’s sake.

I jerk my head toward the top of the filing cabinet. “There are copies there.”

“Cramming for your Italian madame?”

“Basically.” I shake my head as I continue reading through the article I found online. “Did you know she comes from her own money? Her family are the Loredans.” When Nate gives me a blank look, I add, “As in Loredan Jewelry.”

“Yeah, I don’t follow.”

“This is why you don’t have a girlfriend,” Vera snorts as she pops up in my doorway. “They’re like the Italian Cartier.”

Vera regards Nate with the same level of barely checkedimpatience that stems from his constantly badgering her, and like clockwork, I watch his gaze flicker over her face, lingering on her dark eyes and her warm brown skin with an interest I’m fairly certain she’s oblivious to. Or maybe she’s aware and just isn’t interested. Vera’s an absolute vault unless she feels like sharing; she has been since we graduated from law school together.

Nate’s mouth quirks. “Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

“Wow, seriously,” Vera tuts. “It’s truly a wonder that you’re single.”

Nate makes a kissy face. “Just saving myself for you.”

“Guys.” I rub my temples. “Can we all pretend that this is the biggest case of my career for five seconds?”

“So if she’s rich…” Nate leans against the filing cabinet, crossing his arms. “Why is she pushing to fight the prenup? Why not just ditch the bastard and snag herself a pretty boy toy?”

“Really?” Vera cuts him a look. “If the prick really did cheat on her, he’s lucky she isn’t taking his balls.”

Nate’s eyebrows shoot up. “Tell me again howyou’resingle?”

“Saving myself for you,” Vera echoes blandly. She looks at me then. “I came to tell you that she’s here, by the way.”

I shoot up from my desk so fast that my knee knocks against the underside. “Fuck,” I mutter, rubbing the sore spot. “Why didn’t you lead with that?”

“I got her some coffee and set her up in the conference room. I figured you’d need a second to do some Lamaze or something before you go in there. You’ve been running around like a wild ferret all week.”

“That’s sweet of you,” I deadpan.

Vera shrugs. “That is what people say about me.”

“Lamaze is for pregnant women,” Nate points out.