Page 33 of Overruled

I don’t look at Ezra while the judge considers, but I can feel his eyes on me.

I am certain that he would like to argue with me, to find a reason as to why I shouldn’t be granted this continuance, but for reasons I can’t fathom, he doesn’t.

I can see him from the corner of my eye, still standing tall just outside my line of sight with his hands tucked in his pockets, watching me.

“All right,” Judge Harding says finally, and I release a pent-up breath. “I will grant you your continuance. We will reconvene next Thursday to resume.” She bangs the gavel. “Court is adjourned.”

I peek over my shoulder at Bianca, and her red lips twist into a smile that oozes pride, which warms me in turn.

I like making someone like Bianca proud.

It feels monumental. I keep my eyes off Ezra as I return to our table to quietly discuss a meeting with Bianca the following day to talk through the evidence that was just relinquished to us this morning, giving myself the night to review it with Nate and Vera before corroborating with what Bianca might know.

I’m still gathering my things when Bianca leaves me, and when I get the opportunity to glance at the opposite side of the courtroom, I’m mildly surprised to find Ezra already gone.

I close my briefcase as I peer over my shoulder, catching sight of him just outside the courtroom with a stoic expression as Lorenzo points a finger at his face.

Ezra doesn’t outwardly show his displeasure, not in a way anyone else might notice, but I do.

I can see it in the way his jaw is flexing subtly, the way his arms are crossed tight over his chest and his spine remains rigid.

Everything about his posture screams discomfort.

I move briskly between the rows of seats to close the distance between them and me, noticing Ezra’s eyes flicking to mine as I approach.

“Counsel,” I say blandly. “I was wondering if I might discuss something with you about disclosure?”

Lorenzo looks annoyed to have been interrupted, his face brightening with a flush of scarlet that makes me worried for his blood pressure, but he seems to drop the issue. He points a finger in Ezra’s face once more, his voice tight. “Remember what I said, boy. Do better.”

We both watch him stalk off, and I wait until he’s well out of earshot before I blow out a breath.

“Wow, he seems like fun.”

Ezra chuffs a dry laugh. “He’s…something.”

“You didn’t fight me on the continuance,” I point out. “Why?”

His brows raise. “Should I have?”

“It’s not like you not to fight me on every little thing,” I answer. “You’re not taking it easy on me because of…”

His mouth quirking makes me scowl and sweat simultaneously. “Because of what, Dani?”

“You know what,” I huff in exasperation. “I told you I don’t want you acting differently.”

“And I told you I would never,” he assures me. “I admit I’m…curious about your new evidence. I would like the chance to review it as well before we dig into the meat of things.”

Now it’s my turn to raise my eyebrows. “You’re not suggesting that you don’t already have access to Lorenzo’s mistress’s finances, surely.”

“Now, Dani,” he teases. “Innocent until proven guilty, remember?”

I roll my eyes. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t actually hear a question.”

“You’re infuriating,” I groan.

He leans in slightly, lowering his voice. “But you like it.”

I step away instinctively, looking around us to make sure no one saw him whispering to me and only breathing in relief when I notice that the hall outside the courtroom is mostly empty.

“You don’t have access to her finances already?”

His smile dissipates, leaving behind a pinched expression. “I don’t think it’s something I should be discussing with you.”

Part of me is hurt by the assertion, but the more logical part of me knows that’s ridiculous. First and foremost, we’re here to do a job.

“I’ll be sure to forward you everything when I’m finished compiling.”

“Great,” he says.

We both linger for a moment, and I shuffle my weight from one high-heeled foot to the other as I struggle for something more to say. Which only serves to make me chide myself for even feeling the need to find more to say in the first place.

“Big plans this weekend?”

I want to suck the words back in as soon as they leave my mouth. Could I be any more desperate? I don’t know what the last week has done to me, but it’s making me more and more disgusted with myself.

“My father is hosting a charity gala at his house,” Ezra says with a flat tone.

“Ah. That sounds…fun.”

“It sounds excruciating,” he grumbles.

I find myself curious again as to what the story might be with the Hart men. The more clues left intermittently in conversation with Ezra, the more I suspect there are other pieces to the story than just a legal dynasty.

“At least the food will be good,” I offer. I try for teasing. “I doubt there will be anything as good as my stepmother’s party punch though.”

Ezra laughs quietly. “I sincerely doubt it.”

I can tell the moment his thoughts shift to the same place mine do, my cheeks heating as his eyes grow warm, no doubt remembering the last party we attended. If I’m being honest, I haven’t stopped thinking about that party since I left it.

“You know…” He trails off, looking unsure. It’s not something I’m used to seeing on him. “You could always crash it.”

I bark out a laugh. “What?”

“You know.” He shrugs. “Pay me back for crashing your family’s party.”

“Who said I wanted to pay you back?”

“Don’t you always?”

Damn it. He has me there. It’s very rare that I allow him to keep the upper hand if I can help it. Still.

“Something tells me your family’s party won’t be nearly as entertaining as mine,” I chuckle.

His smile falters a bit, his gaze heavier. “No,” he says quietly. “Definitely not. But…it could be. If you came, that is.”

My pulse quickens at his thoughtful expression, and I have to swallow around the growing lump in my throat. “I swear to all that’s holy, if you make an innuendo right now—”

“I would never,” he insists, breaking out into an actual smile. It loosens something in my chest.

I consider for a moment, wondering what it would imply if I were to go like he’s asking. There have been so many lines blurring between us lately…half the time I don’t know which way is up. That alone tells me it’s probably not a good idea.

“I don’t know…” I frown at my feet. “I might be busy.”

Ezra says nothing while I stare at my shoes like a coward, and when I finally chance a glance back up at him, I notice his expression is teeming with disappointment.

“Right,” he says. “Well. If you change your mind…I’ll make sure you’re on the list.”

We’re standing still again, space between us that feels wide and yet too close, and I struggle for words, any words, that might cut the tension. But they never come.

“Anyway,” Ezra says finally, beating me to the punch. “I have a meeting. I’ll text you the details, yeah?”

“I didn’t say I would come,” I argue feebly.

Ezra’s grin is warm and bright, and I feel it lighting up parts of me that have long been in the shadows, leaving me feeling exposed. “I’m learning that it’s the things you don’t say that I should be paying attention to, Dani. That’s usually where your real feelings are.”

My mouth gapes at his back as he casually turns to walk away, and I can’t help but feel that for all the ground I gained in the courtroom today, I just lost a much larger battle outside of it.

The strangest part is how little I seem to mind.