Page 34 of See You There

“Are you a complete moron or just a reckless one?” James asked.

“Can’t I be both?” Luke joked and then filled his brother in on the conversation. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ve got a pretty solid alibi. But you should handle calling the DA to broker a deal for Dahlia.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to handle her press tomorrow?”

It might be for the best. He was already attracted to the woman. He heard his voice answer. “No, I’ll do it.”

“Next time they knock on the door, tell them you want a lawyer.”

“I am a lawyer.”

“Then you know lawyers are the worst clients,” James sniped.

“All right. This could be good for us.”

“How do you figure?”

“I told them the truth about why I was there. I left the rest of you out of it. But if Chris or someone else killed Dr. Keller to keep him from talking, the last thing they want is a murder investigation. If the police start digging, it could uncover more about the will or even Dad’s death.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Keep me updated on what the police and the DA have to say.”

After hanging up with his brother, Luke tucked his headphones into his ears and headed for the complex’s gym. A couple miles on the treadmill and he was breathing easier. His thoughts roamed from his visit from the GBI to the stunning redhead he’d met that morning.

She was nothing like he had imagined. Luke had expected spoiled or possibly stuck up. Dahlia was neither. She had been a little frosty, but he could see the fire that lay beneath. He remembered how her green eyes had snapped when he called her Dahlia, even though it was obvious that it must be her full name. She’d slipped up, calling herself Dahlia, and she was furious about it.

Dahlia suited her. It was exotic, beautiful, mysterious… Luke chuckled and grabbed his towel to wipe his face. Mysterious? She was just a beautiful woman. He didn’t need to romanticize it.

Irritated at the direction of his thoughts, he tapped the treadmill display, increasing the pace and incline. Only when he was panting, sweat streaming down his face, was he able to fully banish her image.

CHAPTER TEN

The phone rang early,rousing Dahlia from a deep sleep. Her eyes still closed, she fished in her sheets for the phone. She cracked one eye and groaned when she saw Victor’s name displayed.

“Hello?” Dahlia rubbed her face with her hand.

“What are you up to? Are you trying to shut me out?” Victor yelled into the phone.

Dahlia closed both eyes again. “What time is it?”

“Seven! Don’t try any of that ‘I’m still asleep’ crap! You took a lawyer to your interview yesterday? Do you know how pissed Matt is? And now there’s an article in the Atlanta Journal this morning saying that you are fully cooperating with the police and have turned over evidence. What evidence! You never said anything to me!”

Dahlia sat up in bed. “I don’t understand why you are upset. Isn’t it considered a good thing to cooperate with the police?”

“Cooperating makes it sound like you are part of something. The studio wants you to distance yourself from this, and now you’ve gone and put yourself in the press as part of the investigation.”

Dahlia swung her legs out of bed, padded to the kitchen, and stuck a coffee pod in the machine. “It turned out, I had pictures on my phone of the guy that shot Chandler.”

Victor didn’t seem to hear her, lost in his own perceived grievance. “I bet that lawyer is loving this attention. Crawford told me he has a reputation for defending low-level scumbags, and now that’s who you have representing you! He’s using you for publicity for his firm. You should have trusted me to handle this.”

Dahlia pictured the Bloom brothers. She would admit she hadn’t always been the best judge of character, but after years in the entertainment industry, she’d learned to recognize the people in it for themselves. James was sincere, and while her attraction to Luke might be a problem, she didn’t get the sense that he was anything other than how he presented himself.

“I’m coming with you to your appearances today,” Victor growled.

“That’s unnecessary.” Alarm shot through Dahlia. At the beginning of her career, Victor accompanied her to every appearance, making sure he kept her away from anyone who might influence her against him. But over the years, he had grown complacent. He was always on set, but he skipped most press events.

“I think it is. If I’d been there yesterday, you wouldn’t have screwed up.”