Five Ways to Fall (30 page)

Still, I don’t even want to wait that long.

“Good pick,” I yell over the live band as my eyes roam the crowd at The Grill, resting on a couple of brunettes who have already noticed me and, by the small waves and winks, are not shy about making me aware of it.

“Reese arranged it all,” Mason admits with no small surprise in his tone, clanking his draft against mine. “Cheers. To being a real lawyer.”

“Where is the little minx, anyway?” The entire attorney staff, including Jack, are here tonight to celebrate. They have an area cordoned off for us, set with platters of food and a few tables. I’ve been doing the rounds for the last three hours, watching the clock and the door way too much.

“With Lina and Nicki. Lina just texted me to say they’d be here soon.”

“How’s that going? Is she the reason behind this whole ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ look you’ve got going on?” Mason has never been known for his keen fashion sense, but now he’s got new clothes and he’s styling his hair differently. He’s even wearing contacts. We used to ride his ass about those thick, dorky glasses he wore, but he refused to change them.

His cheeks brighten as he shrugs. “I felt like trying something new and she helped me.”

Getting laid certainly is doing wonders for this guy. “And things are good between you two?”

A sheepish grin passes over his face. “It’s good. It’s . . .” The smile fades as his head nods up and down. He finishes with, “It’s complicated.”

“Oh hell, you’re not fucking
in love
with her, are you?”

“No! I mean, I like her
. A lot
. But . . .” His voice trails off as he stares at his beer.

“But what? And I don’t do relationship talk, so this had better not be deep,” I warn him.

“She’s Reese’s best friend, so . . .” He hesitates, as if he’s reluctant to admit the rest. “I’m waiting to find something majorly wrong with her.”

He doesn’t look too pleased when I burst out laughing at him. “I thought you and Reese were sorting your shit out.” I’ve seen them talking more in the office. Reese even offered to help him proof some legal letters going out to clients the other day.

“I think we are,” he concedes with a shrug. “Slowly.”

“Well, from what Jack says, Reese is not leaving your lives again. Ever. And my money’s on her if you two go to war, just so you know.”

He shrugs and takes another big gulp of his drink. And I smile to myself. Mason’s a lightweight. He’ll be giggling like a little girl by the time he reaches the bottom of that. Speaking of drunk, I need to slow down on these or I’m liable to do something stupid and unprofessional and, well . . . me. Probably not the right place or time for that. Later, at my house, where the guys are throwing a little party for me, is fair game.

“What’s going on between you and Reese?” Mason asks suddenly.

“I already told you. Nothing.”

“Ben.” He leans forward and drops his voice. “I don’t want to see you get fired.” The skin between his eyes pinches together. “I know I don’t really fit in with the rest of the guys, but you’ve always made me feel like one of the group. You’ve always been a good friend to me. I’m just trying to look out for you.”

It’s funny that Mason is saying this to me now. When I started law school, I felt like
I
didn’t fit in. Going from my undergrad, where I was still seen as the star quarterback even after I wasn’t playing anymore, to a nobody who lacked the scholarly vibes and refinement that everyone else seemed to have was tough. I mean, I had the GPA, the LSAT scores, the letters of recommendation and all that, but for a while there, I thought I’d made a big mistake applying to law school.

I drop a heavy hand on his shoulder as a platinum-blond head catches my attention behind Mason. “Don’t worry. I’m not getting fired.” I watch the crowd shift as Mercy and Hannah make their way toward me, every guy’s head turning to trail them. “Damn,” I mutter. It’s impossible to see those two together without thinking about my farewell party. This is going to be a long-ass night. I really hope Reese shows up soon.

“Are those the two?” Mason’s index finger pushes against the bridge of his nose—where his glasses would be if he were wearing them anymore—as he stares wide-eyed at them.

“Yup,” I grin. Giving Mason the details of that night was almost as fun as experiencing it. The guy hung onto my every word as if I’d been revealing the secret to the Holy Grail.

“Ben!” I barely get my glass down before Mercy is on me, her arms wrapped around my neck tightly, laying a kiss right smack on my mouth. “Congratulations!” I know she’s genuinely happy for me and, hell, I can’t push her away. That would be mean.

Still, I gesture forward, trying to peel her off me politely. “You remember my good friend, Mason.”

“I do.” Her eyes light up as she steps past me. I watch with a grin, knowing what’s coming. The appropriate thing would be to shake his hand and say hello. Given Mercy has already met him once, though, she leans into him and lays a slow kiss on his cheek, setting his face on fire instantly.

“Hey, Ben, it’s okay that we’re here, right?” Hannah’s voice purrs next to me. She’s so much more reserved than Mercy is. “I tried to dress down so I’m not so
obvious
around your lawyer friends. Do you think they know?”

That earns a loud bark of laughter before I can help it. Hannah’s another girl who could come in here wearing a potato sack and people would still have a good idea what industry she works in. Unlike Mercy, though, she’s self-conscious about what she does and can’t wait to finish nursing school. Those will be some lucky patients.

I throw my arm around her and pull her into a friendly side hug. “Not a clue. You’re good.”

“Okay. We just wanted to say congratulations and we miss you.” She leans in to give me a respectable kiss on the cheek. I know for a fact that that night meant nothing more than friends getting railed on shots of everything and having a good time to her. She’s been in love with the head bartender at Penny’s, Ginger, for years. “Grab yourself a drink,” I suggest with a smirk, nudging her forward as I scan the crowd for Reese.

I’m swarmed with envious looks from every male attorney at Warner. I predict all kinds of phone calls and invitations come Monday. I’m used to it. Kent and the guys are always begging me to get the Penny’s girls over for a private show at our house.

Tonight, I obliged them.

Unlike the smooth shifting for the two strippers, the crowd parts like the Red Sea as Nate’s looming frame makes its way toward me to clasp hands. “Ginger couldn’t make it, but she wanted me to give you a big wet one from her.”

“Tell her to stop trying to turn us, man.”

His face splits into a grin. “I can only stay for a few. I’m running Penny’s tonight, even though it seems like half the dancers are going to some house party for this jackass I know later on.”

His ribbing makes me chuckle. “Where’s Cain?”

“Out of state.” My frown gets nothing more. Nate’s as loyal as they come and whatever Cain’s doing, he doesn’t want anyone knowing about. I hope it has something to do with Charlie. Something good. That guy deserves to be happy.

With that, Nate wanders off to the other side of the bar where someone he knows sits, revealing a much smaller man hidden behind him. “That’s a good friend to have in your corner,” Jack murmurs, his eyes trailing Nate for a moment before shifting to Mercy and Hannah, who are flanking Mason, Hannah fluttering her lashes and Mercy toying with his collar.

“So are those two, if you were to ask your son right now,” I joke.

“Yes,” Jack smirks through a sip of his beer. “It would be nice to see him work a little less and enjoy life a little more.” He hesitates. “I’m not sure about
that
much, though.”

“Baby steps for Mason,” I agree with a chuckle.

Glancing around, he asks, “Have you seen that wayward stepdaughter of mine? She arranged this entire night and now she’s not here.”

Good question. Part of me wants her attached to my side to fend off Mercy’s advances. The other part wants her roped off on the other side of the bar so I don’t get myself into trouble with Jack. I’m beginning to think it’s only a matter of time.

“Spoke too soon!” Jack exclaims, his face instantly lighting up.

I can’t help but notice that my stomach jumps as he says that. It does a full flip as I turn to see a blond in the doorway wearing a sexy red dress and a dangerous smile.

“Oh, fuck . . .” I mutter under my breath.

She’s definitely up to something.

Chapter 23

REESE

“So I forgot to mention something to you guys,” I shout to Lina and Nicki as we push our way through the crowd. The Grill is usually busy on Friday evenings. Located right on the beach, it’s kind of like a tiki sports bar, with a faux grass-hut roof, open walls, and lots of flat screens. Tonight, the place is crawling with Warner staff.

Too many. And they haven’t left yet. I said the work party was from five until seven—cocktail hour. At eight, they’re still lingering.

“You got married again,” Lina answers deadpan, as if she’s been expecting that announcement.

“Not exactly,” I mutter under my breath. They’re going to flip their lids.

I
may flip my lid.

“Where are these lawyers you speak of?” Nicki says, looking as striking as always, this time in a purple corset dress. “And do you think they’ll believe me when I tell them that I’m a lawyer?”

“They’re up ahead. Just say the word ‘deposition’ really slow while you bat your lashes and they’ll believe anything. But I need to tell you guys—”

“Wow! Look at your hair!” Fingers reach uninvited to the nape of my neck, to the layer of black cherry that I had done after work at the salon. The all-blond was boring me to tears and I figured this was still semi-respectable by office standards. “Looking
très chic
. I love it!” Natasha cries, all hand-flappy, which tells me that she’s most probably drunk. Without stopping to actually hear my answer, she continues, “Who’re your friends?” She sticks a hand out. Lina’s perfectly shaped left brow arches as she accepts it.

“Lina, Law bot. Law bot, Lina.”

Natasha’s heard me call her that so many times, I don’t think it even fazes her anymore. She’s too busy gawking at Nicki’s sleeve of ink, anyway. “Wow, did that hurt?” She reaches out to begin pawing at Nicki’s arm.

“You get used to it,” Nicki offers politely, but her lips are pressed in a tight smile. She hates being touched like that. Giving them wide-eyed looks, I mouth, “Let’s go.”

“So, where was I . . .” I can see Ben’s blond head towering over the others, standing next to Jack. He’s smiling at me, though it’s slightly strained. But his eyes are still raking over my chest and flashing with approval at the strapless red number I bought today. It’s fitted and short, but the skirt flows out like a bell to show my legs off nicely. Slightly formal for the night—especially paired with heels—but with my loose hair and lack of jewelry, I think I can pull off the look. I’ll just channel my inner femme fatale like Nicki does.

I do a cursory scan of heads as I close the distance. Jared texted back to say he’d be here, but I don’t see him yet.

Jack turns to find me standing behind him. “Hello, Reesie.” He wraps an arm around my shoulder and kisses my cheek. I instinctively lean into his affections with a smile, feeling like his little girl again. Then his gaze flickers over my hair and he frowns. “Something’s different.”

Jack’s a true guy’s guy. Flipping up a few strands of my new hair, I offer with a sheepish smile, “At least it’s not my entire head.”

“Hmm . . . yes.” After a moment, “It looks good. Not too wild.” Glancing over my shoulder at my friends, he smiles and offers, “Nice to see you ladies again. How’s the new condo and the jobs?”

“Condo is good. Job not so much.” Lina doesn’t waste words. If she can say something in seven words, she says it in seven words. Some would take her as bitchy or abrupt.

I think she’s charming.

“Well, half ain’t bad. Get that license and you can come work for me, okay?” I’m pretty sure he’s not kidding about that, either, which is great because I’d love to work with Lina.