I laugh out loud. This has been an ongoing conversation between us, and something I’ve been thinking about. “Probably smart. You said I can call the shots, so I did. I’m not charging Constance, so that has to count for something, right?”
“Is that how you are justifying it to yourself?”
“Yes. And I have been thinking about your offer.”
“And?” she asks patiently. “You can take as much time as you need before you decide. There’s no rush.”
“I know.”
But I have thought about it, and I love where I’m at right now. I love being a team with Nadia and I love that we have each other’s backs. Being her partner at the firm is going to ensure me job security, which will allow me to be able to support a family one day. And I do want that. One day.
“I’m going to accept it.”
She pauses for a few seconds before speaking. “Are you sure? One fun case and you’re all in?”
“Yep. I’m sure.”
I can hear the smile in her voice. “Okay, let’s talk about it more in person. But I’m glad.”
“Me too. Let’s make it happen.”
We end the call and I jump in the shower, unpack and settle back in.
Clover texts me with some photos from the night before and I can’t help laugh at a few of them. There’s a terrible one of me dancing, arms in the air, and another of all of us posing. I love that they are all successful, ambitious people but also know how to have a good time and let loose.
Me: Great pics. Are you guys back home too?
Clover: Yeah we just got in! How are you holding up?
Me: Not too bad.
Clover: This is my fave pic of the night.
She resends a picture of me and Cara. We’re sitting next to each other in the clubhouse, and she’s looking at me and smiling.
I don’t know what Clover is playing at. Don’t get me wrong, I’d have Cara in my bed if I had the chance, and not just for sleeping—but I also know that Cara just got out of a complicated relationship, so I don’t want to put her in that situation.
Timing can be a bitch, and this is just one of those situations.
But fuck, I would love to have her under me.
In front of me.
I’d love to have my mouth...
Thinking about it, I instantly harden, and yeah, it’s not ideal that the woman I’m thinking about won’t be the one to cure my raging hard-on, but it is what it is.
I’ve always been torn between being an “if it’s meant to be, it will be” and a “nothing will come to you unless you fight for it” person. But with relationships?
If a person is meant for you, they will find their way to you.
And if they aren’t? You find someone else.
It’s as simple and as complicated as that.
* * *
“What is she like?” Constance asks, brown eyes curious. She tucks her hair back behind her ears and waits for me to respond, staring at me over my office desk. She does look a little like Cara, maybe if I squint, but her lips aren’t as full, her eyes not as warm. Her brown hair isn’t as long, and it doesn’t make me want to run my hands through it. I’m probably a little biased. Regardless, I don’t get any bad vibes from this girl. I’d be surprised if she was out to hurt Cara.
“She’s...lovely,” I say.
That seems like a safe word.
Sexy, fucking amazing and badass are probably inappropriate.
“And I hope you don’t mind how I handled the situation, but she didn’t seem too comfortable about it, so I thought it would be better if she came to you.”
Constance nods. “Nope, that is perfectly fine. I can’t believe how fast you found her and how close she is. I hope that she reaches out soon. I’ve been wanting to meet her ever since I heard about her.”
“You never heard about her before?” I ask curiously. I decided not to charge Cara for looking into Constance either. It just did not feel right to me, especially with my personal attachment.
She shakes her head. “My dad passed away, and I didn’t know about Cara until I was going through his things.”
I found out about Wade passing when researching Constance for Cara, so at least we know he has nothing to do with her wanting to find Cara. But I’m unsure how Cara will feel about Wade being dead.
“That must have been a surprise for you.”
“Yeah, it was. I thought I was an only child up until now.”
I can see why she would want to find her half sister, with her dad gone and having no other siblings.
“Sounds like you’ve had quite the curve ball thrown at you,” I say, feeling for her. “I’m sorry about the loss of your dad.”
She shrugs. “To be honest, he was kind of a dick.”
Looking more promising every moment.
“So you are just wanting a relationship with her then, or...” I press. “What are you hoping to get out of this?”
She nods. “I would just like to meet her and get to know her, yeah. She’s all I have left now, as sad as that sounds. I’d understand if she didn’t want to, though, so the ball is in her court. No pressure. Even if she doesn’t reach out, at least I know that I tried.”
She seems sincere about it. There is something a little...sad about Constance. Not in a vulnerable way, but more in a lost puppy way. Like she has no direction. It makes me pretty confident she doesn’t have ulterior motives with Cara.
I tell her she doesn’t have to pay the invoice, for which she’s grateful, and then she leaves my office just as Nadia comes in.
“Welcome back,” she says, handing over a coffee and sitting opposite me.
“Thank you,” I reply, gripping it tightly. “I needed this.”
“I thought you might. Now about the whole partner thing, are you sure that you’ve thought this whole thing through? You really want to do this?” she asks, getting straight to the point.
“It wasn’t a rash decision. I can’t go back to the force, and I’m happy doing this. It will give me something to build and grow. Something that is mine, too.”
“I’m happy. There’s no one else I could see doing this with me. Logistically, from now on, everything, expenses and profit, will be split fifty-fifty. I’ll have my lawyer send over paperwork to make it official.”
“Great! Thank you, Nadia, for giving me a place to land.”