“Was there a weird look between you and Beck before at the table?” I ask.
Penny scrunches up her brows. “A weird look? I don’t believe so. I especially don’t believe so because I’m not only a lesbian, but my girlfriend is also with me.”
“I don’t mean that kind of look.”
She pats her dry hands on one of the neatly folded hand towels. The woman really can pull off a pantsuit like nobody’s business. “I did want a word with you, though. Since I haven’t seen the contracts come back through, I’m guessing you’re still perusing them. While I believe them to be fair and reasonable, generous, even, it’s never a bad idea to have your own lawyer look them over. I can’t refer you to anyone directly—it would be a conflict of interest—but you might consider asking Matías who he recommends. He’s been well-represented throughout the divorce, and might have a few good names.”
“Contracts? What contracts?”
She blinks. “Beck hasn’t given you the contracts?”
“I guess not.”
“Oh, fuck me.” The woman stomps back out into the bar. Not stopping until she reaches the table. Here she points a finger at Beck’s face with one perfectly manicured nail. “You told me Smith gave her the contracts on the jet. So imagine my surprise when I suggested she source some independent legal advice and she didn’t have a fucking clue what I was talking about.”
Ethan scowls. “She hasn’t signed an NDA?”
Aaron and River get busy either inspecting either the contents of their glasses or the other people in the bar.
Matías just hangs his head.
“Both of you, stay the hell out of it,” says Beck, sitting up straight. “It’s between me and her. I’ll talk to Alice about them when the time is right.”
“You don’t stick your dick in a woman let alone bring her near the family without an NDA,” snarls Ethan. “That’s the rule. She should have signed before she stepped foot in Colorado.”
“You cannot lie to me about things like this, Beck. I cannot fulfil my professional obligations to protect you if I’m acting on false information.” Penny takes a deep breath, visibly trying to calm herself, and slides back into the booth. “Cohabitating even for a short period of time can open you up to possible risks. We talked about this.”
“She’s not like that. You’re both worrying over nothing.” Beck slams his glass down on the table. “Now can you all please get your noses out of my fucking business?”
I don’t know what to say. So I stand there like an idiot. They wanted me to sign a nondisclosure agreement? As if I would run off and sell my story to the local newspaper or something. Give me strength.
Beck grimaces, raising his hand to me. “Alice…”
“There you are!” Emma almost knocks me aside in her rush to get at the table. She reaches across, doing her best to smack Matías in the face by the look of things. Only he’s on the far side against the wall and she’s kind of short. Not that she’s giving up. Hell no. The woman basically winds up on her belly with her feet in the air, tipping over the bottles of scotch and several glasses, in her effort to beat the man. Never has haute couture been so badly treated. Ethan jumps to his feet as best he can when scotch pours into his lap and an exodus from the booth begins. But not fast enough.
If people weren’t watching when Penny went off at Beck and then he banged his drink down on the table, they definitely are now. What a spectacle. When Emma’s hands prove insufficient to the task of killing her estranged husband, Emma proceeds to attack Matías with her purse. And I stand there stunned for a moment because holy shit.
“You moron!” yells Emma.
“What the fuck?” Matías roars in reply. Fair enough, really.
“You got me pregnant!”
Matías scrunches up his face in confusion. “I what?”
Emma bursts into tears. “You got me pregnant!”
Which breaks me out of my trance. There are benefits to being bigger. At least when it comes to hauling around small women. I grab her beneath the arms, dragging her back off the table as gently as possible. Before she breaks some glass and cuts herself or hurts herself in some other way. I can’t see her managing to fall off the table. But still…
“Okay, enough,” I say. “C’mon, Emma.”
Emma raises her purse, about to attack me, before she sees that it’s me and not the object of her violent affections. “Alice,” she sniffs, leaning into my bosom. Nice to know the little black dress and my awesome cleavage came in handy for something. Tears trail down Emma’s pale cheeks. “That asshole has ruined everything.”
“He is an utter shithead; I don’t blame you for being furious.” I put my arms around her and give Matías an apologetic look. Because whatever calms down the crazy pregnant lady who was attempting to beat him to death with designer goods in public.
Right now, the man’s eyes are as wide as can be.
“Let’s get you out of here,” I say, shooting meaningful glances at Beck and Ethan.
Beck at least gets with the program, patting Emma’s back. Next he motions to Ethan to take care of Matías. Aaron, Penny, and River do their best to block us from the view of the bar patrons and disperse those who’ve gathered to watch. Smith and the bar security people are soon here to help. They can also deal with the bastard at the next table who has his cell out and is filming everything. Jerk. Ethan hauls Matías out of the booth. He still seems to be in shock. Not helpful. Spilled scotch has left a wet patch on the front of Ethan’s no doubt expensive pants and one of the glasses is rolling around on the floor. What a night.
“Bring the car around,” Beck orders Smith.
Best damn idea I’ve ever heard.
“Say something.”
I sit with my legs curled up beneath me on the couch, the contracts in my lap. “I’m thinking.”
“Then tell me what you’re thinking,” says Beck, pacing back and forth.
With the fire on, the room is cozy, the night outside dark and silent. We’re on our own since once Emma had calmed down, she decided she’d rather go home. An eerily subdued Matías went with her. At least she’s not alone.
“The NDA seems straightforward enough.” I take a deep breath, straighten the papers. “Only problem being me not discussing anything to do with you, our relationship, or your family with anyone is somewhat unreasonable. Given how you’re supposed to talk about your life with the people close to you and you’re a large part of my life right now.”
“Right now?” He cocks his head. “Is that a threat?”
Like hell he’s making this my fault. “Sit your ass down, Beck.”
Frown in place, he sits on the couch opposite. His elbow rests on the arm of the couch, thumb and forefinger toying with his bottom lip. The boy is not happy. Neither am I. This paperwork is a wall between us.
“Time to negotiate,” I say. “I’ll agree not to discuss your family with anyone.”
He nods.
“And to restrict any discussion about the two of us to an agreed upon list of friends and family who will be forewarned not to discuss it with anyone else.”