Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
She starts backing toward the door and I’m around the desk in front of her by the time she’s there. I press her against the door, my hand at her hip, under her coat. “Say it. We protect each other.”
“We protect each other.”
“Do not back out of the book deal. Promise me.”
“Yes. I promise.”
“Keep working on the book. You know my side of the story. I’ll have Liz call you with the update on the contract, but I will handle it. I’ll fix all of this.”
“Do it right, not fast,” she says.
“I have no choice if I’m going to fix this. Cat, I’m going to have to fix this with your family or it will affect us.”
“It won’t,” she says. “You didn’t make them commit a crime and they did. I heard it in Reid’s voice.”
“It will affect us, if I don’t fully fix this. I’m going to and I’m telling you this so you know I may be communicating with your family. I’ll come to you the minute it’s done.” She nods and my hands find her face. “I love you. This isn’t how I wanted to tell you, but I need you to know.”
“I love you, too.”
I kiss her, lingering inside that kiss, for what I wish could be eternal moments, before I press my forehead to hers. “I’ll find a way to get us out of this,” I promise.
She grabs my tie. “I hate this but I’d better go. I’ll be gone when you get home.” She twists away from me and it kills me to let her. I back up and she exits the office and I shut the door, walking to my desk and calling Lauren, who answers on the first ring.
“I need you to listen because Cat is going to come to you and I need you to be armed with facts when she gets there. And then I need to set that aside and talk as legal peers.”
“I’m listening.”
I tell her everything and end with, “Now that you’ve heard the story. What do you think?”
She follows with every conclusion Cat and I have already made with one cutting addition. “Her family is vicious and they have no loyalty to you. But she’s personal to them and you’ve made it personal by that connection to her. They won’t go to the press but they will find nasty ways to come at you, now and later.”
“In other words, I need to find some semblance of peace with them.”
“That’s my thought, but how do you even feel about that?”
“I will do anything for Cat.” I laugh without humor. “But she’s afraid I’ll compromise my morals and it will ultimately affect us.”
“She could be right.”
“No. She didn’t do this. Her family did and I love her enough to know that.”
“You love her.”
“Holy fuck yes. I bought a ring to propose at Christmas.”
“It’s not even Thanksgiving, Reese. You have time. This will work out. You’re good at what you do. You’ll find a way and I’ll help.”
“You’re connected to Cat and the Maxwell’s too. You can’t help but the fact that you want to, is appreciated. Just take care of my woman. That’s what I need you to do.”
“If you love each other, and I know you do, this won’t be the end. You know that, right?”
“This is Cat, Lauren. The queen of putting up walls and I won’t be able to do anything to pull them back down.”
“If she puts a wall up she was never yours. If she doesn’t, you know it’s real. And in a way this a gift. We all need to know it’s real.” Her line beeps. “That’s probably her. You two will get through this.” She disconnects and I wish like hell I had something to hit.
Chapter thirty-seven
Cat
The minute Lauren opens the door, I know she knows. “He called you.”
“Yes.” She backs up and I enter the house, and walk to the giant chair by the couch and sit down on the ottoman.
She joins me as she sits on the couch. “How are you?”
“How am I?” I laugh without humor. “I drank champagne to celebrate my press release, after which my brother called and told me Reese was suing my family. This was right before Reid told me to fuck off. Next up. Reese told me he loves me right before we said goodbye forever, for all I know. So how am I? I’m doing just peachy.”
“You and Reese will get through this. This mess sucks, but you will get through it.”
“You know the facts, I assume. Are we overreacting?”
“No you aren’t overreacting. This is a monstrous problem.”
“We can’t be together right now, can we?”
“That’s a potential challenge. Do you think your family will use you against Reese at Reese’s expense?”
“Yes. In some dark, underground, dirty way, they will lash out at him and I don’t know how to stop that from happening.”