Barely Breathing(23)

“Yes.”

I put my hands in my lap to curtail any more pointing and cleared my throat.

“Do you mean just discuss the case, or are you considering me as co-counsel? I mean, either way, of course I’m in.”

“You as co-counsel. You’re doing a great job for us, Viv. I’d like to help you add a feather to your cap.”

This was just the breakthrough I needed. I’d been wallowing in sadness for almost two weeks, trying not to think of Kane and failing most of the time. With every day that passed without a phone call from him, I sank further into the realization that it was over between us.

“Thank you, Marcus.” I rose from my chair and walked to my coat rack, taking off my coat. “Discussing the case over dinner sounds great. We could try that new Japanese place Maggie mentioned the other day.”

“Yeah, I was actually wanting to go to one of my favorite places. It’s a club, but they’ve got amazing food. And it doesn’t really gear up ‘til ten or so. Have you been to Six?”

My stomach sank but I forced my expression to remain impassive.

“I have.”

“Great. Lemme grab my coat and we’ll go catch a cab.”

He left my office and I cringed at the open doorway. Six was the only place in the entire city I didn’t want to set foot in. But I’d have to put on a brave face and do it anyway. Opportunities like this didn’t come along often.

I smoothed the front of my dark gray suit and put my coat on. Maybe Kane wouldn’t be there tonight. Or maybe he wouldn’t see me if he was. It was all I could hope for, because if I saw him, I was afraid I’d lose it in front of the partner I was trying to impress.

Marcus made small talk about football and the upcoming remodel of our office on the ride to the club. When the cab pulled up in front of the club, I eyed the long line skeptically.

“Maybe we should go somewhere else,” I said, trying not to give away the relief I felt. I was most definitely not dropping Kane’s name this time.

“Won’t be a problem,” Marcus said, passing some cash to the cab driver.

I lingered an extra couple seconds in the cab. If Marcus could get past that line, he could probably get upstairs, too.

The burly guy at the door cracked a small smile when he saw Marcus and clapped him on the shoulder. He stood aside and we walked in.

I looked at the ground and let my hair swing down to cover my face as we were led to a two-person booth near the bar. Marcus helped me out of my coat and I set it beside me and climbed into the booth.

He ordered a beer, I ordered a soda. As soon as our waitress had disappeared, Marcus grinned at me from across the table. He took a pen from his pocket and scrawled something on a napkin. When he slid it across the table, I glanced down at it.

Henley Cartwright

He was one of Hollywood’s hottest actors. Maybe twenty-five years old and loaded. He was married to one of Hollywood’s most beautiful actresses and they were considered one of the biggest power couples in the industry.

“That’s our client,” Marcus said, pulling the napkin away and sliding it into an inner pocket of his suit coat.

My eyes widened, but I said nothing. Our drinks were delivered and I took a sip before speaking.

“He’s the petitioner, then?”

“No, she is.”

“Alright. So the news isn’t out yet, obviously.”

Marcus nodded. “They both want everything settled and signed prior to their PR person making a statement. They’re both on location for work right now, so we’ve got about a month to get it done.”

“Got it.”

My gaze unconsciously wandered around the crowded club, searching for Kane. I missed his gruff voice and its undercurrent of tenderness when we were alone. I still saw the hunger swirling in his eyes that night at my apartment.

And I was still thoroughly pissed off at him for leaving and not calling. Maybe he wasn’t so different from other men, after all.

“Viv?”

“Hmm?” I turned back to Marcus.

“You looking for someone?”

I sighed. “I don’t . . . uh . . . sorry. You were saying?”

“How ‘bout a real drink and some food?” He reached into his leather satchel and pulled out a file. “We can start talking property disbursement and numbers.”

“Sure.” I took a deep breath and pushed Kane from my mind. “About the food and the work, anyway. I don’t drink alcohol while I’m working.”

“You will eventually.” Marcus tipped back his bottle of beer. “Give it a couple years.”

I smiled weakly. “Yeah.”

Kane had to be here. I could feel his presence in the club, warm and commanding. Sitting here was proving much harder than I’d expected.

I took my dark rimmed reading glasses out of my bag and put them on, sending me into mental work mode. Marcus talked while I reviewed the paperwork and nibbled on raw veggies.

“Four homes?” I glanced up from the page I was reading. “So they get two apiece?”

“I don’t know.” Marcus shrugged. “They both want the L.A. place a lot.”

The pull was too strong to resist. I had to at least see him, which I hoped to do without him seeing me.

“I need to run to the bathroom,” I said, returning the paper to its file. “If the food comes, don’t wait for me to start eating.”