Josie laughed. Her father lowered his eyebrows, but she couldn’t help it. When she got herself under control, she said, “As wonderful as you believe your proposal to be, I’ll have to decline. Like I said, you have two weeks. I will not take on any further cases for Presley. If you have something you need done quickly, I’ll be more than willing to help you. That’s it.”
Presley jumped to her feet. “This is because of Malakai. You can’t handle being sloppy seconds, so you’re punishing me.”
“Sit down!” Preston yelled.
The door flew open, and Sterling stuck his head in. “What is going on in here? You do realize I have a client in my office, right?”
Preston ran a hand down his tie. “My apologies, Sterling. We’ll keep it down.”
Sterling closed the door, and Preston pointed at Presley. “If you cannot sit there and keep your mouth shut, I’ll remove you from the room.” Presley sank down onto the chair and crossed her arms.
“Josie, you have to admit your timing is suspect. You began seeing this man your sister broke things off with, and now you’re turning in your notice.”
Josie rolled her eyes. Her father narrowed his, but Josie didn’t let him berate her for acting childish. “Dad, there was nothing to break off. Presley wasn’t dating Kai; she was chasing after him. You both might find it hard to believe, but she isn’t his type; I am. He isn’t the reason I’m giving notice. I have the opportunity for something different, and I’m going after it.”
“You’ll never work at another law firm as long as I’m breathing,” Presley seethed.
The door opened, and Malakai strode into the room. “Let’s go, Sunshine.”
“Malakai… I was just—” Presley stood and reached for him, but Josie grabbed her sister’s arm.
“You touch him, and I will beat your ass eight ways to Sunday,” Josie whispered only loud enough for her sister to hear. Well, and Kai because he had shifter hearing. Which was no doubt the reason he was there to begin with.
“Presley, give us the room,” their dad said.
“But, Dad. I—”
Preston stood and slammed his hands on his desk. “Now, Presley.”
Kai took Josie’s hand and pressed it to his chest over his heart. “Please don’t be mad at me, but I couldn’t let you think there was anything between me and her.”
“I’m not mad. Not at you, anyway.”
Kai kissed Josie’s forehead, and she closed her eyes, relishing the comfort. Preston cleared his throat, and Kai wrapped his arm around Josie’s waist.
“I’d like to speak with my daughter alone, if you don’t mind,” Preston said to Kai.
Kai’s body tensed. “Sunshine? Your call.”
“I’ll be fine.” Josie winked at him to let him know she was serious in case he couldn’t tell through their bond.
“I’ll be right outside.” Kai touched her cheek before giving Preston a stern look.
As soon as Kai closed the door, her dad said, “I’m sorry, but this is the man you and your sister are fighting over? No offense, but he looks like a bum.”
“Wow, and I thought Presley was a snob. You know absolutely nothing about Kai, yet you stand there and judge him based on the way he’s dressed? Well, Dad, the joke’s on you. For your information, Malakai lives in a million-dollar house. He drives a Bugatti Veyron, and I would bet my entire portfolio his portfolio is more impressive than yours. Just because he chooses to wear jeans and flip-flops doesn’t mean he isn’t successful. It means he chooses to be his own person without giving a shit what someone like you thinks of him. Let me tell you something else. I would rather have someone with a good heart who dresses the way Kai does than someone who tries to prove to the world his worth with a thousand-dollar suit. You and Presley deserve each other. As for my notice? Consider it served.”
“Now wait just a minute, young lady. You can’t just walk out of here this way.”
“I can, and I will. If you had been a different kind of boss, a different type of father, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. You let Presley walk all over me. You knew my caseload, yet you added to it by giving me double the work, knowing how difficult she is. Good luck finding someone to put up with her because I don’t have to. No longer will I subject myself to eighty-hour weeks while Presley goes out partying every weekend. I deserve a life too, and I’m taking mine back. You won’t get to see this firsthand, but Kai is a good man. He’s my man, and I’m looking forward to building a life with him. Malakai and I will be opening a business soon, so you and Presley don’t have to worry about whether or not I go work for another firm. I won’t be seeing you for Sunday meals, at least not for a while. I need a break – a clean break – from you and Presley. Now, I’m going to grab the few personal items at my desk.”
“Joselynn, don’t do this. Your mother—”
“My mother will still see me, so I’m not worried about her.” Josie walked to the door, and with her hand on the knob, she said, “Goodbye, Preston.”
Chapter Fourteen
Kai was ready to choke Presley. She tried everything from a seductive smile to tears to anger to get him to talk to her. When she started her bullshit about being the better woman for him than Josie, he lost it.
“If you were the last woman on the planet, I still wouldn’t want you. Your sister is everything I could want in a wife.”
“W-wife?” Presley stammered. “You can’t be serious.”
“Serious as
