A plan that had included reconciling with his first wife and not building a life with Molly and Hazel.
“San Francisco has every type of house you can imagine,” Drew offered. “Ocean, city skyline or Golden Gate Bridge views. Your choice. Your dream.”
Could San Francisco be the home she’d always wanted? Perhaps. But she had a defense to present first. “I’ll have to start with a reasonable rental unit and move up from there.”
“My friends have a detached one-bedroom unit at their house. It has recently been renovated.” Drew’s voice dropped away as if he were reluctant to disclose any more details.
Molly homed in on his hesitation. “Why do I sense a but coming?”
“Not a but exactly. And it has nothing to do with the apartment.” Drew shifted on the sofa and faced her. “But I want to request that you refund my parents your retainer fee.”
“Why?” She studied him. His expression was calm and composed. His crossed arms were more casual than tense. She added, “Are you going to pay my retainer fee yourself?”
He never winced. Never flinched. “I believe I mentioned the other day that I have everything handled.”
“Yet you never mentioned that Judge Bartlett denied your request for a dismissal of charges earlier this week,” she countered.
Only his eyebrows flexed into his forehead. “Word travels fast.”
“The legal community is small.” She picked up her champagne flute and swirled the last of the bubbly liquid around the glass. “You’re a part of the community. We look after our own.”
“Really? Because that hasn’t been my experience so far. But is that what you’re doing?” Disapproval thinned his mouth. “Looking after me.”
“Is that so wrong?”
“It’s all rather convenient.” He shrugged. “Too convenient.”
She tilted her head, letting the censure in his words barely brush against her. Keeping her cool in the moment, she admitted, “Perhaps it is convenient. I won’t deny it’s a good opportunity for me and I never liked to let those slip by.”
“I can’t be your opportunity.” His face was set, his tone unyielding. “You can’t be my counsel, Molly.”
“Why not?” she pressed.
“Remember when Dr. Reynolds accused me of plagiarism over that history paper.” Drew straightened. His posture, his face and his voice serious. “Dr. Reynolds also warned you that if it was true, getting involved would reflect badly on you too.”
“I accepted that risk,” she argued. “I knew you’d written that paper. Someone needed to have your back.” That’s what they did. Had each other’s back.
“This isn’t a call to go to the dean’s office this time, Molly.” His deep voice dropped into the stilted space between them.
No, it wasn’t college, and this wasn’t some disputed paper. They were no longer students with lots of ambition and plenty of bravado. “I know exactly what this is, Drew.”
“My case...my case is serious, Molly. Everything I have, everything I’ve worked for is at risk.” Drew set his elbows on his knees and gripped his hands together. “And if I can’t produce the evidence, it could very well lead to your downfall. That’s something I won’t risk.”
She folded her arms over her chest, absorbed his refusal to let her represent him. Quickly and efficiently, she swept the hurt aside. Then she spoke unrushed. Unaffected. “I’m very good at what I do, Drew. Exceptionally good. And I can help you, but you have to get out of your own way first. Don’t let this be about your ego, Drew.”
He scratched his cheek as if her words had stung him. “Refund the retainer, Molly. I won’t be your client.”
She launched one more offer. “Why don’t you think about it?”
“I already have.” His words were succinct and sounded final.
Molly set her crystal champagne flute on the table and rose. At the open glass doors leading into the ballroom, she stopped and turned around.
Drew sat, his arms still at his sides. The baseball game played out on his phone beside him. Still, his gaze remained fixed on the city skyline. Car headlights streamed over the bridge spanning across the bay. Squares of light sprinkled across the high-rises looming around them. There was always activity in the city. Always life. Always movement.
Except for Drew. He was completely still aside from his jaw shifting. The barest of movements as if he were fighting back words.
This wasn’t the man she’d known. Her Drew always had words and opinions and counter arguments. Molly shook her head. “Drew.”
He looked at her.
The loneliness in his gaze spoke to her. How she could relate.
She took a step toward him and paused. He’d accuse her of playing on his emotions to get what she wanted. He might be right if she wanted him. Not as a client. Not as the next step on her path to success. But instead wanted him as a man.
He didn’t want her, she told herself. Not as a lawyer. Possibly not as a friend. If only she’d known this just as clearly where she’d once stood with her ex, she would’ve avoided the tears, the turmoil and the heartache. She should thank Drew for his candor.
She didn’t though.
She tipped her chin and settled her gaze on his. “Good luck. You’re going to need it.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“MILO, YOU DON’T seem to be finding anything useful either.” Drew picked up the silver tabby from the coffee table and the large senior cat released a rumbling purr. Milo’s brother, Felix, launched himself onto the coffee table and picked up where his brother had left off. The smoky-gray cat knocked several pages of the investigation file from the State Bar to the hardwood floor. Then he pounced proudly on the remaining papers, proving even senior cats had moves.
The State Bar had provided the investigation file to Drew after the charges of witness tampering against him had been released to the public. Drew had read and reread every page enough times to have the information memorized. Unfortunately the paperwork and his memory failed to provide the evidence he required to prove his innocence.
Milo nuzzled his head against Drew’s neck and his loud rumbling
