“I know it’s a lot to ask.” He motioned toward the shopping bags near the door. “An air plant and a stuffed animal aren’t enough to negate the risks.”
“We took an oath as lawyers, Drew.” She stepped closer to him. “Now one of our own has broken that oath. I cannot turn my back on that.” Or you.
Drew closed his eyes and exhaled. “Thank you.”
“Save the gratitude for after the plea hearing.” Molly rubbed her hands together rather than reach for Drew to reassure him. He was a client, nothing more. “Tomorrow morning we can discuss your charges and the Van Solis case in detail.”
“Or we could start now.” His eyebrows lifted. “You always were the most curious person I’ve ever known. The first to get to work and the last to leave.”
He wasn’t wrong. But tonight she needed Drew out of her hotel room before she forgot their working arrangement and let her curiosity extend to the man Drew had become. “Tomorrow at nine am we begin. Meet me here.”
Surely, by tomorrow she would have focused her curiosity on the case only.
She eased Hazel from Drew’s arms without disturbing her sleep. “Do you have information on your friend’s in-law unit?”
“I left the phone number of my friends, Brooke and Dan Sawyer in the bag with the air plant.” Drew walked to the hotel room door, opened it and turned back. “I’m sorry this is our reunion.”
Molly nodded and pressed a kiss to the top of Hazel’s head. Drew left and eased the door shut behind him with a soft click.
Molly was sorry too.
Sorry she hadn’t met Drew in another time. One where she still believed in love and listened to her heart. Now she had to concentrate on her career and Hazel instead.
Being a good mom and lawyer would take all her resolve and energy.
There simply wasn’t room for anything or anyone else.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“WE’VE BEEN IN this hotel too long.” Molly stared at the collection of Hazel’s things that were missing their partners. From the purple polka dot bootie to the green stacking cup to four stray socks. The whale and shark water squirters had escaped from the mesh bath bag and two rings were not on the red stacking base.
Hazel, strapped into a baby carrier on Molly’s chest, kicked out her legs and babbled as if supplying the location for each missing item.
“Hide-and-seek is your favorite game.” Molly sighed and kissed the top of Hazel’s head. “Time to seek.”
A knock on the door disrupted Molly’s search. It wasn’t housekeeping, who usually announced their arrival. Molly stood sideways and peered through the peephole. She jerked back. Drew, not housekeeping, waited on the other side. Molly pressed her palms against her temples, speared her fingers into her hair and glanced at the bedside clock. The red digital lights flashed like a silent alarm. Mortification rattled through her.
She forgot. Forgot a business meeting. Forgot about her client.
Her client: Drew Harrington.
She had not forgotten a client meeting. Until today.
Hazel giggled and chewed on her frozen washcloth.
Molly had indulged in extra mommy–daughter time earlier, extending their morning walk another mile to continue their one-sided game of I spy. Then she’d returned to their hotel room to pack. She hadn’t even showered yet. Hadn’t even fully prepared for her day.
And her client waited out in the hallway. Ready to discuss his case.
Molly looked like she was ready for a playdate.
She gripped the door handle and paused. The facts remained the same whether she wore a power suit or yoga pants. She was a fine lawyer and a fine mom. She could do both well. She would ensure Drew knew that.
Hazel giggled before chomping on a corner of the washcloth she held in her tiny fist. Molly’s inner battle between mom and lawyer was over.
She unlocked the door and opted for a cheerful but professional tone of voice. “Drew. You’re early.”
Hazel squealed, her body wiggling, at the sight of Drew.
“Hey, baby blue.” Drew greeted Hazel with a quick tickle under her chin and tender smile. “You look rested and ready for adventure.”
Molly wasn’t ready for Drew. Her bare feet and the baby attached to her chest all but shouted that Molly was in full mommy mode. And definitely not ready to fend off Drew’s soft side and the sudden sigh coming directly from her heart.
She touched her messy bun, but then dropped her arm. He could keep his sweet smiles and endearing qualities for Hazel. Drew was both a client and a peer, so two red flags. Not to mention, the statistics proved that the majority of work romances were doomed to fail. She knew that from bitter experience. She was part of those statistics. And the fallout from crossing a line with Drew would only be more heartache.
Winning Drew’s case boosted her reputation. As for a boost to her heart, Molly would leave that to her daughter. She motioned Drew inside, silenced her sighs and her heart. “Good timing. We’re just about to begin our toy hunt.”
“Toy hunt.” Drew gripped a black leather briefcase and glanced around the suite.
Molly pointed at her display on the bed. “You’re looking for items that go with those ones.”
“We need to discuss my case.” Drew aimed a frown, not his charm, at Molly. The easy affection he’d shown Hazel dispersed.
Score one for Molly. She had to transition out of mommy mode and quickly. The tough attorney inside her could fend off her misplaced attraction to Drew in a heartbeat. Molly squashed one of the lone socks between her hands. Flexibility. That had been the critical advice in a parenting book Molly had read. Now she had to get Drew on board for a slight schedule change. “First, we’re collecting toys. Then we’re finishing packing. And finally, we’re moving.”
“Moving?” Drew shifted his briefcase to his other hand. “Right now?”
“Yes. Brooke and I spoke on the phone last night after you left, and we worked out the rental terms.” Molly lifted the cushion off the couch,
