Page 118 of Anything To Be With You

She slides a piece of paper across my desk and takes my mug. I turn it over and string together an impressive line of F-bombs as I read what’s written on the paper. I need to finish this up quickly so I can speak to her.

"Is there anything else you’d like me to know?"

Mr. Smyth shakes his head. "Nothing at this time."

I stand to indicate that the meeting is over. "Wonderful," I extend my hand, "if anything else comes to mind, don’t hesitate to call me."

He shakes my offered hand and leaves just as Dani is entering.

"Have a nice day, Mr. Smyth," she says with a smile that doesn’t reach those stunning eyes.

"Same to you, darlin'." Mr. Smyth answers with a smile. She dips her chin and closes the door, keeping her back to me for a moment.

"When did this happen?" I question.

She turns, placing my mug on the desk. "Twenty minutes ago."

Dani had pressed charges against Josh after he attacked her over a month ago. It took a while for them to go through, the Whitlocks would have made sure of it.

"Who contacted you?"

"His lawyer. He said that it would be easier if I drop the charges. That I won’t win this case and that I will be served with a countersuit." Her tiny hands curl into my vest. "I’m surprised John isn’t representing his son." Dani states.

"Conflict of interest. You are not allowed to represent family members or someone you have a personal relationship with." I rub her back in slow circles, the way she likes it. "Have you spoken to Mark yet?"

"He told me to swing by his office at two-thirty." Dani blinks up at me with those turquoise eyes that undo me every time.

"Good." I kiss her gently, enjoying the little whimper that comes from her. "You better go before my last client comes in," I say against her lips.

Dani moans as she backs away. I pull her back for one more quick kiss before spinning her around and smacking her on the ass. "Come home with me tonight."

"I can’t. I left Mason alone last night to stay with you, remember. I have a feeling that little shit had a party," Dani opens the door, "you could come home with me."

"But you don’t like to have sex with Mason in the house because you’re a screamer."

She smiles wickedly. "Guess you’ll have to stick something in my mouth to keep me quiet."

"Mason Christopher!" Dani yells as soon as she opens the door.

The house is destroyed. Garbage everywhere, the couch is flipped over, beer cans litter the hall and up the stairs. Dani’s pacing at the bottom of the stairs like a caged animal, humming that song again.

"Mason!" she yells again.

Scuffling comes from somewhere upstairs before Mason makes an appearance at the top of the stairs. "Ma. What ah, what are you doing home?"

Dani points to the spot next to her. "The workday is over, Mason. Care to explain why my house looks like the zombie apocalypse crashed through it."

Mason makes his way down gingerly. "I ah, had some friends over last night."

"How many friends."

Mason looks away. "Twenty," he mumbles.

"I’m sorry? How many?" she asks. The tick, tick, tick of Dani’s shoe on the floor makes Mason wince. I have a feeling that that’s Dani’s clock ticking down to detonation.

"Twenty." Mason answers again.

Dani says nothing, her hands curling into fists at her sides. "Who’s still here?"

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