Page 10 of Attraction & Repulsion

Normal again. If only Carson could have that luxury.

“Is this Kristen’s first job since your divorce?” she continued. Even though she was curious to know more, she had a job to do. “Has she been unemployed this entire time?”

“Yes. She uses the guys she is with, and me, to pay for everything.”

“I see. And she moved in with someone?”

“I know she’s been seeing this guy for a while now.” Jax rifled through the stack of papers before him until he found what he was looking for. “Her boyfriend posted on Instagram about a housewarming party last week.”

He held out the paper to Carson. It was a picture of Kristen with her arms around a stocky man in a cowboy hat and Pit Vipers. Surrounded by balloons, they stood in front of a ranch house.

“We’ll want to have this,” Carson said. “Is this your only copy?”

“No. You can keep both of the pictures.”

“Perfect.” Carson jotted a few notes down on her notepad for Garrett. “Did you bring in your divorce paperwork? Specifically, the current decree and order that the judge signed?”

Jax handed her a few stapled papers, which she scanned for anything that could complicate the process of amending his spousal maintenance, taking note of Judge Callaghan assigned to his case.

“Good news is initially it looks like we can reduce your payments, if not end them altogether,” Carson said. “No guarantees, though. If you wouldlike to hire us, our office can definitely represent you. Noah at the front desk can prepare the hiring agreement.”

“Will you be my attorney?” Jax asked.

He seemed troubled that she would be. Was he uncomfortable having a friend-of-a-friend represent him?

“No, I don’t handle divorce cases in the office,” Carson said, “Mr. Hoover will represent you.” Maybe she should look into taking on some family law matters. It would give her a wider berth of legal knowledge for when she opens her own firm.

“Good. So no conflict of interest.”

Her eyebrows scrunched, but instead of investigating his statement further, she let it go. “No, there is no conflict of interest. Do you have any other questions?”

“No, Mr. Hoover,” he deadpanned, “I believe you’ve answered them all.”

Carson began gathering her things while Jax mimicked her, creasing his folder and palming the bottle of water. She guided him from the conference room to the reception area, where Noah’s fingers were flying across a computer keyboard.

“Mr. Miller will need a fee agreement,” Carson told him before she turned to Jax. “It was good seeing you again.”

“Good seeing you too. I’m happy my stupidity didn’t kill you yesterday,” Jax said, his blue eyes flashing up to her forehead.

“Wait,” Noah said, looking from Carson to Jax with a confused expression. “Ms. West said she hit her head on a door.”

Carson stifled a groan. “I did.”

“Did she tell you that I was the one who hit her withthe door?” Jax asked.

Noah’s eyebrows shot up. “No, she did not.”

“It was an accident,” Carson said.

“I slammed a door open, and she was on the other side,” Jax explained. “Nearly killed her.”

“Did not,” Carson argued, galled.

“Your head was bashed open, and you were on the ground bleeding all over,” he countered.

“I was not bleeding all over.”

“Wanna bet?”

---