Page 96 of Indiscretion

“Just what?”

“Your longest relationship was three months, Dawson. I’m being realistic and trying to protect myself. I need this job.”

“Fine. Whatever.” He walked back behind his desk and started rifling through papers, avoiding eye contact. “I’ll be in the conference room in ten minutes.”

Well,thathad taken a turn. And now I felt bad. But we were in the office, and I really did want to do a good job. I’d talk to Dawson more about it later.

I went out to the lobby and introduced myself to everyone, then showed them all to the conference room and went to fetch coffee for Will Archer, the only one who wanted any. Dawson’s sixteen-year-old client looked more like Ryder’s age. He also seemed terrified. After only a few minutes in his company, I was pretty sure he was going to break down in tears during the meeting today. I’d had my share of young defendants. Even when they were guilty, it never felt right.

Will smiled when I returned with his coffee. “Thank you. I was running late and didn’t get to stop for my caffeine fix. You’re a life saver.”

“No problem.”

He stood near the conference room door, while the two teenagers huddled with their moms. “You must be new?”

“I am. This is only my third week.”

“Did you come from another firm?”

I shook my head. “I worked at the DA’s office in another state, actually. I only recently moved to New York.”

“The DA’s office, huh? Me too. I left about a year ago to go into private practice.” He lowered his voice. “Not as easy of a switch as you thought, right?”

“No, it’s definitely not.”

Will sipped his coffee. “So what brought you to the Big Apple? Did your husband get transferred or something?” Before I could answer, he shook his head and held up a hand with a shy smile. “I’m sorry. That came out sounding chauvinistic, like the only reason you would move is to follow a man. To be honest, I’m just curious if you’re married. I got divorced last year from my high school sweetheart. I never learned how to be smooth. I have no rizz whatsoever.”

I laughed. “It’s okay. I only recently learned what rizz was, from my ten-year-old nephew. But no, I moved to the City to be near my sister. I’m not married.”

I said the last words just as Dawson started down the hall. He frowned and nodded at Will. “Archer.”

“Hey, Dawson. How’s it going?”

Dawson grumbled something I didn’t catch.

Will lifted his coffee to his lips with a smile. “Good to see you’re just as chipper when we’re on the same side as you were when we were on opposite sides of the courtroom.”

Dawson’s face stayed stern. “Let’s hope you do a better job when we’re on the same team than you did when I kicked your ass a dozen times.”

“Ouch,” Will said.

Dawson gestured into the conference room. “Let’s get started.”

Will nodded but stayed at the conference room door even after Dawson walked in. He smiled at me again. “It was nice to meet you, Naomi. I hope we’ll see each other around again.”

“I’m sure we will.”

Lunchtime came before the meeting broke up. Dawson walked back to his office with Will in tow. Only one of them looked happy.

“I need the file back,” Dawson said as he entered his office. “Take it to Staples or have someone copy it and messenger it over by the end of the day. The preliminary hearing is next week, and I only received everything from the DA’s office on Friday afternoon.”

“No problem.”

The two men came back out, stopping a few feet from my desk.

Will looked over at me and back to Dawson. “Actually, I’ll probably return the file myself this afternoon. I have some business over here anyway.”

Dawson’s eyes narrowed. “Leave it with the receptionist.”

---