Page 72 of Square Deal

“You,” he said. “I want to know everything about you, Hannah Jane Hayes.”

18

ISAAC

An hour and a half flight from Beaufort to New York City wasn’t nearly long enough to get the answers I wanted, but it was a start.

“My dad is a criminal defense attorney,” Hannah said as we slipped into the backseat of the car. Alice shut the door, got behind the wheel, and guided us out of the Teterboro Airport. “I was pre-law in college. Thought I’d follow in his footsteps.”

“Being a criminal defense attorney takes a lot of backbone,” I said, draping my arm around her shoulders.

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m well aware. Imagine growing up as the daughter of a man who argues on behalf of rapists and murderers.”

Okay, so that was a sore spot.“What I meant to say was that I can see you doing well in that line of work. You’re articulate, quick on your feet, and, uh, scary as fuck.”

Hannah rolled her eyes and fought off a smile. “It’s not that I think criminals should get out of paying their debt to society.”

“What is it then?” I prodded.

She thought for a moment and then said, “Equality. Fair treatment. It’s what should define us as Americans. That everyone—regardless of race, socioeconomic status—is afforded the same due process as everyone else. It doesn’t matter who you are. You’re presumed innocent until proven guilty. Defense attorneys aren’t looking for get-out-of-jail-free cards. They just want to see that constitutional rights aren’t trampled on for the sake of getting a conviction or appeasing the court of public opinion.”

Well, bend me over and fuck me sideways.From the driver’s seat, Alice looked over her shoulder and made eye contact with me. Over the years, she’d overheard salacious conversations with women I had been sleeping with, business negotiations, and family quarrels. Not once had she ever reacted.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but why the hell are you a wedding planner and not in a court room?”

We crossed over the murky waters of the Hudson. Hannah had a coy smile on her lips as she looked out the window.

I nudged her. “You didn’t answer my question, Princess.”

“I feel like I’m talking way too much. I usually don’t…”

“Usually don’t what?” I asked.

She peeled her gaze off the river beneath us and looked at me. “I like where I am now, but it took me a long time to accept that. Moving to Beaufort royally pissed my family off.”

“Princess?”

“Huh?”

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to know.”

Hannah sighed. “My family comes from old, southern money.” She paused and looked me up and down. “I mean, not money like you.”

“I get it.” I chuckled. “Go on.”

“My parents had other ideas about what my future was supposed to look like. I got into college and avoided telling them I was taking pre-law classes. I figured it was better to ask forgiveness than permission.”

“What happened?”

“My sophomore year of college, my mother started dragging me to all these social events with the Junior League and her country club ladies. She wanted me to join all of the charities she was a part of. She didn’t understand why I was invested in school. She wanted me to be just like her. She told me I should focus on marrying rich, planning parties, and having babies who would eventually grow up and do the same.”

Alice gave me a warning look.

“So, you dropped out?” I asked as I tightened my hold on her and traced circles on her shoulder.

Hannah shook her head. “I just changed my major. Graduated with a stupid communications degree.” She took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Now I just bingeLaw & Orderwith Chase when I need to get my courtroom fix.”

I chuckled. “He’s not a fan ofThe Office?”

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