Page 36 of Blind Justice

Noah shot Alex a look, the corner of his mouth quirking upward. “You’re relentless.”

“Says the guy who just spent half the night protecting her from Matt Brandt and then still came in to chase a hunch about her secretary’s boyfriend,” Alex countered. “Come on, man. You like her. She clearly likes you. Don’t overthink it.”

Noah leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he considered Alex’s suggestion. “Ethan’s house, huh?”

“Yeah,” Alex held the door to the office, “low-key, good food, good company. And who knows? Maybe Ruth will bring you another cup to borrow.”

Noah chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”

“Not a chance,” Alex said, grinning. “So, what do you say? Take the rest of the day off, get some rest, and show up tomorrow night ready to enjoy yourself for once.”

Noah hesitated, but the idea of seeing Ruth again, without the tension of Matt Brandt, was appealing. He sighed, grabbing his bag. “Fine. You’ve got this for now. But call me if anything comes up.”

“Deal,” Alex said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Now go. And don’t even think about coming back here until next year.”

Noah smirked, grabbing Ruth’s Stanley cup as he headed for the door. “See you tomorrow, Alex. And don’t screw anything up.”

As he walked out of the office, the thought of seeing Ruth again settled in his chest, warm and insistent. For the first time in a long time, he felt like there was something more waiting for him, and he wasn’t about to let it slip away.

Fifteen

New Year’s Eve

Ruth stood before her mirror, smoothing down the shimmering gold and black sweater that hugged her figure in all the right places. Its off-the-shoulder cut added just the right amount of festivity, while the soft fabric promised comfort for a casual house party. She paired it with high-waisted black jeans and sleek heeled ankle boots—brand-new, a Christmas gift to herself she’d been eager to debut. Her red hair, loose in soft waves, fell over one shoulder. Gold earrings caught the light, matching the delicate necklace resting against her collarbone.

Tonight wasn’t just any New Year’s Eve party. Ethan and Molly’s home had become the hub for family gatherings since the birth of their little boy, Wyatt, and this year, Ruth felt a renewed determination to show up confident, poised, and ready for fun. Maybe the air crackling with possibility would allow her to talk to Noah without sleepiness nor her nerves getting in the way.

Grabbing her coat and purse, she checked her reflection one last time and stepped out into the biting winter night. A gust of wind caught her breath as she locked the door behind her. Snow had begun to fall again. She glanced around her and pulled her coat tighter. The driveway was a winter wonderland under the porch light, its icy surface a hidden threat.

Her boots clicked against the frozen pavement, the heels sharper and higher than she was used to when walking in the snow. She took careful steps, holding on to the handrail as she descended the stairs. Halfway across the driveway, her phone buzzed in her purse. She glanced down, fumbling to reach it—when her world tilted.

One misstep, a sickening slip, and she was airborne.

Time slowed. Her arms flailed as her feet lost their grip. Her body twisted, instinctively bracing for the fall. The crack of her wrist against the unforgiving concrete shot a jolt of pain straight to her core. She landed hard, the air forced from her lungs, gasping against the freezing cold that seeped into her jeans.

“Damn it!” she hissed through clenched teeth, cradling her wrist against her chest. A wave of nausea washed over her as the pain sharpened, radiating from her wrist up to her elbow. Her new boots lay mockingly perfect on her feet.

Tears pricked her eyes, more from frustration than pain. She lay there shaky and cold. Her wrist throbbed, an angry, swelling reminder of the humiliation she felt. The last thing she wanted to do was walk into Molly and Ethan’s house and disrupt the party with her drama.

Looking down at the swelling peeking out of her glove, she knew she couldn’t hide it. She winced at the thought of her mother’s and sisters’ worried fussing or Tristan’s no-nonsense doctor mode taking over. A trip to the ER would turn into an Everhart entourage.

First, she had to get up and make her way into the house without becoming a part of the driveway or falling again. Holding her arm against her chest, she rolled to her knees and dug a toe into the ice-snow mix. Awkwardly, she managed to stand.

One cautious step after another, she made it to the top of her steps. Concentrating, she unlocked the door and made it back into the warmth.Now what?

Noah.Her mind leapt to him like a lifeline. She bit her lip, debating. It was pathetic, really, calling him for something like this. But she didn’t trust herself to drive, and in the warmth, her wrist began to throb to her heartbeat. She took some deep breaths, trying to quell her nausea. Taking a deep breath, she dialed his number.

He picked up after two rings. “Ruth?”

“Noah.” Her voice wavered, a shaky betrayal. “Are you…on your way to Molly and Ethan’s?”

There was a pause on his end, filled with a quiet tension. “I left ten minutes ago for their place. What’s wrong? You don’t sound okay.”

Her laugh came out weak and thin. “I think I broke my wrist. I slipped on the ice. It’s nothing major?—”

“Do you need an ambulance?” His tone sharpened, no-nonsense and alert.

“No!” she blurted quickly, mortified. “I didn’t hit my head, and it’s not that bad,” her breathing hitched, “…I think. I don’t want to ruin everyone’s night. I’m just…” The words caught in her throat. “It hurts.” She sniffled.

---