Page 28 of Wistful Whispers

It takes a second to remember—my bed. My condo.

No one’s here.

Except for the ghost of him.

Seamus McGloughlin.

Again.

I press the heels of my hands into my eyes, trying to scrub the dream away.

Impossible.

It clings to me—hot, vivid, and absolutely inappropriate.

His talented hands had been everywhere. Mapping the curve of my waist. Pressing into my thighs. Tangling in my hair as his lips dragged over my pulse, down my collarbone, lower—

I whimper in frustration and throw the pillow to the floor.

What the hell is wrong with me?

This isn’t some random guy. This is an adversary. A man eight years younger than me. Worse—a man whose mentor I’m actively trying to hold accountable in a multimillion-dollar malpractice suit.

Today, I’ll see him in person for the first time. I’ll sit across from him, stare him down, push him until I get the truth.

Why does my stomach roil at the thought of it?

I stand abruptly and head straight for the shower. Make sure the water is hotter than necessary. I tell myself I need to get my head on straight. Sex dreams about Seamus McGloughlin are my body playing tricks on me. The attraction isn’t real.

Deep down, I know better.

Thirty minutes later, as I drive toward the office, my phone buzzes—Rosa.

I sigh and press the button on my steering wheel, connecting the call through the car’s system. “Hey, I was going to call you later.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Rosa hums knowingly. “Sure you were. Too busy being a badass lawyer to call your baby sister back?”

I smirk despite myself. “Something along those lines.”

She huffs. There’s warmth in it, though. “I won’t keep you, just wanted to check in. We all miss you, you know? Papa—he won’t say anything. I can tell he’s feeling it too.”

“I know.” My fingers tense on the steering wheel. “Work’s been insane. I’ll come down soon.”

“You said you’d come home two months ago.” There’s no accusation in her voice, only quiet understanding. “I get it, Chellie. I really do. You’re allowed to take a day off and let your people take care of you sometimes.”

The lump in my throat is unexpected. I swallow it down. “I will. Tell them I love them, okay?”

“Maybe you should tell them yourself.” Her voice softens. “We miss you. I know you miss us too.”

“Yeah. I do.” I blink at the road, my chest tightening. She’s right.

There’s a beat of silence before Rosa clears her throat. “Okay, I’ll stop now before you get all weird and awkward. Love you.”

“Love you too.” I end the call and stare at the city skyline ahead.

I do miss my family. More than I let myself think about. Unfortunately, right now, there’s no room for anything else. Not until this case is over.

By the time I step into my office, Ethan and Natalie are already seated in the leather chairs across from my desk, laptops open.

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