Page 46 of Bonus Daddy
Brian had emailed me drafts of the motion and the memorandum to support it, but I didn’t understand much of it, so he’d suggested I come in so we could discuss it.
After all the experience I’d had with the legal system, I should have been a pro at reading and understanding these documents. But I tended to zone out when they started citing precedent from the 1960s.
He walked around his massive desk and stood behind me, pointing at the papers.
“Here’s where I lay out the arguments. Since we pulled Judge Gordon, I spelled out the logic.”
He leaned over me as I read, with one hand on the back of my chair and the other on the table, essentially caging me between his arms.
His breath skated over my neck, causing goose bumps to erupt as he walked me through the elements of our case.
“And this.” He leaned closer, circling something on the page, his warmth soaking into me.
I tried to focus on the section he was pointing out, but the words were blurry. I was better off trying to decipher the documents myself. At this rate, I’d have no clue what I was even doing in court. My heart pounded in my ears, my whole being hyperaware of his presence.
Words.
Read the words on the page, Jess.
But he smelled good, and he was speaking in his smooth, deep voice.
Focus, Jess.
This information was critically important for my kids’ future. For my future. And Brian was my attorney, working hard on my behalf.
I wanted to understand. I really did.
But how could I when he was so close and smelled so good?
Warm and spicy and maybe a little woodsy, like a forest.
“What’s that smell?” I blurted out, tipping my head up. “Cedar?”
Instantly, my face burned, and I wished with everything I had that I could take it back. Instead, I dropped my gaze to the document again, pretending to be fascinated by a paragraph about visitation.
“My beard oil,” he said, raking his fingers through it. “It’s cedar something.”
The movement drew my focus. It was simple yet intoxicating. I’d never had a thing for facial hair, but on Brian, it served to make him look more manly and capable. Like he could start the day by filing my legal motion and follow it up by changing the oil in my car, then end the day by whipping up a gourmet meal.
In many ways, he was still the gangly boy I’d fallen for in college. Yet he was somehow also a completely new, fully grown man. He was smart and capable, with a soothing voice that made me believe that maybe I could win this and get the fresh start I’d been dreaming of for years.
He backed off a fraction, and the distance allowed me to find the wherewithal to read through the rest of the papers. I even came up with a few clarifying questions before I signed off on filing.
When I’d set my pen down, he gathered up the papers and jotted a few notes at the top.
“I’ll get these edits done, and Lo will file at the court tomorrow morning.”
I stood, smoothing the skirt of my sundress, a sense of relief twining through me. “I don’t know how you got all this done so quickly, but I am so grateful.”
He picked up the stack of documents and tapped them on the desk to straighten them. “It’s what I do. I’d work night and day to help you, Jess.”
My stomach flipped in response to his words. Or, more accurately, the tone with which he spoke. Like I wasn’t just a regular client.
Rather than fan myself, which was my first instinct, I clutchedmy hands together and gave him a firm smile. I could swoon on my own time. This was business, and I had to at least pretend I was a grown woman who had her shit together.
He stood beside me, watching me. Not backing away, not returning to work, but just staring.
Close.
