Page 2 of Already At Risk
But there was no doubting it: partner was going to be mine—as long as I didn’t fuck up. As long as I kept my clients, kept winning, and kept going.
I bit down on a grin, staring at my feet as I walked, finally feeling like I was moving in the right direction.
Hell, I wasn’t much of a resolutions kind of guy, but I had made two goals for myself this year, and junior partner was one of them. Honestly, of the two, it was the more attainable target, had a clearer path to success, and therefore, it had become my priority.
As for the other one? Well, I didn’t really know where to start with it, but after only a few seconds of celebration, my brain wandered there anyway, like it did every day. Without fail.
I should be thinking about clients. About the cases I could close, and how I could do it faster. I should be thinking about how best to convince Daphne that I was absolutely ready for this promotion in the firm. I should be thinking about what I was going to say to Julian when he stopped me in the hallway in a matter of minutes, lying in wait to pester me about the meeting like the meddlesome, supportive friend and colleague he was.
But no, all I could think about washer.
Because why think too long about anything practical when I could spend all my time thinking about a woman whom I’d probably never see again?
Truthfully, it was a damn miracle Daphne was recognizing my work at the firm, considering I spent about half of every day with my head up in the goddamn clouds, fantasizing about what I’d do if I got a second chance with the woman of my fucking dreams. Ithad been six months, and I hadn’t stopped thinking about that night, couldn’t stop thinking about the way I’d let her slip through my fingers, on the precipice of a kiss.
It would have been the best kiss of my life, I just knew it. But something had clicked in her brain as I’d pulled back and searched her eyes for consent, causing her to flee instead of giving in to me like I’d been hoping.
I wanted to find her. Wanted toapologize.Had it been something I’d done? Had I misread the signals? Misunderstood the soft moans leaving her lips as I trailed mine up her neck? Miscalculated the way her pulse had thumped—raced—against my open mouth?
I had no idea. No idea who she was or what had gone through her brain. But I wanted to know, was dying to find out all of it. And besides going back to Mulligan’s whenever I had a free night, hoping to see her again, I had no idea where to start. But I was determined to figure it out. Sparks like that didn’t ignite often. And when they ignited in a place that meant as much to me as Mulligan’s did?Fuck.
She was my second goal—the unattainable one.
First, make partner.
Then, get the girl.
It would likely help if I knew her full name. Or maybe her phone number. A general location I could send a pigeon carrier? I’d take literallyanythingat this point.
But I had nothing. Absolutely fuck all.
Sighing, I checked my watch. Only a few minutes to go before my meeting with the Londons—a meeting that Daphne had just surprisingly mentioned. It seemed to be of particular interest to her, creating suspicion thatthiswas the case that hinged on me making partner.
Fine by me. Actually, more than fine. That would be ideal, honestly.
This meeting was the least of my worries. Daphne must have forgotten, or maybe she’d never known, that Iknewthe Londons.Well, I knew Noah London. I’d never met his sister before—who was my actual client in this case—but it was the relation to Noah that had Daphne wringing her hands. We weren’t usually the type of firm that dealt with high-profile clients. That, and I had a hunch that she was a bit of a fan.
But while he might be a national-level sports celebrity as the quarterback for the New England Knights, Noah London was also just someone who moved in my circles. Had been for years since he went to college with my sister and was one of Julian’s best friends.
Julian, who was staring at me from the doorway of his office as I strode down the narrow hall of Gardner Law, crystal clear conference room windows passing me by.
“Can I help you?”
Julian raised one auburn eyebrow. “How’d it go?”
I shrugged. “Good.”
“Man of few words today, huh?”
“She was…encouraging,” I added. There really wasn’t much else to say. Nothing concrete to share.Yet. “I think she wants to meet Noah.”
Julian laughed. “Daphne’s a Knights fan? Never would have guessed.”
“Or something,” I muttered, not really sure if it was the football she was a fan of or justNoah. Hopefully, it was sports-related, considering Noah was very much taken. By Julian’s sister, Gemma. And I had a feeling Julian wouldn’t want his sister kicking his boss’s ass.
Reading my mind, Julian asked, “My future brother-in-law coming with today?”
My brows tugged together. “Did they get engaged?”
