Page 113 of Mr. Flirt

I shook my head, thinking back to a night at my apartment. The whole thing had popped into my head, and I was going to mention it, and then I forgot.

Because that was what Lucy made me do. When I was with her, all I cared about were those moments of us together so I could memorize her little smirks or her snarky comments to hold me until the next time I got to see her.

“I’m just saying that maybe it’s not you who needs to carry the first message.” Winter stretched toward the ceiling, and my mom nodded.

“It’s worth a shot.” My mom shrugged.

“Would either of you respond to Winter if you were in the same place?”

My mom laughed and smacked the counter. “Absolutely not.”

“Great.” I rolled my eyes and let out a deep sigh, thinking about what I’d done to destroy Lucy, and I realized that whatever message she received from me couldn’t just be about me.

I wanted her to know that she shouldn’t lose everything she’d gained this last while. Love could still exist for her, even if she wasn’t in love with me.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Deal is Done

Lucy

I stared at my best friend sitting across from me in the office. The fire from the breakup with Shep led to amazing things in my career. Every ounce of fury I felt, I put right back into my cases. Danni’s ex rued the day he’d messed with her heart, and his legal team was on its knees.

“You ready to sign the deal?” I asked, feeling the charge run through me. “I don’t think we’d get any better by getting into a courtroom. They’re nervous and don’t know what other cards we have to show.”

Danni smiled as relief etched her features for the first time since little Lucy’s birth.

“I didn’t even know he had some of these properties,” she whispered in disbelief.

I grinned. “It’s amazing what a forensic accountant can dig up.”

“So, I really get two apartment buildings, three rental houses, and the home I’m living in?” she squeaked out. Her hands slid to her mouth.

“You’re also entitled to half of his 401k, pension, and IRA. Not to mention spousal support for the next seven years to get you on your feet and child support until little Lucy turns eighteen.”

Danni’s eyes glazed over in disbelief.

“Aren’t you happy?” I asked, clapping my hands together.

Danni nodded and swallowed hard. “Of course.”

“But what? He also has to pay for little Lucy’s education, so we have a new trust set up for that.”

“No. I know. This is more than I ever could have hoped for from this disaster of a marriage. It’s like you’re our fairy godmother, but it’s just...” She bit her bottom lip and straightened in the chair.

“Come on, tell me. If you want to go to court, I know we can rip him a new one there too.” I nodded, letting my best friend know I had her back. I always would.

“It’s not that, and you’re going to think I’m super weak, especially after the whole debacle you had with Shep.”

Just hearing his name made my stomach gnarl. Sure. Good things came out of it. My rise in cases hit new heights because technically, I was merely the woman who’d ignored Seattle’s Most Eligible Bachelor on film. That was all that was caught on video. No one knew that I fell hard for him. That I slept with him. That Shep earned that grand from his buddy.

My spine stiffened at the thought, but it brought great things for my career.

So, I guess if I ever saw Shep on a sidewalk, I could tell him thanks because everyone wanted a divorce attorney who didn’t believe in love, and of course, the firm played that up.

I’d even made partner.

“You’re the strongest woman I know, Danni. Don’t think for a second that it’s not true. Tell me anything.” I reached for her hand and pulled it into mine across the desk.

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