Page 12 of A Single Soul

“Fine,” she said through her teeth. “What part would you like to amend?”

“For starters, I need them gone during working hours.” He thumped his knuckle on the table. “Gone. Full stop.”

She pursed her lips.

“If they’re visible when I’m at work,especiallywhen I’m in court,” he went on, “then there’s a damn good chance I’ll lose my job. And my reputation.” Matt cocked a brow. “So who will you call next time a client wants to sue you?”

Oh, she was not pleased. “Is that all?”

“No.” He leaned back and folded his hands in his lap, affecting boredom, which had to be a deliberate means of antagonizing her. “I need them gone when I’m actually on the prowl. If I’m meeting someone, if I’m at a club, if I’m FaceTiming with someone…” He half-shrugged, nearly sending Andras tumbling. “That has to be me and only me.”

Her thin-lipped scowl turned to a sneer. “And being a savvy attorney, I’m sure you’d never exploit a loophole by claiming you’realwayson the prowl, and therefore they need to be gone all the time.”

His chuckle wasn’t a denial.

As they stared each other down, I still had to fight the urge to squirm. Admittedly, Bridget intimidated me. She clearly didn’t have that effect on Matt, though, and his cool brazenness had my pulse pounding for reasons that had nothing to do with being in the presence of a pissed-off fae.

“You wanted this, Mr. Russo,” Bridget said flatly. “You asked me to help you find a companion. And if you recall, that’s exactly what I do.” She inclined her head. “So I know what I’m doing, yes?”

“You know what—”

“Yes or no, Mr. Russo,” she snapped.

He tightened his jaw. “Yes.”

“Right.” Her smile returned, frosty as ever. “Then perhaps you should defer to my expertise, hmm? I know what I’m doing.”

“You do,” he said. “But I’m also correct that, as it stands, your methods are going to ruin my chances with anyone, and quite possibly ruin mylife. So I don’t think I’m out of line asking for some modifications.”

They glared across the desk again.

After a moment, Matt said, “Look, we both know you’re going to end up in my office again sooner or later. Because everyone in the fae district needs an attorney sometimes, and I’m thelastattorney in this city who’ll giveyouthe time of day.”

The subtle tightness of her lips told me he wasn’t wrong.

Matt continued, “So, in the interest of maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship going forward, I don’t think I’m out of line here.”

“Perhaps not. But don’t think you can come in here and try to play games and exploit a loophole to—”

“No, no, I wouldn’t dream of it.” He showed his palms. “That’s how tricksters do things, not lawyers.”

She actually rolled her eyes.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Andras piped up, still lounging on Matt’s shoulder like a bored kindergartener. “The sooner you wankers sort out this bollocks, the sooner Raziel and me can finish this assignment.” He pushed himself to his feet, snapped his wings once, and crossed his arms. “He wants us gone when he’s at work or on the prowl, fine. She wants us still there enough to do our job, great. Now can we get on with it already? We’re already hours into this and ain’t done a bloody thing except listen to whinging and bickering.” He paused, rolling his eyes. “Well, and listen to that one lose his bloody mind over Pinkberry.”

That last part actually got a laugh out of both Bridget and Matt.

From Matt’s other shoulder, Raziel made a haughty sound and grumbled, “You love Pinkberry too.”

Matt was fighting a losing battle against his amusement, but he managed to school his expression—sort of—enough to say, “He makes a valid point.”

Bridget’s eyebrow shot up. “About Pinkberry?”

“Well, you have to admit,” I interjected timidly. “It is pretty good.”

Matt quirked his lips. Then he sighed. “Goddammit. Now I want Pinkberry.” He sat up. “Fine. Let’s iron this out and then get out of here before I end up with a hangry angel on my shoulder.”

“Hangry?” Raziel asked. “What’s that?”

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