Page 29 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

I straightened my shoulders. That was one thing no one could doubt I was good at. Truthfully, I probably should’ve gone into acting instead of law, but I’d wanted to stay local and central New York wasn’t exactly a hub of the entertainment industry.

Swallowing hard, I rose. My mouth was as dry as dust. I needed a quart of water and some Tylenol. Yesterday’s headache had returned without needing to party first. “I hate to cut this short, but I have a full schedule today.”

What, I had no clue. But it sounded better than saying I had nothing planned.

My dog whined and leaned against my leg. “You hungry, buddy?”

“I’d say so. Probably has to pee too, since I’d guess you’ve been unconscious for a while,” Preston offered helpfully.

“Thanks. Glad I can count on you in a crisis.”

“What crisis? You’re alive. The dog’s alive. You said the firm is fine. Didn’t you? We probably should’ve offered to help a long time ago. Just got busy and didn’t take the time to. I regret that.” Preston’s probing stare activated the throb at the base of my skull.

“Everything is fine.” It wasn’t, but if and when we had to have this intervention, I wasn’t going to talk to my brother in front of Bishop. Yes, he was the next best thing to family, especially in my brother’s eyes, but I really wanted to minimize the number of people who bore witness to my come-to-Jesus moment.

Bad enough I felt as though I’d have to tell my father, the ultimate understanding man. Except not at all.

Did I technically have to? No. But it was his legacy I wasn’t handling the way he’d want me to. Some would say screw him, but that wasn’t me.

“So you’re in over your head, but yet you’re redecorating? Doesn’t that seem a little, I don’t know, odd?”

I narrowed my eyes at Bishop. “Did I say I was in over my head?”

“No, but you typically don’t consider bringing on new attorneys if you can handle the current caseload. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. Having a lot of work is good.” He shot a sidelong glance at my brother. “A problem we’d like to have.”

“We’re doing just fine,” Preston said evenly, returning his gaze to me. “But there’s a point when you have too much for current resources. Admitting that is operating from a position of strength.”

“Sure, it is.” Bishop nodded enthusiastically. “But for what it’s worth, I gave Shelby Wilde’s partner TJ a glowing recommendation for you yesterday.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, I told her you were a decent guy. Honorable man of the law who pays on time and is fun to talk to and also far too charming for your own good.”

“Is that part of being a decent guy?”

“It helped me in my single days.” He grinned.

“Is April doing okay? Tell her I miss her. Maybe I should call her.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I said you were too charming for your own good. That wasn’t an invitation for you to flirt with my wife.”

I had to laugh. “I only flirted with April to keep my skills sharp. She knew I wasn’t serious. Besides, that belly of hers could knock a guy’s eye out.”

A besotted expression flitted over Bishop’s face, and I had to smother the impulse to roll my eyes. Love was a thorny business. “She’s radiant.”

I cocked a brow. “If you talk to her like that every day, no wonder she married you.”

He shrugged. “Just saying.”

“I’m happy for you, man. That honeymoon phase looks like it’s treating you well. And she’s already knocked up, so hey, happy times, am I right?” I waggled my brows as he coughed through a laugh.

Evidently, Bob had given up hope lunch would be forthcoming anytime soon and flopped to the floor with a sigh of obvious doggie disgust.

“As for Shelby, she’s not interested in anything other than work, and I can respect that. Her role as a mother is her priority, and I definitely respect that.”

“Good to hear.” Preston shook his head. “This wasn’t the crisis I anticipated discussing this afternoon, gotta say.”

Bishop smirked. “A woman doesn’t want to have sex with him. This is definitely a crisis.”

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