Fuck me. I wasn’t expecting for things to go that far. I can still taste her on my lips hours later as I meet up with Maxwell at the bar. It’s not far from the office and it’s a nice place to unwind. We hang out here a few times a week. Brodie and Weston used to join us, until they became pussy whipped. Kryptonite pussy. Jenna’s the only one who has it, and that ship has sailed.

Brodie won’t admit it, but he’s falling hard for the sexy stripper he knocked up. He’ll be married before he knows it.

“So how long until I’m in here by myself every week?” Maxwell grins.

“What?”

“Heard you were making out with a client earlier.” The cocky bastard smirks at me.

“Were you wearing a raincoat rubbing one out in the corner or what?”

“Pffttt. Please. Girls were giggling about it in the break room.”

“You heard wrong.” I knock back my drink trying to get the image of Jenna out of my mind. I’m not going there. Too much bad history and shit I don’t want to think about.

“Who was she?”

“No one special. Old acquaintance.”

“Right. She need a job?”

My brow lifts. “You burn through another assistant?”

He shrugs and runs his fingers through his hair. “You know me.”

“What’s wrong with this one?”

“Shit at making coffee and fucked up my schedule. Booked an appointment pro bono for a murder defendant. One of those ‘I didn’t do it even though all evidence points otherwise’ fuckers who can’t pay. I’m not a charity worker and I’m too lazy for that shit.”

I chuckle and a brilliant idea pops in my head. “I know a hard worker and you’d never dream of touching her or I’d kick the shit out of you.”

“Who?”

“My sister.”

He sighs. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No. She called yesterday. Looking for a new job. The company she works for is on a downward spiral. Owner’s filing bankruptcy and closing up shop.”

“Let me get this straight. You want your sister. To work. For me.”

I shrug. “Why not?”

“All right. Send her resume over. If she’s qualified, I’ll set up an interview.”

I stare at him like he’s an alien. “I put her through college. She’s more than qualified to make your fucking coffee.”

He shakes his head. “Jesus. Some acquaintance.”

“Huh?”

“That chick from earlier has you all worked up.”

I don’t answer. That flash drive she handed me earlier damn near burns a hole in my pocket. I haven’t taken a look at it yet.

Thinking about it sends anxiety coursing through my blood. You can tell a lot about someone by their bank accounts and personal files. I might not like what I find. In fact, I know I won’t.

They’re old wounds that should stay in the past.

“Want another drink?”

“Naw. I’m good.”

“You sure?” He looks past me. “Two targets just walked in. I feel generous enough to share.” His mouth twists into a smile.

“They’re all yours.” I should join him and the two hot blondes he’ll most likely fuck later, but I have too much shit on my mind.

Jenna fucking Jacobi.

I smack Maxwell on the shoulder. “Don’t end up with bugs on your dick.” I flash him a grin.

“Eat my ass.”

I laugh and leave him to it. “Later.”

“Later, bro.”

* * *

When I get home my sister, Claire, waits by the door. Tears stream down her cheeks.

Jesus, how many emotional women can I deal with in one day? I stare up toward the ceiling and shake my head at God. It’s like he’s torturing me.

“What’s wrong?” I unlock the door.

She’s always been sensitive. Our father coddled her too much because she was the baby and the only girl in our family. Our mother passed away during childbirth with her.

Dad was never the same afterward. Treated her like she was made of glass.

“Brian broke up with me.” She hiccups on a sob and follows me into my apartment.

“That guy was a fuckbag. He did you a favor.” I sigh as soon as I say it. I should be more understanding, but for fuck’s sake. I can’t handle this shit right now. Part of me wants to go beat the shit out of Brian’s bitch ass. I don’t know if it’s because him breaking up with Claire has created an inconvenience for me, or because he’s broken Claire’s heart. Probably a combination.

“I loved him. I really thought he was the one.”

I stand there and stare, shaking my head at her for a second. Finally, I sigh and muss up her hair like when we were kids. “He didn’t want commitment. He wanted what he couldn’t have. You were a challenge. He wanted in your pants. He either got what he wanted or gave up and got it elsewhere.” Someone has to be honest with her. “Listen to me. Men are pieces of shit. All of us. Even me.”

Growing up, I practically raised Claire. Dad wasn’t around much. He was too busy working and he couldn’t afford daycare or to hire a sitter. Our older brother was out the door the moment he turned sixteen. He was heavily into drugs and last I heard he was living in a halfway house in California. I tried to help him get his life together, but he didn’t want it. He wasn’t ready to help himself.

Whenever Claire needs anything she counts on me. Hell, maybe I’m as bad as our dad.

When I went off to college I felt guilty for leaving her behind, but I worked my ass off and sent home what money I could.

We’re definitely close.

She looks like she wants to die. I don’t usually deal with these things. Maybe if I change the subject…

“May have a job lined up for you. Maxwell needs an assistant.”

Her eyes brighten, and she sniffles, rubbing her nose with a tissue. “Really?”

“Just talked to him about it. Dust off your resume and get it to him tomorrow. The benefits are great, and you could probably move up quick at the firm.”

“You know I don’t want to be a lawyer. I hate the whole corporate scene. I love to write.”

I try not to roll my eyes. Claire has been writing her epic novel since she was fifteen. She refuses to let anyone read it until it’s perfect. I tried to get her to send it to one of my contacts in New York from my college days, but she refused and said she wants to make it on her own. I don’t know a lot about the publishing business, but I know few people succeed at it. It has to be hard to get your foot in the door. Why would someone turn down a guaranteed meeting with a fucking agent?

People baffle me. Even my sister.

She’ll change her mind once she gets tired of Maxwell bossing her around.

I take one look at her and I just can’t be a prick to two people I actually care about in one day. It’s exhausting, mentally and emotionally. “Call in some takeout.”

“Chinese?”

“Whatever you want.” I loosen my tie and head to my room to change out of my suit.

Claire smiles. Good enough for me. Maybe she’ll help take my mind off that fucking kiss earlier.

I doubt I’ll be able to eat. Maxwell was right. Jenna has me in fucking knots. That goddamn kiss. I had no intention of doing it but when she was staring up at me all helpless, it was like I was transported back in time and we were two stupid kids in love again.

I’d never admit that to anyone in my life.

I pull out Jenna’s flash drive and plug it into my laptop, then join Claire on the couch for some ridiculous reality show.

“I ordered pizza. Got your favorite. Ham and pineapple. It’s disgusting.”

“Better than that shit you eat with barbecue sauce.”

“Whatever. We’re in Texas. It’s like a sin not to love barbecue on everything.” She grins.

I grab the remote and turn the TV to an MMA fight.

“So barbaric.” She scrunches her nose and sighs.

“That’s nothing compared to what I’ll do to Brian if you end up crying by my door again.” He wouldn’t be the first asshole I fucked up for hurting her.

“Seriously, I’ll be fine. It just sucks.”

A while later a knock sounds at my door. Must be our food.

I look through the peephole. Maxwell’s holding a pizza box.

I open the door and he just walks on in. “Got the wrong apartment. Would’ve kept it if it didn’t have that shitty pineapple on it. You need help for eating that shit. You owe me thirty bucks.” He smacks me in the gut after setting the pizza box on my kitchen counter. His head whips over to the couch. “Oh, hey, Claire, didn’t see you.”

“Hey.” She offers him a soft smile, waving as she hangs over the back of the couch staring at us.

“Be at my office next Monday if you want a job.”

Her face lights up. “Great! Thanks.”

“Thanks, man.” I give him a head nod and hand him thirty bucks.

“No problem.” He pops the top of the box open and steals a slice. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He leans next to my ear. “I have two blondes that need some dick.”

I shake my head and grin as he walks out the door. “Later, bro.”

Claire and I fill our plates with pizza and plop down on the couch.

Jenna’s still running through my mind. I don’t even touch my food. Probably look like a damn zombie.

“You okay?”

“Do you believe in ghosts?”

“I don’t know. Never really thought about it, why?” She takes a bite of barbecue bullshit.

“I saw one today.”

Her nose scrunches up and she laughs. “What?”

“I saw Jenna.”

Claire’s jaw drops.

“Had the same reaction.”

“Did you talk to her?”

“I don’t want to talk about it yet.”

“Seriously? You can’t drop a J-bomb on me and not say anything else.”

“I can’t say anything. She’s a client.”

“Oh.”

It’s one of the perks of being a lawyer. Even when it’s not true, if I don’t want to talk about something I bust out attorney client privilege. People always buy it.

“Yeah.” I sigh and take a drink of my beer.

At least I have pizza and beer. It’s the one constant in my life that never gets shitty. Pizza and beer.