chapter 6
HUNTER
“SO WHAT YOU’RE TELLING me is your new client, Jeremy Rodgers, is Riley’s husband,” Jaxon clarifies, as he sits across from me in my office. “And she didn’t tell you that, nor did she tell you she was getting divorced in the first place? Oh, and the reason Jeremy is your client is because you’re doing a favor for a friend from law school, so there’s that added complication too.”
“Pretty much,” I reply, cringing. “How do I get myself into these situations?”
“I keep asking myself the same thing, although to your defense, how would you know that he was her husband?” Jaxon thrums his fingers on the table as he contemplates what I just told him. “So what are you going to do? Is it going to be an easy divorce, or a messy one?”
“She doesn’t want anything besides her dog and her business,” I tell him, unable to keep the pride from my tone. “But he wants to hurt her, so he’s treating the dog like a child he wants to win custody over.”
“So they’re fighting over . . . a dog.”
“Essentially,” I tell him. “But really he’s just being a douche. There’s also Riley’s drama thrown in there as well.”
Jaxon raises his eyebrows in confusion. “Aren’t we talking about Riley’s drama?”
“No, Riley’s the pub. So while the pub is hers—she started it with an inheritance she received—it came out during mediation that Jeremy owns the actual land. He’s been her landlord all this time and she never knew.”
“What. The. Fuck.”
I nod in agreement. “My thoughts exactly. So there’s another monkey wrench thrown into the mix.”
“Sounds like one,” Jaxon mutters, then looks me in the eye. “Riley has awful taste in men, doesn’t she?”
“I think her luck is about to improve actually,” I reply, ignoring his dig. “She’s not ready now, I know that, but I can still be there for her. I’m a patient man.”
Jaxon barks out a laugh. “Since when?”
“Since Riley.”
“Hunter . . .” he starts, and I can tell he’s about to say something I’m not going to like.
“What?”
“I just hope this isn’t about the chase is all,” he says, studying me. “Riley is a challenge right now, and I know you enjoy the game. Just make sure you’re going to be ready to keep her when you catch her. Because I know she’s a strong woman, but she’s also a sensitive one. She can try to hide it as much as she wants, but that woman feels everything. She’s thoughtful, caring, and kind. Yes, she has a mouth on her, and can be bossy as hell, but her bark is worse than her bite.”
I don’t like that Jaxon is talking to me like I don’t already know all this, like I don’t know her, when I do. I also don’t like that he seems to think I’m some kind of player, or a man who doesn’t know how to treat women, when that’s not true either.
“Riley is different for me, Jaxon,” I tell him. “This isn’t a game, and I’m not just looking to fuck her, if that’s what you think.”
He puts his hands up in retreat. “I’m just saying, don’t get angry. I know you’re a good man, I do, but I also know you tend to treat everything as a game. This isn’t allowed to be one of those times.”
“It isn’t,” I assure him. “I have no intention of hurting her, Jaxon.”
He continues to talk as if I didn’t just say anything. “On top of that, with the situation here, now isn’t the best time, don’t you think? Have you thought about those repercussions? He’s your client. Dropping him would tarnish your reputation and possibly bring us a lawsuit.”
“Of course I’ve considered all of this—I’m not going to drop him as my client. I am going to get Riley a better lawyer though. Someone who will actually challenge me.”
“Okay,” he says instantly, nodding. “So you’re going to get her a better lawyer to go up against you? But you think you can still win?”
“Yes, I can still get Jeremy more than what he deserves and more than what the law requires,” I admit, leaning back in my chair. “But this way, at least Riley has a fair chance. The lawyer she has now is useless. Some advice would be great right now.”
“I don’t think you have many other options,” he murmurs. “I think you also need to stay away from Riley until all of this is over. A conflict of interest exists here, and if Jeremy finds that out, he can use it against you if he doesn’t get everything he wants in the divorce.”
He’s right. I know he is.
But I don’t fucking want to stay away from Riley. I only just found I actually have a chance with her, even if it’s not right now, it could be, whereas before being with her was just a pipe dream. There’s only one solution I can think of. I might not be able to represent her, but someone I trust can. I have a few other friends at different firms all over the city. I know I could get one of them to step in and take care of her, and I know just who to call.
I pick up the phone and ask for Arabella Jameson.
One of the only lawyers in the city who can give me a run for my money, and someone who happens to owe me a favor.
I KNOCK TWICE ON Kat’s door, then enter, even though she doesn’t tell me to come in. We should probably have more boundaries here, but I know she’s not with a client.
“Hunter,” she says in welcome, lifting her head from her laptop. “Is everything okay? You have that crease in your forehead you get when something’s wrong.”
I rub my forehead and scowl. “My sister told me I should get Botox to fix that.”
Kat’s eyes widen before she starts laughing. “You have a sister? And if you get Botox, I’ll give you shit for the rest of your life.”
“Didn’t say I was going to,” I grumble. “And yes, I have a younger sister, Cleo. You’ll get to meet her at my birthday.” I normally don’t talk about my personal life, even though I consider the people I work with family. My sister has been through a lot, and her story isn’t mine to tell. I decide to get straight to the point. “Okay, so I’m here for a reason.”
“You are? Normally you’re just here to talk shit with me and steal my snacks.”
“I know,” I tell her. “Did you know that Riley is getting a divorce?”
“What?” she asks, eyes going wide.
“Yep. She didn’t want anyone to know, so she didn’t tell any of us, and yes, I know, it’s ridiculous. Anyway, I found her a better lawyer than her current one, and I know that makes no sense since I’ll be going up against her, but shit. I couldn’t do nothing.” I pause, watching the shock play on her face, then add, “And I still want to steal some snacks, so what do you have?”
She pushes her chair back from her desk. “Riley is getting a divorce and didn’t tell any of us?”
I nod.
“We’re lawyers.”
“I know.”
“This is our thing,” she mutters under her breath. “And she didn’t even fucking mention it? She has some serious issues.”
“I know,” I repeat, rubbing the back of the neck. “And there’s more.”
“Tell me everything,” she says, leaning forward, that determined gleam in her eye. When I first saw it, I knew she’d be a great lawyer. And she is. She’s amazing. “And then I’m going to go and have words with a certain brunette pub owner.”
I tell her everything from start to finish.
Jeremy.
Riley.
Bear.
The pub.
Everything.
“Fuck,” she murmurs, tucking her hair back behind her ear. “You’re not in a good position, Hunter.”
“I know,” I say, scrubbing my hand down my face. “But let’s worry about me later. Right now, we need to get Riley through this.”
“Okay,” she nods, once, then twice. “We can do this.”
I’m glad she’s confident, because I have the feeling it’s not going to be so simple.
But for Riley—I don’t give a fuck.