CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jacine
Tobias convinced the officers to let me into the room, and I sat on one side of the table with him as we waited for the officers to escort the guys in. My stomach fluttered with nervous anticipation. My father’s scolding should have set me straight on what exactly I’m supposed to do, and that isn’t falling into bed with any of these clients or our firm’s lawyer.
In a futile attempt to reassure me, Tobias patted my thigh under the table.
“It’s going to work out fine. Just stick to our plan. It will pull them into line.”
My foot pulsed despite the soft ballet shoes I wore. The place between my legs throbbed because there is only so much make-out interruptus a girl can take before the fire in her nether regions drives her insane.
Tobias proved wonderfully sweet, and supportive, and I wanted to hug him for standing at my back. But the problem is not what we did with each other’s backs but our fronts. I am uncomfortably aware that I’ve crossed another professional line. Putting my hands where they don’t belong on not just the firm’s lawyer but also my father’s best friend? How can someone with a Harvard Education screw up so badly in only two days?
Officers led Cole, Jersey, and Rory into the conference room. It wasn’t the usual room, but since Tobias wanted to speak to them at once, the officers put us in this larger room. The only proviso was that the officers had to handcuff the rockers to their chairs; which they did not enjoy. Too damn bad.
The door shut us in, and two stalwarts of the police force stood guard outside.
“When are we getting out of here?” said Jersey. He rattled his cuffs to drive home the point.
“Yeah, what are we paying you for?” growled Cole.
Rory’s lips upturned into a grimace.
“The judge warned you—”started Tobias. I laid my hand on his arm to stop him. He was right. I had this, and staring at the scuffed-up reprobates stirred a fire in me that wasn’t sexual. Mostly.
Is it wrong to get hot when the men you’ve been fooling around have cuts and bruises that announce they’ve been at battle? I found the dirt smudges on Jersey’s face entrancing. Cole’s bluish shiner made me wince, but it had a certain cachet that aroused my inner cavewoman. Rory’s road burn from contact with my driveway’s gravel made my stomach flutter.
I must be sick.
Or horny.
Or both.
God help me.
“You are not paying us for rescuing you from jail, but to make your antics endearing to the public,” I said acidly.
“Baby,” said Cole. “Don’t be mean.”
“Baby? Get your head out of your pants, Cole Kane. You can’t expect me to salvage your reputation every single time you screw up. What were you guys thinking?”
“Obviously, all we were thinking about is how fine you are,” said Jersey.
Tobias cleared his throat in warning.
“Focus,” Tobias growled. “We’ve got real problems to solve, and it’s not where you’ll get your dick wet next.” I wasn’t sure if he was talking like a lawyer or a man who saw these three as rivals for my affection. But it was my job to get this train to crazy town on track.
“Seriously, Tobias and I discussed whether or not to leave you in jail. It might make good press. I can see it now.” I drew a huge arc in the air with my hand. “We’ll call the concert Work Release. The fans will eat it up.”
“Work Release,” snorted Rory. “Where’d you get that idea?”
“Actually, it was Attorney Marshall’s.”
“Attorney Marshall,” Cole said as his eyes narrowed. “I thought he offered legal advice.”
“Oh he does,” I said in a breezy voice. “And other things—too.”
“Like what?” snarled Cole.
“Like none of your business what,” said Tobias. The edge in his voice could cut glass.
The two men stared each other down, and I swore under my breath. This was not the time for another blowout. Jersey seemed to sense that too and offered up a question.
“And how do you propose we get ready for this concert?” said Jersey.
“We’ll work with your individual bands while the three of you contemplate the seriousness of the shit you’ve generated.”
“And then we’re supposed to get on stage and play like we are ready?” Jersey was incredulous.
“You know your songs, don’t you?”
“Screw that, Jacine,” said Jersey. “That’s dreck. I won’t know the marks on the stage and the sound check will suck. No.”
“What can we do? It’s not like I’m your mother and can put you in your rooms. So maybe I’ll have to let the police do it.”
“Screw it,” said Jersey. “Then I won’t go on stage.”
“I kinda like the idea of you being mommy,” said Cole. “Can I be your dirty boy?”
“Shut up!” said Jersey and Rory together.
“You’re right, Attorney Marshall,” I said as I stood to leave. “They can’t behave themselves. We’ll leave them here.”
“You can’t do that,” protested Jersey. “I’ll get another lawyer.”
“You can do that,” said Marshall as he stood too. “But since I filed as attorney of record, not until we go to the arraignment and see the judge where you can fire me properly. And then you’ll have to get a new lawyer, and the trial will wait on that.”
“Bastard,” muttered Rory.
“He’s a lawyer,” I said easily. “That’s what we pay him for. Come along, Tobias. I’m starving. Perhaps you can take me to dinner.”
Tobias’s eyes sparkled at the suggestion.
“Wait!” said Jersey. “What do you want from us?”
I glanced over my shoulder.
“One. Stop hitting on each other.”
“Fine,” said Cole.
“Not a problem,” said Jersey.
“Two. Stop hitting on me.” This last was Tobias’s suggestion as a way to reduce conflict between the three. Reluctantly, I agreed, because he was right. This was the smart course.
“Wait, baby,” said Rory. “That’s a low blow.”
“I’m not your baby, Rory. No more than anyone else in this room is.”
“Now I can see you are peckish, darling,” said Cole. “Get me out of this wrist jewelry, and I’ll show you a good time.”
I sighed. “Let’s go, Tobias.”
“Stop,” said Cole. “I’ll agree. On one condition. That lawyer man keeps his mitts off you, too.”
“Now wait a minute,” grumbled Tobias.
“No. He’s right,” I said. “This is supposed to be a business relationship. And we should keep it that way.”
Tobias looked distinctly unhappy, but I could see that if Tobias made a play for me, all our plans would disintegrate. I leveled my gaze at the reprobates. “If we have an agreement, Attorney Marshall has papers for you to sign.”
“What papers,” said Rory narrowing his eyes.
“Bail-bond papers.”
“Wait?” said Jersey. “You got us bonded out before all this nonsense?”
“It’s a misdemeanor, boys. Attorney Marshall worked his magic. But we won’t get you out until you sign the papers. And if you don’t co-operate, Tobias might lose them.”
“Sneaky,” said Cole.
“Manipulative,” said Jersey.
“Fucking brilliant,” said Rory.
“I like sneaky in a woman,” said Cole. “It keeps me on my toes.”
“Enough,” I said with exasperation. “There are also contracts for the concert, with provisions that should any of you violate the terms of your release or the provisions in the contract, you’ll, a.) forfeit your share of the profits, and b.) hold Alexander and Wells harmless from any action arising from your behavior. Is that clear?”
“Damn,” said Cole. “Do you have any whips, or do I need to buy some for you?”
“Shut-up!” said Jersey and Rory in chorus.
“Do I have your agreement, gentlemen? All of you?” I glanced pointedly at Tobias, whose jaw set but he nodded.
“Yes,” said Jersey. “We agree.”
“Good,” I said. “See you all later.”
“Wait?” said Cole. “Where are you going?”
“To visit my father in the hospital.” I waved my hand and in sheer meanness wiggled my ass. Every one of them deserved it.