Hey, guy!” A man’s voice shouted. It sounded like he was—oh, shit.

I looked up, taking in for the first time the scene in front of me. A man, a bike over on its side, and the aforementioned man looked pissed.

“I am so sorry,” I stammered. “I wasn’t—”

The man waved his hand dismissively. “Yeah, you weren’t paying attention. Same old story. You need to start paying attention, buddy. You do realize we’re right out in front of…” he stopped and looked around. “Well, how convenient. A lawyer’s office? I could just walk in there and you’d be getting my doctor’s bills!” He glared at me, and then, in a movement so small I almost missed it, he looked up at our sign again. “How in the hell did I get all the way over here?”

This was not a good situation, but it was hard not to laugh at this guy threatening me with my own practice. Not to mention his odd question. However, you can’t ride two horses with only one ass, as Granddad was fond of reminding me. I decided to concentrate on being threatened with myself.

“This guy? He’s a real jerk,” I said, keeping my grin low-key.

“Then he would be good at suing the hell out of—shit,” he said, dropping his head, hands on his hips. He sighed, then looked up.

“I’m sorry for yelling like a crazy person. You’re the second person to crash into me today, and my patience is not what it normally is. I’m also apparently out of sorts and totally lost,” he added.

That wasn’t what I’d been expecting. Then the man smiled and wow. He was gorgeous. Light brown hair, and tall. Fit, as evidenced by his bike apparel. Slightly tan, which told me he probably biked a lot. A wide smile. The most amazing ice blue eyes I’d ever seen. Wow.

“I’m really sorry. Are you all right? It’s fine if you want to talk to a lawyer,” I said.

“I’m good. No worries. Just not in the greatest mood.”

“Are you sure?” Now I was worried this might be some kind of scam.

“Yeah, like I said, no worries.”

“Listen, if anything does come up, here, take my card, and give me a call,” I said, fishing a card out of my pocket. If this did go south, I wanted to make sure that I had the ability to say I was trying to do the right thing.

He took my card and looked at it. “Bryant Higgs… attorney?” He looked up, a faint smile at the corner of his lips. “I’m sure I was real intimidating, huh?”

I cleared my throat. “Even more so in front of my office.” I gestured at the building. “I’ll give you some advice for free. Don’t ever admit you’re out of sorts to someone who you think you might sue.”

He looked at the building, and then the card, and then me, and exploded with laughter. It was infectious, and I found that I couldn’t hold in my amusement.

He sobered up after a minute, leaning on his bike. Then he held out a hand. “Declan O’Mara. Good to meet you although I’d have preferred it to be less of a collision.”

“Bryant, just like the card says. Seriously, will you let me know that everything’s good?” I could hear my dad’s voice in my head telling us to be careful because as lawyers, people loved to sue us. Like some sort of cosmic justice or something.

“Yeah, but I don’t think it’s a big deal. But sure, I’ll give you a call.”

“Thanks. Sorry I—”

“No problem. I’ll check in with you, ease your lawyer brain,” he laughed a little as he got back on his bike. With a wave, he cycled off.

I stood, staring. I had to be more careful. I shook my head to clear it and went up the stairs into the office.

“How was lunch?” Tibby asked from her desk.

“Glad you asked. It was a banner meal in the annals of Higgs history,” I said, throwing myself in a chair.

“Really?” She pushed her laptop away. “Spill.”

I recounted the whole thing, and at the end, I couldn’t believe it. There were a couple of tears sliding down her face.

“Are you crying?” I asked.

She snatched a tissue from the box on the edge of her desk. “Yes. Leave me alone. I’ve never heard your dad go off for you. On you, yes. But in your defense like that? Never. You’ve never told me about it happening, anyway.”

“It was pretty impressive.”

“Yeah, so I’m crying.” She wiped her eyes again. “That’s so great, Bryant. I’m really pleased for you. Isn’t this what you hoped for?”

“I just wanted them to not nag me to death, and to not be assholes about my choices. I never even considered something like this.” It still seemed surreal. “I wish you could have seen it, Tib.”

“Me, too. I can’t be so hard on your dad anymore.”

“That’s all it took?” I got up.

“That’s all? This was pretty big!”

“It was. I’m teasing. Listen, my personal life has intruded for long enough this week. I’m getting as bad as you,” I teased her a little more.

“Well, it’s your turn,” Tibby shrugged, and pulled her laptop close again. “But yes, you should work. I’m bringing home all the bacon these days. And being serious for a minute, we do have court next week.”

“So?”

“I might have to go with you.”

“Why?”

“Because their lead guy is a complete ass, and I want to see you beat him down. Plus, he’s got a temper and it will piss him off to see me there.” She smiled.

“Ah, he poked the shark, didn’t he?”

“Friggen jerk. He did indeed. You don’t have to be polite.” She scowled at her screen.

“Oh, good. I’ll just take my own personal crap out in court.”

“You don’t think you can have your shit together by then?”

“Girl, please. You have no stones you can cast in that department.” I raised my eyebrow at her. I’d put up with her life getting crazy a couple of times and always in good humor.

Tibby laughed. “You’re right, but I’m always going to try.”

I rolled my eyes as I left.

She was right. It was a good thing to work with your best friend.

* * *

I didn’t think about Declan O’Mara until the end of the week when my phone rang. I answered, “Bryant Higgs,” without taking my eyes off my paperwork in front of me.

So irritating to still deal with paper when it was much easier to go digital for most of this.

“Bike crasher Declan O’Mara here. Checking in as promised.”

Oh, shit. He was calling to tell me that he’d discovered some major injury. The call to my dad was going to suck.

“Hi, Declan. How are you doing?” That was a loaded question.

“I wanted to let you know that I’m great.”

“You are?” I asked, breathing a sigh of relief. I hoped I was quiet about it. “That’s great,” I said, feeling a little foolish. “I’m glad you didn’t get hurt because I was lost in space.”

“I’m good. But since you’re still wallowing in guilt, let me help you deal with that. You can meet me for a beer tonight, and it’s all on your tab.”

I stilled. Was this a date? It sure as hell sounded like a date. Was he interested? I hadn’t gotten that vibe when we bumped into each other, but… it sounded like he was interested now.

It had been a while since I’d been out on a date with someone I didn’t know. Graham and I did date nights and—Graham! I was dati—no. I was not dating Graham. I wanted to, but he wanted time. And I hadn’t heard from him in a month, I corrected myself.

It felt like this was a request for a date, but I could be wrong. Either way, he was nice. Nice to look at or he was trying to be nice and assuage my guilt.

“Bryant?”

“Sorry, Declan, I was looking at my schedule. Yeah, tonight’s good.”

“You work on the weekends?” I could hear a hint of laughter in his tone.

“Sometimes. I have a court date next week, and it’s a challenging one, so I am getting all my homework done,” I said.

“That sounds like a good move, but since you already agreed to beers tonight, leave the homework at the office.”

“Gladly,” I leaned back, stretching. “I’m tired of looking at it, anyway.”

“How about The Rye around five?”

“Sounds great,” I said. “Although that’s a bit more than beer,” I added, smiling. I loved The Rye.

“Well, I’m thoughtful like that. I like people to have options. See you later,” Declan said.

I hung up, and I could feel the smile on my face. While I had no expectations, he seemed like a good guy. If this was a date, then all the better, but again, I couldn’t tell. I hadn’t been paying attention after I’d run into him. Well, I had noticed how nice he looked in his workout gear… but the thought of lawsuits drove all that out of my head.

“You’re a Higgs,” I said to myself.

When Tibby stuck her head in, I was surprised to see that it was after four.

“You want to come out with us tonight?”

I shook my head. “No, thanks. I’m going out for a beer.”

Tibby’s eyes rose to nearly the ceiling. “Oh?”

“Don’t say it like that, you old gossip. I just met someone earlier this week—”

Tibby whooped. “You’re back, back in the saddle again,” she sang, inviting herself into my office.

“It’s not like that! I ran into him out in front and knocked him off his bike.”

“Oh, shit. Is this a settlement talk? Why didn’t you tell me about this?” She switched from cackling best friend to all law in less than a heartbeat.

“No, it’s no big deal. I asked him to let me know that he was all right, because I thought the same thing you did,” I grinned at her, “And he told me he was fine, but that I could take him out for a beer for his trouble.”

She crossed her arms, looking at me. “Is this a date? Did you really score a date from an accident?”

I was glad in that moment she’d come in. “I don’t know. I didn’t get that vibe from him, but…” I shrugged. “It feels like a date, even if I’m not sure about him. I feel like a kid!” I threw up my hands. “I’ve been part of a couple for so long, I don’t know whether to scratch my watch or wind my ass!”

Tibby laughed. “Well, if he’s interested, he’ll let you know. If not, write it off as a business expense.”

“You are colder than I am,” I stared at her. “How did I miss this when I first asked you to go into business?”

“Blind, like most guys there,” she shrugged again. “Underestimating women? Who cares? That’s not the point right now. The point is, this could be a date, so you’d better hop to it and pull your shit together.”

“What’s wrong with my shit?” I looked down at myself.

“God, men.” She rolled her eyes. “Go brush your hair, brush your teeth, and make sure you don’t stink. It may not be anything, but that’s what you do when it might.”

I stopped myself when I remembered that I’d seen her do this countless times. “There’s a reason this isn’t a guy thing,” I said, taking a lofty tone.

“It should be. It’s common courtesy. You don’t go into court with bad breath. You should go into any meeting the same way.”

“I can’t believe I’m being lectured by you,” I grumbled, getting up to go to the bathroom between our offices.

“You’re lucky to have me. Hey, what’s this guy’s name? What’s he do?”

“Why?”

“Because that’s what you do, Bryant. You get some info on your friend when they go out with strange people so that if you don’t show up on Monday, I have a place to send the police.”

“Are you serious?”

She stepped into the bathroom behind me. “Yes. One hundred percent.”

I stared at her, but she wasn’t budging. “Fine. His name is Declan O’Mara, and I have no idea what he does. He rides a bike for fun,” I added.

“That’s it? That’s all you got?”

“I didn’t realize I was supposed to compile a report.” I glared.

“All right, if that’s the best you can do. Text me when you get home tonight.”

“Again, are you for real?”

“I’m your friend.” She disappeared back onto her side.

I stared at myself in the mirror. This could be a lot of fuss over nothing.

After a few moments where I peered at my hair in the mirror, Tibby yelled at me again.

“Lock up?”

“You’re leaving already?” I called out.

“Yep.”

“Slacker.”

“Call me and tell me everything. Late tomorrow morning and don’t forget to text me tonight!” she added.

“Yes, Mom,” I yelled toward her office.

I could hear our staff laughing. They all loved working for us—said it was like working for a brother and sister.

Which was true. Add onto that a good benefits package, and we treated them like part of the family—we didn’t have much turnover.

When I finished up, and closed up my office, I headed out to see that our paralegals were leaving.

Darcy, who’d been with us since we’d opened, smiled. “You look good, Bryant.”

“Well, good. Have I been looking less than good?”

She exchanged a glance with Tina, our office manager. “You haven’t been yourself lately,” she said.

Tina nodded.

“That was diplomatic. But true,” I sighed. “Sorry if I’ve been a pain. My head has been up my own ass for too long. However, it’s free and clear now, so no more of not-me anymore.”

“That’s a good thing. It’s fine, by the way. Everyone has those months that are terrible,” Tina said.

“Have a good weekend,” Darcy said.

“You, too, ladies,” I smiled.

They left, and I did a walk-through and then locked up.

As the door clicked shut behind me, I found that I was a little nervous.

That I hoped it was a date, and I was scared as hell that it would be. Or that it wouldn’t be.

There was no happy medium. As I headed for The Rye Bar, I thought I could solve everything if I just went home and crawled into bed.

Which made me laugh at my own foolishness. It would be what it would be.

But I still hoped it was a date.