her wide-eyed gaze from Tyler to Donovan. “We wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“It’s not an intrusion,” Tyler assured her. “Families are welcome. And we’re bringing back the disc jockey from the internal associates launch.”
“She was a big hit.” Iris grinned. “You and Lily should come. You’d have a great time. I’m planning the party so I should know.”
Rose laughed. “All right, you’ve convinced me. But I want to be there when you invite Lily.”
She looked again at Donovan. Her grin faded as she found his attention fixed on her mouth. The glint in his eyes caused her pulse to trip. His bright gaze lifted to hers. She caught her breath. What was happening? What was he thinking? Donovan blinked, and the moment was gone. What a relief.
Rose lifted her water glass to her lips. Her hand shook just slightly. Now that she’d ruled out the charismatic sales executive for the role of her fake boyfriend, there wasn’t any reason for them to see each other again. Was there?
* * *
“What did you think?” Tyler followed Donovan into his office after lunch.
Tread carefully. We’re talking about Ty’s girlfriend’s sister. Donovan thought highly of Iris, not only for her professional expertise, but also because she made Tyler happy.
“Thanks for introducing me to Rose.” Donovan circled his desk and sank onto the black leather executive chair behind it. “But I don’t think she’d be interested in this project.”
Tyler lowered himself onto one of the gray visitor’s chairs in front of Donovan’s desk. “Rose was a little...”
“Aloof?”
“Yes, but she wasn’t like that the first time I met her.”
“I’d wondered about that.”
“And Iris loves her. She, Rose and Lily are very close. And a lot alike.”
Donovan had wondered about that, too. But why had she been so cold and abrupt during lunch? “Did you tell her that I needed a lawyer?”
“No.” Tyler’s response was swift and definite. “I never mentioned it. I didn’t think you’d want me to.”
“I didn’t.” Donovan rubbed his forehead with his right hand. What should I do now? “I’d hoped to at least tell Rose about the shelter’s situation, but she doesn’t seem very approachable.”
“Do you want me or Iris to speak with her?”
Donovan was shaking his head before Tyler finished his thought. “I don’t want to put either of you in the middle. This is my problem.”
“When are you going to understand that when one of us has a problem, we all have a problem?” Tyler’s frown was chastising. “That’s the way family works.”
“You know it’s hard for me to accept help.” Donovan restrained himself from squirming on his seat.
“This isn’t for you. It’s for the shelter’s clients, the families you’re trying to support.”
“You’re right.” The truth in Tyler’s words brought Donovan up short. “But I’ll be the one to talk with Rose.” If he decided it wouldn’t be a waste of time.
Tyler spread his hands. “There’s no harm in asking her, Van.”
“So I’ve heard.” He’d always hated that saying. “I may be asking too much, though. I need an experienced lawyer who cares about the case, but I also need someone who’s willing to work for free.”
“It’s for an important cause.”
Donovan swung his seat to better contemplate the cerulean, cloudless sky from his office window. Summer finally had landed in Columbus. They’d had a long and difficult winter, followed by a petulant spring. Although born and raised in Chicago—a much colder city—Donovan had lived in Columbus long enough to breathe a sigh of relief when the first rays of summer brought warmer temperatures.
“Most of the board supports filing the statement against allowing the pawnshop to move into our neighborhood. But a few members don’t.” Donovan spun his chair to face Tyler. “It’s hard keeping the board together and focused on the plan. I’d like a lawyer who’s sympathetic to our position so that I’m not pulling both the board and the lawyer.”
“With great power comes great responsibility.” Tyler quoted the line from Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man.
Donovan gave a half smile at the reminder. “The other board members are looking for lawyers, too.” Although Donovan suspected they weren’t having any better luck than he was. No one had called him with recommendations. He swallowed another sigh.
Tyler checked his bronze wristwatch. “I thought you said your response was due next month? Today’s June 22. You’re running out of time.”
And options. “I know. If we don’t find a lawyer who’ll work with us pro bono, I’ll propose that the board members pool our money to pay a lawyer.”
“How do you think that will go over?” Tyler arched a skeptical brow.
“Not well. It’s also a poor precedent to set.”
“If I were you, I’d talk with Whitley before suggesting the board split the bill.” Tyler stood to leave.
“You’re probably right.” The thought of asking his ex-girlfriend for a favor turned his stomach.
As Tyler left his office, Donovan’s thoughts returned to Rose. She would be a far better option than Whitley, but he’d have to offer her a proposal she couldn’t refuse.
* * *
“What did you think?” Iris skipped the more formal greeting when Rose answered her office phone later that afternoon.
Tread carefully. Rose sat at her desk at the law firm of Apple & Spencer LLC. She’d been dreading Iris’s call. She didn’t want to offend her sister, but Iris had been wrong. Donovan wasn’t fake boyfriend material.
“Van seems like a very nice person.” Rose looked away from the documents she was reviewing on her computer screen. “But I don’t think he’s the right man for this plan.”
There was a moment’s surprised silence before Iris responded. “Are you kidding me? Why not?”
“He’s a player.”
“No, he’s not.”
“Are you kidding me?” Rose’s eyebrows jumped toward her hairline. “It’s in his eyes. It’s in his smile. He’s just too charming.”
“Rosie, not every good-looking guy is a player.” Iris’s tone was gentle. “They’re not all like Ben.”
“I know.” Rose squeezed her eyes shut. Consciously, she knew that, but subconsciously, she was still suspicious. “I
