and he’s about as fed up as I am. When I agreed to represent Cynthia, she was in agreement on property, children, money—the whole nine yards. But along the way, something went awry.”
“Maybe she decided to bleed him for more money.”
Hallie sighed. “I’m not sure. I think it’s more than that. Something personal, though she won’t confide in me. But when she and Bill are sitting across the table from each other, the venom is suddenly free-flowing.”
“I have every confidence that you’ll sort it all out.”
“Like I said, Cynthia will either play by the rules or out the door she goes.”
“Leaving her money behind.”
Hallie picked a piece of lint off her light wool slacks, then looked up. “That’s the deal and she knows it.”
“I’d like to be kept posted on this one. Her father is an old friend of mine with a lot of money and clout. I wouldn’t want our firm to do anything that would offend him. Most of all, I’d like to see this work out for her.”
“My concern is the children.” Hallie paused with a sigh. “I suspect that’s where the new problem stems from. But again, I can’t say, not until Cynthia confides in me.”
“I guess we’ll soon see.” Winston paused, then changed the subject. “Are you happy here, Hallie?”
His question took her aback. She hadn’t known why she’d been summoned into the inner sanctum and she really hadn’t cared. Good or bad, she was capable of handling it.
However, this afternoon she’d sensed a difference in the atmosphere and Winston’s attitude. When he hadn’t addressed anything significant thus far, she had thought she’d been mistaken. Now she knew her first instinct had been correct. Something was up.
“If I weren’t, I’d be gone.” A smile tempered her bluntness.
Winston’s chuckle deepened. “Wasted question, right?”
“Depends on why you asked it.”
“All right, I’ll get to the point. We’re considering taking you in as a shareholder in the firm. A partner, if you will.”
Hallie could barely contain her excitement. She felt the urge to lunge out of her chair and sing the Hallelujah Chorus. Instead, she remained still and calm. “I’m both humbled and honored, Winston.”
“Poppycock,” he muttered. “Honored, yes. Humbled, no.”
Hallie gave him a glittering smile that deepened her dimple, then sobered. “I’ve hoped for those words for a long time, even though thirty-eight is young to make partner.”
“That’s true. But if we didn’t think you had potential, the position wouldn’t be in the offing.”
“I know, and again I’m honored. But I have devoted my life to the practice of law and to this firm.” She didn’t add that she’d sacrificed a home and family for the firm, in order to reach this stage in her career.
The phone on Winston’s desk rang. When he reached for it, Hallie rose and signaled that she would see him later. He nodded.
Hallie headed straight for the ladies’ room, an added spring in her step. She was ecstatic and wanted to tell everyone about the sudden turn of events and her good fortune, but under the circumstances, that wouldn’t be wise. Anyway, she didn’t have a close friend and confidant in the firm. Since she was the only female in a good old boy’s network, she had to tread lightly.
Besides, she hadn’t gotten the partnership yet. She’d best remember that. After it became a reality, that was the time to celebrate.
On her climb up the partnership ladder, she had garnered more than her share of enemies—especially Nick Skinner. He seemed to want everything she wanted, whether he’d earned it or not. Nick would be a constant thorn in her side, if she allowed it. Unless they were forced to work together on a case, she ignored him, which unfortunately seemed to make matters worse.
Hallie could imagine his reaction when he heard the news. Some of her giddiness waned. Maybe he was also being considered as a shareholder. If so, that would make things more difficult for her. She fought constantly to prove that she was as good as any male attorney on staff. To her way of thinking, she’d met that goal. But again, that wasn’t her call.
Once in the ladies’ room, Hallie glanced in the mirror. She didn’t look any different, except that her translucent skin appeared more flushed than usual. And there was a gleam in her chocolate-colored eyes that heretofore hadn’t been there.
Indeed, things were looking up, and she couldn’t be more pleased.
That thought was very much on her mind as she walked into her scenic office.
“Hello, Hallie.”
She pulled up short and felt her stomach drop to her toes. “How did you get in here?” Hallie knew that was a foolish question and didn’t deserve an answer. Her secretary, Pearl, wouldn’t have any qualms about letting this particular man in.
“How are you?” His beautiful lips moved, but she barely realized he’d answered her with a question.
Since her throat was too tight to speak, she simply stared at her former fiancé. Jackson Cole was standing in front of the huge window that dominated her office. Every nerve in Hallie’s body kicked into overdrive.
His black hair was now flecked with gray, and his vivid blue eyes were deeper in color and more compelling than ever. To label him tall, dark and handsome sounded trite, but it fit. Add the word charming, and he was instantly upgraded into the unforgettable category.
She wanted to turn and bolt, but of course she didn’t. She dug her heels into the floor and her nails into the palms of her hands. Even the sensation of pain failed to draw her attention.
It hit Hallie like a blow that he still had the ability to push her sexual buttons like no other man. Another blow followed that one—Jackson Cole was the only man she had ever loved.
How could she ever have let him go?
Fearing she had already let him see how his unexpected presence had affected her, Hallie walked forward and smiled, but didn’t dare extend her hand. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so abrupt.” She ignored the fact that her voice had a slight huskiness. She hoped he would, too.
He nodded, then said in his deep, smooth voice, “Apology accepted.”
For a split second, silence fell between them. As their eyes met and held, the electricity bouncing between them made more noise than any conversation could have.
“I’m assuming you have a reason for being here,” she said, having regained most of her composure. At least that huskiness was gone.
“As good as it gets.”
Now that she was past the initial shock of seeing him, she noticed that he appeared a bit subdued, that his usual charm wasn’t in evidence. And his voice had a rough, almost sarcastic edge to it, not at all in character for him. Or it hadn’t been,
