The Intern

26

My head dropped, and I focused on the amber waves colliding across the top of my drink as I swirled it. “Correct.”

“And your plan is to stay single for the rest of your life?”

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “Or maybe the straw-sucker will become my bride.”

“She’d probably settle for half a carat.”

“Damn, that’s a bargain.” I exhaled all the air from my lungs. “I’m not saying the right woman for me doesn’t exist. I’m not saying dating is out of the realm of possibility. I’m just saying it would take a f*****g miracle.”

He shook my shoulder. “Miracles can happen, my man.”

In the meantime, there was plenty of ass to check out.

Aside from straw girl, there was a blonde in the corner, who had been eyeing me all night. A redhead across the bar, who couldn’t stop looking at me as she licked her lips. A brunette a few tables away, who was pretty decent.

But if I was being honest with myself, none of them were Hannah.

Shit, not a single girl in here had anything on Hannah.

“You know what I’m really going to be doing tonight?” I asked him.

He nodded again toward the deep-throater. “You mean, instead of her?”

“After this drink, I’m heading back to the office. The Kennedy trial is going to be a goddamn media frenzy because of the people involved.”

Dominick only worked with high-profile celebrities, and this case was no exception. According to my clerk, my social media had been blowing up all week over the anticipation of this trial.

“And the opposing counsel”—I quickly took a drink—“he’s f*****g ugly.”

“You’re better.”

“I don’t deny that fact. But the motherfucker is still ruthless.” I loosened my tie. “My team is doing a hell of a job preparing, but I still have to comb through the notes and make sure I have everything I need. I’m worried …”

His brows rose. “About what?”

“A piece of evidence is going to appear, something none of us have thought of.” I smiled. “I happen to know one of the associates on the plaintiff’s team.”

“You’re saying she’s going to tip you off?”

I put my hand up in the air, not at all surprised he’d assumed it was a female. “I’m saying I might have benefited from sleeping with her a few years ago when she worked at my firm.”

“Does anyone know about this? Hannah? Your team—”

“f**k no. No one knows.” I pounded his chest as I sensed his worry. I would never incriminate any of his employees—that was what he was asking and why there was concern in his voice. “Even you don’t know, Dominick, because we never had this conversation.” I pulled my hand back. “I don’t always play fair, but Kennedy is going to win because he deserves to.”

“Jesus, this could get you disbarred.”

“It won’t, I assure you.”

He glanced around the bar, finally looking at me. “I give you a lot of s**t for being an asshole, but deep down, you’re a good man, Declan, and you’re doing right by my client.” He clinked his glass against mine. “I appreciate that.”

“You know me; I don’t f*****g lose.”

At least when it came to law.

When it came to Hannah … that was a whole different story.

HANNAH

I

brought the large, heavy glass of wine up to my mouth and took a long sip, groaning the moment I swallowed. “This has never tasted so good.”

“Long day?” my brother asked.

The sound of his voice was usually so comforting.

We were in the exact same place in our lives. Although we had different perspectives, he understood how difficult this stage was and everything we had to balance.

But instead of comforting me, his voice was a reminder of how much I’d missed him. He’d flown in for only three nights, and he was leaving in the morning, and this was the first time I’d gotten to see him.

That was all thanks to Declan.

Due to the upcoming Kennedy trial, we were putting in eighteen hours a day.

“A long week and a half.” I adjusted the pillow behind me to get a little cozier, held the glass against my lap, and kicked my feet onto our coffee table. “If I fall asleep, just nudge me. But take the wine out of my hand and save it—that’s vital.”

Oaklyn snorted from beside me. “God, do you need a pedicure.”

“I need more than that.” The polish had chipped from each toe. “Let’s go to the spa this weekend and get rubbed and fluffed and scrubbed.”

“Fluffed?”

I turned my head toward her. “Yes, extra fluffing.”

She laughed. “I can’t with you.”

“You’re not still babysitting Everly, are you?” Camden asked.

I moved the glass up to my chest, so it was closer to my mouth. “Ford’s going to get a nanny. It’s happening soon. We had the talk.”

“Man”—he sighed, shaking his head—“Han, you need to start saying no. You’re going to crash.”

I yawned. “Isn’t that what I’m doing now?”

I didn’t think an earthquake would even pull me from this couch.

“She’s the busiest person I know.” Oaklyn spoke like I wasn’t in the room. “From babysitting to school to prepping for the bar to working at the law firm—”

“Interning.”

She rolled her eyes. “Same thing.”

It was my time to snort. “If I were working, working there, I wouldn’t be on Declan’s team. And my paycheck would be much prettier than it is now.”

“I hung out with him last night.” My brother brought his beer up to his lips, staring at me as he sipped.

“Oh yeah?”

I’d watched Everly last night, so I knew Ford was going out with them. Plus, Camden had mentioned a guys’ night was happening. But until now, I’d had no idea Declan had joined them.

“He’s an all right dude,” Camden said. “Super smart, the type of personality that shows me why he’s a hell of a good litigator. He likes to talk a lot of s**t—no different than our cousins. It’s no wonder they’re all so close.” He pushed the hair out of his eyes, the top the longest I’d ever seen it. “Declan and Dominick are pretty much the same person.”

I didn’t disagree.

Both were dominant, so matter-of-fact, with the patience of a gnat.