Page 406 of Summer Heat
“I’ve been talking with Timothy Knight from Knight and Stern.”
“As in Gabriella’s father?”
“Yes. Her father is interested in my partnering in their firm.”
“Why on earth would they want you? You’ll be damaged goods once the divorce proceedings start.”
“Regardless, I have the deep pocket clients they want.”
“None of whom you’ll be able to take.”
“Yes, but you can. After my ‘retirement.’”
“Whoa, whoa. I’m not jumping ship. And even if I wanted to, I sure as hell wouldn’t jump into a new one with you.”
“Not even for a name partnership? I’ve worked it all out. By the time I’m through, Sullivan, Knight, and Stern will be—”
“Just stop! I’m not taking part in this scheme. If you’re going to join Knight and Stern, it’s going to be without me. And if my personal life was somehow part of this deal you’re negotiating with Timothy Knight, you better start thinking of a back-up plan because not only am I not leaving the firm, I’m not going to come within ten feet of his daughter.”
“Because you’re in love?” sneered Marcus.
Connor remained silent.
“I knew it,” he spat out with contempt. “You’re chasing a girl who’s too nice to admit that she’s been in love with your brother for over a decade. Don’t you have any pride?”
Connor felt that blow clear to his gut.
“What’s more, your brother is in love with her too. He just hasn’t realized it yet because of everything that happened with Beth. But he will. And when he does, do you really want to be the one standing in his way?”
Marcus did an almost believable impression of a fatherly sigh. “Your brother is a good man. He stood by his wife through an awful disease and is now raising his daughter as a widower. He and Abby are perfect for each other. They’re both family oriented, both educators. If you really believe you’re falling for this girl, stop thinking with your dick for once and do the humane thing. Nip this in the bud. She’d never survive in your world and you know it. She’s a nice girl. Let her be happy with your brother. You’ll never be able to give her the life she deserves, not the way Brian can.”
Connor tried to get up and walk away, tried to stop listening, but he couldn’t.
Aside from the farce of fatherly concern for Brian, nothing his father said was untrue.
Not the least of which were his feelings for Abby.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
AT THE SOUND of the doorbell, Abby checked the clock. 9:30 p.m. There were only two people who could be standing outside of her house at this hour. And since both were well aware of her addiction to ice cream, she brought the pint she’d been working on along with her as she went to open the door.
She really shouldn’t have.
Because apparently, James freakin’ Bond had taken over Connor’s body.
And she was rocking one of Brian’s old shirts and a messy half-ponytail/half-bun piled atop her head.
“Hi, beautiful.”
Her knees buckled.
“So this was the pressing engagement you couldn’t break to go to the charity ball tonight?” he asked, eyebrow raised.
“Yup. Ice cream night is a big night for me.”
He leaned over and intercepted the spoonful she’d just scooped up. “Green tea? Right, you’re in Asia this week. Nice. So are you going to invite me in?”
“Oh, of course. Come in. Why aren’t you at the gala?”
