Page 94 of Crash Course
At least he wouldn’t make a scene by following her.
I’m okay.
I’m okay.
She thought she was, anyway. Time would tell. Still, someone to talk to wouldn’t be a bad thing.
She made her way down the stairs, walking to the park across the street where she plopped on a stone bench. She dragged her phone from her briefcase and spotted a text.
Cruz. Wishing her good luck.
She checked the time stamp. He’d sent it just before she’d walked into the courtroom, but she’d already silenced her phone and stowed it.
She tapped on his contact and hit the phone icon because he might be exactly what she needed right now.
Strong, calm Cruz who seemed to bring order and reason when there was none.
"Hey," his deep voice came through the phone line. "You done already?"
"Oh, I’m done alright."
"Yikes," he said. "That doesn’t sound good. Didn’t go well?"
"The judge rejected the deal."
"No way. That’s a thing?"
"It doesn’t happen often, but it just did."
"Jeez, Cilla. I’m sorry. You worked so hard on that."
Yes. Yes, she had and it took a man she was just getting to know to recognize that when her own father hadn’t. If Dad had noticed, it obviously didn’t matter to him.
"Thank you," she said. "You have no idea how much that means to me right now."
"Good and, hey, I’m still in town. Can you meet me?"
She perked up. Given what just happened, the last thing she should do is play hooky with Mr. Delicioso.
But maybe a quick visit might help her decompress. "Want to grab lunch? I’d planned on heading back to Charlotte, but . . . I could use the break."
"Would love to. In fact, since I helped you this morning, maybe you can help me."
"Of course. What do you need?"
"You inspired me. I’m about to look at a house. Wanna come with me? We’ll make it a two-fer. You look at the house and then at lunch you can tell me about your shitty hearing. Deal?"
She shouldn’t. Sheshouldfigure out how to salvage her mess of a case and keep her client from doing time he didn’t necessarily deserve. All because of her father’s petty revenge.
Not to mention that she had an upcoming murder trial to prep for. Work, work, work. All the time.
A couple of hours with Cruz would be nice. Very nice. Plus, she always enjoyed house hunting. And, hello? He’s looking for a house?
In Asheville.
He’d failed to mention that.
"Deal," she said. "Where are you?"
