Read Online Conduit by Angie Martin - Free Book Online

“So why not make partner?
A mental institution isn’t bad considering he could have, and should have,
gotten the needle.”
    “Dad thinks I could have gotten an acquittal instead of
going for the NGRI defense.”
    “Could you have?”
    Nathan looked around their immediate area for any snoops. He
lowered his voice. “Since it will be leaked to the press tonight for tomorrow’s
headlines, Waschevski has emphysema. Heavy smoker since his teenage years. With
any luck, he’ll be gone long before his first two years are up. Could I have
gotten him acquitted? Who knows? But maybe I didn’t want to take a chance the
bastard would survive too long out there in the real world. You should tell
Uncle Leo that not all defense attorneys are bad ones,” Nathan said with a
wink.
    “You always had a bigger heart than your dad.”
    “Which is why I’ll someday own this place, but never make
partner while Dad is still kicking,” Nathan said. His eyes traveled down Emily’s
form-fitting black dress and back up to her face. The tone of his voice
transitioned from that of professional banter to the low bass that he used to
woo and charm. “You know you’ve never looked as beautiful as you do tonight.
Maybe in a little bit we can ditch this party and—”
    “How’s Trisha doing?” Emily asked. “I haven’t seen her yet
tonight.”
    “She’s a distraction, Em. Nothing more.” His hushed tone quickly
extinguished any lightheartedness in their discussion.
    Emily hesitated before responding. Nathan still had his mind
set on her, and he reminded her of that every time their paths crossed. His flighty
romance with Trisha Mathers was well known within their circles as a farce. The
only one who didn’t seem to know it was Trisha, or more likely, she feigned
ignorance to stay in Nathan’s good graces. He had a lot more going for him than
his looks and killer charm. Some women would put up with anything to marry a
man with that much money.
    “I’m sorry, Em,” Nathan said. “I know I shouldn’t say things
like that. Trisha is a good girl who deserves better, and you’ve made your
choices clear. Sometimes, I just can’t help myself around you, but I suppose
you already know that.”
    Emily smiled and extended her hand toward him. “Friends?”
    A smile crawled across his face. Instead of accepting her
hand, he wrapped his arms around her. “Friends don’t shake hands,” he whispered.
    “Well, isn’t this a cozy reunion?”
    Emily broke away from Nathan and frowned at Cassie, who
chuckled at her own words. Cassie pushed her way in front of Nathan and enveloped
him in a large hug, leaving the man who accompanied her standing next to Emily.
    “Cassie,” Nathan said. After releasing her from his arms, he
pecked her cheek. “Still as ornery and gorgeous as ever.”
    “I always did like you, Nate,” Cassie said, with a wistful
smile. “You have excellent taste in women.”
    “I wish you would tell that to Emily,” Nathan said.
    “Now, now,” Cassie said. “Don’t put me in the middle of your
little lover’s spat.”
    Emily glared at her and stopped her leg from kicking Cassie
to get her to shut up.
    Cassie’s date reached his hand out to Emily, inadvertently
stopping her from assaulting Cassie in a roomful of witnesses. “I’m Stephen
Gaines,” he said.
    Emily accepted his firm handshake. “Emily Monroe,” she said.
Emily examined Stephen while he turned to Nathan and shook his hand as well. Dressed
in a black tuxedo, like every other man in the room besides Nathan, Stephen
appeared to be a typical date of Cassie’s. Tall, blond, with the same chiseled
features that adorned hundreds of cheap romance novels, but in his handshake, she
picked up on something Cassie had yet to discover.
    She swallowed the last of her wine and turned to Cassie. “I
met a potential client you might be interested in hearing about.” She smiled at
Nathan and Stephen. “You boys don’t mind if we talk shop for a few minutes,