Read Online Seducing the Attorney (At First Sight Book 5) by Janet Lane-Walters - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Janet Lane-Walters
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him. He war really losing his ability to concentrate.
Tony groaned. “Blame it on the nanny search.”
One of the partners rose. “You need to get a life. We’ve hashed everything to death. Anything pending can be done next week. My wife will be glad to see me home before midnight once this week.”
“Good idea. See you on Monday.” Tony shoved papers in his briefcase and led the charge to the doors. He stopped in his office and left a list for his secretary to handle on Monday. He stacked folders on the desk.
An hour later he slouched on the leather couch in his living room and stared at the darkening sky. He held a vodka and tonic and took a deep drink. He’d wanted his life to change but this all work and no play wasn’t working. He drained the glass and mixed another.
A memory flashed in his thoughts. He and Jim had been ten and twelve. They had vowed to have each others’ backs. The guilt he’d buried spilled over. He sucked deep breaths. He set the glass on the coffee table. He needed a diversion. He needed people. He needed…He didn’t know. He had failed his brother and himself by walking the road their father had chosen.
The muscles of his chest felt like iron bands. A choking sound emerged. And tears, hot bitter tears spilled down his face. He gulped a deep breath.
He pushed to his feet. In the kitchen he splashed cold water on his face. Maybe he would hit one of his favorite spots and find female company. First he’d better eat something. He was half way to being drunk.
He pulled eggs, pepper Jack cheese, tomatoes and pepperoni from the fridge. After chopping all the ingredients he needed, he mixed four eggs with cream and poured them into a large omelet pan. As he sat at the center work space a memory of Lauren sliding food onto a plate arose. His body took fire. His eyes widened. He wanted her but last Saturday should have cured his desire.
He sat and ate the omelet. Why hadn’t she called? His fork clattered on the marble work space. On Sunday he’d dashed from the condo as if a father with a shotgun had drawn a bead on his back. He hadn’t given her his cell number and the apartment land line was unlisted. She could have called the office but his secretary had orders to refuse all calls from women with only the women from the Good Magazine Group allowed.
He finished the omelet and carried his drink to the living room. For a time he searched his phone log and rejected number after number. He knew who he wished to call. He went to the window and stared at the skyline. Shadowy buildings blurred by spots of light stood against the dark sky. Call Lauren? Ask about Jamie? Pr…The thoughts occurring made him laugh.
Chapter Five
Tony stood in the shower as the hot water washed over him. Instead of luxuriating he scrubbed and rinsed. With a towel wrapped around his waste he strode to the bedroom and put pillows behind his head. He put ear buds in and reached for his cell. He was prepared to talk, to listen and do other things.
Nearly ten. Was she in bed? Asleep? She had classes all day tomorrow. He hit her number on speed dial. By the fifth ring an ember of anger sparked. Where was she?
“Hello.” The husky voice was hers.
“Lauren, it’s Tony. Did I wake you?”
“Yes.”
“Can you talk?”
“Let me go downstairs so I don’t wake Jamie.”
“Housemate?”
“Sleeping. Tomorrow’s her big day.”
He listened to the sound of her clattering downstairs.
“I’m here. Did you find a nanny?”
“No.”
“Sorry to hear that.” The disappointment in her voice struck a blow. “Why did you call?”
“To talk. Where are you?” A vision of her long legs flashed in his thoughts. He drew a deep breath to camp the sensations storming his body.
“In the living room. What’s this about?”
He cleared his throat. “The nanny search is impossible. Work is hectic. I’ve been at the office until nine or later every evening. How’s Jamie?”
“Growing. Looking
Tony groaned. “Blame it on the nanny search.”
One of the partners rose. “You need to get a life. We’ve hashed everything to death. Anything pending can be done next week. My wife will be glad to see me home before midnight once this week.”
“Good idea. See you on Monday.” Tony shoved papers in his briefcase and led the charge to the doors. He stopped in his office and left a list for his secretary to handle on Monday. He stacked folders on the desk.
An hour later he slouched on the leather couch in his living room and stared at the darkening sky. He held a vodka and tonic and took a deep drink. He’d wanted his life to change but this all work and no play wasn’t working. He drained the glass and mixed another.
A memory flashed in his thoughts. He and Jim had been ten and twelve. They had vowed to have each others’ backs. The guilt he’d buried spilled over. He sucked deep breaths. He set the glass on the coffee table. He needed a diversion. He needed people. He needed…He didn’t know. He had failed his brother and himself by walking the road their father had chosen.
The muscles of his chest felt like iron bands. A choking sound emerged. And tears, hot bitter tears spilled down his face. He gulped a deep breath.
He pushed to his feet. In the kitchen he splashed cold water on his face. Maybe he would hit one of his favorite spots and find female company. First he’d better eat something. He was half way to being drunk.
He pulled eggs, pepper Jack cheese, tomatoes and pepperoni from the fridge. After chopping all the ingredients he needed, he mixed four eggs with cream and poured them into a large omelet pan. As he sat at the center work space a memory of Lauren sliding food onto a plate arose. His body took fire. His eyes widened. He wanted her but last Saturday should have cured his desire.
He sat and ate the omelet. Why hadn’t she called? His fork clattered on the marble work space. On Sunday he’d dashed from the condo as if a father with a shotgun had drawn a bead on his back. He hadn’t given her his cell number and the apartment land line was unlisted. She could have called the office but his secretary had orders to refuse all calls from women with only the women from the Good Magazine Group allowed.
He finished the omelet and carried his drink to the living room. For a time he searched his phone log and rejected number after number. He knew who he wished to call. He went to the window and stared at the skyline. Shadowy buildings blurred by spots of light stood against the dark sky. Call Lauren? Ask about Jamie? Pr…The thoughts occurring made him laugh.
Chapter Five
Tony stood in the shower as the hot water washed over him. Instead of luxuriating he scrubbed and rinsed. With a towel wrapped around his waste he strode to the bedroom and put pillows behind his head. He put ear buds in and reached for his cell. He was prepared to talk, to listen and do other things.
Nearly ten. Was she in bed? Asleep? She had classes all day tomorrow. He hit her number on speed dial. By the fifth ring an ember of anger sparked. Where was she?
“Hello.” The husky voice was hers.
“Lauren, it’s Tony. Did I wake you?”
“Yes.”
“Can you talk?”
“Let me go downstairs so I don’t wake Jamie.”
“Housemate?”
“Sleeping. Tomorrow’s her big day.”
He listened to the sound of her clattering downstairs.
“I’m here. Did you find a nanny?”
“No.”
“Sorry to hear that.” The disappointment in her voice struck a blow. “Why did you call?”
“To talk. Where are you?” A vision of her long legs flashed in his thoughts. He drew a deep breath to camp the sensations storming his body.
“In the living room. What’s this about?”
He cleared his throat. “The nanny search is impossible. Work is hectic. I’ve been at the office until nine or later every evening. How’s Jamie?”
“Growing. Looking
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