Read Online The Valentine: The Wedding Pact #4 by Denise Grover Swank - Free Book Online
Authors: Denise Grover Swank
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Chapter 1
B lair Hansen-Lowry stared at her client in disbelief.
“You never closed the toilet lid,” Allison DeSanto shouted across the conference table. “You caused me pain and suffering that I will never recover from.”
“Are you kidding me?” Marco, her soon-to-be ex-husband, shouted back. “I forgot to close the lid one time and you claimed you broke your tailbone, a claim that wasn’t even substantiated since you never went to the doctor!”
Blair pushed out a heavy sigh, rubbing her temple with her fingertips, and shot an exasperated glare toward Marco’s attorney, Dane Albright. Blair had spent her short career representing women who were divorcing assholes set on bilking them out of every dime they could get, but the more time she spent with Allison DeSanto, the more she wished she was representing the husband.
Allison started in on a new litany of perceived wrongs, but Blair had reached her limit. “Allison. Enough.”
Blair’s harsh tone drew a jolt of surprise from Dane, a man known for his steel edge.
Allison gave her a startled look, and her mouth dropped open. She obviously wasn’t used to being called out for her narcissism, which Blair suspected was the root cause of her impending divorce.
The sooner this settlement was agreed upon, the better, but they weren’t even close since Allison refused to budge on anything. The only reason Blair was even representing her was as a favor to her best friend Megan’s mother—a decision she’d regretted the minute Allison DeSanto had walked into her office.
Blair gave Dane a pointed look. “Can I have a moment with my client?”
Dane pushed his chair back, shaking his head. “You can have as many moments as it takes.” He lifted his eyebrows to help convey his meaning.
“If you want to wait in the client lounge, I’ll let you know when we’re ready,” Blair said. But it was wasted breath. Both men were already out the door.
Blair picked up her phone and called her assistant. “Melissa, will you meet Mr. Albright and Mr. DeSanto in the lounge and make sure there’s a fresh pot of coffee? We’re all going to need it.”
She cast a glance to her client, who was already on her phone, tapping away on the screen.
“Of course,” Melissa said. “But before you hang up, Garrett called for you.”
“Oh?” Blair couldn’t stop the smile that curled her lips. She probably didn’t deserve that man, but she loved him more than she could have imagined. She’d only been married for six months, but she was happier than she’d ever expected. Especially since Garrett wasn’t the man she’d originally intended to marry. “He didn’t try to call my cell or text me.”
“He knew about your meeting and called me instead so he wouldn’t disturb you. He said for you to call him back whenever you can.”
Blair knew she shouldn’t be talking about personal matters in front of her client, but Allison was thoroughly engrossed in some text conversation. And from the wicked gleam in her eyes, she was probably sexting her new boyfriend.
One more reason to regret taking this case. Damn Megan’s mother and her country club friends.
Blair glanced at the clock on the wall. “Garrett’s supposed to be getting on a plane in the next half hour.”
“I think it’s been delayed,” Melissa said.
Blair tried to ignore the churning in her stomach as she hung up. Flights were delayed all the time. It was no big deal. Garrett would still make it back by tonight. Besides, they didn’t do Valentine’s Day. For their first and only Valentine’s Day together while they’d dated, they’d celebrated Anti-Valentine’s Day, doing the exact opposite of all the poor fools who fell for the commercially generated holiday. They’d played arcade games and ate pizza at a Chuck E. Cheese, and then he’d taken her to the roof of his apartment building and showed her the star he’d bought for her, which he’d named Blazing Supernova. And while they hadn’t
B lair Hansen-Lowry stared at her client in disbelief.
“You never closed the toilet lid,” Allison DeSanto shouted across the conference table. “You caused me pain and suffering that I will never recover from.”
“Are you kidding me?” Marco, her soon-to-be ex-husband, shouted back. “I forgot to close the lid one time and you claimed you broke your tailbone, a claim that wasn’t even substantiated since you never went to the doctor!”
Blair pushed out a heavy sigh, rubbing her temple with her fingertips, and shot an exasperated glare toward Marco’s attorney, Dane Albright. Blair had spent her short career representing women who were divorcing assholes set on bilking them out of every dime they could get, but the more time she spent with Allison DeSanto, the more she wished she was representing the husband.
Allison started in on a new litany of perceived wrongs, but Blair had reached her limit. “Allison. Enough.”
Blair’s harsh tone drew a jolt of surprise from Dane, a man known for his steel edge.
Allison gave her a startled look, and her mouth dropped open. She obviously wasn’t used to being called out for her narcissism, which Blair suspected was the root cause of her impending divorce.
The sooner this settlement was agreed upon, the better, but they weren’t even close since Allison refused to budge on anything. The only reason Blair was even representing her was as a favor to her best friend Megan’s mother—a decision she’d regretted the minute Allison DeSanto had walked into her office.
Blair gave Dane a pointed look. “Can I have a moment with my client?”
Dane pushed his chair back, shaking his head. “You can have as many moments as it takes.” He lifted his eyebrows to help convey his meaning.
“If you want to wait in the client lounge, I’ll let you know when we’re ready,” Blair said. But it was wasted breath. Both men were already out the door.
Blair picked up her phone and called her assistant. “Melissa, will you meet Mr. Albright and Mr. DeSanto in the lounge and make sure there’s a fresh pot of coffee? We’re all going to need it.”
She cast a glance to her client, who was already on her phone, tapping away on the screen.
“Of course,” Melissa said. “But before you hang up, Garrett called for you.”
“Oh?” Blair couldn’t stop the smile that curled her lips. She probably didn’t deserve that man, but she loved him more than she could have imagined. She’d only been married for six months, but she was happier than she’d ever expected. Especially since Garrett wasn’t the man she’d originally intended to marry. “He didn’t try to call my cell or text me.”
“He knew about your meeting and called me instead so he wouldn’t disturb you. He said for you to call him back whenever you can.”
Blair knew she shouldn’t be talking about personal matters in front of her client, but Allison was thoroughly engrossed in some text conversation. And from the wicked gleam in her eyes, she was probably sexting her new boyfriend.
One more reason to regret taking this case. Damn Megan’s mother and her country club friends.
Blair glanced at the clock on the wall. “Garrett’s supposed to be getting on a plane in the next half hour.”
“I think it’s been delayed,” Melissa said.
Blair tried to ignore the churning in her stomach as she hung up. Flights were delayed all the time. It was no big deal. Garrett would still make it back by tonight. Besides, they didn’t do Valentine’s Day. For their first and only Valentine’s Day together while they’d dated, they’d celebrated Anti-Valentine’s Day, doing the exact opposite of all the poor fools who fell for the commercially generated holiday. They’d played arcade games and ate pizza at a Chuck E. Cheese, and then he’d taken her to the roof of his apartment building and showed her the star he’d bought for her, which he’d named Blazing Supernova. And while they hadn’t
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