Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Love is a battlefield—and I’ve made a career out of winning. As a divorce lawyer, I see the worst sides of relationships every day. Betrayal, heartbreak, and lies. It’s enough to make any sane person swear off love for good.
Then my mom gifts me a massage session with Valentina Perkins.
Leni is all curves, sass, and sweetness—a complete contradiction to my cynical view of the world. She’s supposed to help me relax, but from the moment her hands touch my skin, I’m more wound up than ever. She’s nothing like the women I’ve known, and it terrifies me how much I want her.
The problem? I can’t stand the thought of her touching other men, even if it’s her job. But walking away from her isn’t an option. Leni might be the only person capable of showing me that love isn’t always a losing game.
Now, I just have to convince her to take a chance on the grump who thought love wasn’t worth the risk
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
I’m sitting at my desk, surrounded by stacks of papers that lay out divorce dramas in great detail. The gray, gloomy view outside my office window screams typical Monday. Just as I’m about to dig into another file of “he said, she said,” the door swings open without so much as a tap.
Nora saunters in like she owns the place, which I guess she sort of does, being my partner and all. She drops into the chair across from me, smirking like she’s got the best damn secret in the world.
“Think you’ll ever learn to knock?” I snark, eyeing her over the rim of my mug. Something looks different about her, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.
“Nope. Raised in a barn, remember?” she retorts, leaning back in the chair and crossing her arms. That’s it. My twin has a new hairstyle.
“So, you got a reason for interrupting my busy morning?” There isn’t enough coffee in Midnight Falls to help me handle this shit. “Other than showing off your new haircut.”
“I’m glad you noticed.” She throws her now shoulder-length, dirty-blonde locks over her shoulder and smiles at me with a teasing glint in her icy blue eyes. “I was going to warn you about Mom’s latest scheme, but now, I think I’ll just let you find out on your own.”
That gets my attention and I forget all about my twin’s new hairstyle. Mom’s a force of nature, a whirlwind of plans and projects that usually end up costing me sleep and sanity. “You can’t just leave me hanging like that. Spill.”
She grins, savoring every second of my newfound curiosity. “Nah, I kinda like the idea of you suffering in suspense. It’s character-building.”
I groan, raking a hand through my hair. “You’re evil, you know that?”
She winks. “Just part of my charm. Anyway, brother dear, let’s see how you handle a surprise for once. I’ll swing by later with a shovel for you to dig yourself out of whatever mess she’s cooked up.”
With that, she hops up, smooths out her skirt, and heads for the door, leaving me half-amused and half-dreading what fresh hell is brewing in my mother’s mind. I shake my head, diving back into the paperwork with a sigh. It’s going to be one of those days I fucking hate, when life throws me one curveball after another.
I’m buried in the kind of divorce case that could turn the staunchest optimist into a cynic. It’s a sordid tale of betrayal, hidden assets, and petty revenge, all wrapped up with a bow. Just when I’m about to lose myself in the legal chess game, there’s a knock on the door and Margot sticks her head in.
Her keen eyes size me up. “Nash, you might want to quit dodging your mother’s calls,” she announces, cutting right to the chase.
I lean back in my chair, trying for innocence, though I know it’s useless. “Ignoring? Me? Never. Must’ve accidentally left my phone off again.”
My ever-efficient secretary smirks, arms crossed, knowing she’s got me cornered. “Come on, Nash. Pull the other leg, we both know your phone is permanently welded to you.”
I shrug, embracing my grumpiness like a second skin. “I think you’re forgetting who’s the boss here.”
She lets out a laugh. “Oh, I’m not too worried. No one else in this city would tolerate your charming personality for more than a day.”
“This is true,” I fire back, a grin surfacing despite myself. She’s the only one who can talk to me like that and get away with it. Probably because she knows I wouldn’t trade her for all the compliant lackeys in the world.
She shakes her head, a knowing glint in her eye. “Seriously, call your mother back. We both know she’ll eventually track you down if you don’t.”
I rub my chin, knowing she’s right. “Yeah, alright. Thanks for the heads-up. Now get back to work.”
With a mock salute, she slips out and the door clicks softly behind her. I’m left alone again with the chaos spread across my desk.
The moment she disappears, I dig my damn cellphone out of my pocket, feeling a tiny spark of guilt when I see all the missed text messages and missed calls. I take a deep breath, dreading what I’m about to do, but I press call anyway. The phone rings, and I brace myself for the inevitable.
“Finally! I've been trying to reach you for ages!” Her voice blasts through the speaker, a mix of irritation and that trademark maternal sweetness.
“I’ve been busy,” I shoot back, trying to sound nonchalant as I lean back in my chair, battling the urge to rub my temples.
“You’re always busy! Too busy helping people end their marriages to answer your mother’s calls,” she groans a little at the end, laying the guilt trip on thick.
I grind my teeth. I mean, she’s right. “What did you want to talk to me about? I can’t talk long. I’ve got clients ready to tear each other apart.”