The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (44 page)

“I’
d like to stay here a while, if tha
t’
s all right
.
”

“
Arianna is thrilled to have you. If you think Kottk
e’
s cooking was good, wait until you try Ar
i’
s. Yo
u’
re in exceptional hands
.
”

“
I am. I do feel safe here
.
”

“
Good
.
”

She hugged herself
.“I’
d almost forgotten what that felt like
.
”

“
Do you mind walking me to my car
?
”

“
No, not at all
.
”

When they reached the car, Ruby pulled a blue box with delicate white ribbon from the passenger seat and handed it to Susan.

“
This is beautiful
.
”

“
I ca
n’
t take credit for the wrapping job
.
”

Susan pulled the ribbon, and slowly opened the box.

“
The suspense is killing me, and I know wha
t’
s in it
.
”

Susan pulled her hand back as if slapped
.“I’
m sorry. Yo
u’
re nice enough to give me a present and here I am futzing.
I’
m always doing that
.
”

“
No,
I’
m sorry, Susan. I was kidding. Take your time. Yo
u’
re doing it perfectly
.
”

Susan lifted the top and pulled back the tissue. She raised her hands to her face as tears spilled
.“
How did yo
u
—”

“
I
t’
s not the same one. The pieces of yours are back under your bed. This was hand-painted by the same artist. Do you like it
?
”

“
I, I do
n’
t even know what to say
.
”

“
You do
n’
t have to say anything. I brought it here figuring you might stay. It might make it feel more like home
.
”

“
Thank you
,”
she managed as she sobbed, clutching the vase to her chest. She wiped her eyes, and examined it
.“
I
t’
s beautiful
.
”

“
So are you. Yo
u’
ll find that out more and more the longer you stay here
.
”

“I’
ll go put it on my nightstand. Arianna said I can pick flowers, and do whatever I please
.
”

“
That sounds wonderful. Yo
u’
ll want to make a lot of noise on your way in
.
”

Susan laughed
.“
The
y’
re great together. Justin has treated me so well
.
”

“
There are a lot of great guys out there, Susan
.
”

“
That reminds me. Emilio called today, and told me about the Gabriella Center. He invited me there for dinner on Thursday
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re in for a treat
.
”

“
They do food prep the old-fashioned way. Emilio said they could use my help. I think
I’
d like that
.
”

“I’
m so happy for you, Susan
.
”

“I’
m happy, too. I realized it as I was taking my walk. I did
n’
t recognize it right awa
y—
i
t’
s been so long since
I’
ve felt this way. I used to dance and laugh and host parties
.
”

“
Yo
u’
ll do so again. Let Arianna know when yo
u’
d like to throw a party. Sh
e’
s always up for an excuse to salsa
.”
             

Chapter 21

Ruby charged into her office
.“
Wher
e’
s Cass
?
”

“
She beat you in by hours, Ruby. Yo
u’
re buying lunch tomorrow
.
”

“
W
e’
ll see about that
.
”

“
She did
n’
t agree to a rule change, did she
?
”

“
No, I have something else that might work, though
.
”

“
What do you have in mind
?
”

“
Is Cass in her office
?
”

“
No, sh
e’
s in court. Sh
e’
ll be back around five
.
”

“
Wha
t’
s her schedule for the rest of the week
?
”

“
Meetings, a mediation
.
”

“
Could they be moved
?
”

“
Yes. Are you going to tell me why
?
”

“
I will if you give me a hand with a little surprise for Cass
.
”

“
Does it involve heavy lifting
?
”

“
It might. But I promise ther
e’
s a reward in it for you that yo
u’
re really going to like
.
”

“
Better than Belgium chocolate
?
”

“
Yes, better than chocolate
.
”

“
Better than sex
?
”

“
I
t’
s right up there
.
”

“I’
m in
.
”

“
Clear Cassi
e’
s schedule, and meet me in her office
.
”

✧

Ruby and Colin stood back and admired their work.

Checking the time, Ruby said
,“
W
e’
d better take our positions, or sh
e’
ll suspect somethin
g’
s up
.
”

Minutes later, Cassie stalked in, dressed to impress for court and hopping mad. She smiled at Colin before glaring at Ruby
.“
Yo
u’
re unbelievable
!
”

“
What
?”
Ruby raised an eyebrow at Colin who shook his head.

“
Two words, Rubina Miller. Two words. Emilio Mar
tí
n.
I’
m out of the office for three days, and you manage to get a legend as a consultant. Do you have a stash of gold bars I do
n’
t know about
?
”

“
No, h
e’
s a friend of Alfred
.
”

“
No way
.”
She shook her head in disbelief
.“
Alfred never ceases to amaze me. Well then,
I’
d like his number. I require our new e-ma
n’
s services
.”
She wiggled her eyebrows, and leaned on Coli
n’
s desk.

“
No, you do
n’
t
.”
Ruby glowered.

“
Come on, Ruby, we have in our midst the most eligible man on the planet, and
I’
m not even exaggeratin
g
—”

“
Tha
t’
s refreshing
,”
Ruby interjected.

“
You ca
n’
t tell me you have
n’
t noticed his hunkiness factor. Introduce me
.
”

“
Were
n’
t you saying last week that your thing with that corporate attorney is turning into something
?
”

“
That was before I had a shot with the prime bachelor. Unless, of course, you want dibs. After all, you did see him first
.
”

“
Dibs
?”
Ruby echoed, amused.

“
Not that either of us are his type. Too brainy, no man-made enhancements. He takes the leggy, ultra-curvy type to his fancy functions
.
”

“
I hate to break it to you, Cass. But h
e’
s taken
.
”

“
No! Who is she? Model? Starlet
?
”

“
Criminal-defense lawyer
.
”

“
Wait, I should have known. I know exactly wha
t’
s going on here. This is a prank, is
n’
t it? Yo
u’
ve been gearing up for this, laying the groundwork.
I’
m not going to fall for this.
I’
m going to put my briefcase in my office, and then come back here and get a full confession to this farce
.
”

“
You do that, Cass
.
”

She stalked off.

“
Wait for it
,”
Colin said
.“
Five, four, three, tw
o
—”

“
Rubina Miller
!
”

“
I think i
t’
s time to head home and pack your bags, Colin
.
”

“
Pinch me
.
”

Ruby obliged.

“
Not that hard
.”
He rubbed his upper arm, and then beamed
.“
W
e’
re on vacation
.
”

“
Enjoy yourself, Colin. Yo
u’
ve earned it
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re the best boss
.
”

“
Can I tell Cass
?
”

“
Yes. Give me a five minute head start
.
”

“
Will do
,”
Ruby said, and went down the hall. When she stepped into Cassandr
a’
s office, she did a wide circle. She pointed to the ceiling where she and Colin had mounted Cassandr
a’
s furniture, mirroring its prior placement
.“
Love your new
dé
cor, Cass. Very forward thinking
.”
She pulled out her PSC
.“
Smile for the camera, Cass. Be a good sport
.”
She moved to the threshold and left Cassandra in the middle of the room
.“
I
t’
s only fair. You made a vid of me wading through a paper flood in my office
.
”

“
Why the hell not
?”
Cassandra threw out a hip, and gave a sassy smile. She got into it, and held up her arms as if holding the scales of justice.

“
The camera loves you
.
”

“
Let me see
.
”

“
In a second
.”
Ruby tapped her PSC, and looked up, satisfied
.“
PSC, display on-screen
.
”

The wall screen blinked on and showed Cassandra, arms up, furniture above. She saw the slogan, and read
,
“
‘
When your world is turned upside down . . . Wait, Ruby, is this
?”
She clapped her hands over her mouth.

Ruby nodded, and said
,
“
‘
Trust Cassandra Dayton to set it right
.’
I
t’
s your new billboard. I negotiated for a two-for-one. By the way, w
e’
re on vacation. By the time we get back, your billboard will be up
.
”

Cassandra started laughing so hard she bent double. When she recovered, she swiped a tear from her eye, and said
,“
Rubina Miller, I have to hand it to you. This is extreme pranking, even for you. Ther
e’
s no way in hell yo
u’
re giving me a billboard, dating the worl
d’
s most eligible, and going on vacation. This is all part of the gag, right
?
”

“
None of it is
.”
Ruby left Cassandra gaping in her wake. She popped her head back into Cassandr
a’
s office
.“
By the way, your plaque is crooked. And no,
I’
m not helping you get your furniture down. I have a hot date
.
”

✧

She found his outer office unstaffed, and his door wide open. Ruby stepped to it, and watched him. He sat at his gleaming desk, concentration on his chiseled face while he studied his wall screens. He fits here, surrounded by streaming numbers and an ambience of power and prestige. She wondered at a man who could be as at ease in a resurrected graveyard of tech discards as in the sleek and streamlined.

She believed he could do anything from here, high above the city. And yet h
e’
d thought to build a castle for his mother, to find a job for a survivor, to open his properties to a widow and her daughter. He had
n’
t captured her with his looks, his wealth. H
e’
d won her with his choices.

She knocked lightly at the doorjamb.

His eyes warmed at the sight of her
.“
Rubina
.
”

And h
e’
d chosen her. The wonder of it stole her breath.

“
What brings you here
?
”

She held up bulging bags and moved toward a small table.

Joining her, he asked
,“
Wha
t’
s that delicious smell
?
”

“
You missed Thai night at the Castle because of me. I figured i
t’
s the least I could do
.”
She set the bags on the table, and turned
.“
There, now I can say hello
.”
She gave him an enthusiastic kiss and broke free
.“I’
m starving. You know, this mushy stuff is
n’
t as hard as I thought it would be. It certainly has its perks. Makes me hungry though
.
”

“
What does
n’
t
?”
He produced place settings from a discreet compartment.

Table set, he scooped up generous portions of noodles and ladled out miso soup
.“
Two lockups and one releas
e—
i
t’
s a lot of action for a single case. Are your cases usually this lively
?
”

“
Yes. But doing it all in three days is a new firm record
.”
She put her hand on his
.“
It was a nice thing you did for Karen and Claire Abrams
.
”