“Hey, buddy, how’ve you been?” I say, sliding onto the bar stool next to him.

He raises his bottle and clinks it to mine. “Life’s been pretty damn good lately. I haven’t had any angry tenants to deal with.”

I smirk at him. “I’m following through. You didn’t doubt me, did you?”

His eyebrows jump up. “Fuck yeah, I did. Especially when you started hanging out with the hot-as-fuck new girl.”

“Emery,” I remind him. “And we’re still hanging out.”

“No shit? As friends, huh?”

I nod, taking a sip of my beer and feeling oddly proud. “We’ve been out to eat, and worked out a couple times together.” He doesn’t need to know it was yoga. That would just be weird.

“I’m impressed, dude. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Yup. Strictly platonic.”

Except last weekend when I hugged her good-bye and got a huge erection that was impossible to hide. Emery even called me out—asking me to explain myself. I lied and said it was nothing, and I swear the flash of disappointment across her face almost killed me. I wanted to tell her right then and there how insanely attracted to her I was, how beautiful she looked that day in her casual clothes, hanging out with my family.

“So where have you been getting your good time?” Hudson looks genuinely confused.

“I’m on a bit of a dry spell,” I admit. “You’ve thrown off my game.” I jab him in the ribs before taking another swig of my beer to try to forget all about that encounter with Emery.

He shakes his head at me. “Don’t blame this on me. Maybe you have real feelings for this one. That could be a good thing. Get you back up on the horse, so to speak.”

“No, it’s not like that between us. Emery’s sworn off men, and you know I’m sure as shit not looking for a relationship.”

“Yes, but I’m saying maybe it’s time to move on. Grow up a little.” His gaze abandons the TV and swings over to mine. “Have you ever been really into a chick? You know, the big L-word?”

“Are you trying to ask me if I’ve ever been in love with a woman before?”

He nods. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Sure,” I say.

Hudson levels me with that dark, intense stare of his.

“What?” My tone is both playful and defensive. This really isn’t something I want to discuss. I’d rather be talking about work, anything other than the state of my love life.

“I’m not buying it, Oliver. You’re so damn closed off from anything real, it’s not even funny. After Naomi—”

I shut him up with a wave of my hand. “Forget Naomi. I was close to a girl once. She let out a loud, thunderous fart in her sleep, and that was it. I ended things after that.”

“You broke up with a girl for farting?”

“Indeed,” I confirm.

“That wasn’t love, then.”

“How do you know? Kelsey . . . or was it Kerrie? Anyway, she was sweet and funny, and she made a hell of a ham sandwich.”

Hudson shakes his head. “Because when you’re in love, and your woman feels comfortable enough to do that in front of you, you’ll think it’s cute.”

“I’ll think farting is cute? Not a chance in hell.” Women don’t shit, or fart, or belch as far as I’m concerned. And Hudson’s lost his damn mind.

“Trust me on this one.”

I don’t trust him any farther than I can throw him—and considering he clears six foot two and is solid muscle, it wouldn’t be very damn far.

“You been seeing anyone interesting lately?” I ask.

Hudson doesn’t sleep around with our tenants, like I used to enjoy before he abruptly put a stop to that, but he definitely gets his fair share of pussy. Not that I’m overly interested; I’m just eager to steer the conversation to his love life and away from mine.

“How’s your sister?” he asks out of the blue.

“Beth’s doing the supermom thing. Same old.”

“No, I meant Gracie.” His eyes dart away from mine, as if there’s something he doesn’t want me to see. I try not to read too much into it. Hudson would never betray me by going after my sister. Plus, he’s too busy fucking his way through the female population, one leggy blonde at a time. Which Gracie is most definitely not.

I shrug. “Gracie’s Gracie.” She’s always been my innocent little sister. It’s crazy to think she’s twenty-two now and just graduated from college.

Hudson nods once, effectively ending that weird conversation. Okay then.

Chapter Twelve

Emery

As the weeks pass and my bar exam looms closer, I ramp up my studying. But I still find spare hours here and there to spend with Hayden. He fully lives up to his promise to show me around the city. We explore not only the typical tourist stuff, like the Walk of Fame and the La Brea tar pits, but all the hidden gems that he’s learned about from his years in Los Angeles. My earlier anxieties soon melt away, leaving me upbeat when I’m around him and optimistic when I’m away. Everything has turned out fine; this friendship is totally working. I’m glad I didn’t listen to Roxy after all.

Early one Wednesday, when all the law staff file into the conference room for our weekly meeting, Mr. Pratt is already standing at the head of the table. He starts strolling around like he’s King Arthur surveying his knights. “I want to thank you for all your hard work these past two months. We met not only a tough deadline, but the high standards of quality that Walker, Price, and Pratt is known for. We have a reputation among the best corporate law firms, and I can honestly say that you’ve lived up to it . . .”

He blathers on for a few more minutes in that vein. Even though his speech is more than a little corny, pride surges warm in my chest, knowing I played a role in helping. This merger was my first real case. I’m actually doing law, I think with a thrum of excitement. I’m practically a bona fide lawyer already. Booyah.

Mr. Pratt pauses beside my seat. “In fact, our client is so pleased with our work, they’ve invited us to their annual company get-together in Omaha. We fly in next Monday afternoon, stay at the luxury hotel they’ve booked, and fly back first thing on Thursday morning.” He speaks over the burst of muttering among the other lawyers in the room. “There’s a few loose ends to tie up—some business is best done in person, as I’m sure you all know. But primarily, we’re celebrating a job well done. All expenses paid. You can even bring a guest.”

He plunks his hand down next to mine, looming over me and brushing his arm against my shoulder. He’s close enough for me to smell tuna when he exhales, and my gag reflex kicks in like a motherfucker. I just barely keep down my latte.

Everything about this moment is so disturbing. It’s not even ten in the morning—why the hell does he have fish breath? I wonder if I can get away with “accidentally” rolling my chair over his foot. Even if he doesn’t back off, I’d love to see those spit-polished wingtips scuffed.

“And since you’ve been such a valuable pinch hitter, Emery, that invitation includes you.” He winks at me with a crooked smirk. Oh, barf. “I look forward to spending some time together outside the office. Getting to know each other in a more intimate setting.”

My stomach yanks itself inside out. Three nights alone in a hotel with Larry The Creeper? In a strange city over a thousand miles from anywhere I know, anywhere I can easily bail out to? Fuck that noise doesn’t even begin to cover it. There isn’t a swear word in the English language strong enough to capture the sheer depths of my “nope.”

“Um . . .” It’s hard to think over the screaming of my fight-or-flight instincts. Life would be so much easier if I could just knee him in the balls and run out of the room. “You know, I wish I could, but I don’t think I can go. I need to study for the bar, and there’s the other cases we’ve put off while working on this merger . . .”