“Yeah, sure. She’ll know what to get,” Lindsey said, her thoughts still lingering on the oddness of Todd’s call.

* * * * *

Entering her father’s office, Lindsey let her body hit the chair with a loud thud, wishing it was her office, her space. Somehow it seemed as if that would be accepting a future at Paxton. Still, sitting in her father’s office was like being suffocated by his wishes.

The ones that included running her life.

But what was really upsetting her was fighting with Mark. Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip. Her night with him had been amazing. For the first time in a long time—no, maybe ever—a man had made her feel feminine and special, but also, she grasped for the word . . . equal. Yes. She had felt as if what they had shared was just that. Shared. Give and take.

So what happened in the light of a new day?

Being honest with herself wasn’t always an easy task. No one wanted to face hard truths about their own choices and decisions. Or their fears. And Mark scared the hell out of her. He made her feel things she didn’t want to feel. Things she didn’t want to put names to. Fighting with him messed with her head far more than it should. Deep down, she knew, way too fast, she was developing feelings for Mark.

As if that wasn’t complicated enough, stepping back into the courtroom had been like a rush of memories. She’d expected as much. The big surprise was that they weren’t all bad. In fact, they were—for the most part—good. For the first time in years, she was questioning what she thought she knew. Being in the courtroom again had felt invigorating. A part of her had felt more alive than it had in years. And she had just been sitting behind a table: watching Mark, imagining her own performance.

The truth was, she had loved the challenge of each and every case. The high of winning had been exhilarating. Dropping her elbows to the desk, she buried her face in her hands. If only that woman hadn’t been killed. The hell of that murder had haunted her for years.

A stream of bright sunlight was suddenly at her window, as if a cloud had moved. Hot and heavy, it rested on her face, making her more uncomfortable than she already was. She pushed to her feet and moved to the window, pulling the cords to release the blinds, and turning the room into a darkened box. A perfect match for her mood.

She hadn’t called her father back, and she knew she had to. Judging from the mood Judy had suggested he was in, he’d probably heard about Mark. The firm needed Mark, but her father wouldn’t see it that way. What would he do if she refused to run the firm? Squeezing her eyes shut, willing herself to pick up the phone. Her fingers dialed. She tried Todd again. No answer. She left another message. And that was the end of her excuses. She dialed her father.

The minute he heard her voice, he went on the attack. “Lindsey, what in the hell is going on over there?”

She went for a matter-of-fact voice. “We had a good day in court.”

He growled into the phone. “You know damn well what I mean. Why is Mark Reeves in my offices?”

This was going well. “Daddy, listen—”

“No, you listen,” he huffed. “I want him the hell out of there now!”

Twisting the phone cord around her hand, she forced out her response. “I can’t do that.”

There was a pregnant silence, and she knew he was stunned at her open disregard for his wishes. “You can, and you will.”

She was firm on the outside, but arguing with her father had always been difficult. “I can’t.”

“Don’t cross me, Lindsey,” he warned.

This time she crossed the invisible line never to be crossed. She put it on the line. “He stays or I go.”

Silence, thick like a heavy blanket, fell between them. “What?”

Her voice was low. “I can’t handle the Williams case without him.”

He didn’t care. “You can, and you will,” he said in a biting tone. “I’m warning you, Lindsey Paxton, get rid of him by tomorrow or I will. I don’t care if I have to have security carry him out.”

She clenched her teeth. “I won’t do it, Daddy. We’re a package deal. He stays or I go.”

“Get rid of him.” And the line went dead.

Her stomach twisted in a knot. Holding the receiver, a bit stunned by the outcome, she couldn’t seem to get herself to move. A knock on the door made her jump, and she dropped the phone. It crashed against the desk and hit the floor. “Come in,” she yelled, as she reached for it.

“Look, what I have for you!” Lindsey knew Judy’s voice without turning. She replaced the receiver and turned to find her rushing towards the desk with a vase of roses. “Someone sent you flowers.”

Setting them on the corner of the desk, Judy stepped back and surveyed the arrangement with approval. “They’re so pretty,” she beamed.

It didn’t take reading the card to tell Lindsey who sent them. They were Greg’s signature pink roses. She swallowed, trying to fight that old feeling of claustrophobia the combination of Greg and her father combined had always evoked.

Reality hit hard. The courtroom hadn’t driven her away. They had.

“Aren’t you going to look at the card?” Judy asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Lindsey’s lips thinned. “No,” she responded. “I know who they are from.”

Maggie walked in at that moment, Lindsey’s lunch in hand. She froze in the doorway. “Oh, dear,” she said and then began walking again. “Greg knows you’re back, I see.”

Lindsey grunted. “Yes,” she said in a strained tone. “Would you believe he’s prosecuting Williams?”

Maggie’s face filled with understanding as she sat the bag of food down on her desk. “Sorry, dear,” she said and patted Lindsey’s hand. “I know this is not easy for you.”

Lindsey gave her a look of appreciation.

Judy now stood with her hands on her hips. “Who’s Greg?”

Maggie shot her a reproachful look. “No one interesting.” Maggie directed a rare frown at her. “Whose covering the phone?”

Judy’s hands flew to her chest. “Oh goodness. The flowers distracted me, and I completely forgot the phones.” She turned to exit and peeked over her shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she added and dashed away.

Maggie focused on Lindsey. “You okay?” Lindsey nodded. Maggie wasn’t satisfied. “You don’t look okay, you look pale.” Maggie indicated the food with a nod. “Perhaps eating will do you good.”

Lindsey eyed the bag. “I’m not very hungry. Why don’t you see if anyone else wants it? I’ll take the drink though.” She offered a weak smile.

“Are you sure?” Maggie asked, with concern falling over her features.

An unconvincing smile filled her face. “Yes, I’m sure.” A thought came to mind. If anyone knew what the past held . . . “Maggie, what happened between Daddy and Mark?”

“Well dear, I’m not completely sure. It comes down to one simple fact. No one crosses your father and gets away with it.”

Lindsey sighed. “Right. How did Mark’s leaving impact the firm?”

“I know our billing dropped more than fifty percent.” She hesitated and then said, “I heard them argue just before Mark walked out. Something about the wrong type of clientele and people who don’t pay their bills.”

It made sense. Mark hadn’t been the bad guy. He’d been trying to save the firm. “Is Mark in his office?”

Maggie nodded. “Yes, I just took him his food.”

“Okay, thanks Maggie.” She pushed to her feet. “I’m going to go see him.”

* * * * *

“Mark?”

Mark’s eyes lifted from the file in front of him. He’d know Lindsey’s voice anywhere. He’d been thinking about her. If thoughts could will someone to appear, his had willed her to his office.

“Do you have a minute?”

He could see the tension lines in her face. Leaning back in his chair, he waved her forward. “What’s wrong with you?”

“My father,” she stated.

That said it all. “He found out I’m back and wants me removed immediately.”

Lindsey’s eyed widened as she settled into the chair in front of his desk. “Yes, exactly. How did you know?”