Brad’s steps slowed. Her broken whisper surfaced in his mind. I need more than that too. I can’t lose myself to have it though. Fragments of understanding picked at his thoughts. There was something there. Something he could almost touch, it rang so clear. And yet, it lingered just beyond his grasp.
“Brad,” Joseph said behind him. “If you want me to take the case, you need to be honest with the partners. Let them know where the status is, what if anything is compromised. Let them know it won’t be an issue moving forward.” His hand fell to Brad’s shoulder in the same brotherly gesture that was so typical of him. “And if I can make a suggestion?”
What had she really been saying? Brad dug through his thoughts, barely hearing Joseph.
“It would be my advice to put a ring on her finger, to convince them you won’t be making a mistake like this again.” Joseph reached for the door knob. “Fix your tie.”
Like tiny fists thumping against his skull, understanding pummeled into Brad. He blinked, shook his head to clear away the hangover fog. He ignored Joseph’s suggestion to straighten his tie. “It doesn’t matter,” he muttered as he strode through the door.
None of it mattered. Not the partners, not the promotion, not the sterile apartment he called home. Cassie’s husband had boxed her in. Stifled all her desires. Valentine’s night, she was looking for freedom. She’d said so. She’d invited him home with her, so she could open up to herself. That was the logic part. Chris had been sensible. Logical.
Brad had known this. He just hadn’t understood.
His mistake had been in asking Cassie to come here, not in asking Cassie to make their relationship more permanent. She loved him.
If he wanted Cassie, he had to prove she was worth every crazy illogical act of passion they’d created. He couldn’t play it safe. He couldn’t be sensible. He couldn’t ask her to give up her dreams for his—her husband had killed them once before.
If he wanted Cassie, he had to go to her.
Avoiding Joseph’s questioning gaze, Brad sidestepped around the empty chair that was obviously intended for him and set his briefcase on the long polished table of rich dark wood. He snapped open the locks, pulled out three file folders that held the contents of his active cases. Dropping them onto the table, he pushed his briefcase aside and cast his gaze around the room. “Gentlemen, I want to thank you for inviting me here today.”
“You’re welcome, Brad. Why don’t you take a seat?” Randall suggested.
Brad shook his head. His confidence took hold, and as he committed to this crazy, zany path, he began to feel more like himself. “I apologize for my appearance. I’ve been dealing with some personal things that have made it impossible to accept a partnership in the firm.” Ignoring Joseph’s look of surprise, Brad pushed the folders toward the center of the table. “These are the details of my cases. Two are standard issue and could easily be picked up by a junior associate.”
Higgens held up a hand. “Brad, maybe you’d like to think about—”
“No. I’ve done all the thinking I need to.” Brad tapped the third folder. “This Cooper divorce is more complicated. He’s chasing allegations of abuse that are not factually based and the judge is rather pissed I’ve followed through. Further…” His gaze shifted to Joseph, lingered for a long moment, then swung back to Randall. “I’m marrying opposing counsel.” He paused, gathered his briefcase in his hand, and added more quietly, “If she’ll have me.”
He shook off temporary uncertainty and strode toward the exit. Doorknob in hand, he turned to give the partners a smile. “My resignation will be forthcoming.”
…
Cassie glared at her phone as it began to ring for the fourth consecutive time. Even silenced, she wanted to throw it across the room. If she weren’t expecting a call from the distraught grandparents who were fighting their daughter for their grandchild, she’d turn the damned thing off.
She hit the button to send Brad’s phone call to voice mail again. What would it take to get it through his head, she couldn’t talk to him? She couldn’t endure his trying to convince her into coming to New York, detailing all the sensible reasons why it was the best choice, and she would cave. She didn’t want to cave. Even if the idea of life without him felt like someone had carved great big gaping holes in her soul.