Lawful Mates - Liam Kingsley Page 0,14

of keeping it out of the media up until this point, something that had only made me more uneasy about the case. The fact that Milo had disappeared without a trace and the only person who was alarmed was his mother was more than a little suspicious.

As I’d done my own research and due diligence, my suspicions about the senator had started to grow. While I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, things just weren’t adding up. As a criminal defense lawyer, I’d had my fair share of representing people who may not have been as innocent as they’d claimed. This case, however, pushed my boundaries in ways I wasn’t entirely comfortable with.

This past week I’d discovered several things. Bates was definitively anti-shifter, which had made choosing our firm bewildering until I found out his first choice had dropped him, then it made a little more sense. I didn’t like it, though. On top of that, Milo was a shifter. His human mother had adopted him, and then she’d married Bates. But it had me questioning the senator’s motives even more. Something was off, for sure, but I couldn’t speak out against Bates and his prejudice or my suspicions. He was my client, and my job was to defend him no matter what.

I didn’t want to overthink the fact that the biggest reason I hadn’t pushed back was that my father had given me this job. A huge task that indicated he may finally have realized I was more than capable. Letting him down just wasn’t an option.

I sighed, vowing not to think about it anymore today. Everything would be right there waiting for me on Monday morning. I needed this break away from the office. So I began circling around the playground to make sure Amy was doing okay and didn’t need anything. I immediately felt the gazes of multiple pairs of eyes, male and female. Apparently, there were some single moms and dads in the crowd. And they were scoping me out.

A little spooked, I settled down on another bench in the shade, but no sooner had I leaned back and stretched my arms out, one of the moms came and plopped herself down right beside me. Way too close for comfort. I gave her an aloof smile that was decidedly more of a grimace, hoping she’d get the hint that I wasn’t interested. No such luck.

“I haven’t seen you around here before. What’s your name?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.

I frowned. Was this really how things worked these days? Picking up men at the park? I was used to this kind of attention, but it usually came in the form of a drunken pick-up line at the bar. I hadn’t expected it in the middle of a playground.

“Uh, Percy,” I said, my voice clipped. Not downright unfriendly, but she should have gotten the clue. She didn’t. Neither did the guy who sidled up to us, blatantly checking me out.

“I saw you arrive with Amy. Are you a friend of the family?” His gaze raked up and down my body.

Seriously? I sighed, resigning myself to making small talk since Amy was utterly wrapped up in her friends, and I knew there was no way I’d be able to drag her away any time soon.

More single moms and dads approached, joining our little group that I was less than thrilled to be a part of, all of them attempting some form of flirtation. Who knew the park was the new place to score a date? Definitely not me. I made a point of discouraging them, stopping just shy of downright rude.

After a few minutes, I’d had enough. I hated to interrupt Amy, but I wasn’t sure how much more I could take of this without making a scene. I stood up, ready to call out to Amy that it was time to go, but out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of golden hair reflecting in the bright sun.

Easton.

He was striding right toward me, towing a cooler behind him. He grinned broadly at me and pointed to the cooler. “I thought I’d bring some drinks for the kids. It’s pretty hot out today.”

All attention immediately shifted to him, and I wasn’t surprised. He looked sexy as hell in a short-sleeved button-up shirt in dark-wash blue, with white shorts that showcased his slim hips. A pair of aviator sunglasses completed the ensemble, making him look like he was ready for a day at the beach than an