Grace found herself spending a lot of time at Dameon’s project house in the canyon.
He’d given her a key so she could be there even when he was stuck in the city. Not that she stayed the night without him, but she did use the house as a workstation. Even if the city wasn’t sanctioning her efforts, she didn’t think they would be in vain if she jump-started the project. If she left the city, the work she did could be used by whoever took over for her. And even if they didn’t, she knew what the city needed. Besides, it was the only way she knew to pay Dameon back for everything he was doing for her.
She coordinated the work with Tyler, and learned that Dameon had purposely pushed himself into the driver’s seat solely to get to know Grace better. According to Tyler, Dameon was determined to win her over from the moment they met.
As the project coordinator, Tyler really was the person to talk to.
A good week after the clown cookies came and went, Carson asked for her to come into his office. The city was requesting a meeting, but Grace needed to be prepared.
The law office was in Sherman Oaks, and Carson had already coordinated with Dameon’s schedule to be there.
She met Dameon in the lobby and kissed him hello. “You didn’t have to break out of your day to be here.”
“Carson asked me to come. Besides, if it affects you, it affects me.” They walked to the elevator together.
“And when did that happen?”
“What?” he asked.
“When did our individual lives become ours?”
In the elevator he turned and kissed her again. “I don’t know, but I like it.”
Considering the richness of the suit Carson had worn on their first and only meeting, Grace expected the office to be one of opulence and stature. But holy wow was this over the top. Sleek lines and rich woods. The kind that made the perfectionist in her sing. Whoever had designed the interior had spectacular taste.
Dameon told the receptionist who they were after they walked into the lobby. She didn’t delay as she led the two of them to Carson’s office.
“Thank you both for coming,” Carson said as he walked around his oversized desk to greet them.
The men shook hands before Carson turned to her to do the same. “You look good, more relaxed.”
“I’ve had some time to come to terms with what’s happening.”
“Good. It’s better to approach this stuff rationally.”
Grace took the seat Carson offered. “Easy for you to say when you’re on that end.”
He laughed. “Very true.”
With all of them seated, Carson opened a file on his desk. “The city contacted me yesterday. They said that Mr. Sokolov has officially filed a lawsuit against the city.”
“What ambulance-chasing lawyer agreed to that?” Dameon asked as he squeezed Grace’s hand.
“No one we know, so yes, it’s probably exactly that. But, since the suit has been filed and you’re named as the witness and representative of the city, you now have the obligation to answer the complaint.”
“In English,” Grace said.
Carson picked up a packet of papers and handed one stack to each of them. “In short. Sokolov had to tell the courts why he feels he has a case. We’ll go over this line by line, but he is trying to paint a theme that you’ve taken bribes in the past, and he says he has proof that you did.”
Grace glanced at the legal papers without reading them. “What proof?” She looked up to find Carson staring at Dameon.
Dameon had his nose down reading the papers. He paused and looked up. “My name is in here.”
Carson nodded once. “It is.”
“What?” Grace skimmed the papers again. On the second page she found Dameon’s name. “Acquired private texting conversations between Mr. Dameon Locke and Miss Grace Hudson.” Grace read the next part to herself.
DL: What can I do to convince you to keep today a secret?
GH: My price is steep.
DL: Name it!
GH: Never mind. I’ll hold onto the information to lord over you.
DL: I see how this works. Blackmail.
GH: We all have our ways and means.
Grace turned to look at Dameon. “That bastard stole my phone.”
“So this conversation did take place?” Carson asked.
“As damaging as this sounds, there’s a simple explanation for it.”
“I’m listening.”
She smiled at Dameon. “This was before Dameon and I started dating. He followed me into a nail salon, and I wouldn’t talk to him unless he was sitting in a chair.”