Loyal Lawyer - Jeannine Colette Page 0,23

a bit of moss. So fresh and invigorating, like a certain man.

“What makes you think that?” I ask as I check out the sign to see how much they are.

“You’re practically skipping, and you’re buying yourself flowers.”

I hand cash to the gentleman at the booth and grab a pink bouquet. The smile on my face is huge as I look over at my best friend. “Let’s just say, I’m enamored. Punch-drunk,” I say and then add, “Hooked!”

Charity stops walking. It takes a second for me to realize she’s not by my side. When I turn around, I see her jaw has dropped, and her brows are raised.

“I was wrong. You’re not smitten,” she says. “You’re love-struck.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not there … yet.”

“Hell yes, you are. When was the last time you spoke to me about a guy? I’ll tell you. It was Hardin, and you were so in love that you moved in with him. You, my friend, are not a kiss-and-tell kind of lady, but I’m going to demand you tell. Because with that goofy expression on your face, you most certainly kissed him.”

I smash my lips together and grab her by the arm, bringing my nose close to her face and declaring, “We kissed. Oh my God, did we kiss. It was … amazing.”

I’m practically dancing at the memory of just how heated our make-out session became last night. My toes curled, my thighs tingled, and my senses came alive. Today, I feel like the sun is hotter, the sky is brighter, and everything smells extraordinary.

“Does he have a brother? Because I’m ready to drink from whatever fountain you’re tasting.”

“Sorry. Only child.”

“Of course he is.” She stops again, holding her arms out to her sides and looking up at the sky when she yells, “What does a girl have to do to meet a good man in this city with a steady job and a semi-decent face, who doesn’t want to dip and ditch?!”

I grab her forcefully and pull her to walk again, away from the woman with her dog, staring at us like Charity is a mental patient. “Maybe you need to ditch the dating apps.”

“And what, start randomly texting guys to see if they’re single?”

I shrug. “Worked for me.”

She lowers her chin and stares up through curved brows, as if to say, Fuck you, Amy, and the white knight you humped last night.

“Teasing. Kind of. Swiping left and right isn’t getting you anywhere. Maybe you need to hit the clubs like Shawn. He always has a girlfriend.”

“That’s because he’s hot.”

Now, it’s my turn to freeze and face her with a wild expression. “You think Shawn’s hot?”

She points a finger at my face. “If you ever tell him that, I’ll kill you.” With a sway of her hair, she starts to walk again. “That man’s ego is already huge.”

“I knew you felt something for him.”

She waves a hand in dismissal. “No. I was just making a point, and you can’t deny that he’s not a catch.”

“I suppose you’re right. He does make a steady paycheck, has more than a semi-decent face, and probably won’t … what was it? Dip and ditch?”

“Mock away, my friend. My standards are starting to become lower and lower. Did you know that in Philly, there’s point-seven-six-nine men to every woman? I can’t even get a whole man! I have to share a piece of him with some other broad who’s also looking for her true love!”

A car drives by and honks at us, the driver screaming obscenities about our butts. We both turn and give him the finger as he rolls on by.

“Where is my Romeo? When am I going to find someone to snuggle and watch movies with? To take me dancing and laugh with?”

Poor Charity. She might come off needy to some, but she’s just vulnerable to love. She wants it badly. It breaks my heart for someone so beautiful, successful, and fun to still be on the lookout for her guy.

I snake my arm around her shoulders and pull her in as we stroll. “Tell you what. I’ll ask Sebastian if he has any friends. There’s a whole law firm of men. I bet he can find someone who has Romeo potential.”

She grips my hand that’s resting on her shoulder and perks up. “A lawyer, huh? I can definitely go for some courtroom role-play in the bedroom.”

I laugh loudly. “That’s my girl.” I give her the flowers in my hand, which makes her smile in thanks.

Charity takes