“The old Guy is there, Will, right under the surface. You saw how he yelled at me.”
“For one little second, Joss.”
She snapped her hand away. “Don’t defend him. I can take anything but that.”
He left his hand on her leg. “This really could have waited a day or two,” he said. “I feel like we should have stayed with him instead of calling Zoe.”
“You could have.”
“As if I’d let you come over here alone. I just don’t know why we couldn’t wait a few days.”
“First of all, procrastination is for losers.” She could have sworn she saw him cringe ever so slightly, but she was too focused on making her many points. “Second, the media is going to find me. It’s only a matter of time un—”
“No, no. That’s not true. We’ll talk to Slade Garrison—he’s got a good crew of deputies—and set him straight. He needs to know you’re in town so he can divert any reporters that try to find you. And he can put an unmarked car or two at Guy’s house and you’ll be completely safe at Casa Blanca.”
She didn’t say anything, turning to look out at the water instead. Sun danced off the waves and a giant cabin cruiser cut under the bridge, leaving a bright-white wake. Bet it was nice on that boat, lost in the air and salt water. Away from it all. Alone.
Or maybe with Will.
“Can I ask you a question, Joss?”
“Mmmm.” The answer was noncommittal, but she knew him well enough to know he’d ask anyway.
“You didn’t have an affair with that guy, did you?”
Oh. She hadn’t been expecting that question—although it was natural and normal and should had been expected. Deep inside, she wanted Will to know she hadn’t. She didn’t answer.
“I wish you’d say no,” he said softly. “Real fast and vehement, too.”
“I did not have any kind of relationship with Miles Thayer. But any aspect of my client relationship with Coco is confidential, and I won’t talk about it.”
He choked softly. “She doesn’t give a shit about protecting your reputation. Why should you care about hers?”
She turned to him, a question of her own burning. “Did you think it was true?”
He hesitated long enough for her to know the answer. Damn it. Maybe she hadn’t thought this through enough. She’d sacrificed so much for Coco.
“I hadn’t seen you for more than fifteen seconds in fifteen years,” he finally said. “I didn’t know what to believe.”
That was fair, she guessed. “Do you believe it now?”
“Not if you tell me it’s a lie. I believe you. And honestly…” He captured her hand again, this time holding so tight she couldn’t let go. “You don’t like overrated skinny blond guys who can’t act their way out of a paper bag.”
She laughed softly. “True.”
“And nobody can change that much. You wouldn’t sleep with a married guy.”
“No, I would not, so thanks for that vote of confidence. I wish my clients felt the same way.” Since she’d lost two more that morning.
“They probably do, but Coco is the one they have to side with because she’s more powerful in the industry.”
She sighed. Of course Will got it; he always got it. “Yep.”
He turned his hand and threaded their fingers. “I still don’t see what it would hurt to at least make a statement.”
“It would hurt her,” she said simply.
“That’s what’s stopping you? Did you sign some kind of confidentiality agreement?” He turned as he reached a light on the mainland, his eyes flashing blue. “Because a good lawyer could—”
“No, Will, stop. Respect and professional ethics are stopping me. You need to go right at the next light, I think.”
“I know how to get there.”
“You’ve been to Autumn House?”
“I looked into a couple of places when I first got here.”
For some reason, that shocked her. Why hadn’t he told her that? “And?”
“Besides being crazy-ass expensive, they didn’t seem that great to me.”
“You’ve visited this place already?”
He shook his head. “Not this one, but others. I did call here, but reconsidered.”
“I can afford it,” she said quietly.
“Even if your business is in trouble?”
There was that. “I’ve saved a lot of money.”
“What about new business?”
She shrugged. “I’ll get it.”
“Could be challenging in L.A. after all this.”
“I’ve faced bigger challenges.”
He smiled, shaking his head a little.
“What? I have.”
“I know you have. But do you have to be so damn tough about everything? It’s like you have a hard shell around you.”
She did. “I’ve had that for so long I can’t imagine what it’s like not to have