Take the Chance (Top Shelf Romance #9) - Brittainy Cherry Page 0,120

he stared at me for a moment, then went back to his reps. “So what does this Darlene do?”

“She’s a dancer.”

“Ooh, so she’s flexible. Bonus.”

I shot him a dirty look. “The dancing’s a side thing. She’s a massage therapist.”

Jackson dropped his arms and glared at me through the mirror.

I stared back. “What?”

“She’s a massage therapist?”

“Yeah? So?”

“Jesus, man, have you lost your game entirely? Tell her you’re stressed out—not a lie— and that she can practice on you. Do you need me to think of everything? Hell, if you won’t date her, maybe I will.”

The sudden rush of blood to my face shocked me, and the rope slipped out of my hands. The weights clanged on the rack.

“Wow, easy there, tiger,” Jackson said. “I was kidding. Possessive, are we?”

“What? No…fuck, I’m just tired. I’ve got a few more weeks of law school, the bar, and in two months, I can petition to get my name on Olivia’s birth certificate. Until then…” I shrugged and grabbed the ropes again.

“Nada,” Jackson said. He heaved a sigh. “Okay, then. But don’t blame me if your dick shrivels up and falls off from lack of use.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Jackson grinned. “How’s everything else? How’s your scholarship fund holding up?”

“It’s going to run out just in time for my first clerkship paycheck to come in,” I said. “Of course, I have to actually get the job.”

“A minor detail,” Jackson said. “And Olivia?”

“She’s perfect.”

“No sign of Molly?”

“No.” I pressed down as hard as I could. My triceps burned. “How’s the job at Nelson and Murdoch?” I asked before he could ask me anything else. “It’s been two months. Have they made you partner yet?”

“It’s only a matter of time,” Jackson said, resuming his reps.

He’d been hired straight out of Hastings, before the notice came in the mail he’d passed the bar. I was only half-kidding about his new firm making him partner so fast; Jackson was a genius tax attorney, but I’d never say it out loud.

“But for real, tell me about your shot at the clerkship with Miller,” Jackson said. “Has your competition cracked yet?”

“No, but I got this,” I said after one last pull. I let the weights crash down and leaned against the machine, sipped from my water bottle. “We have a progress report this afternoon. Judge wants to make sure we’re both on track for finals and the bar.”

“Are you?”

I snorted. “Of course. I can see the damn finish line. The last thing I need is to get sidetracked by—”

“A beautiful massage therapist with dancer-flexibility who’s great with your kid and lives ten feet away from you?” Jackson batted his eyes at me. “Solid plan, Haas.”

I laughed despite myself. “Shut up, Smith, or I’ll remind Hastings you haven’t returned your gym card.”

I showered, changed, and went to two classes—Advanced Legal Research and Analysis, and American Legal History, then took the Muni home. I’d enough time to grab a fast lunch, change into a suit and tie, say hi to Livvie at Elena’s, then head to the Superior Courthouse for the progress meeting with Judge Miller.

I’d just opened the front door of the Victorian when I heard a commotion by Elena’s place. She was coming out with her phone in one hand, Olivia cradled in her other arm, all the while gently guiding a sniffling Hector into the hallway. The little boy was holding his elbow and tears streaked his face. His little sister, Laura, followed behind looking nervous.

I rushed over and took Olivia out of Elena’s arms. “What happened?”

“I was just going to call you on the way to the ER,” Elena said with a sigh of relief. “I think Hector broke his elbow.” She gave him a stern look overlaid with worry. “He jumped off the couch—again, though I told him a million times no—and landed funny.”

“Oh damn.” I knelt in front of Hector. “You okay, buddy?”

He sniffed and nodded, his little mouth stiff with repressed tears.

“Brave man.” I ruffled his hair and straightened. “Let’s go.”

“No, no, we’ll be fine. The Uber car is coming,” Elena said, then put a hand to her mouth. “Oh, and you have your special meeting today...”

“Don’t even think about it.”

I walked them to the front door, and held it open for them so that Elena could help cradle Hector’s arm as they walked. The car was already pulling up to the front of the house. I helped Hector into his seat and buckled him in while Elena took care of Laura.

“We’re fine,” Elena said from