Page 18 of Sly (Dragon Riders MC 5)
So, I quickly dug my burner phone out and sent a text to Sly.
Me: I’m so sorry for the radio silence. Been a long few days with my brother. He really didn’t like us dating, so he’s monitoring my in and out phone calls and such. Use this number from now on.
“Tara? Is that you!?”
I quickly slid my phone between my legs as my head whipped up, a familiar face coming toward me. The kind woman with dark features and a warm smile came and sat down at my table with a mug of coffee in her hands, and I could’ve sworn I’d seen her somewhere.
Obviously, since she knew my name.
“Hey there…?”
She crossed her leg over her knee. “It’s okay if you don’t remember. That night at the poker game was kind of a blur. I’m Joanna, Link’s girlfriend.”
I nodded slowly. “Link.”
“The president of the club your brother’s pledging? He is your brother, right?”
“Yes! Yes. Sorry. That night was just a bit—much.”
She giggled. “It’s a lot for anyone to take in. But it’s nice to see you again! How have you been?”
I nodded slowly. “Been a bit worse for wear, but I’m getting along. How are you?”
She furrowed her brow. “You want to talk about it?”
I shook my head. “Nah, nothing I can’t find my way out of. Just job hunting and things of that nature.”
“Oh, losing a job is terrible. It’s one of the many reasons why I wanted to start my own practice and be my own boss.”
“Practice?”
She sipped her coffee. “Mhm! Yes. I’m a lawyer here in town.”
My eyebrows rose. “You’re a lawyer?”
“I am!”
“With an office of your own.”
“And an overflowing client list I can’t seem to chisel away at some days. It was a long road, but I promise you’re going to get there. Whatever it is you wish to do.”
Maybe she’s got a job for me. “You wouldn’t happen to be looking for a paralegal, would you?”
She smiled. “Every good lawyer worth their salt has a paralegal.”
My heart sank. “Ah, well. If you know of anything in the area—”
“Wait, are you a paralegal?”
“I am, yes.”
Her smile blossomed even brighter. “I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
I nodded thankfully. “I’d appreciate it if you did.”
Our food touched down in front of us and, oddly enough, it felt nice being out with someone again. So, I welcomed Joanna’s company. I couldn’t help but study her, though. I couldn’t help but try to read into her every word and every reaction. I mean this woman was an attorney. And a popular one in the area, to boot. She didn’t seem to be hurting for much in her life; quite the opposite of the situation I had found myself in. Yet, she was in love and living with a trafficker? That didn’t make any sense.
Especially since she seemed like such a reasonable person.
“So, can I poke my nose into something for a second?” she asked.
I took a bite of my wrap. “Mm! Mm, mm… so good.”
She snickered. “Right? All of their food is fabulous. And before we leave? You and I are splitting a slice of their chocolate cake. I’m telling you, you’ve never had a chocolate cake like this one before.”
I swallowed hard. “It’s a done deal, then. I’m a sucker for anything chocolate.”
She grinned. “Especially if it’s got a caramel center.”
“My hero,” I whispered playfully.
She barked with laughter. “Anyway, back to my prying. I kind of saw Sly getting cozy with you at the poker game. You two strike up a conversation?”
I blushed. “A bit, yeah.”
“A bit? Girl, that man bought you a drink.”
I giggled. “Yeah. Yeah, I suppose he did.”
“It was cute, seeing him that excited over someone. Usually, Sly is skeevy and weird with women. But he was different with you that night.”
I paused. “You think? He didn’t strike me as a skeevy man at all.”
“That’s what I’m saying. I’ve never seen that side of him before. The girls and I couldn’t stop talking about it all night.”
My blush grew deeper. “Well, I think he’s a sweetheart. It was really nice to go out on that date with him.”
She gawked. “What!?”
The entire coffee shop went silent and stared at us.
“Way to go,” I murmured.
She stifled her laughter as she whispered to me. “You went on a date with him? When!?”
I lowered my voice. “Saturday. He took me on a picnic, too. Right by this little lake, and he had a blanket to boot.”
Her eyes grew two sizes as a puppy dog look came over her face. “Oh. My. Goodness. That is so romantic! Who knew Sly had it in him, you know?”
I furrowed my brow. “Is he really that rough?”
She polished off her coffee. “I mean he’s not a terrible person. He just doesn’t let women get close. He dates them for a time or two, gets them in bed for a little while, then it’s over. I’ve never seen him smitten like this, though.”
