“That bad?”
“Some people gossip more than the tabloids.”
They approached Gabi and Hunter, and Shannon made a show of hugging Gabi and accepting a kiss to the cheek from Hunter.
“How are you holding up?” Gabi asked.
“I’m all right. I miss some of these people.”
“And the ones you don’t?” Hunter asked.
Shannon smiled. “I don’t have to talk to them anymore.”
“There is always a bright side,” Gabi said.
Hunter stopped a waiter walking by and handed Shannon a glass of wine. “Now tell me, why are you doing this alone? I know a lot of men who would love to be by your side . . .”
“I don’t—”
“Even if it’s just for show,” he whispered with a wink. “Probably put lots of wagging tongues and inappropriate questions in their place.”
“I . . .” Shannon glanced over to where her ex-husband was standing. “Maybe next time.”
Hunter laughed. “Check with these ladies, I’m sure by the time you’re ready, they’ll have a pool of men prepared to help.” With that, Hunter made an excuse and left the three women there to talk in his wake.
“What was that all about?” Shannon asked.
“I think he’s trying to find more work for us,” Gabi said.
“I really like the idea,” Lori told her.
“What idea?” Shannon asked.
“A dating service.”
“Don’t you already do that?”
Lori found her glass and tipped it in Shannon’s direction. “You know the answer to that.”
“Well, not for me. I don’t want to date anytime soon.”
“And how would tonight have looked if you had someone hanging on your arm willing to say the right things to those who ask?” If nothing else, Lori would like to see if Paul had any emotions when it came to his ex-wife. As long as Shannon wasn’t getting on with her life, there was no way of really knowing if Paul ever had a thing for her. If he didn’t, fine . . . but if he did . . .
“Hmmm . . .”
Lori’s smile met Shannon’s.
“Heads up, ladies. Incoming,” Gabi announced.
Paul, in his perfectly polished suit and shined shoes, took a spot behind Shannon. “Thank you for coming,” he said to her.
Lori saw her draw a fortifying breath before she turned to him with a practiced smile. “Hello, Paul.”
He kept an appropriate distance, his smile wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t full of warmth either.
“How are you doing?”
“I’m doing well.”
There were people watching the two of them, and the noise around them came to a low murmur.
“Would you tell me if you weren’t?” he asked quietly.
“I’m not your responsibility any longer, Paul.” Shannon’s reply was spoken softly.
His jaw tightened and the next words he uttered were close to Shannon’s ear and only heard by her.
Her attempt at a smile was weak as he turned and walked away.
Oh, damn, was that moisture in Shannon’s eyes? “My brother cleans up really well. Next time, we come armed.”
Shannon cracked a smile.
“Only a few more minutes and we can get you out of this room. Just hold your head up,” Gabi coached Shannon.
“It’s been two years. This should have been easy.”
“Men never make things easy.”
“This from a happily married woman living the dream.”
Gabi rolled her eyes. “That man never makes my life easy.”
“Yeah, but he makes it worthwhile,” Lori chimed in.
Gabi blushed.
Noise around them said people were starting to move around again.
Gabi tugged Shannon away.
“I’ll meet up with you.” Lori needed a quick word with the governor.
As the other women worked their way to the ladies’ room, Lori squared her shoulders and started toward the man who had upset her friend.
“Excuse me?”
A woman she’d never seen before cut off Lori’s path. Tall, dark hair, with high cheekbones and full lips. “I’m sorry, do I know you?” Lori asked.
The woman looked at the ground. “No, I’m sorry . . . are you Lori Cumberland?”
“Yes, and you are?”
“I’m Susan.”
Out of habit, Lori glanced at Susan’s left hand to see if there was a ring molding on her finger. When approached at these events, most of the time it was a referral.
“Can I help you, Susan?”
“Maybe.” Susan lowered her head and voice. “I heard from a dear friend that you might be able to help me.”
“You’re in need of a divorce?”
“No.” Susan smiled. “I need a husband.”
At first, Lori wondered if maybe Hunter was working the room, drumming up clients for the nonexistent dating service.
“Uhm . . .”
“You know, a temporary one. I was told Alliance could help.”
Light shone as the pieces fell into place. “Oh.”
“Are my resources correct?”
“Maybe. But I’m not the one to talk to. Do you have a card? I can have someone call you.”
The woman blew out a sigh. “Oh, thank goodness.” With long, red fingernails, she picked out a card in her handbag and gave it to Lori.
The name Susan Wilson was printed on plain gray cardstock with a phone number.
“This is you?”
“Yes . . . and no. I have to explain in private.” Susan looked around them. “I’m sure you understand.”
Lori smiled, tucked the card away. “Of course. Someone will get back to you.”
With a nod, Susan walked away.
When Lori looked up, Paul was no longer in sight.
Chapter Twenty-Five
When another week passed without so much as one sighting of Ruslan and his men, Lori shooed off the bodyguard.
“Neil isn’t going to be pleased,” Cooper told her as he tried to talk her into changing her mind.
“Good thing Neil’s opinion isn’t needed here. I might feel a little guilty if I thought you’d be out of work, but I know that isn’t the case.”
“The Harrisons will be back in a week. I can hang until then.”
Lori felt the need to pack Cooper a lunch to send him on his way. “And I’ll talk to Sam in a week. Sooner if I need to. Now c’mon . . . you’re a young guy. I’m sure there’s some hottie out there waiting to spend time with you.”
Lori stood behind her desk and checked the time. Her next client was in five minutes. She’d scheduled the time to buzz Cooper off between clients to avoid argument.
It wasn’t working.
“Just because everything is silent doesn’t mean there aren’t things in play.”
“That may be, but my life has been interrupted enough because of one man’s weak threats.”
The intercom on her phone buzzed. “Your nine o’clock is here.”
“Thank you.”
“Lori—”
“No. I appreciate your concern, but the truth is, you’re not needed. I’m either here or at home, or with Reed. I don’t need a driver or someone hovering over me like I’m some kind of head of state. I’m a divorce attorney with a few high profile clients. That’s it. Ruslan Petrov has no real beef with me.” Or so she’d been telling herself for the past week. The last straw was when she went to the nail salon to have her fingers and toes painted and her regular girl kept eyeing Cooper at the door.
Lori could never be one to marry one of these rich men with all their rich problems and security.
“Call Neil, do what you have to, but no more.”
Cooper held his hands up. “Fine. But if anything changes. You feel the hair on your neck stand up, you call me!”
Lori grinned. “You’re a good guy, Cooper. Now go find your hottie you’ve been neglecting and make it up to her.”
The slight gleam in his eye told her she’d hit a nerve.
He walked out of her office, his cell phone already to his ear.
She pressed the intercom on her desk. “Okay, Liana, send Mrs. Maghakian in.”
Lori opened a legal pad and waited for her new client.
Wearing a dark blue pantsuit and a simple pair of pumps that complemented the Prada purse, the woman walked in with dark sunglasses hiding most of her face, her hair disguising the rest.
Lori walked around her desk, extended her hand.
The closer she got to the woman, the more makeup Lori noticed. “Mrs. Maghakian, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.” The woman’s voice was as weak as her handshake.
“Can we get you something to drink, coffee? Water?”
“No, your secretary already offered. I’m fine.”
With that, Liana left the office.
“Please, sit. Or if you’d like, we can talk over here.” Lori indicated a couch and chair setup she’d placed in her office to help her clients relax. She’d learned long ago that half her job was being a therapist to her clients. Many, like the skittish one in front of her, often needed time to open up about their marital problems. Even if they’d spent time on a marriage counselor’s couch, things took a turn when you were sitting across from an attorney to discuss ending your failed marriage.
Mrs. Maghakian turned toward the couch and sat.
Lori gave her the minutes she needed before taking a seat across from her.
Back rod-straight, the woman looked everywhere in the office except toward Lori. For a moment, Lori wondered if she’d say anything at all before bolting out the door.
Then, with a lift of her chin, Mrs. Maghakian removed her sunglasses, revealing the reason for all the cosmetics. Makeup might have covered up the color of the bruise, but the swelling and broken capillaries in her left eye required more than powder and paste.