Deep Down (Lockhart Brothers #1) (16 page)

I WALKED INTO MY
office and flipped on the lights. I’d been composing an email to another attorney in my head and I wanted to get it typed and sent immediately. But the email was forgotten when I saw the stack of dark brown boxes in the corner of my office.

“What in the . . . ?” I stuck my head through the open doorway and called down the hallway. “Lena, what’s all this?”

“Bart Daniels had them dropped off. They’re the files for some cases he said you’d be helping with as assistant public defender.”

I stared at the five foot tall stack of boxes. When I’d agreed to be assigned assistant public defender, I’d figured it would be a few overflow cases, and anything Bart was unable to take on due to a conflict of interest.

Maybe the boxes weren’t full. Well, other than the two on bottom, which had files bulging out the sides. I walked over to the boxes and pulled the lid from the one on top.

Shit. The box was stuffed full.

With a deep sigh, I took my jacket off and rolled up my shirt sleeves. I’d fire off that email and then I’d sort through the files and see how many cases I had to get up to speed on. There would be a hell of a lot of cases, I already knew that. Good thing I was still young and eager.

MY CELL PHONE BUZZED
from the pocket of my apron. I pulled it out and glanced at the screen. A voicemail from April. She must have read my e-mail and decided to call instead of emailing. I’d have to call her back this evening when I was off work.

I stuck the phone back in my pocket and returned to work. A few minutes later I saw a tall man walk into the diner, just catching his frame out of the corner of my eye. I couldn’t help looking up—it was Reed. He gave me a grin that made me smile so wide I bit my lip in an effort to contain it.

Forcing myself to focus on my customers, I finished taking their order. Reed was sitting in my section, so I walked over to his table.

“Hi there,” I said. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Hey,” he said softly. “Can I just tell you that I spent the whole morning going through files? Hundreds of ’em. My office looks like a paper factory exploded in it.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” I said, laughing.

“It’s not. But you know why I was in a good mood the whole time I sorted through that mess of paperwork?”

The gleam in his eye made me warm inside. “I can’t imagine.”

“Because I knew I was gonna come here for lunch and see you. And, even better, ask you a certain question again.” He put his arm around the vacant chair next to his and sprawled out comfortably.

“You’re asking me out again?”

“I like you too much not to. And if you turn me down, I’ll just ask again.”

“Reed . . .”

“What do I need to do to convince you to give me a chance?”

“I don’t—”

“You want me to serenade you in front of this entire diner full of people?” He stood up and grinned at me. “Because I will.”

I bit my lip to avoid laughing at the image. “No, that won’t be—”

He got down on one knee in front of me and I gave him a puzzled look.

“Why do you build me up?” he belted out. “Buttercup—”

“No! Reed, get up.” My face warmed with nervous embarrassment.

Customers were giving us looks of amusement.

“She won’t go out with me,” Reed explained to the couple at a nearby table.

“Reed Lockhart, you’re out of your mind,” I murmured.

“Tell me what I have to do. There has to be a way I can convince you. One date, Ivy, that’s all I ask.”

I scanned the diner, trying to think of an answer. My gaze landed on my most crotchety customer, who was here for a rare lunch.

“You have to convince Walter,” I said.

“What?”

I smiled as the idea took root in my head. “Convince Walter to tell me to go out with you, and I will.”

Reed rolled his eyes and blew out a breath. “I don’t think I could convince him to piss on me if I was on fire.”

“You’re a lawyer. Isn’t convincing your thing?”

His lips turned up in a smile. “It’s
one
of my things, Miss Gleason. So if I can persuade Walter, you’ll let me take you out?”

“Yes. I might even consider wearing something nicer than these old jeans. That is,
if
you can convince him.”

“You make those jeans look good.” He considered for a second. “Okay. I accept this challenge.”

I nodded and tried to look nonchalant, though my heart was pounding. “I have to get back to work.”

“Keep Friday night open.” He gave me one more smile before turning toward Walter.

I wanted to eavesdrop, but I had tables on the other side of the diner. As I walked over there, I found myself actually hoping Walter was in a good mood today.

WALTER GRIEVES GLARED AT
me over the top of his glasses.

“Mr. Grieves,” I said, extending a hand. “Reed Lockhart.”

“What do you want, Mr. Lockhart?” He ignored my hand and I dropped it.

“Well, I want to take Ivy Gleason out on a date.”

“And that has what to do with me? Talk quickly, my soup’s getting cold.”

I gave him my best disarming smile. “She must think a lot of you, sir, because she turned me down the first time I asked, but the second time she told me that if I can convince you to tell her she should go out with me, then she will.”

His eyes sparkled with amusement, but his scowl remained in place. “Is that right? Well, unfortunately for you, I think a lot of her as well. And you look like a man who’s thinking with the wrong head for me to even consider endorsing the idea of a date with her.”

“How do you figure that?” I gave him a skeptical look. “I’m respectable and I’m wearing a suit.”

Walter turned to me, the lines of his scowl deepening. “It’s not your clothes. It’s the way you stare at her like you’re starving and she’s dinner.”

Defensiveness kicked in. “I don’t stare at her like that. I really like Ivy. I’m not after what you think I am.”

He grunted dismissively. “No. She’s a nice girl and I don’t want her getting hurt.”

“I won’t hurt her.”

“My soup is probably icy cold now, because you won’t accept the answer I’m giving.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Let’s see . . . expensive suit, sense of entitlement and a recalcitrant attitude. You must be an attorney.”

I scoffed and blew out a breath, unsure how to respond.

“That’s right, young man. And don’t try to evade the question. Are you an attorney?”

“Yes, sir,” I said, meeting his eyes as my chances of a date with Ivy this weekend sailed out the window.

“Then not only no, but hell no. Now, please leave me to my lunch.”

Walter turned around and I headed back for my table, stealing a glance at Ivy who was delivering food to a table. Damn. It would take a miracle to change his mind. But I wasn’t giving up. I needed to think about things before approaching him again.

I STILL FELT A
warm glow from seeing Reed at lunch. Margie had delivered his food before I had a chance to grab it, so I hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to him again. But from what I’d seen of the conversation between him and Walter, it hadn’t gone well.

Just knowing he was interested in me was enough. It made me feel pretty in a way I’d never felt before and not like a piece of ass. Reed was handsome and smart and sweet, and when he looked at me, I felt . . . worthy.