Legally Bound (8 page)

Chapter Twelve

“P
aige, you can’t be serious. He declared his feelings for you in front of his whole family. You have to go to dinner with him,” Camille groaned.

“No, what I have to do is relax. I don’t know what Bobby is playing at but I want nothing to do with it,” Paige growled while tossing her clothes in drawers and stomping around the room.

“Playing at… playing at,” I Camille snapped back. “I think you have finally last your mind. You do understand that Bobby is a partner in the firm and is about to take over the firm, right? But he just told you that he would follow you, he would give that up to follow you to start your own firm. I married Seth and he won’t follow me to the kitchen less on anywhere else, especially not away from the security of his daddy’s money.”

“Camille, drop it,” Paige growled and stomped her foot. “Either you are going to go change and come join me and the girls in the hot tub or you can just go to your room and have this fight with yourself. I’m not going to dinner with him and that is final!”

“Fine,” Camille stomped to the door. “But you’re making a mistake.” Camille rushed out the last part and slipped out the door before Paige could respond.

Paige flopped down on the bed and put her head in her hands. This all was getting out of hand. James looked so sad after whatever Bobby told him. Minnie sat quiet for the rest of the flight as well. Paige couldn’t look at them or Bobby not knowing what he said to them or if they still wanted her on this trip. Things were just awkward now.

Her little controlled world was spiraling out of control. Hadn’t Camille promised none of this would harm her career, and now everything was falling apart. Sure she had made some big threats but she hadn’t even started to plan to go through with them. What if James decides to let her go before she finished the Lieberman and Oreeso cases, she’d miss out on the hours and the wins.

Paige groaned and stifled the sob that wanted to escape. She was not going to dinner with Bobby. He had made a complete fool of her and that was that. She’d just make the best of this trip and roll with the punches, thanks to Bobby.

Paige bounced up and went to change into her swim suit. She was just stepping out of the bathroom when Camille entered the room in her white two piece, that was all strings and little coverage. Paige eyes went wide and she started to laugh at her friend.

“Leave it to you to come on a family trip with dental floss for a swim suit,” Paige giggled.

“I make dental floss look damn good. You look hot by the way. I hate that I work my ass off in the gym and you just roll out of bed looking like a curvy, flat stomach goddess. You may want to sit far away from me in the Jacuzzi I may try to drown you,” Camille teased as she took in Paige’s red one piece with cut out sides and a metal ring around the naval holding the pieces of fabric together.

“I workout too,” Paige pouted.

“Yeah, sure you do,” Camille teased and kissed Paige on the cheek throwing an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get this vacation started.”

At the Jacuzzi Julia and Ellen were already sitting inside. Paige kicked off her flip flops and slide in on the far side of the tub. Camille got in and reached for the wine the women had chilling.

“This is great. I can’t tell you how much having a six month old and a husband has changed my life. I love them both but I don’t I know what relaxing is anymore. I’m so grateful to James and Minnie for this. They even hired a sitter for the whole duration of the stay,” Ellen chirped.

“Oh, I total understand the feeling. James and Minnie are rescuing me from three rugrats,” Camille giggled.

“I can’t wait until after the wedding so we can start a family,” Julia beamed.

“You say that now. Wait until your ankles are swollen and you have two whining at you that they have to go potty and they’re hungry,” Camille teased.

“Sam wants to try for another soon. I’m just getting into a routine with Jess, but I guess I don’t want them too far apart,” Ellen mused.

Paige felt a pang of jealousy and longing in her heart. These women all had what was eluding her on every front, the husbands and the family. Tears sting the backs of her eyes at the thought of her hopes being dash by Peter and his carelessness. Paige soon tramped the emotions down when she realized she was settling before and she would never settle again.

“What about you Paige? Do you want children? You were amazing with Jess, she loves you,” Ellen asked with a bright smile.

“I do someday when I find the right man,” Paige answered trying to paste on a smile.

“Well honey, Bobby is certainly staking a claim,” Julia giggled.

“Ugh, please don’t remind me,” Paige sighed.

“Wait, aren’t you two supposed to be going to dinner,” Julia said looking puzzled.

“Yes, they are and she is totally ignoring him,” Camille clipped out.

“I’m not ignoring him. I’m choosing not to go. I’ve been telling him for almost a month now to forget it. If he wants to act like he is brain die that is his choice. Now pass me some wine so I can relax,” Paige reached her hand out toward Camille who was closest to the wine.

After a while all the women had a glass of wine and were in bliss relaxing in the warm water with their heads back. The conversation had died down and they were resting in a comfortable silence. Suddenly the air cracked with tension and Paige knew before opening her eyes it could only be one person.

“Ladies,” Bobby voice snapped out like a controlled whip. Everyone’s head snapped up and turned to see Bobby storming toward them. “Do you all mind giving Paige and me a moment?”

Bobby kept up his stride as he kick off his sandals and started at the buttons on the white button down shirt he was wearing with the sleeves rolled above his elbows. The women all turned to look apologetically at Paige before hurriedly exiting the water and head out of the pool area.

Bobby dropped his shirt to the ground and stripped out of his linen slacks dropping them in the wake of his advance toward Paige. Paige sat paralyzed in shock until his first foot hit the water. When she realized he was not stopping until he reached her she looked around for an escape but as usual she was too late.

Bobby stopped right in front of her placing his arms on either side of her, trapping her in. “I have been waiting twenty minutes for you Paige. My brother had to tell me you were here. Why do you insist on running from me?” He said in a sexy growl.

“I never said I was going to dinner with you,” Paige retorted and folded her arms across her chest.

Bobby’s gaze dropped to her breasts that were now pushed up for his viewing in her scrape of a bathing suit. He bit out a curse under his breath and move closer to her pushing his way between her legs. He leaned in closer to her looking at her full luscious lips.

“What do I have to do? I’m asking you, what do you want me to do?” Bobby breathed against her lips.

“Back off, you embarrassed me enough,” Paige started to say but her words were cut off by Bobby’s lips crushing against hers.

Bobby groaned into her mouth as she gave into the kiss. He reached for her waist pulling her closer to his body and pressing his arousal into her warmth. Paige whimpered and wrapped her legs around him grinding against him and clawing at his back.

“Baby, if you don’t stop that I’m going to take you right here,” he groaned.

“Ah…what’s stopping you,” Paige panted as her head fell back.

Bobby hooked his fingers in the fabric of her swimsuit pushing it to the side and pressing his thumb to her aching clit. Paige pushed his wet boxers down his hips spring his erection free. Paige was in a haze of lust and want so thick she forgot all the reasons she didn’t want this.

Bobby lined his stiff flesh up against her soft warm opening and brush against her, back and forth teasing her. When she cried out as it slid teasingly across her sensitive nub he covered her mouth with his to swallow her cries. He grabbed her breast with one hand and flicked his thumb across the hardened tip.

Someone clear their throat from behind them. Bobby stiffened before quickly pulling away from Paige and covering her back up. Bobby looked over his shoulder to find his two brothers with amused grins on their faces.

“Sorry to interrupt but mom and dad will be heading this way in about ten minutes or less. Since you are my brother I’m positive that is not enough time for you two finish what you started,” Marcus said as his eyes sparkled with laughter.

Paige pushed at Bobby’s chest and he stumble backward in the water not expecting the blow. Paige straightened her swimsuit the best she could under the water before hastily pushing herself up out of the hot tub. She quickly grabbed a towel and wrapped herself in it and practically ran to get away from this embarrassment. What was it about Bobby Mairettie that made her completely lose her mind?

Paige barreled down the corridor to her room with her head down hoping she didn’t run into anyone in the massive house. She and Camille were staying in the west wing of the vast house. Bobby was well aware of Nathan’s room being the one right across from hers and Bobby’s being a few doors down as well.

James and Minnie were on the other side of the house as well as Sam, Ellen, Marcus and Julia. The house was stunning with the comfortable décor of a summer home on the beach. Everything seemed soft and inviting. The light blues, teals and beiges throughout the house brought in the outdoors and made the house feel like an extension of the open airiness of the island.

Paige hurried along as she noticed the paintings on the walls getting closer to her room. She was just steps away when she crashed into a hard chest and stumbled back. Her towel dropped to the floor and she stood dripping wet in front of Nathaniel who was giving her his signature sexy smile as he tried not to let his eyes travel across her curvy body.

Nathan bent to pick up her towel and held it out. “Where’s the fire short stuff,” Nathan teased.

“I guess that’s what I get for signing up for a trip full of giants,” Paige laughed as she took the towel and wrapped it back around herself. “It seems I’m always running into you when I’m running from Mairettie.”

Nathan threw his head back and laughed. “Is that so? Bobby better be careful then, you may decide to run into my arms and stay.”

“Yeah, I guess it sucks that I was a bit hasty in putting you in the friend zone. Not sure I want to take you out of there now,” Paige said with a teasing smile.

“Ouch, well friend, rumor is you stood Mairettie up for dinner, but I know you still need to eat. Camille and I are going to ride into town to one of the restaurants. I was just on my way to change, you game?” Nathan offered.

“Sure, I just need to shower and change. I’ll meet you guy’s in the foyer in around thirty, is that okay?”

“That’s great, take your time,” Nathan said with a smile. “By the way Paige…”

“Yes?”

“I’m liking the friend zone. I think the better man won this one,” Nathan said sincerely.

Paige just nodded and went to her room. She had enough of talking and thinking about Bobby Mairettie to last her the rest of the vacation. It was best if they avoid each other at all costs.

Chapter Thirteen

P
aige dressed in a light blue sundress that flirted with her ankles and showed off her back and shoulders. It was simple but flirty. The heeled sandals dressed it up a bit in case the restaurant was nicer. She pulled her hair into a ponytail feeling nostalgic for her college days, letting a few strands wisp around her face.

Paige could hear laughter floating to her as she made her way to the foyer. When the owners of the laughter came into view she stopped in her tracks and tried to figure out a way to get out of going out to dinner. Standing in between Camille and Nathan was Bobby. He was in a fresh blue short sleeved button down shirt and low hanging khaki shorts.

How does he pull off making everything he wears look sexy
, Paige groaned internally? His muscles stretched against the fabric of the shirt and the top three buttons were loose showing off his smooth tanned skin underneath. The shorts were showing off his muscled thighs and strong calves.

He stood with such power and authority, just oozing confidence. Paige bit her bottom lip as she stared at his slightly bowed legs. If she were being honest with herself at all she would admit that between Bobby and Nathan a girl could faint for all the testosterone and sexy vibes that naturally flowed through their confidence in their own skin.

He was standing with a sexy cocky grin on his face.
So he thinks he is getting his way does he
, she thought to herself,
we’ll see about that
. Paige lifted her chin and pushed her shoulders back, she was not going to let this man get to her.

Bobby’s smile fell and he groaned. He knew that look. She was pulling back and closing off again. Damn, what was he going to have to do to get through to her? Bobby walked over to her cautiously and leaned in to peck her on the lips but she dodged him and hurried toward the door.

“I’m starving, is the restaurant far?” Paige directed her question to Nathan.

“No it isn’t and the food there is great. They make great drinks too,” Nathan replied.

“Yay, sounds like my kind of place,” Camille chimed.

“I’ll drive and give you all a chance to enjoy yourselves,” Bobby offered picking up his pace to open the passenger side door for Paige.

Paige side stepped the open door pushing Camille in front of it and moving to the back door. Camille turned to glare at her but Paige shot her a wide eyed plea. Camille frowned at her but slid into the front seat. Paige rushed to get in the car but didn’t move fast enough to keep Bobby from closing her door behind her.

Nathan was already in the seat next to her, to her great relief. He looked over at Paige and shook his head at her and mouthed,
stubborn
. Paige shrugged her shoulders and looked out the window as Bobby started the car and took off toward the restaurant.

“So did you like the music in my playlist,” Nathan elbowed Paige.

She turned to him and beamed. “Oh I almost forgot. I love them and I downloaded almost half of the music on your playlist last night. You were right your cousin’s music is great. I would love to see her in person,” Paige said enthusiastically.

“Yeah, she is great but don’t tell her I said that. I’ve been telling her she sound like a drowning rat since we were kids. It motivates her,” Nathan laughed. Paige could tell he was just teasing and had great affection for his cousin.

“You’re terrible,” Paige laughed and playfully hit Nathan in the arm. “Well remind me never to let you watch me in court,” Paige teased.

“Aw, I was really looking forward to that. I hear it is quite intense to watch. A sight to behold,” Nathan smiled and reached to tug on her ponytail.

Bobby tried to not pay attention to them in the back seat. It was sending a sharp pain to his heart to see Paige so open and comfortable with Nate. Bobby knew he was being ridiculous. Nathan was the same way with Paige that he was with Marie or his own sister, Rita.

It’s just his rationale side wasn’t working at the moment. He should have been keeping his eyes on the road but his eyes kept looking to the rearview mirror staring at the subtle touches and laughter between the two people he cared for.

“Oh my God, Bobby,” Camille squeaked.

Bobby slammed on the broke as he snapped his eyes back to the road before him. He almost ran right through a stop light and into oncoming traffic. His heart was pounding in his chest. He had to get it together before he got everyone killed. The thought of being the cause of any hurt to Paige sent crippling pain through his stomach.

“Are you okay,” Paige said nervously from the back seat.

“Yes, sorry about that,” Bobby murmured moving forward when the coast was clear.

Everyone was silent enough to hear a pin drop the rest of the ride. Bobby pulled into a parking spot and turned the car off and Paige jumped out before he could make his way around to her side to open the door. Paige frowned at Camille who sat in the front seat waiting for one of the guys to open her door. Bobby was the gentleman to do so as he watched Paige try to put as much distance between the two of them as possible.

They made their way into the restaurant and were seated right way. Paige made sure to sit on the opposite side of the table from Bobby as far across from him as she could get which put her next to Nathan and across from Camille who was soaking at her. Paige ignored Camille and buried her face in her menu.

Bobby just watched her every move trying to figure out what happened between the Jacuzzi and now. He noted everything from the way she wrinkled her nose at things on the menu that Nathan suggested and she didn’t want to try, to the way her small hands swiped at the little wisps of hair that tickled her temples. In the lighting from the restaurant her eyes looked like pools of golden caramel and her flawless mocha skin was glowing more than usual.

By the time the waitress came to take their order Bobby knew every inch of her face by memory and Paige was completely annoyed because she could feel him staring at her. Paige tried to avoid his eyes and their probing gaze but she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame, only she was positive she was going to get burned.

“So Camille, tell me something about you I don’t know,” Nathan crooned.

“When you call the office sometime I tell you to hold for a few just to hear your voice a little longer,” Camille laughed as she sipped on a pina colada and batted her lashes.

Everyone at the table laughed. “I’ll have to keep that in mind,” Nathan smiled.

“I actually graduated with my lawyer degree a year before Paige,” Camille shrugged.

“I didn’t know that,” Bobby said and furrowed his brow. “You would make a great lawyer. What happened?”

“Seth didn’t think I needed to take the bar or work so I just give it up. Beside I don’t think I could put in the work you and wonder woman over here do,” Camille teased.

“You already do. You’re at the office as much as we are,” Paige pointed out.

“Doing grunt work or surfing the net,” Camille blushed. “Bobby, remember what’s said in the Bahamas stays in the Bahamas.”

“
Right
, I think that would be Vegas, but if you say so,” Bobby teased and winked at her.

“If he fires you, you can come and work for me,” Nathan offered and grinned at Camille.

“Well in that case. I think you’re right Bobby that rule only applies to Vegas,” Camille said and wiggled her eyebrows at Nathan.

“You’re the worst,” Paige giggled.

“What, you didn’t even offer to take me with you to your new firm,” Camille pouted.

“I wasn’t planning on poaching from the firm,” Paige shrugged making sure not to look at Bobby.

“I was hoping you would follow me over,” Bobby said to Camille.

“So Nathan, are we still up for those surf lessons tomorrow?” Paige asked to change the subject without having to address Bobby’s talk of working for her pratice.

“Ready and waiting, though Bobby taught me. He may be a better teacher for you,” Nathan said with a mischievous grin.

“Paige, I would love to teach you to surf,” Bobby said with a bright smile.

“On second thought, it will be two weeks before I can get to my hair dresser I don’t think I want to start my vacation off in the water,” Paige grumbled.

The rest of dinner went pretty much the same way. One moment everyone was laughing and having a good time, but as soon as someone tried to get Paige to acknowledge the fact that Bobby was at the table she would deflect the conversation to something or someone else.

Bobby sat picking at his food watching her laugh and enjoying the company of everyone but him. He felt it should have been him she was so comfortable with. Halfway through the meal Bobby had enough he placed his napkin in his plate and stood from the table.

“I’m going for a walk. Text me when you guys are ready,” Bobby pulled his wallet from his pocket and handed his credit card to Camille without say another word.

Camille watched him leave then turned to Paige. “What is your problem, Paige? He is trying and you are totally blowing this,” Camille hissed.

“Let it go Cam,” Paige huffed.

“No Paige, you don’t see what you are doing. Someone needs to call you on your shit,” Camille snapped.

“Call me on my shit, Camille? Really? You know me better than anyone, you know I don’t let anyone get close enough to hurt me and I have done a wonderful job this far,” Paige said in a low hiss.

“No one has ever had the power to break me, but that man, him, he is the one man that has the power to completely shatter and annihilate me. Not just my career Cam but my heart. That man scares me to death because I know he can rip me to shreds and who’s going to put me back together Cam, you,” she pointed to Camille then looked at Nathan with tears in her eyes.

“You? Because if he hurts me someone is going to have to put the pieces back together for me, because I don’t have it in me to come back from him. He has the power to ruin me.”

Paige’s chest was heaving by the time she finished her words. She hated to admit a weakness, but Bobby Mairettie was hers. She knew he was the first time he kissed her in his office.

She knew the moment he asked her, ‘
What would you like me to call you
’. Somehow she had let him into more than her body. She wasn’t sure how it happened, but if she didn’t stop him now he would hurt her and she couldn’t bare the pain that she knew it would cause her.

“Wow baby sis,” Camille murmured. “Every man is not Eric.”

“No Cam, they’re not, but I never really loved Eric. That was silly schoolgirl feelings gone bad,” Paige stopped talking. She was revealing way too much.

Paige looked at Nathan and he just stared at her with compassion in his eyes. He nodded his head at his own thoughts and sat back in his chair. They were all silent for a moment no one returning to their food.

“Paige, I understand what you are saying,” Nathan started. “I respect your need to protect yourself. But I know Bobby. He would never take advantage of the power of your love for him, but I want you to understand this. You hold the same power over him. He hasn’t been the same since the night he went to that club to see you.

“He may hide it well but he barely sleeps and as you can see he doesn’t eat,” Nathan gestured to Bobby untouched plate. “He was a mess after that night with you at the club but he really lost it after your ex showed up at his office. He might have the power to ruin you Paige, but you
are
ruining him.

“He was ready to end our friendship because he thought I was pursuing you. You have no idea how truly close Bobby and I are. We know things about each other that we wish we could unlearn and things that we were the only ones to help the other through.

“We don’t fight, ever and never let people get between us. I have never seen him this way over a woman in my life. You hold just as much power Paige, if not more. So think about that and don’t let fear destroy two people that deserve to be happy more than anyone I know.”

“I think I’m ready to go if you guys are,” Paige said to her lap.

Nathan waved the waitress over for the check. When she brought it he waved Camille with Bobby’s card off and paid the bill. They all dropped their napkins on their plates and walked out of the restaurant for the car. Camille text Bobby and he appeared ten minutes later. He didn’t try to open Paige’s door but went right to the driver side and got in the car.

Everyone was in an uncomfortable silence on the way back to the house. Paige was in deep thought about what Nathan said. She tried to tell herself that he was just being a friend to Bobby and trying to help him win the girl.

She tried to reason that starting something with Bobby was unprofessional. She still didn’t know what he told his father about their relationship. She didn’t want to embarrass herself any further.

She and Bobby together were just a bad idea.

~B~

Bobby stumbled into his room after midnight. He and Nathan sat in the parlor drinking his Paige sorrows away. Bobby piled off his shoes and clothes down to his boxers. He wasn’t ready to sleep. He drank the pain away but he still had no solution on what to do about Paige.