Josh shrugged. “I think any jury with a few brain cells and a pulse will heap some hefty financial penalty on this guy. My boss, meanwhile, just took on a new client who is equally sketchy and I have to rush to get up to speed on this new case.” Josh didn’t specify that the client was a shady real estate magnate who had been snatching up old buildings in Brooklyn and replacing them with shiny new high-rises. This guy was apparently not happy with the lack of aggressiveness of his previous law firm, and had hired Provost to—well, Josh wasn’t entirely sure, but it sure looked like he wanted Provost to help him kick little old ladies out of their apartments. Not exactly something Paige would look highly upon.
“What’s your role in all this?”
“My boss is letting me sit second chair at the trial, as a way to give me trial experience. So I gotta put on the good suit tomorrow to go to court.”
“There’s only one good suit?”
“Your question assumes I’ve had time to shop. It’s hard to buy a suit online. You have to get it tailored, and I have short legs for my height, so…”
Paige laughed. “I’m just teasing. Although you don’t have to work today, do you? You could go buy a suit now.”
“But then I wouldn’t be spending time with you.”
When Josh hadn’t been paying attention, he and Paige had gradually moved closer together, and now she was close enough that if he tilted his chin, they’d be kissing. His desire to kiss her was like a magnet pulling him forward, but he recognized where they were and who was around, so he sat back.
“You, uh, need anything?”
Paige grinned. “Could you get me a refill on my tea?” She handed Josh an empty cup. “Ask Monique for the jasmine green tea.”
“Sure, okay.”
Josh took the cup and walked up to the counter. As he handed the cup to Monique, Lauren walked over.
“So, hey, stupid question,” said Lauren. “But is something going on with you and Paige?”
“Why do you ask?” But Josh knew they were busted. Lauren must have seen how closely they were sitting. His stomach flopped.
“Oh, no you don’t,” she said. “I don’t believe you would do anything so stupid as to have something going on with one of my friends.”
So here they were. Josh had been dreading this moment. Part of him had always known Lauren wouldn’t really approve, no matter how hard he tried to rationalize it. He’d been hopeful that she’d get over that quickly, especially now that he’d really fallen for Paige. “So if, hypothetically, I went out with Paige, you would not approve?”
“First of all, when do you even have time to date? Don’t you work all the time? And second of all, Paige is… And you are… No. I don’t like it.”
“Why? Hypothetically, of course.”
“Well, for one thing, it puts me in an awkward position.”
“So, this is about you?”
“Are we having an argument?”
Josh grunted and pulled out his wallet. He handed Monique a five and told her to keep the change. Then he picked up Paige’s refilled tea. “I don’t want to have an argument. But I do like Paige. If you have a problem with that, I think I have the right to know why. It’s kind of bullshit if your only reason is that it makes you feel awkward.”
Lauren rolled her eyes. “Why do the people I love insist on making drama during business hours.” She pointed at him. “I’m not going to argue with you here, but this is not over.”
“Fine. I’m going to bring Paige her tea.”
Josh headed back to the cat room. Paige looked up with a smile as he sat back down beside her.
“I don’t know how to tell you this,” said Josh, “but the jig is up.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lauren is onto us.”
Paige clasped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, shit.”
“She’s not happy about it either.”
