Free Justice Falling by Audrey Carlan Page A

he was really serious, but the next day he showed up right on time. We went to The Place and had lunch.”
    “Really? And then today he sent you flowers?”
    “Yes.”
    “Interesting.” Her lips twisted and she bit her bottom one. “He likes you. A lot.”
    Oliver nodded then leaned over to show me a picture of what he called “Gandy Candy.” It was an image of a stunningly beautiful, half-dressed male model walking a runway in his boxers. My cheeks felt hot, and I looked away nodding at the similarities between my Nate and Oliver’s model crush. My Nate?
    “Girl, he has you in his sights. Did he ask you out again?” Oliver asked.
    That’s the part I didn’t really want to get into. They would want to know why I said no. I couldn’t tell them.
    “He did but I haven’t decided yet if I’m going.” I chose the noncommittal route to leave me with less to explain.
    “Was he a shitty kisser? It’s okay, you can tell me.” Oliver frowned.
    “No! He was an amazing kiss…”
    Oliver’s eyes went wide, and his smile grew even wider.
     Aspen laughed, and covered her smile with her hand.
     And now they knew we’d kissed. Dammit!
    “So, you’ve already kissed.” I shook my head trying to make him stop. “Oh no, honey, you’re spilling your guts. There’s no going back. And you said it was amazing. Right Aspen?”
     She nodded.
    My shoulders sagged as Aspen led us into the restaurant and out to the street side where wrought iron bistro-looking tables sat.
    “Look, can we talk about something else?” I pleaded with my eyes.
    Oliver rolled his. “Fine. Whatever, let’s order, eat a little, and then we’ll continue with the third degree.” He reached over to Aspen’s belly and rubbed it again.
    She had to be tired of all the touching. This time she allowed it, placed a hand over Oliver’s and smiled at him.
    “Let’s talk about my baby!” Oliver offered and Aspen scowled then pushed his hand off her belly again.
     
    ***
     
    Ask and ye shall receive. I believe that’s the quote. Who gives a blimey fuck. The woman who had destroyed all my thoughts, controlled every speck of time in my brain, was sitting at a bistro table not far from where I stood. I gestured to my colleague and best mate.
    “I’m in the mood for Thai, and I see a couple mates of mine.”
    Ty flicked his glasses down and scanned the view across the street. “The blonde and brunette with the suit?”
    “Yeah, come on. I’ll introduce you to Aspen Reynolds.”
    “The Aspen Reynolds. As in AIR Bright owner, Bright Magazine owner, pretty much owner of the stock market?”
    I grinned and gestured to cross. “That’s the one.”
    “They call her the “Octopussy” at the stock exchange because she has her hands in so many pies. And the ‘pussy’ part.” He made a gesture of a pyramid with both hands and licked his lips. “I hear she looks like a fucking model, and every man on the exchange wants a piece.”
    I stopped in my tracks to stare in horror. A cab squealed past me, ruffling my suit coat with the near close call. Ty pulled me out of the way in the nick of time. Bugger!
    “Shite. Don’t ever let her husband hear you say anything like that. He’s a big guy, southerner, and old-fashioned. He’d beat the living hell out of you.”
    “Duly noted. I think I can hold my own with the ladies and their husbands.” Ty waggled his eyes with a disgusting grin.
    It was times like these that I wondered how we’d been friends the past few years. Sure, we both treated women like something to get our jollies off on, but at least I respected them enough to not talk about them after. And…I never dated married women. He dated them even when he was married himself. It was the exact reason why he was divorced and paying a hefty alimony payment every month.
    As we walked closer to the restaurant, I could hear Camille’s lilting laughter. Christ it did things to me. Sent me from grumpy to glorious in a few seconds. Aspen looked up