I looked around the deserted sidewalk and focused back on her. “Cin, is this really the best time to talk about this?”

She gave me that stubborn look I’d seen her use in court hundreds of times. It said, “I’m here to do a job, you’re not getting me off track.”

“This is the perfect time, since you hedged when I tried to talk to you about it after the meeting with Day.” Her expression got a little grim when she mentioned the meeting. It had not been anyone’s finest moment. For all my mouthing off, we walked out of there with very little to show for it.

Cindy’s insistent tone jerked me back to the conversation. “The deadline for submitting the papers to run is in a few weeks. You’d be a good DA. People trust you and respect you, Easton.” There was a lot that was feeling fraught with Cindy these days, but I knew she believed what she was telling me.

“I don’t know, Cin,” I said, hesitantly. My parents talked about my job like it was a strange hobby they didn’t get, but I loved it, and I was good at it. If I was honest with myself, I wanted the DA position, not just to show my parents that this was not some kind of whim, but because I thought I could make a difference. I complained about the paperwork and the administrative piece, but I wondered if I could be a good leader if I just had more leeway. It had become abundantly clear dealing with these stops that when it came to speaking for the DA’s office my hands were tied.

I looked over at Cindy who was still waiting for my answer. “I’ll think about it, okay?”

She nodded, seemingly satisfied for now. “I’ll hold you to that.” She then moved in to give me a peck on the cheek and shooed me away.

“Okay, go see your stunner, but I’ll be back on Monday to make sure you put the paperwork in.”

“Okay,” I said, walking off with a nod, and setting aside my complicated feelings about Cindy and the DA position for now.

As I walked the few blocks to the brewery, I considered the past week with Patrice. No matter how much I got from him, it felt like only a taste, when I wanted mouthfuls.

A buzz in my pocket broke up my musings. I grabbed the phone, expecting to see a message from Amber, my co-counsel on the trial, but instead I saw it was from Patrice. I had to press a hand to my chest, at the throb there from just seeing his name on the screen.

I see you, counselor. How are you not wearing a coat?!!!!

I laughed at his alarmed message and looked up. I spotted him leaning against the brick wall next to the brewery.

God, he was beautiful.