That was a very lawyerly way of saying that I was in charge. There were things on which I wanted to put my foot down. Did she want to wear a short dress at school? No. Piercings and tattoos? No and no. Staying out after ten o’clock? Negotiable. Inviting over a boy when I was not at home? Hell, no. But I had to find a smart way to lay out my rules. I was one of the top lawyers in the Los Angeles area. Opposing counsel had been known to drop cases when they’d found out they were going to face me. But I didn’t want to raise the girls like a despot.

April sighed. “Carter, you’re becoming less cool by the minute. Just thought you should know.”

I was sure Hannah was looking at us from somewhere above and having a good laugh. Before she and my brother-in-law passed away, I’d done nothing but stomp on all the rules, always taking April’s side. Whenever I was visiting, I’d take her shopping, buying everything her parents wouldn’t. It had been five years, but I still missed my sister every day.

After I pulled the car into the parking lot in front of the school, I half turned, grinning at the girls.

“Ready to go?” I asked.

April grinned back, and Peyton squealed from the back seat. It was a big day for my girls. I planned to take them out for a treat tonight, to spoil them a bit.

An hour later, I held in my hand the keys to the new offices of Sloane & Partners. The building manager, Kate, had given me a tour of the space, and as we neared the end, she said, “I’m hosting a charity event for deaf and hard of hearing children. Would you like to participate? It’s in one month.”

“Email me all the details. I’ll send a check if I already have something planned.”

“Sure. But I’d love to have you there. I manage a few buildings in the area, and all my clients are participating. Even the owner of my big fish, as I like to say, Valentina’s Laboratories. It’s the huge gray building around the corner. Big name in cosmetics and fragrances.”

The name didn’t ring a bell, but since I wasn’t involved in that industry, it wasn’t saying much.

“She invited some of her Hollywood connections, so the place will be packed with celebrities. Might be good for business,” Kate rattled on.

“As I said, send me all details.”

“Will do. Okay. That’s it from me. If you need anything, give me a call. When are your movers bringing the furniture?”

“Later today. We’ll open up for business tomorrow.”

“My, that’s quick, but I suppose you don’t build a reputation like yours by being anything other than sharp.”