“Why not? I assume that’s the excuse you use.” Caitlyn remained combative, but the storm clouds in her eyes had passed, meaning she was no longer angry, just shifting back to her argumentative self. Which Ash happened to like.

  “It is, which is how I know it’s a cop out,” Ash countered. They were too much alike in this respect to even try to deny it. “No. There’s something else.”

  “You know that for certain, do you?” Caitlyn crossed her arms. “Or is that just your way of leading the witness?”

  “Maybe,” Ash admitted.

  “If you want to know the truth, I haven’t had much interest in relationships since things ended with my college girlfriend.”

  “The evil ex. I seem to remember you mentioning her before. What made her so evil?”

  Caitlyn swallowed, and for a moment Ash wasn’t sure she’d answer. But then Caitlyn drew a breath and said, “She betrayed me. That’s the one thing I can’t tolerate from people I let in my life.”

  “She cheated on you?”

  Caitlyn shook her head. “Much worse than that. She used me. Do you know what it’s like to go into class ready to present a project you’ve spent a year on, only to have someone you thought loved you give the exact same presentation first?”

  “She did that?” Ash went cold all over at the thought. As betrayals went, that one was extra bad, so very personal and cruel.

  “If she’d copied from an exam, or turned in a paper I’d written, I might’ve forgiven her.” Caitlyn’s jaw tensed. “But she humiliated me. That was half the reason she did it. Maybe the whole reason. Who knows?”

  Ash swallowed a lump in her throat. “What happened after that?”

  “I threw all her stuff out of my dorm window. I was going to set fire to it, but I didn’t want arson on my record when I applied to law school.”

  Ash couldn’t hold back a soft chuckle at the vivid image of a young, furious Caitlyn that formed in her mind. From what Ash had witnessed, the woman hadn’t changed much with age. “I meant, what happened with the project? Did you get credit for it?”

  “Eventually. It was a nightmare in the meantime, trying to pull together proof that the work she’d presented was mine. It took well into the summer, and I missed walking for graduation. Not that my dad would’ve gone anyway, but still.” Caitlyn shrugged, a dismissive gesture that frequently accompanied any mention of her father. Ash recognized it for the defense mechanism it was.

  “That’s terrible.” Ash’s heart clenched, not sure if she was angrier at the treacherous girlfriend or the father who cared so little for his own offspring.

  “It taught me a lesson. I used to hate it when people underestimated me, but what Bridget did made me realize it can be more effective to fly under the radar. If people don’t realize how good you are, they won’t know to sabotage you until it’s too late.”

  Ash studied the woman for a few seconds, struggling to square what she knew of Caitlyn’s personality with the image she presented to the world. “That’s funny, because I’ve heard you say that before about people underestimating you, and I can’t help but wonder if they’re all blind. From the moment I met you, you never had any qualms about telling me you were the best.”

  “You’re right. I have no idea why. But even before we met in person, when I was watching the videos of you from that Lavender Law conference, I couldn’t bear having you think I wasn’t good enough.”

  Ash’s heart beat a little faster as Caitlyn searched her face with an expression that seemed to beg for acceptance and recognition. “There’s no way that could ever happen. As for your evil ex, I kind of hope you really did plan the perfect murder.”

  “If I did,”—Caitlyn offered a sly smile—“you’d never know.”

  As Ash laughed, her phone began to vibrate. “Hold on. I’ve got a call coming in.”

  “That’s fine. I should go talk to Roberta about finalizing everything.”

  Ash pulled the phone from her pocket and saw her mom’s avatar on the screen. “Hi, Mom.”

  “Hi, sweetheart.” Her mom’s voice sounded hoarse and she punctuated her greeting with a sneeze. “You at the office today?”

  Ash glanced at Sadie, who was sitting cross-legged on the grass with the exhausted puppy in her lap. “Actually, no. Are you getting sick? Do you need me to come over?”

  “Just a cold.” Her mom sneezed again. “But I’m calling to make sure you’re still planning to go trick-or-treating with Mike and the boys tomorrow night at that event in Portsmouth.”

  “Of course I am,” Ash replied, annoyance that her mom would think she’d consider bailing jabbing her like a pointy stick to the ribs. Sure, she didn’t come around as often as she might, but she never bailed on anything she promised to do. “I told Mike three days ago I was going. Does he think I’ll back out?”

  “Now, don’t get testy,” her mom admonished. “I’m the one wanting to make doubly sure. If this stuffiness doesn’t let up, I won’t be in any shape to go if you can’t make it, and your sister was hoping to spend the day getting her classroom decorated for the Halloween party Monday. But if she has to fill in—”

  “Tell Bree it’s fine,” Ash said with a weary sigh. “I’m going to be there. I’ve got the whole day blocked off on my calendar, and I even have the rental car already.”

  “You do?” Ash’s mom’s tone perked up considerably at this news.

  “Yes. In fact, I happen to have taken it to Maine today with a friend, helping her transport a new puppy back home for her little sister.”

  “You have a friend?” It sounded like Ash’s mom could’ve been knocked over by a feather at this revelation. “Is it Caitlyn Brewster?”

  “What? Mom!” Ash didn’t know why she was getting so defensive over her mother guessing correctly, except she didn’t want the woman getting any ideas into her head that didn’t belong there. Not with her mom’s history of weirdly accurate intuition, not to mention her absurd theory that Ash had harbored a crush on Caitlyn since mock trial. “Look, I’ve gotta go. I’m losing signal.”

  She ended the call before her mom could protest, the screen on her phone indicating it still had every one of its bars.

  Caitlyn rejoined Ash near the edge of the enclosure, clutching a folder in one hand and a leash in the other. “Okay, you two—er, three, I guess. We have a pit stop to make. Roberta tells me there’s a Petco not too far from here.”

  “She’s ours?” Sadie held the puppy closer to her chest.

  “One hundred percent ours,” Caitlyn confirmed with a resigned expression Ash had seen on her own mom’s face when making sacrifices for her kids.

  “What should we call her?” Sadie asked, nearly breathless.

  “What do you think or feel when you look into her eyes?” Caitlyn asked.

  “Happiness,” Sadie blurted. “Can we call her Happy?”

  “Happy the Diving Dog,” Ash added with a wink in Caitlyn’s direction. She was rewarded with a look that said I am going to kill you. But in a good way. At least, Ash hoped so.

  “That’ll be her competition name.” Sadie held the dog up to look into those button eyes. “Let’s get you in the car, Happy.”

  “Put her on the leash,” Caitlyn directed, holding it out to her sister. “I don’t want Happy getting loose and coming into the front seat with us at seventy miles an hour.”

  “Okay!” Leash attached, Sadie and Happy were off to the car in a dash.

  Ash and Caitlyn tailed them at a distance, waving to Roberta as the woman went back inside the house.

  “I don’t think I’ve seen Sadie this happy, ever.” Caitlyn’s eyes misted.

  “Remember this feeling when cleaning up after Happy in that big backyard of yours tomorrow,” Ash teased, giving Caitlyn’s shoulder a nudge.

  “I should make you stay the night, so you can be on clean-up duty.” Caitlyn’s accompanying scowl was utterly adorable, which was the whole reason Ash had said it.

  “I just remembered, I need to go to the office tonight,” Ash was quick to say, softening the excuse with an exaggerated wink.

  “Nice try, Tanner.” Caitlyn shot her a look that attempted to be annoyed but couldn’t quite obscure the happiness underneath. It was stunning, the type of look Ash wished she could capture in a photo to look at again and again. “You got me into this mess, so no getting out of it now.”

  Reaching into the backseat as she settled behind the wheel, Ash laughed when the puppy licked her knuckles. Caitlyn needn’t have worried. At that precise moment, there was no place else she’d rather be.

  “Do we want this soft carrier for the car?” Ash held up the item in question so Caitlyn could see. “You’re supposed to be able to buckle it in.”

  “Add it to the cart,” Caitlyn said with a sigh. She pointed to the shopping basket, which was already filled more than halfway to the top with toys, food, bowls, and whatever else had been deemed essential puppy starter gear.

  “Hey, Caitlyn?” Sadie called out from the next aisle. She was still holding Happy in her arms despite the puppy being on a leash. “Do you think Happy is more a pirate or a taco?”

  “What are you talking about?” A look of panic crossed Caitlyn’s face as her gaze fell on the large display of pet Halloween costumes Sadie stood in front of. “Oh no. Uh-uh. I said essentials. We are not getting a costume for the dog.”

  “But they’re on sale,” Sadie begged.

  “Essentials,” Caitlyn repeated sternly.

  Ash’s phone buzzed. She tossed the carrier into the cart and pulled the device from her pocket, a frown settling across her features. “Mom?”

  “Ash, honey—” Her mom’s words dissolved into a long guttural cough that made Ash wince in sympathy. “I wanted to let you know trick-or-treating is off for tomorrow.”

  “What? Why?” Ash held up a hand reassuringly in response to Caitlyn’s worried expression.

  “Felicia’s gone into labor,” her mom replied. “Mike’s dropping off the boys with Bree and taking her to the hospital now. I’ll watch them while Bree decorates the classroom tomorrow, and then she can take them around the neighborhood, but I just don’t have the energy to do the drive to Portsmouth, so—”

  “I can do it,” Ash interjected. “I told you I was planning on it.”

  “Yes, but—” Her mother coughed again. “Bree still has to go to the school earlier in the day, so she couldn’t leave in time, and I’m not feeling—”

  “I don’t need you or Bree to go with me,” Ash declared, not sure where her sudden confidence was coming from, but grateful for it. “I can handle the boys on my own.”

  “Alone?”

  “Geez. You make it sound like I volunteered to wrangle a herd of rabid alligators.” Ash rolled her eyes for Caitlyn’s benefit, who was staring at her with a mixture of curiosity and concern. “They’re two little boys. How hard can it be?”

  “Are you sure?” There was no mistaking the relief in her mom’s gravelly voice.

  “Completely. You get some rest, and tell Bree I’ll be over to get the boys tomorrow at whatever time she needs so she can go to work.”

  After ending the call, Ash let out a long sigh.

  Caitlyn tilted her head. “What was that all about? You lost me at rabid alligators.”

  “My sister-in-law just went into labor,” Ash replied, brain ticking with everything she needed to do.

  Caitlyn’s eyes grew wide. “Right now? How exciting!”

  “Yeah, but it means I’m flying solo with my nephews tomorrow for Halloween.” Ash’s stomach tightened. Had she ever spent that many hours with two kids so young? Certainly not without backup.

  “What’s the plan?”

  “We’re supposed to go to this neighborhood in Portsmouth that’s been turned into kind of an outdoor history museum. They do trick-or-treating at all the houses, and a bonfire, and kettle corn, and—”

  “No way! Kettle corn?” Caitlyn clapped her hands beneath her chin, looking almost as excited as her sister when she’d found out they were adopting Happy. “This sounds amazing. Can we come?”

  “You want to spend the evening hanging out with me and two little boys on a sugar high?” Ash shot her an incredulous look.

  “You’re sure there will be kettle corn?”

  “Pretty sure.” A smile spread across Ash’s face, relief flooding her at the realization she wouldn’t be facing this challenge alone. And maybe something warmer and sweeter than relief, too, at the prospect of spending another day with Caitlyn. And Sadie and Happy too. But if she was completely truthful with herself, mostly Caitlyn.

  “You said it’s outside.” The wheels were clearly turning in Caitlyn’s head, analyzing the situation from every angle. It was a trait she and Ash shared, and one of the things Ash really admired. “Do they allow dogs?”

  “I think so.” Ash pulled up the information on her phone, nodding as she read the rules. “As long as they’re on a leash, it’s a go.”

  “Hey, Sadie!” Caitlyn called out to her sister. “Do they have a pirate costume in puppy size?”

  Sadie grinned. “You mean it?”

  “Turns out we’re going trick-or-treating tomorrow,” Caitlyn said, trying but failing to be grumpy. “I guess that makes a costume essential.”

  “Are you sure?” Ash asked, praying she would say yes but wanting to give Caitlyn an out. Family obligations like this were a lot. Who knew that better than Ash? Even if doing things with Caitlyn and Sadie felt like the easiest thing in the world.

  “Hell yes.” Caitlyn gave Ash a nudge with her shoulder, filling her with a tingly warmth. “No way are you going to hog all the kettle corn for yourself.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  After helping Caitlyn and Sadie unload the bags of pet supplies and getting Happy settled in, Ash had headed home. A fire crackled in the living room fireplace and Caitlyn sipped a glass of wine, her feet propped up on an ottoman. Happy was crashed on the couch between her and Sadie, sleeping soundly the way only a puppy with no worries in the world could.

  Caitlyn craned her neck to get a better look at the little curly-haired mop. “It should be illegal for anything to be this cute. How are we ever going to say no to that face?”

  Happy’s front paw quivered.

  “She’s dreaming,” Sadie whispered, not that Happy showed any signs of being easily roused. A marching band could parade through the front door and the puppy would probably sleep right through it.

  Caitlyn closed her eyes, soaking in the peaceful silence. Despite the unexpected pleasure of family time spent with her little sister, there was a dull ache deep down. Caitlyn suspected, if she dug deep, the cause would be Ash’s absence. She decided not to dig.

  “Hey, Caity?” Sadie’s voice was low, not quite a whisper, but not loud enough to risk disturbing the sleeping pup. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure thing, Sadie bug.” Caitlyn smiled at the old nicknames, a flood of warmth almost, but not quite, masking that hollow feeling she refused to inspect.

  “You like to win, right?”

  Caitlyn choked back a laugh. “You’ve met me, right? That can’t be your question.”

  “No. I mean, you want to win for your clients when you’re in court.”

  “Of course.” She answered without hesitation. “It’s my ethical obligation to protect and pursue my clients’ interests.”

  “How far would you go?”

  “To win?” Caitlyn opened her eyes, sitting up a little straighter. She studied her sister for a moment, troubled by something in the girl’s demeanor she couldn’t put a finger on. “I’m prohibited from breaking the law, and I have to remain civil and respectful of the court in everything I do.”

  “Are there gray areas, though?” Sadie traced the outline of Happy’s ear with her fingertip, not making eye contact.

  “How do you mean?” Caitlyn frowned, not sure she liked where the conversation was going, and uncertain why it was heading there.

  “Like, can you defend a client if you know they’re guilty?”

  “Hey, kiddo. If you’re about to confess to a crime, I’ll stop you right there so we can hire a lawyer.” Caitlyn forced a laugh that came out less than believable.

  “Ha ha.” Sadie treated her sister to an eye roll only a teenager could do justice to. “Just because you got me a puppy doesn’t mean your attempt at humor has gotten any funnier.”

  “Harsh.” Caitlyn let out a breath, doing her best to relax her muscles so as to come across as unthreatening as possible. She’d learned from Ash’s approach with her sister that the best way to coax information out of her was to do it indirectly and without rushing. “Is there something weighing on you, sweetie?”

  “What? No.” Sadie shook her head with a vigorousness that was mostly convincing and Caitlyn relaxed a bit more. “I’m actually just curious how it works. If your clients are guilty then you can’t really win.”

  “There’s a difference between factual guilt and legal guilt.” Caitlyn noted the confusion that stole across her sister’s face and added, “What a person did and what the prosecution can prove to the standard needed to convict are not the same thing. The truth is, I don’t often know if a client is guilty or not. And it doesn’t matter.”

  At least, it hadn’t mattered in the past. When she’d started working in New York, the main thing that she’d cared about had been getting the job without anyone knowing she was related to the Harding family. After that, her focus had been winning the biggest cases and signing the richest clients. That was how you proved you were the best in this line of work. But lately, since moving home and especially after a few conversations with Ash, doubt had crept in. Maybe it wasn’t enough to be the best. Maybe being right was just as important.

  “What if a client says they did it?” Sadie asked, clearly still intrigued by the conversation. Caitlyn almost felt flattered to have held the girl’s attention for so long.

  “Even if a person confesses, they could be lying,” Caitlyn explained. “Maybe they want to protect someone else, for instance. Or they might have done whatever the action in question is, but there’s a justification for it that exonerates them of having committed the crime for which they’re being charged.”

 

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