Chapter One

"I don't understand why I have to fly to Wyoming to bail a kid out of Jail, Cy…" Olivia Pope looked at her mentor and boss Cyrus, stupefied. This was the kind of thing that was handled by a first-year associate, not someone who was damn near to making partner.

"I need you to go bail her out because she is J. Luca's daughter" Cyrus said pausing to look at Olivia. She reacted as he had expected.

J. Luca was one of the highest selling rap/emcee's in the world.

"When did that happen?" Liv asked surprised. Not only by the high-profile name, but by the fact that old white man Cyrus actually knew who J. Luca was.

Maybe he's a closet rap fan…ha!

"It happened as soon as the cops slapped the cuffs on her entitled little wrists. We need someone to go down there and get her out of Jail as quietly as possible, and you're it" he said firmly

Liv sighed. She knew that tone, there was no getting out of this one. She had plans to go see Hamilton this weekend! Those tickets were impossible to get. The only reason she had a pair is because a client had gifted them to her after she helped make is DUI go bye-bye.

Now she was going to spend the weekend in Wyoming bailing out a brat that probably deserved to be exactly where she was.

"Why can't Jake go?" she was drowning but still trying to save herself…Wyoming…no!

"Jake can't go because I want you to go. This is J. Luca Liv, I don't have to explain to you how good that name would look on our client roster. You're going. Period"

Liv stood and started to walk out of the office, Cyrus stopped her.

"Liv, the word of the day is discretion. No one finds out that kid is in jail…got it?" she rolled her eyes at him. She wasn't a first-year associate needing instructions on how to do her job…

She plastered a fake smile on her face and flashed him a thumb's up with exaggerated perkiness. She closed the door on his irked face.

I know how to do my damn job jerk…


Olivia Pope could now add Nerega, Wyoming to the list of places she had traveled to. Forget Paris and London…. Nerega, Wyoming was where it was at! At least according to her driver Nicole. The crotchety woman had a smoker's cough and fingertips stained yellow from nicotine.

"I don't know how you people live in the city like that" Liv scowled…You people?

"Wide open spaces. That's how man is supposed to live. Look out the window" she obeyed the hoarse command and looked out the window…at nothing…

"That's how its supposed to be. This here is God's country. Not like that hell-hole New York" Nicole said. She thought it prudent to be silent. Whatever you say lady…

"So, you've got two choices. There is a motel down by main street…its halfway decent or you can go with the Marriott. They built it a couple of years ago and it has a fancy pool and a bar for all the tourists coming through to go to yellow stone…"

"Marriott please" Thank you Lord, there was a Marriott. She couldn't help it, just the word motel made her think of the Bates Motel. She took back everything bad she had ever said about chain hotels. Thank you, Marriott!

The ride was thankfully short and Nicole pulled up to the hotel. It was standard a big box building with windows and the familiar red sign.

She grabbed her overnight bag and handed Nicole the fare, plus a generous tip

"Why thank you miss! That's decent of you…Enjoy your stay at Nerega and Yellowstone!" Nicole shuffled back into the cab and took off. Thank god Yellowstone wasn't far off from the town. It was a handy excuse for her to be traipsing around a town that had a population of eighteen thousand people.

She checked in and made her way to her room. The hotel was fairly new so the room was in decent condition. She called the car rental company to make sure they were on the way with the car.

She would have preferred to rent a car at the airport…only there wasn't an airport. There was a landing strip where the tiny plane touched down. The hanger had a tiny office that was considered a terminal, that was manned by one disinterested man. He had barely looked up from his paper when all three passenger's walked through the office.

She took a quick shower and the car had arrived by the time she was done dressing. She grabbed her purse and headed out purposefully.

I need to get this kid out of jail so I can get back to civilization…


It was a Buick. A Buick LeSabre. A 2002 Buick LeSabre.

Liv looked at the rental car salesman as he smiled proudly, handing her the keys. To a 2002 Buick LeSabre…

"She drives like a dream. Trust me these babies were built to last! I got her from an old woman who only drove her to the grocery store and back. She's as good as new..."

Liv took the keys.

Okay, so she would be driving a 2002 Buick LeSabre. As long as it got her to and from the jail, she didn't care.

"Thanks Carl, and you will pick it up here at the hotel once I'm done?"

"Yes Miss, just give us a call and we'll swing on by to pick up Lola"

Lola. The car was named Lola. The 2002 Buick LeSabre was named Lola.

Okay. She turned to Carl, plastering a fake smile on her face

"Thanks again!" she got into the car and looked around. Good lord, it had a steering column gear shifter! She hadn't seen one of those for years. It took her a while to get a hang of everything but she was on the road to the county jail in ten minutes. The GPS on her phone showed she would be at her destination in twenty minutes.

She looked out the window again at all the…nothing.

Cyrus owes me big time…


The county jail looked like a store front. She passed it three times before she figured out she had found it. Even the GPS lady was confused. She kept telling her she had reached her destination two miles after she had passed the jail.

She pulled into a spot on the mostly deserted street and headed in. She stopped short as soon as she passed the threshold. The jail was like a scene out of a movie.

Three desks were lined up on different walls in the little office, at the back was a cage that housed all the people they arrested. She hadn't seen an open cage like that outside of a spaghetti western.

Two kids sat in the cage. One had to be J. Luca's daughter. She was a pretty African-American girl with a mop of curls that went everywhere. She stood up as soon as Liv entered the jail. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Liv was the Calvary. Next to her was a skinny white kid holding her hand. They looked anxiously at her but didn't say a word. She smiled at them hoping to reassure them.

They were right the Calvary had arrived.

She approached the first desk, where a sheriff sat…. fast asleep.

"Excuse me" he didn't move. She looked at the name plate on the desk.

"Excuse me Sherriff Ellis…ELLIS!" he startled awake, knocking a few files off the desk as his feet tried to find the floor.

"What in the hell?!"

"Sherriff Ellis" she stuck out her hand "I am here to get the two kids you have in custody"

He looked at her hand suspiciously before shaking it. He sat back toothpick in his mouth. Could he be more of a stereotype?

"Those kids don't get bail…they were driving around in a stolen car…that's a felony" he said smirking. His gaze travelled down her frame, his eyes spending more time than they needed to on her breasts.

Asshole…

"The car isn't stolen. It belongs to her mother. Her mother gave her and Logan the car to drive"

"That's what she said, but you tell me what kind of parents lets a kid drive a Bugatti? That car has a sticker price of over a million dollars…"

Liv hid her reaction. She hadn't known that. What kind of asshole parent let their fifteen-year-old daughter drive such an expensive car?!

"I'm sorry Sherriff, I must have missed the class in law school that says children are only allowed to drive cars under a certain sticker price…look, I have the ownership papers with me and a signed consent affidavit from the owner stating that they were allowed to be in possession of the car…so let them out of the cell please" she said firmly stepping back firmly so he could do just that.

He didn't move.

Liv felt her hackles raise. She wasn't in the mood to tussle with Bernie Fife, but if he wanted a fight, she could most certainly indulge him.

"Sherriff, did you read my clients their Miranda rights when you arrested them?" he smirked again confidently and nodded. He pulled the toothpick out

"Of course, we did" he was lying. She could tell

"Abigail…Logan, did this man tell you what your rights were when you were arrested?" she kept her gaze on Bernie as she asked the kids

"No…No" Abby and Logan said looking through the bars anxiously.

"Sherriff Ellis in case you haven't figured it out, I am an attorney and I know the law and while I may not have a license to practice in Wyoming, I can assure you that I do have enough knowledge to know that everything you have done regarding these two children doesn't pass the sniff test, it's illegal. Now you have two choices you can let those two kids out of that cell right now and then you and I go our separate ways and you never have to set eyes on any of us ever again" Liv paused stone-faced.

"The second choice involves me deciding to put the screws to you. Now, I have been practicing the law long enough to know a dirty cop when I see one and we both know if I decide to go looking in your closet something is going to come up…"

"Who are you calling a dirty cop…"

"You, Sherriff Ellis you. Number one, you didn't mirandize them. Number two Abby is a minor and should have had a legal guardian during any questioning, we both know that didn't happen because I am here representing said legal guardian. Number three, you have had them in that jail cell for three days without access to a lawyer; I also know that because I am their lawyer" she put her pocket book down on his desk with a thud.

"So, you let those kids go, or me and you get to go at each other full on….and fair warning I don't leave meat on the bone when I go in for the kill…"

He stared at Olivia vibrating with anger. She stared right back, expressionless.

She watched him his desk drawer and pull out the keys to the jail. He walked over shuffling his feet, taking his time to open the cell. As soon as the doors opened, Abby and Logan ran out towards her.

"I will be sending someone over to pick up the car Sherriff, and I hoping you will show them more courtesy then you did me" she turned to the kids

"Let's go"


"Cyrus…Cy…can you hear me?"

"I can hear you Liv go ahead"

"I have the kids…We're heading back to Atlanta. I'll drop them off and then head back…"

"No…change of plans Liv…we filed an emergency petition for custody on behalf of Luca. You need to change flights and take her to California. Her father is waiting"

Shit! What?!

"Cy…what, where…"

"Liv, I already booked the flights. As soon as you get to Cheyenne there will be three tickets waiting to take you to LAX"

"Isn't the boy from Atlanta?"

"Yes, Luca is flying his mother in from Atlanta to California. He says if you try and separate them they will run away together again. So, take them both to California"

"Cyrus, when did I become a glorified baby sitter for the rich and negligent?!"

"I'm sorry Liv but think about what landing Luca could mean for the firm. Plus, California is closer to Wyoming than Atlanta. You take a shorter flight hand the kids over and you're back in New York by tomorrow afternoon tops…"

Liv turned to look at Abby and Logan seating in the corner of the office in the little hanger in Nerega. They hadn't stopped holding hands since she had met them. It was kind of sweet…and annoying as hell.

"Fine Cy, but me and you are going to be talking about Partnership sooner rather than later!"

She walked over to the kids

"Change of plans…we're headed to California to your dad. Logan your mom will meet you in CA". Abigail looked up at Liv and smiled for the first time since she had met the girl.

"I'm going to dad's?" Liv nodded

"Yes…"

Abby screamed at decibel's only teenage girls seemed to have the ability to achieve.

"Logan, we're going to see my dad! We can talk to him. He'll let us stay together. I just know it!" she said hugging her lanky boyfriend.

Liv watched on as they cooed at each other. God save the world from teenage love…


The flight landed at LAX around eight p.m. Liv was exhausted. She'd been going hard for the last twenty hours and hadn't managed to catch a wink of sleep, even on the plane. Tired didn't begin to cover how she felt.

She carried her overnight bag over her shoulder as she shepherded the children out of the terminal. Her phone pinged with a text message from Cy.

Car outside to take you to Luca's in Malibu

She texted back

K

There was a driver waiting at the terminal with her name on a card. He grabbed her overnight bag and navigated them out of the busy airport. By the time she got into the back seat of the town car she was having a headache. She needed to sleep and get something to eat or she was going to collapse.

They drove for about forty minutes before the car pulled up to large distinct gates. He pushed the intercom and after informing the voice on the other side who it was, the gates opened and they made their way up a long winding driveway to the kind of house she had only ever seen on the pages of Architectural Digest.

A tall broad-shouldered man wearing jeans and a worn tee walked out of the house, before the town car could stop. J. Luca. She had only ever seen him on television but recognized him.

Abby barley waited for the car to be in park before she was running out to her father and jumping up in the air for him to catch her. Olivia asked the driver to wait for her and then exited the car with Logan.

They walked up to the hugging pair. Abby quickly introduced Logan.

"Dad this is my boyfriend…Logan" she said presenting him with pride to her father. Luca turned and faced the young man. He shook his hand politely.

That can't be easy. She could only imagine how her father would have reacted if she came home after absconding with a teenage boy. There would have been hell to pay…Luca however seemed to remain calm.

"Nice to meet you Logan…why don't you guys head on inside" Abby nodded hugged her father again and headed into the house with Logan. Her hand again in his…

He finally turned towards her and her breath caught. The TV did not do him justice. He was gorgeous. She looked him over. Tall, six feet four or five. Square jaw, large hands outstretched to shake hers. Skin that she would kill for. J. Luca was fine as hell!

She pushed her wayward thoughts to the side and shook his hand.

"Olivia Pope from Beene and Thompson, Mr. Luca. It's nice to meet you"

"Nice to meet you Olivia, call me J." Something passed between them as they shook hands. She ignored it.

"Then please call me Liv. I have your wife's car being…" he cut her off

"She's not my wife, never has been. She's my ex…that's it" he said, his voice tight with anger. Olivia paused…okay….

"I have your…ex's car being towed out of the impound lot in Nerega. We can either have the car shipped back to Atlanta or we can pay someone to drive it back, either way just let me know and I will arrange it"

"I don't give a damn about the fucking car!" Olivia pulled back from the harsh tone

"I'm sorry…I don't mean to take this out on you. It had nothing to do with you…I'm just frustrated with the situation. Please accept my apology" he smiled at her. She wouldn't have thought it possible, but he was even better looking when he smiled.

"No need to apologize. You were worried about your daughter…. it's understandable…anyway, I should be headed back. I need to find a hotel and get a flight back to New York tomorrow. It was a pleasure meeting you…please say goodbye to Abby and Logan for me" she stuck out her hand

He ignored it.

"Why are you staying in a hotel…stay here. There's plenty of room" Liv watched him walk to the driver and say something. The man got out and pulled her overnight bag from the trunk handing it to Luca. Luca handed the man a fifty-dollar bill.

"Wait…I couldn't…"

Luca walked towards her smiling. Her bag slung over his shoulder. Liv watched the town car drive off down the long sloping drive…

"Sure, you could…come on in Olivia. Dinner is almost ready" she watched him walk up the steps and disappear behind the huge wooden doors that were the entrance to the house.

She didn't have a choice. She followed him into the house.


Liv had thought the outside was impressive. The inside…. well the inside was…holy shit!

Tall ceilings with skylights, wood floors and the staircase. Oh my god the staircase. It started out in the foyer and wound its way up to the second floor. It was made of wood and beautiful wrought iron made to look like a tree was growing along the wall. The view outside was the ocean. The freaking ocean!

To hell with Architectural digest the only time she saw this kind of lifestyle was when she used to watch MTV cribs many moons ago. It was just breathtaking.

She looked down at herself. She had on jeans, a sleeveless purple top covered by a green army jacket. She almost felt to shabby to be standing in the foyer.

A voice rang out from a hallway beyond. It was Abby

"Olivia come eat…where in the kitchen."

She followed the young girls voice and walked into the kitchen. Which was roughly two times the size of her condo in New York.

Damn. This almost makes me want to cook…. almost…

"Take a seat" Luca said as he walked over to the large center Island with barstools. He had a huge baking dish in his hands and he set it down on the granite counter top. Wait…is that homemade lasagna?

He handed out plates and cutlery and Liv watched as Logan and Abby cut out huge chunks and placed them on their plates. They had to be starving…. she was too.

Sensing her discomfort. Luca grabbed her plate and heaped on a healthy portion of the lasagna. He served himself last.

He smiled at her across the table "Dig in"

She picked up her fork and took a bit. Holy crap, that was good…and it was defintately homemade. She was single and lived alone, she knew Stouffers when she tasted it…this was not frozen fare.

She was starving so she dug in. She even went in for seconds. It was that good

"Good?"

"Fantastic…best lasagna I ever had" Liv said honestly

"Thank you, it was my mother's recipe"

Dinner was a rambunctious affair. The two kids jockeying to tell Luca all about their adventure

"You should have seen Olivia Daddy, she shredded that sheriff a new asshole!"

"Abby, language" Luca chastised. He turned to look at her and Liv found herself blushing. Logan jumped in

"No really the guy was literally shaking in his tacky cowboy boots. You should have seen it Mr. Luca. It was freaking awesome. First class"

"Its nothing. He didn't have any right to keep you in there without a guardian or a lawyer. I just let him know that. Is that a Kandinsky?" Liv said pointing to a piece of art on the far wall. She wanted to change the subject. It worked.

The kids soon finished eating and Abby turned to her dad.

"Dad can we go watch T.V.?" Liv saw Luca tense up.

"Sure, but you have to watch T.V. in the den…leave the door open"

"Thanks" they watched the kids walk out the kitchen

"I want to pound that kid's face into the pavement" he said quietly as soon as they left the room. Liv turned to him surprised. He seemed so calm around Logan…

"I can't but I want to. This whole running away thing started when she met that kid. God save us from teenage love…"

Liv laughed. He looked at her puzzled

"I said the exact same thing to myself when I was watching them at the airport!"

"She's too young to be this serious about a boy…"

"Well don't tell her that" Liv said standing up to walk her plate to a sink she swore was large enough for her to take a bath.

"Telling them no at that age, just makes them want something more…you're doing the right thing playing it cool"

"I hope so. Do you have kids?"

"No, I don't. However, I was once fifteen and very much in love with Frankie Peterson from across the street and the more my father said no, the more I wanted him…"

"So, what happened with Frankie?"

Liv smiled.

"Well someone gave my father the same advice I'm giving you. He stopped yelling at me every time he saw us together. Frankie started to look not dangerous and exciting after that. It was over a month later…"

Luca sighed "You mean I have to put up with this for another month?!"

"Maybe longer…all depends…"

"Something to look forward to I suppose…. can I get you a glass of wine?"

"No thanks, I am exhausted. If I try to drink any alcohol I'll be passed out, before two sips…but thanks"

"No problem. I am sorry I shouldn't keep you up chatting. I'll show you to your room and you can get some rest"

Liv could have cried with relief. She was so tired everything hurt….

She followed him back out the way they had come in and passed the kids watching TV on an enormous screen in the den. Luca ruffled Abby's hair as he passed by her and she swatted him.

They made their way to the beautiful staircase

"This staircase is beautiful. I've never seen anything like it"

"Glad you like it, I designed it and made it myself…took me two years, but it was worth it"

"Wow…you did this?"

"Yup, in another life…I make my living with my hands. Live simply…just me and my daughter. Liv saw something sad flash beneath his eyes.

I guess everyone has problems…. including the super-rich…

"Here we go" he said walking her through a door. She looked around. This is the guest bedroom? It was a huge space with a king size bed set in the middle of the room. It was decorated with pale colors so that it didn't detract from the view…..and what a view.

The pacific stretched out as far as the eye could see. There were patio doors that led to a small outdoor space, where guests could enjoy the breeze coming off the ocean.

"The bathroom is through there and your bag should be…ah…there it is"

He turned to smile at her and her heart skipped again. He was so good-looking, it bordered on the ridiculous.

"If you need anything just holler. I am three bedrooms down that way"

Liv nodded shyly and he started to leave. When he neared the door he suddenly stopped and turned.

"Ms. Pope…Liv…thank you for bringing my daughter to me"

"It was my pleasure, no need to thank me"

He nodded and disappeared out the door. Liv looked around. Any other day she would have spent time taking in the view, but she was exhausted. The only thing she needed right now was a shower and as much horizontal time she could get.


Life sucked. She put her wrist back to her face and pushed the little button on the side that lit up the face.

2:27 a.m.

She was wide awake.

At least you got a couple of hours of sleep…

She sat up in bed and brushed her hair off her face. She had been too tired to plait it down when she hit the bed at ten. It was going to a bitch to tame in the morning.

She walked over to the windows and picked up the remote fancy remote she had used to close the blinds earlier. She pushed the open button and watched as the blinds whooshed back.

Damn. It was too dark. No view.

She needed a glass of water.

She looked down at the tank and shorts she had on, she didn't think anyone would be downstairs…but better safe then sorry. She grabbed her sweater from the top of her bag and shrugged it on before pulling the bedroom doors open. She peeked out and listened.

Silence…. good

She made her way down the beautiful staircase and towards the kitchen. She hated to turn on the lights but she was unfamiliar with the house. She didn't need a stubbed toe to add to her woes. She flipped on the switch and headed towards the huge subzero refrigerator.

"Couldn't sleep?"

She jumped fifteen feet in the air, barley managing to squash the scream that rose in her throat. She turned to find Luca seated on the Island where they had shared dinner earlier

He stood up and walked towards her. "I am sorry Liv, I didn't mean to startle you"

She could only nod, still shaken

"Is anything wrong, can I get you something?" he asked again

"No…no I just couldn't sleep, so I came down to get some water. I hope that's okay"

"Of course, I should have had some put in the guest room, I didn't think about it"

"No problem…"

They stared at each other awkwardly for a minute. Liv searched her head for a topic to break the uncomfortable tension filled silence.

"Why…why are you up?" she asked

He turned and laughed humorlessly, heading back to the glass he had left on the counter. He took his seat again and sipped the amber liquid

"I can't sleep either…I need…I need to get ready for the fight of my life. I need to get my daughter away from…her; before ..." Liv waited, but he was quiet. He seemed unable to continue

"Well you've picked the right firm. Cyrus is a monster. You couldn't have picked a better person to handle your petition for custody" she said trying to reassure him.

She walked over to the table and took a seat across from him.

"Can I pry…why…what's with you and Abby's mom?"

Luca looked at her and took another sip of his drink

"I grew up in Atlanta. Spend all my teenage years trying to get…"

He looked around the kitchen

"…here. To have all the things I grew up not having. I was a greedy fucking kid even then…I didn't just want a house…I wanted the biggest house, the best car, the best-looking woman on my arm. That's how I met Brenda, Abby's mom. She was the prettiest girl in the crew…she had to be mine…biggest mistake of my life but it produced the best thing in my life. Abigail…"

He stood up and walked over to a decanter that the liquor he was drinking.

"She broke up with me two moths after we started dating. She found something bigger and better. I moved on. Kept working at it…trying to make it. Three years go by and finally I get there. I have a record deal. I'm another kid whose done good…. gotten out of the mire"

He poured a generous portion of what she guessed was whisky and he headed back to the table, back to his seat

"Then she shows up. I haven't seen her in three years… and she show's up with a little girl in tow and says this is your kid, we need to work out some kind of arrangement. I am floored. I don't even need a paternity test, don't get me wrong I got one, but I don't need it. She looks exactly like my baby sister Elise" he faced Liv

"If I hadn't gotten that record deal, she would never have told me. She would have kept Abby from me…I know that Brenda is a psychopath, she doesn't love Abby…Abby is a meal ticket to her. A way to get paid. I tried…I tried to go for full custody but my misspent youth came back to bite me bit time. They had videos…videos of the crew I used to hang out with doing things..."

He gulped down the liquor

"Its hard to prove you deserve custody when the judge watches three of your boys running a train on a girl in a dingy apartment" he said bitterly

"I haven't been derelict in my duty towards Abby. I spend as much time with her as I can. She's the most important thing in my life. I can't have that witch have access to her anymore. She was in that jail in Wyoming for three days because her mother didn't bother to go get her…and they didn't steal the car. I know that because Brenda told me. She gave the car to Abby, but she didn't know Logan would be going along with her. She gave a fifteen-year-old a car to drive from Atlanta to Nevada to meet friends…she should be in school!"

"But how did they end up in Wyoming?"

"Logan has an older brother who lives there, they were headed to him to see if he could help them hide out until Abby is sixteen. Then she can marry the guy…over my dead fucking body!"

"Luca, Cyrus is the best. If I was in your shoes I would want him on my case…"

Luca nodded, the sadness in his eyes broke her heart. He stood up seemingly uncomfortable with all the personal information he had given her.

"I'm sorry for talking your ear off. You probably want to get back to bed and try to catch some zzz's" Olivia followed his cue and stood. The man was obviously uncomfortable with having bared his soul. She should leave him alone.

"Yes, I probably should. I have a long day tomorrow"

They head out of the kitchen together. Luca shutting of the lights as they exited. They went up the stairs together and stopped at the landing.

"Good night Liv"

"Good night Luca"

Neither of them moved.

He reached for her first. He pulled her to him gently and brought his mouth down on hers. She froze for all of a second before she returned the kiss.

Feeling her melt against him, he pulled her in closer and deepened the intimate contact. He pushed his tongue into her mouth and she moaned.

He reacted to the sexy noise and the kiss went red hot. He moved his hands down and grabbed a hold of her ass hoisting her up against him. She moaned even louder.

Suddenly she was in the air and being walked down the hall, she assumed. She couldn't tell he wouldn't pull his mouth off her long enough to tell...

He walked into a room and gravity shifted again, she was flat on her back on a bed while Luca continued kissing her. It was heady and it felt so good...

He pulled back and reached down to grab the hem of her shirt whipping it off. She wasn't wearing a bra, he stared down at her breasts while she panted looking at him, looking at her…

"You're so beautiful…" he bent his head and pulled at taut nipple into his mouth, sucking on her. Her back arched up high

"Yesss…."

He took his time, licking sucking and then finally drawing it back into his mouth with his teeth. He pushed his hand in between their bodies and pushed his hand into her shorts, underneath her underwear.

He petted the soft hair he felt brushing against his hand, before his fingers separated wet folds. He run his fingers over her. He back was bowed so high up, she was lifting him up with her. He worked his fingers down to her moist entrance and after circling her pushed a finger in….and then another…hmm

Tight little muscles clamped eagerly on his fingers. She pulled back from his mouth and cried out, he stroked in between her wet folds and then pushed his fingers deep inside her, he alternated the play, fingering her while stroking along, careful to avoid her clit. He wasn't ready for her to come yet.

He looked down at her, watching her move herself on his hand, taking what she needed. He pulled his fingers out and she protested but quickly calmed down when he finally teased her clit with his thumb. She jerked up and brought her hand down to place it over his, trying to guide him. He didn't need any help, he was done toying with her.

He pushed his fingers back inside her and started pumping them in and out of her while his thumb played with her clit. She started to move faster against his hand.

"Your so wet, I can't wait to be inside you..." he whispered in her ear.

She came….it was so good. She rode his fingers feeling the spasms coursing through her body.

He didn't wait for her to come down from it. He pushed off her walked over to his nightstand while unbuckling his pants. The condom was on in three seconds and in another three seconds he was back on top of her pushing in.

Another cry tore from her throat

Damn.

She brought her legs up and wrapped them around his waist.

It had been so long…she had been so caught up in her work for so long. She needed this. Decision made Liv lay back and let J. Luca make her feel good…


New York City …A month later

Liv sat in her office typing preparatory questions for the mock deposition she would be putting a client through. A dry run of possible questions he may asked would help him become more comfortable telling the story. The door opened and Cy walked in holding a folder.

"So, J. Luca signed on the dotted line. He is now with Beene and Thompson the petition was granted. He has temporary custody of Abigail until the trial to renegotiate the custody agreement. He is very happy with this law firm, which is good because in a few months his contract with Greenly Records ends and we now get renegotiate once he's a free agent. Good job Liv!"

Liv took a deep breath, trying to act casual. She had tried not to think about him since their one night together. He had tried calling her but she hadn't taken his calls. That night had been a one off…she couldn't repeat it…shouldn't repeat it.

Not only had she had a one-night stand, which she never did, but she had crossed the line with a potential client. It was unforgivable…

Now he was going to be a client of the firm…shit…

Cyrus took a seat. She stopped typing and looked up. Uh oh…something was up.

"What's up Cy?"

"Thompson and I have been talking…J. Luca isn't our only high profile west coast client. Our business is piking up through referral's. We think it's time to open up a new office in CA"

Liv was surprised. She hadn't seen this coming. It was good news.

Liv was determined to become a partner. She could stop being an employee and become a part stakeholder in Beene and Thompson. She could stop being salaried and start getting disbursements off the firms profits which were significant. Beene and Thompson was and had been turning a healthy profit since she had joined the firm.

She had played a significant role in bringing in that profit. She wanted her dues.

"That's great Cy! I am very happy for you and Greg" Greg Thompson was the other partner whose name was on the law firms shingle.

"Thanks Liv…so…this is where the news involves you"

Liv looked away from her monitor. Her attention now wholly on Cy. Involved her….

"We want to make you partner….and head of the California offices…" Liv's heart stopped. She couldn't have heard that right…

"Cy…"

"This was always the plan Thompson and I had. When we brought you on…we knew we would be expanding and we needed someone young and very good to help us do that. That someone is you Liv…"

"Cyrus…I don't know what to say. Actually…yes…yes, I do. Permission to act unseemly?"

"Granted"

Liv stood up and started to dance around the office while Cy watched laughing. She walked over to him and kissed him on the check

"Cy I love you!"

"Yeah, I know you do…anyway this is our offer" Cy held up the folder "read it and get back to me as soon as possible. We need to get moving on this"

"What's the rush?"

"Well we have a new west coast client…"

Liv's interest was piqued "who?"

"Fitzgerald Thomas Grant the III…"

Liv paused. Holy shit! talk about high profile…

"The Governor of California?! The guy whose running for President?!"

"That would be him…so Liv, all this…. needs to happen in three months"

Liv's head snapped up. What? She couldn't get a firm up and running in three months!

"Cyrus, I can't…"

"Non-Negotiable Liv…welcome to the big leagues" he threw her a half smile and walked out the door.

She stressed about the timeline, but only for a minute.

Partner! She had finally made it! She needed to call her parents!