“That’s what I’m beginning to think. Susan is definitely an interesting character.” Sierra answered, trying to turn her attention back on the two people at the table.
The lawyer Logan referred to, Susan Toulmin, had successfully made Sierra want to pull her hair out. Strand by individual strand. She had spent Tuesday with the woman, listening as she proceeded to tell Sierra that every idea she had was basically garbage.
It was hard to believe she had been so eager to take the job in the beginning, thrilled with the possibilities. She should have known better when Susan had so easily agreed to all of Sierra’s ideas. At least until she was presented with them officially. Now she knew why. There was no pleasing that woman, no matter how hard she tried.
The problem was, Sierra needed the job. She needed the reference, so she had worked her ass off for two days trying to find exactly the things, no matter how ridiculous, that Susan wanted to use in the design.
“What did you say her last name was?” Logan asked, glancing from Sam back to Sierra.
“Toulmin.” Sierra answered, her attention riveted on what he might say next. Did Logan know her? Sierra met the woman at the conference in Vegas, so odds were Logan either knew her from there or had at least heard of her. Based on the way his jaw tightened, Sierra believed it was the former.
“Fuck. Seriously?”
Sierra’s attention was definitely captured. “Yes. She’s the Dallas lawyer that I met while I was in Vegas. Do you know her?”
“Not personally, but Luke does. Toulmin is her maiden name which she uses for her law practice. Although she’s not married anymore, she never dropped her married name… Mackendrick.” Logan informed her.
Sam’s head jerked toward Logan and Sierra caught the look of distaste written on her beautiful face.
“What? What aren’t you telling me?” Sierra wondered out loud, looking back and forth between Sam and Logan.
“Susan used to…” Sam started to reply, but Luke walked up just in time for her to close her mouth abruptly.
“Hey.” Luke stated as he took the vacant chair beside Sierra. Shockingly, he leaned over and kissed her softly on the mouth before turning his focus on Logan.
“Where’s Cole?” Logan asked and for the second time that night, someone else had voiced the burning question.
“He had something to do. Said he might be back in a couple of hours.” Luke replied, raising his hand to get Kane’s attention.
“You didn’t tell me Sierra had been hired by Susie Mackendrick.” Logan stated bluntly, looking none too happy.
Susie?
Luke’s head jerked like someone had slapped him. “What?”
Apparently Luke hadn’t put two and two together or maybe Sierra hadn’t mentioned the woman’s last name. Either way, Sierra knew there was a story there, and she was pretty sure it was one she wasn’t going to like.
“She’s the client I’ve been telling you about.” Sierra managed to say when Luke glared at her.
“Where’d you meet her?”
What did it matter, she wondered to herself. Apparently there was something personal between Luke and the woman Sierra was now working for, and just like Logan, Luke seemed a bit stunned by the news. “I met her at the conference in Vegas. I told you about her.”
“I’m pretty sure I would remember if you had.” Luke argued, his eyes darting around the room as though he expected the woman to pop up at any second.
“Why? How do you know her?” Sierra asked, leaning forward in her chair and placing her elbows on the table. She wanted the story, and she wanted it now. Unease settled like a rock in her belly and though she hadn’t thought it possible, she knew her week was just about to go from bad to worse.
“It’s nothing.” Luke brushed her off, masking any emotion he had previously shown as he avoided looking at her directly.
“What do you mean it’s nothing?” Her ability to brush things off had just reached critically low levels. Between Logan’s reaction, Sam’s apparent distaste of the subject, and now Luke’s wandering eyes, she knew there was something personal between Luke and Susan. Luke blowing her off was just the icing on the cake.
“Just what I said.” Luke stated, and Sierra could see from his expression that the subject was closed as far as he was concerned.
Well, that was all fine and good. She could play this game too. “Well, that’ll be my cue to call it a night.” Sierra stated, standing abruptly. All heads turned to her, but she didn’t bother making eye contact. Offering a quick glance at Sam, she spoke. “Call me tomorrow? We’ll do lunch if you’re not busy.”