Now and Forever by Brenda Rothert

weekend?” her mom asked. “This was so much fun.”
    “Maybe,” Layla said, distracting herself with finding her coat. “We’re having dinner with Em and Cole then, so it depends.”
    “How is Emma?” her mom asked.
    “Why don’t you call her and ask?”
    There were a few seconds of tense silence before Ben wrapped an arm around Layla’s waist and said goodbye to her parents.
    “Let’s get home so you can get to your work,” he said.
    “Right. Better do it while I still have the chance,” she muttered
    Ben’s gaze flicked to meet hers before he looked away. She hoped to hell he’d just said he expected her to stay home with their future children for her father’s benefit. Even if that was the case, she’d be furious. But if he’d said something so thoughtless and chauvinistic and meant it? Well, that was a deal-breaker.
    ***
    Cole’s jeans and flannel shirt reminded Layla that he’d been in a suit every other time he’d had a meeting with her. They’d had occasional meetings together when she was at her corporate firm, but not so much since she went into practice for herself.
    “Brought you some coffee,” he said, passing her a cup when she greeted him in the lobby of her office.
    “Thanks.” From the corner of her eye, she saw Daniel craning his head to get a good look at Cole. She’d been curious about whether he went for men or women, having seen before she hired him that if it was women, it wasn’t women like her.
    “Daniel, this is Cole, my sister’s boyfriend,” Layla said, leading Cole to Daniel’s desk.
    “Hi,” Daniel said, his cheeks pinking as he extended his hand.
    “Good to meet you, Daniel,” Cole said, shaking his hand and smiling. Daniel’s eyes wandered over Cole’s golden hair, to his gray blue eyes and perfect smile, and down to his broad chest and muscled biceps. He wasn’t as broad as Ben, but few men were. Cole still had the body of a football player. Layla remembered what it felt like to fall under the spell of Cole Marlowe. He was magazine model handsome.
    “I’m ready for you,” Layla said, leading him into her office. She smiled when she went to close the door and caught Daniel staring at Cole’s back, his chin cradled in his hands as he leaned on his elbows.
    “I haven’t gotten a chance to tell you directly how much I appreciate this, Layla. And also the bail money. I know there’s been tension since Emma and I got together . . .”
    Layla shrugged. “I’d do anything for my sister. And you’re family, Cole.”
    He sighed deeply. “Not really. Emma turned me down when I still had a great job.”
    “If you think she cares about that, you don’t know her. And you still have your job.”
    “Yeah, but I’m suspended,” he said bitterly.
    “We’ll get back pay for you when this is over.”
    “Have you been through the records? Can I take copies with me? I need something to work on.”
    “I’ve been through some of it. I see some sloppy police work already. I think they fudged the probable cause to get their warrant.”
    Cole arched his brows and nodded. “That’s good, but I don’t want to get off on a technicality. I didn’t do this, which means someone else did. We need to figure out who.”
    Layla considered and sipped her coffee. “Right.”
    “You seem distracted. Everything okay?”
    “I’ll do a good job for you, don’t worry. Phil Rader from my old firm is looking things over for me. He’s a kick ass attorney.”
    “Yeah, he is, but you’re not so bad yourself. I’m not asking because I’m worried about my case, I’m just asking.”
    Layla sighed. “I’m just profoundly disappointed in my dad right now. And my mom. And Ben.”
    “Because?”
    “Because of things between my parents and Emma and because I overheard Ben telling my dad he expects me to leave my job to stay home and raise our future children.”
    Cole choked back a laugh. “You?”
    “Right?”
    “Are you sure he meant it? Ben probably just wants to