Stay With Me, Contemporary Romance (Last Frontier Lodge Novels Book 5) by J.H. Croix Page B

stepped into Eli’s office and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms and staring out the window across from him. It looked out into a cluster of spruce trees behind the building, right about where Ryan had started to set up his tent to camp when Eli found him. “It’s okay. It’s not like I don’t know the deal with Dad. Did you mean what you said?” he asked, his eyes darting from the window to Eli and back again.
    Eli cocked his head to the side and arched a brow in question, uncertain what Ryan was asking about.
    Ryan’s eyes flicked to him and back to the window. “Did you really talk to an attorney?”
    Understanding dawned and Eli’s heart clenched. He knew Ryan was worried, but he hadn’t considered how much it would mean for him to know Eli was going to do his damnedest to make sure Ryan could stay here free and clear. “Sure did. One of Jessa’s brothers happens to be an attorney. She gave me his number yesterday, so I called him already. He said I should have a good case if I’m willing to dredge up the past. It’s not my preference, but I don’t want you going through what I did, so it’s no problem. I’m heading over to meet with him at his office in a little bit. Wanna go with me?”
    Ryan was quiet for so long, Eli became concerned he’d moved too quickly on this. Ryan’s eyes finally bounced to him again, and Eli saw the sheen there. Ryan nodded, his hair falling over his forehead. Without a word, his pushed away from the wall and started to walk through the office door. He paused and glanced over his shoulder, his eyes trained on the corner of Eli’s desk. “Thanks.”
    “No problem,” Eli replied, his words mostly for himself because Ryan practically ran into the store after that. He leaned back in his chair and looked out into the cluster of spruce trees, his eyes following a branch that dipped when a gray jay landed. He took a slow breath, trying to ease the tightness in his chest and throat. Ryan brought back so many feelings from his past, it was discombobulating. For a man who’d spent most of his life trying to keep emotional entanglements at a distance, he’d committed himself to doing the right thing for Ryan, and he’d be damned if he let his father get in the way.
    Later that afternoon, Ryan walked beside Eli into Garrett Hamilton’s office. Eli had driven by Garrett’s office almost every day since Garrett had opened it, yet he’d never had a reason to stop. In the short time Garrett had been in Diamond Creek, he’d quickly established himself as the go-to attorney in Diamond Creek. Diamond Creek was small enough there weren’t too many attorneys to go around. Prior to Garrett’s relocation to town, most people headed north to Kenai if they needed legal advice. The only other attorney Eli knew of was mostly retired. Garrett’s reputation from Seattle had followed him here.
    Garrett’s office was on Harborside Road, which ran perpendicular to Main Street and, not surprisingly, was toward the harbor side of town. Harborside Road held a mix of homes and small office businesses. Garrett’s office occupied one half of a single-story duplex. When they stepped through the doorway, Garrett waved at them from his desk. He was on the phone and gestured for them to sit at a round table situated by a bay window that offered a view of the boat harbor. He said his goodbyes and strode to the table, reaching over to shake Eli’s hand.
    “Garrett Hamilton. I think we’ve met before, but maybe just for a minute,” Garrett offered with an easy grin. Garrett was tall and dark with blue eyes. He carried a resemblance to Jessa, but it was subtle. More than anything, he shared her warmth.
    Eli nodded. “I believe we met once when I was up skiing. I haven’t been up there as much as I’d like. Gage has done an amazing job with the lodge.”
    Garrett’s grin widened. “That he has!” He turned to Ryan. “You must be Ryan,” he offered, reaching across the table for another