Barefoot Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story by Krista Lakes Read Free Book Online Page A

“touch me and die” face on. “I suggest you keep walking.”
    The man looked her up and down once before deciding that she really would cut him if he tried anything. Darcie wasn't big enough to be intimidating, but she made an angry cobra look like a kitten when she was mad. He took a step back and rolled his shoulders before walking away like that was his plan all along.
    “Thanks,” I said quietly as I pulled my coffee-soaked jacket off and hung it over my arm.
    “The guy was a jerk,” Darcie said, flipping her blonde hair back over her shoulder. “You okay?”
    “It's just coffee. It'll come out in the wash. At least it wasn't hot. I really should watch where I'm going.” I shrugged.
    Darcie gave an exasperated sigh and put her hands on my shoulders. “Lena, you know I love you, right?” She waited a moment for me to nod before continuing. “That wasn't even close to being your fault. You can't let people walk all over you like that. You got to stand up for yourself. You are worth standing up for.”
    “I'll work on it,” I promised, not meeting her eyes and instead peering into my now empty coffee cup.
    “You're going to do a lot more than just work on it.” Darcie was getting her fighting face on again. “I'm serious as a heart attack. You don't take shit from anyone. Not even me.”
    “How am I supposed to do that, Darcie?” I asked, meeting her flashing eyes. “If I don't take your shit, I won't have anyone to take mine.”
    “Smart ass.” Darcie narrowed her eyes and evaluated me. “I'm serious, though. I'm going to sign you up for some self-defense classes or something. There's nothing like kicking a man in the balls to make you feel powerful.”
    The two men standing nearest to us both skittered in opposite directions.
    “Sure, Darcie,” I conceded, but I knew she was right. I let Alexa walk all over me. I didn't defend myself to Calvin during my review, or tell him no when he had me stay late. I was surprised that I had even spoken to Kathryn last night, and the only reason I had done that was because I was thinking of Aiden.
    I tossed the empty cup into the trash and stepped onto the elevator with Darcie. We moved toward the back with surprising ease. Apparently talking about ball kicking made people give us space.
    “Did you ever hear anything from Calvin or Alexa last night?” Darcie stepped closer to me to allow more passengers on the elevator. “You said you called them before you saw Kathryn.”
    I shook my head. “Nope. But I'm looking forward to the fallout today. There's no way they won't at least get reprimanded for leaving early. Am I a bad person for hoping they get publicly shamed?
    “Nope. Those two have screwed you more ways than I care to count. It's time they had to take responsibility for using you the way they do.” Darcie leaned against the elevator wall as we started our upward descent. “Oh, hey – did you hear that Smith got the big murder case?”
    “What big murder case?” I asked, confused. Elijah Smith was one of the founding partners of the firm and was considered one of the best criminal defense lawyers in the nation, but I hadn't heard of any potential cases.
    “The sports star from Texas – the one that probably killed his wife – hired Smith to defend him,” Darcie replied.
    “I thought that he already had that lawyer from Washington. Isn't that case like, two weeks from trial? They switched council this late?” I frowned, trying to figure it out. My mind was already going through all the paperwork and legal issues with switching representation this close to a trial.
    “Yup. Don't you watch the news? There was a huge scandal with the previous firm,” Darcie informed me.
    “Because I have so much time to watch TV,” I replied sarcastically. “Wait – you said it was Smith?”
    “Yeah. Smith.” Darcie nodded. I wanted to whoop and dance for joy, but the elevator was still too crowded.
    “I'm going to get to go to trial with him. I'll