Something Blue: The Jilted Series, #4

By Liz Lovelock

Love isn't real.
There's no such thing as happily ever after.
That's what I like to tell myself anyway.

Being a divorce attorney, my daily dose of broken couples have cured me of wanting any relationship. That's until the day Kobi Miller, the one guy who had caught my attention, now sits on the opposite side of my conference table, finalizing his divorce…

The thing is, though . . . he never told me he was married.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Liz Lovelock
• Release date: Oct 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223813248

Book preview

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Preview - Something Beautiful

Other Books by Liz Lovelock

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Connect with Liz Online

VIVIAN

There is no such thing as happily ever after.

Romance is dead.

My heart is stone cold.

Impenetrable.

As a divorce attorney, all I ever see—day in and day out—are failed marriages. At least my friends seem to have found their one true love and are happy. Not me, though. I’m likely broken. Is it even possible to be broken when it comes to love?

Witnessing bickering couples every day probably doesn’t help my cause. I don’t want to end up like them in the worst of situations. No thanks!

Hey, Viv. Have you got the Miller’s file? They’re coming in today to get things ready for finalization, aren’t they? Jo pokes her head around the doorframe.

I raise my eyes from the paperwork I’m going cross-eyed over and yawn, then lean back in my seat and cock an eyebrow. Yeah. Why are you handing that off to me? It’s not as if I need more work. I wave my hands over my file-covered desk.

Jo laughs and steps into my room, her black, fitted dress hugging her slim figure as her auburn hair bounces in light curls on her shoulders. Well, I’ve been dealing with all the appointments, and she told me she’d heard of your stellar record. She sighs. "Now she wants you to deal with this meeting to make sure she gets what she wants, especially when it comes to their little girl."

I drop my pen and rub my temples with my index fingers. Ugh, I hate when kids are in the middle of divorces. I’m not sure the wife, our client, is allowed to change things now. I don’t know this woman, though I’m not sure I want to. Glancing up at Jo, I continue, I’ve read the file and know what she wants, but I don’t think it’s right for me to take over. How about I sit in with you, and if I can change something, I’ll speak up. I can’t simply take over, I don’t have enough background. I’m sorry. I collect my pen, look down and sign off on some paperwork effectively dismissing her.

Jo remains silent. I raise my head and stare at her while she chews on her bottom lip before saying, This is only my second case on my own, and I’m freaking out because this woman is a troll. You should hear what she says about her ex-husband, she blames him for everything. Jo glances over her shoulder, then leans forward and whispers, I’m scared of her.

I’ll be there this time, don’t worry, but you’re running the show. You’re her lawyer. You are in charge in that room. I’ll be there for support. I lay down the law of her appointment. When you're fresh, those first few clients are the hardest. They’re the worst and make you second-guess what you are doing. Honestly, they can make or break you as a lawyer. But if there is one thing I do know, they can also make you stronger for what’s to come in this line of work.

I don’t like her. Her hair falls over her face as she glances down at the floor. And her husband… well, soon-to-be-ex, seems nice. He’s a policeman.

After rising from my desk, I walk around and stop just in front of her, then take her arms in my hands. I don’t want to hear that. You need a thick skin dealing with people like her. We do business with all types of clients, and all you need to remember is that they’re paying your bill for that apartment, car, or whatever the hell it is you want. Money, Jo. Keep that in mind as you deal with these kinds of people.

My cell rings.

Hold on, I’ve got to get this. Reaching over my desk, I collect my phone and catch Dylan’s name on the screen before I answer with, What’s going on?

Is the girls’ night still on tonight? Scarlett is climbing the walls and needs a night out.

Hold on one second. Removing the phone from my ear, I turn to Jo. Come see me thirty minutes before the meeting, and we will go over some things together. Okay?

Jo nods and exits the room, hopefully less stressed.

Okay, sorry about that. Nervous newbie. What’s wrong with Scarlett? We caught up last week. I drop into my seat again, exasperated.

I think with Lachlan away for work, she doesn’t like it. She’s lonely and wants company all the time.

Well, you know me, I’m always down for a night of fun. My last client is at five today, so do you want to catch up around six or so for dinner? Check with Scarlett and see what she wants to do. Are Maddie and Everleigh coming?

I think Scarlett wants to invite them, but who knows what’s going on. Everleigh has her hands full with the baby, who seems to be shoving everything in her mouth. What a fun age, she says dryly.

Figure it out and let me know. I’m swamped here today. I don’t think I ever want to get married. All I see is the not so happily ever afters, and it’s given me commitment issues. I laugh.

What happened with that security guy you got with ages ago? You spent a night with him after the ball, where Scarlett ran off with Lachlan that time. He seemed nice enough. You spoke about him for ages afterward, and then you just stopped. Didn’t something come of that?

The memory of him comes to mind. I never heard from him again. I pause for a second as a thought occurs to me. Hang on a moment, do you remember when I was drunk at Wyatt and Maddie’s place that time, and the policeman came, and I rubbed myself up against him? I swear that was the same guy, the security guard, but my alcohol consumption had impaired my vision for all I know. If you remember, you and Cole needed to help me back to my apartment. How embarrassing. I groan as I swing around in my chair like a five-year-old.

What? Do you think one of the police officers that came to Wyatt’s that time is the security guard from the gala party Scarlett invited us to?

I’m silent for a beat as I try to envision the night in my head, but it’s way too foggy. I’m not sure. I could be wrong. I know he’s a police officer who does the odd security job, that’s about all I found out that night, apart from him being damn good in bed. I giggle as I chew the end of my pen and stare out the window. At least I wasn’t drunk that night, so it was memorable. He’s one man I’d like to see again, just for a little fun.

You need to learn to lay off the drink. As a lawyer, you should have some class about yourself, especially in public. What if you have to deal with a police officer again after rubbing up against them? Don’t you think that could look pretty bad and also on your business?

I know what you’re saying. I enjoy letting loose, though. I can’t be Miss Prim and Proper all the time. Sometimes, it’s exactly what I need after a hard day at the office. You try dealing with all these spoiled brats trying to fleece their partners, knowing it’s wrong, but they do it anyway out of spite.

"I get it! But that letting loose is going to get you into some trouble someday, and you’ll need your lawyer skills to bail yourself out," Dylan jokes, but I know she means it.

Yes, Mom, I tease.

I’m serious.

I know you are. I promise, I’ll listen… one day.

You’re a lost cause, Vivian. I can imagine her shaking her head.

I know. But you all still love me.

We do.

Now, how’s your day going? Lots of men getting castrated? Being the vasectomy queen must keep you busy. I scribble my signature onto another finalized divorce contract.

Oh, oh, and get this… I had a man come in and video record the whole thing. He said his wife wanted proof that he went through with it. Dylan laughs.

I pause, then say, Are you serious? Now that is hilarious. She’s a wife I would divorce. That woman has severe trust issues.

I thought the same thing. I could have handed him your business card. I don’t think that would be ethical, though.

I smile at the mere thought of that scene playing out. Well, I better get back to work before my next client arrives. Message me about tonight, and I’ll be there. You know me, always willing to have a night out.

We say our goodbyes, and I’m left to the quietness of the office.

Silence and loneliness are pretty much my life these days. I have the most amazing friends in the world, and we all have each other’s backs, but being that extra wheel doesn’t feel great. It’s embarrassing. I am sure they are all thinking, look at this girl, she can’t hold a relationship. She’s a broken soul. That’s on me, though, not my friends. All the men I’ve been with have never lasted long.

The thought of Kobi, I think his name was, brings back all the good memories of our night together. There wasn’t much talking going on, and there weren’t any numbers exchanged. So once I bailed on him and left him to wake up to an empty hotel room, I never saw nor heard from him again, which is on me. I am always running scared from committing to anything or anyone. Except for my job and girlfriends—that’s about the extent of any commitment you will get from me.

Seeing too many broken families and also coming from one have ruined that life for me. So I’m thrilled for my friends because they deserve all the happiness in the world. They’re willing to let love in, and I hope with all sincerity I don’t need to be their lawyer or Scarlett’s again. Lachlan is perfect for her.

Perhaps one day, when the time is right for my heart, Mr. Perfect will come along and sweep me off my feet. Ha, that’ll be the day. I chuckle to myself at the thought of someone breaking through the impervious shield I’ve placed around my heart. It’s going to take someone monumental to tear that baby down.

Hours pass, and I’ve become lost in my mountain of paperwork that never seems to end. The moment I think I’m almost finished, someone adds a new file to the pile—the joys of owning your own law firm, I guess.

A knock on the door sounds, and I raise my head as Jo steps inside my office. Hey, that meeting is starting shortly. Sorry, I should have come to you sooner, but the wife is here early and, well, you can guess how that entire conversation has been going. Jo’s voice is barely a whisper as she stands in front of my desk.

Are both parties here, or just her? I look down and sign the paperwork in front of me until she answers.

"She’s here with her new boyfriend. Her soon-to-be ex-husband is here with his attorney. They’re in the conference room waiting for us. This is going to be messy. Who brings their new boyfriend to their divorce hearing?" The small, strained smile on her face tells me exactly how she’s feeling. I recall days like this when I first started.

Okay. I drop my pen, stand and straighten my white pencil skirt. Let’s get this done, shall we?

Jo nods, and I follow her out of my office and along the corridor to the conference room. She pushes the door open, and when I step into the room, back straight, head held high, my confident stride falters when I catch a glimpse of Kobi sitting across the table—the man I had a one-night stand with.

I swallow, dryly, and blink before regaining my composure. I want to charge from the room and hide like a scared little girl.

But I don’t.

Because I’m not.

I’m Vivian, one of New York’s finest divorce attorneys.

I’m not scared of anyone.

Running my tongue over the top row of my teeth, I cock an eyebrow and take a seat directly opposite him before pouring