More Than Meets the Eye - Page 121

“I know,” Sami said darkly.“I’ve had one foot in jail since the day I signed his deal.At least I can do some good on my way out.I mean, scamming forty-plus people with cancer out of their rightful settlement money feels like a first-class ticket to hell.And… you deserve to get your dream.”

That dream was silly in the first place.His desire for grandeur was not worth more than Sami’s life.There were other ways to win the case, and Aya, being the amazing lawyer she was, would find them.Especially when Ian was no longer in the way.

“I don’t want it anymore.I want you to be safe, and I want Ian to pay.You and I, we can take him down for good.”

Aya would be on board, and he’d recruit every other lawyer Ian had only won against with his shady dealings—

“I can’t let you do that, honey,” Sami said.“We’re not trading your life for mine.I’m sorry, I should have left the moment you started caring about how my day was, instead of dragging you—”

“You absolutely shouldn’t have.”He tightened his embrace around Sami.“I want to do this with you, and there’s nothing your annoyingly clever brain can cook up to say that’s gonna change my mind, got it?”

Sami smiled.Finally.Baz traced the crescent shape of his dimple.“Got it,” he whispered.

“With all this at stake for you, why did you hit on me?Why would you risk that?”That had self-destruction written all over it.

“Full transparency?In the beginning, I did hope you’d let sensitive information slip.But it wasn’t just that!You were clearly into me, but at the same time, you were so determined to hate me I thought there was no way you’d change your mind.I thought, maybe, I could have a fun, non-committal fling with a hot guy who’s equally determined for it to never go anywhere outside the bedroom.Until you ruined it by being so sweet to me and opening up about your family and… You’re just soyou.I didn’t stand a chance.”

Baz hadn’t expected to ever feel sorry for being likable—he hadn’t expected to everbelikable in the first place.If only Sami had told him earlier about the trouble he was in, maybe… Well, he knew now, and he wouldn’t turn his back on Sami again.

“I get it.I guess we aren’t mysterious strangers anymore.Sorry.”

“That’s okay,” Sami chuckled breathlessly.“I like this one better.Even though I shouldn’t have let it go this far while on borrowed time.”

Was jail supposed to stop them?If Baz had to wait for him before they could start a life together, he would.Except he wouldn’t, because there was no way in hell he’d let Ian get away with any of this.

“You’re not going to jail, Sami.”He kissed Sami’s forehead.Hopefully, the joke that forehead kisses were making Sami fall in love with him had more merit than Baz had dared to hope at the time.“We’re gonna take that son of a bitch down, okay?”

As a matter of fact, he knew just where to start—Erika’s husband, the assistant to the State Attorney.He wasn’t a crook like that other lady.Sami being the one to turn Ian in had to count for something.What interest would the state have in prosecuting a tiny fish when they could get a lead on the big shark who had been committing fraud for years?

“If we fail, it will wreck your career,” Sami said.Like that mattered anymore.Baz was already suspended, and who knew if Erika would allow him back.Might as well go out guns blazing for the man he loved.

God, he wasin love.With Sami-fucking-Adam.How magical.

“Let it.I don’t care, as long as you’re out of the line of fire.”

Maybe they could start over someplace new, away from the drama.In a small firm, or away from the legal world altogether.Whatever Sami wanted.He deserved the world.Baz was determined to give him whichever part of it he could grasp.

“You’d sacrifice your job for me?”

In a way, he already had.He wasn’t sure when work had stopped being his priority, but he had a hunch that it had to do with the sparkle in Sami’s eyes.

“Let’s make a plan.”

“Baz…”

“My boss’s husband works for the State’s Attorney, he can help get you off the hook.If we get Erika on our side, I’m sure he’ll listen.Can we try that?”

“Okay, but Baz—”

“We should contact Ian’s boss too, and Captain Green.If they confirm he didn’t pass on the settlement offer, it will strengthen your testimony.I’ll report Ian to the bar myself to make sure that bastard never practices law again, and you’ll be free—”

“Baz!”

“What?!”

“You just told me that you love me more than your career.That’s kind of a big deal.Can we maybe just, I don’t know, sit in that for a while?We could watch a movie, or just…” Sami shrugged.

Oh.God, being in love with Sami felt so natural, he hadn’t stopped to consider—well, no time like the present to start considering.They wouldn’t fix anything tonight, anyway.The State’s Attorney’s Office had closed hours ago.