I’ve never felt more out of place than I feel in this swanky bar full of suits and ties. Everyone looks me up and down. But I don’t care. I just want to keep the heat on Riley. She does something to me that no one else ever has. I want her badly enough that I’ll stay in this snot-nosed bar with her.

I’m not even sure why I told her that Ramsey may have PTSD. I’m sure he wouldn’t be too happy with me for airing his dirty laundry to practical strangers.

But I guess I just feel comfortable with Riley in a way that surprises me. And maybe Ramsey might need her help, because I know there’s a lot of discrimination against military members who have PTSD.

She’d said she “gets” that I don’t want to use PTSD as a defense myself, and once again I wasn’t sure if she was being genuine or just blowing smoke up my ass. I want to believe that I can trust her, but Dylan always gave me the same song and dance, just to turn around and do the opposite. And she always seems to brush over that part of my case, just like Dylan did.

She chooses a table in the corner and I choose the chair beside her. I immediately put my foot on top of hers under the table, and she doesn’t take hers away. I forget all about my case now, and just bask in the warmth of being next to her.

“So, what’ll it be, Ms. Riley?” I ask, looking at the fancy-sounding and expensive drinks on the menu. “No wait, let me guess. An Appletini?”

“Ha.” She laughs that laugh I love, the one that made me crack that joke just so I could hear her laugh in response. “Close but no cigar. I’d like a Manhattan.”

“Oooh. Good choice. Strong drink.”

“Drink big or go home, right?”

She flashes me a grin.

“Or maybe both, if I’m lucky.”

“Very funny,” she says, her leg hitting mine under the table. “You know we can’t do that.”

“A guy can dream.”

I’m about to stand up to get our drinks from the bar but a bored-looking waiter approaches us and takes our order.

“A Manhattan for my girlfriend here, and a whiskey and Coke for me,” I tell him, and squeeze her leg under the table.

“Jensen!” She hisses in a disapproving tone, but she puts her hand on top of mine and squeezes it.

I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I’ve never wanted a girlfriend. It’s clear from what happened with my mom and dad that there’s no such thing as love, and that a man would be a fool to commit to being with a woman. And I’ve never joked around with a girl about being my girlfriend because then she might think I’m serious when all I wanted was a one-night stand.

There’s nothing more annoying than a clingy girl who’s hard to get rid of after the fact. But here I am encouraging Riley, and I don’t think it’s just because of the hands-off-I’m-your-lawyer challenge she’s presented me with.

I decide to turn the conversation to a more serious topic, because I think I may be getting in a little bit over my head. I need to stay in charge and balanced.

“So, what’s the story with that temporary rat hole— I mean, office, you have there?” I ask Riley. “And why are you suddenly representing washed-up and disgraced Navy SEALs and other former service members, instead of Fortune 500 firms?”

She sighs, and looks down at the table. I didn’t know the question would cause her so much hesitation, and I begin to feel bad that I asked it. Luckily the waiter arrives with our drinks.

“Cheers,” I say, in an attempt to change the subject yet again. “To having drinks with your favorite client ever.”

“Cheers,” she says, and leans in close to clink our glasses together.

I lean in even closer for a peck on her cheek and then a quick bite of her lips.

“Jensen!” she says again, and then downs more of the Manhattan than I thought she would be able to handle at once.

“Very nice,” I compliment her as I hurry to catch up with her by taking a few swigs of my own drink, and motioning to the waiter to bring us another round.

“My leave of absence wasn’t exactly voluntary,” she says, and I realize she’s actually answering the question I had asked.

“Oh,” I say, trying not to sound too interested.

“I was handling a big trial and my boss wanted me to do something unethical,” she continued. “I just… couldn’t. I didn’t. And so he put me on a leave of absence to get my priorities straight.”

“I see. So… you might go back?”

I want to ask her why she’d want to work for a firm like that but she’s so damn hot while she licks up her drink on the rim of her fancy glass that I don’t want to ruin the moment too much.

“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll like working for my new client too much.”

There’s that laugh again.

“So why the Veterans’ Legal Alliance?” I ask. “You don’t strike me as a very military-minded type of gal.”

“I didn’t strike my boss as being that either,” she says. “Everyone at the firm had a military background or connection except for me. I started looking into volunteering at the VLA before any of this happened.”

“And then you decided to jump on it to impress your old boss?”

“Something like that.”

She sighs into her drink, and I can’t help but admire her vulnerability. I’m touched that she chose to share this information with me when she didn’t have to.

“So, about the person I allegedly assaulted…” I begin, inspired to trade some of my own secrets.

“Yes?” she asks, perking up and looking around as if she needs her always-present yellow legal pad.

Just then the waiter brings us two more drinks.

“Wow Jensen, I never really drink this much,” she says, but she picks up the second drink anyway.

You don’t say, I think, but I keep it to myself.

“He was assaulting a woman,” I tell her. “Pounding into her, beating her up. So, I just stepped in to…”

“Protect her?” Her eyes are looking at me as if there’s hope for my case, and also as if she thinks what I did was admirable.

I can’t tell her the rest. It’s just too embarrassing. I never talk to anyone about my family or my past, and I’m certainly not going to spill my guts to this hot girl I want to date.

I mean fuck. I just want to fuck her, I remind myself.

“Yes. I had to get him off of her. It was the right thing to do.”

“Definitely. And it helps your case. I don’t know why you didn’t mention this earlier, Jensen.”

Because there’s more to the story and I’d rather go to jail than air my family’s soiled laundry to the world… and especially to you, I think.

But I just shrug and say, “A man’s gotta keep a little mystery about him, or else how does he get a pretty lawyer lady to kiss him?”

I put my hand on her inner thigh and squeeze tightly. She doesn’t shake me off. And when I lean in to kiss her, she meets me halfway.

I chew on those delicious lips of hers, gently sucking on them. And then I grab her ass with my other hand while I plunge my tongue deep inside her inviting mouth.

I’m so fucking lucky. I never knew my ridiculous criminal charge would bring me face to face— and tongue to tongue— with the most beautiful, smart, and successful woman I’ve ever met.