AVA

 

I spent the evening working through some residual stress from seeing Christopher Cole twice in one day. I even spent some time to myself in the shower, hoping if I go to the courthouse I won’t be feeling like climbing over the railing and tackling the man.

I can’t help it. Even last night, when I was convinced I wouldn’t take the offer he’d made, I still couldn’t keep myself from agreeing to go to the courthouse to see him work. I’ve already seen it. That’s half the problem.

 

After he left Fever, I tried to get back to work but I couldn’t concentrate. I couldn’t lose myself in the atmosphere the way I usually did, and after the exhilaration of spending time alone with Christopher Cole, the bar at Fever just wasn’t working for me.

Emma noticed almost immediately and dragged me into the back room with her. “Babe, you’re all flushed. Is it the hot older lawyer?”

“Jesus, he’s old enough to be my father!”

Emma gave me a long look, and it took me a moment to remember that she’d just been actively flirting with a seventy-year-old.

“Well, that’s different–”

“Yeah, you’re actually attracted to this guy instead of just getting paid to pretend that it’s good for you.”

I ran my hands over my face as Kayley entered the room with three tequila and limes. “Is she having a breakdown because her love interest has crow’s feet?” she asked. Emma nodded sadly while I almost howled in frustration.

The age difference wasn’t terribly difficult. In fact, it made it a bit… naughtier. A bit sexier. I never thought I’d be attracted like that to an older man, but it turns out that all I needed was to see a well-sculpted model in motorcycle leathers to unlock that part of me.

I wondered what it was he saw in me. I must seem unbelievably naïve to him. Did he think it was funny or stupid that I’d caved so easily to his request to come and watch him argue his case? I’d done my best to turn down his offer to go over to Benson & Cole, so by the time he’d hit me with the second question, I’d used up all of my will power.

But it was flattering to have him make that offer to work with him. To hear him say that I could be getting something more–something better than what I was getting now–and to have someone with actual experience in the field tell me that I was better than Page & Sons. The way he said it too, with his smooth, husky voice as he’d run his fingertip over the sensitive flesh of my neck… well, that made it even harder to say no.

So then I found myself making my excuses to Luke Page, telling him that I wanted to observe more court cases in the mornings before getting back to work in the afternoons. He’d actually believed that. He was stupidly grateful for me winning the case for him yesterday.

While he’d been thanking me, I’d thought of what Christopher Cole had said about what I could be getting out of Benson & Cole.

“It’s fine, Luke… really,” I said, reminding myself that I was not the kind of woman who burnt bridges on her way to the top.

“No, really, you’re a lifesaver, Ava!”

 

And it was. In hindsight, being put on the spot like that had turned out to be a good chance for me to practice arguing a case. Would I have had that chance with someone like Benson & Cole? Probably not. They’d never put a first year associate in charge of a case at the last minute. But is that a positive or a negative in this scenario?

I drove to the courthouse. I was able watch Christopher argue his case. But I couldn’t concentrate on the words he spoke, or the way he argued because I was so focused on his presence. The way he seemed to fill the room with his own confidence, so anyone who wanted to work against him got the air pulled right out of their lungs before they could even try.

The entire time, I could feel his focus on me. When he was speaking to the judge or someone on his team, there were three interns helping him, and when he was cross-examining, I could feel the way he was watching me out of the corner of his eye. Is he trying to figure out what I think?

“Your Honor, I would like to strike that from the record.” He flicks his eyes to me. “I want to draw the court’s attention to the third paragraph of page forty-seven…” He turns his chin in my direction. “Due to the precedent in this matter…” He turns to face my seat and I tune out.

As I watch the closing argument I feel a surge of excitement, because even though he hardly ever looks at me during his closing statement I still feel like I’m a huge part of his focus.

Flattering, exciting–whatever the word I put on it—I find myself becoming addicted to his attention. His eyes draw toward me over and over. I want them on me all of the time. When he wins, he turns to look at me full-on, and I think my heart is about to stop at the aura of power surrounding him.

After the lawyers are done packing up their case notes, he pushes himself away from the table and comes toward me. I stand quickly. My head barely reaches his chin, but when he looks down at me I don’t feel small. I feel worthy of his notice. It’s an incredible feeling.

“What did you think?” he asks.

I want to admit that I had barely focused on the case because I’d been too enamored with the way his button-up shirt stretches over his toned muscles. I’ve noticed over and over that he’s well built, but it’s particularly noticeable when he’s in the courtroom and striding around with his chest puffed out, drawing the world into him. He’s a bear of a man, all solid muscle and warm presence.

“It was excellent work,” I say because I’m sure it was. “Benson & Cole are lucky to have you.”

“We’d be lucky to have you,” he says.

I feel myself blushing and I wish I wouldn’t. High school girls blush. Women smile coyly and swat men on the arm–I’ve seen it at Fever. If Emma were here, she’d have him melting with desire and totally relaxed. If Kayley were here, she’d have him coiled like a spring, ready to burst with lust.

“I think I’m happier to stay with Page & Sons,” I say.

That’s the one thing I’m almost sure about. How could I work alongside this man? I’d never be able to concentrate.

Christopher hums thoughtfully looking me up and down, and I have a sudden, thrilling feeling that he can see through my clothes. He glances over his shoulder to his interns–again, I feel the thrill that the corner of his eye remains focused on me–before turning back and taking my hand.

“Come with me,” he says.

I follow numbly. He takes me out of the courtroom and through the halls. His skin is warm on mine and I can hear my heart beating over the sound of my heels clicking and echoing on the mahogany walls around me. This feels like the part of the movie where the hero convinces the heroine to leave everything for him.

He takes me toward the rear of the courthouse, to one of the back exits which leads out to the parking lot. There’s a moment when I realize he’s trying to take me outside before he pulls me around and shoves me against the wall.

“Ava. I’ve been dying to do this to you. Don’t you fucking move,” he growls.

My brain shuts down. My heart stops. As I feel his beard scratch my chin and his lips touch mine, hard and insistent. I find myself kissing him back even though my mind is still scrambling to catch up.

He’s kissing me.

Christopher Cole is kissing me and pushing me against the wall out the back of the courthouse.

Holy shit!

He grinds against me and I start to feel my body responding. Heat pools in my groin, a heart-stopping groan escapes my throat, and my ankle hooks over his leg so I can pull him closer. I want more. It’s been so long and he’s so good. Older and more experienced in every way. The things I could learn from this man…

Christopher pulls out of the kiss and I find myself chasing him.

“Sure I can’t change your mind?” he asks.

I’m a little breathless, but I have the presence of mind to shake my head. “You’re a good kisser, but not good enough to make me leave my job.”

He grins down at me like I’ve said exactly what he wants to hear. Then he runs his hand down the front of my shirt, cupping my breasts, trailing down toward my skirt. I can hear my own breathing like someone’s gasping into my ear. We’re alone and it’s deserted, but I wonder how long that will last.

When Christopher’s finger traces around the top of my skirt, I realize I don’t care much about getting caught. And that’s a feverous thought.

“Not here,” I plead.

“If I take you somewhere, will you do as you’re told?”

I try to fight the desire to say ‘yes.’ “Within reason.”

“Ever ridden a motorbike before?”

I smile at that. “No. But I want to.”

He pulls away and I immediately miss his heat. But then he offers me a hand and I accept without hesitation.

“Come with me, Little Rose.”