Page 32 of Don't Quit the Day Job

"I'm not going to say that I'm with the law firm. I'm not going to say that I'm your assistant. I just want to see if there's more to the story."

"But it doesn't matter if..."

"Please, Max."

He sighs. "We're not therapists. We're not here to make things equal. We are here to get our client what he wants."

"It doesn't matter if we're therapists or not. I'm just curious if my instinct is correct. I could've just tried to find her and had a conversation with her without telling you. But you're my boss so I wanted to at least pass it by you first."

"Are you interested in being some sort of detective or something? Is that what you'd rather be doing instead of being my assistant?"

"No, I want to be an actress," I say. "But I also care about people. And I feel like I can sense good people and bad people, and Jack Whittington is not a good man. I just want to see what I think about Mrs. Whittington."

"You can do whatever you want to do. Just do not tell her anything about this case." He stares at me. "Do you understand?"

"Yes." I nod slowly.

"Good," he says. "So Lila, I'm curious about something now."

"Yes, Max?" I ask him, wondering if he thinks I may have been a detective in another life.

"What do your instincts say about me?" He looks at me as if he doesn't care about the answer, but for some reason I can sense that he's waiting on tenterhooks for whatever words pass my lips next.

"I think that you're outwardly arrogant," I say with a small smile as he smirks. "I think that your work comes first in your life."

"What gave that away?" he says with a chuckle, though his eyes are keen as they watch me.

"I think that you have a better sense of humor than you initially let on to most people." I grin as he grunts. "And I think that maybe you're not as horrible as I thought a few hours ago."

"So you're saying you don't think I'm a slime ball?" He's grinning now and his face is transformed. It's like a light has come on inside of him and the warmth and humor radiating from him has my heart racing. And not just because he's handsome, but because there's a real connection between us. He's looking at me like I'm the only woman in the world and it makes me feel like dancing. It's probably all in my head, but I like how this feels.

The earthy side of me now thinks that he and I met for a reason.

The earthy side of me feels like maybe this man has something to teach me.

But that could just be my hormones and the lack of good sex speaking.

It's funny how sometimes we try to find meaning in any and every exchange we have to give ourselves a purpose or reason to believe in something.

"Oh, I didn't say that," I say with a grin as I try to ignore the feel of his hard warm thigh against me. He's leaning toward me now and I can feel the heat emanating from his body.

"So you do think I'm a slime ball?"

"No," I say honestly. "I don't."

"Even though I flirted with you and you thought I was trying to offer you a million dollars for sex?"

"Oh my God. Let's agree to never bring that up again. I don't really think you were offering me money for sex." I lick my lips nervously. "Let's be real. You don't have to offer anyone money for sex. You're a very good-looking man."

"Thank you. I'm glad that you realize that."

"Uh-huh," I say, rolling my eyes.

"But don't sell yourself short, Lila. You're a very beautiful woman," he says softly. "And if I was the sort of man to offer money for sex, I'd give you way more than a million dollars."

I stare at him in shock, my heart racing. "What?"

"If I were to offer you money for one night," he says softly, grabbing my hand and running a finger down my palm. "I'd offer you a billion dollars because I'd want to change your life as much as you were about to change mine."

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