Page 10 of Feel Me

Do I believe in love? Not really. Despite that three of my brothers, and now my sister seem to have found it. My mother will swear on a stack of bibles, clutching a rosary that she “loved” my father and always will. But love, real love, shouldn’t threaten to destroy you, or abandon you with seven kids you can barely afford to feed.

Do I believe in marriage? Considering the divorce rate topples over sixty-five percent, I believe in it even less than love.

So yeah, instead of dating women who are looking for a ring on their finger, I date the ones who’d prefer a hot time in bed and not much more. They don’t get attached and neither do I. We have great sex once, maybe twice, and move on.

Commitment? Yeah, of course I’m committed. Committed to being the youngest D.A. in Pennsylvania’s historyandthe next in line for mayor.

I shove away from my desk and head out, needing some space from the office. This day has screwed with me in more ways than I can count. I started out pissed, thinking Miles had thrown me to the dogs only to find out he has fucking cancer and wants to pass me his crown. I doubt he’d feel the same if he knew how bad I want his daughter.

“Hi, Declan.”

In the short time it takes me to adjust my suit jacket and step into the cubicle-lined hall, Stephanie has hurried out from behind her desk. She tosses her bleached blond hair over her shoulder, giving her breasts an extra thrust forward. Her station is three rows back and to the left of my new office, but even when my office was on the other side of the building she always seemed to find me.

I’d like to say she’s a nice young lady except I’m not convinced she is. Not the way she acts around me and any man she finds attractive. She’s one of the newer clerical staff. I asked her what her goals were when I first met her, thinking she actually wanted to make something of herself. She answered, “Whatever you want them to be.”

Not exactly what I was expecting to hear.

“Hi, Stephanie,” I say, smiling.

She grins, her eyes skipping down the length of my body, flicking her incisor with the tip of her tongue when she reaches my groin. It’s brief, just long enough to be sure I notice. “Congratulations on your promotion,” she says. “No one deserves it more than you.”

In other words,I want you to fuck me.

If she didn’t work here, I probably would. Stephanie’s legs start roughly at her neck and her straight blond hair flows behind her every time she struts in her stilettos. The dresses she wears to show off her double zero body have forced Shayleen, the office manager, to send her home twice for violating the dress code. Stephanie isexactlymy type. She’s not really serious about anything, except satisfying her own needs. Not that I’d ever dip my pen in any company ink. Melissa, I remind myself, isnotmy type. Mel is too grounded, too driven,

too . . .committed.

So why the hell can’t I stop thinking about her?

Melissa doesn’t possess the figure that typically catches my eye. That doesn’t mean she’s not gorgeous. Her brown eyes lure me to her, demanding I pay attention to her angelic and sexy as hell features. Too bad her body usually wins. Just like it did when we were alone in my office.

I could have kicked my own ass for practically ogling her. Around her though, it’s like that straight-laced professional I’ve trained myself to be leaves town and my world stops making sense. She’s supposed to want me. Toss me an inviting glance before she invites me to bed. Whisper dirty thoughts to prove how bad she wants me. I’m not being arrogant. It’s simply a fact. Women have been begging me to pull off their panties since I turned fifteen.

“If you need any help, I’ll be available,” Stephanie says, tossing her hair again.

“Thank you,” I say. I lean and tap on Ellie’s desk. “But I have all I need right here. Right, Ellie?”

Ellie laughs, waving me off as she blushes. “Oh,Declan,” she says.

I walk away with the first genuine grin I’ve flashed since yesterday. Ellie has worked for the county longer than I’ve been alive. She’s sweet, reliable, and ethical. Can’t say the same about Stephanie. The way Stephanie flirts, I’m waiting for the day she gets caught fucking someone she shouldn’t?a married attorney, an overworked detective, or a higher-up promising shit he doesn’t intend to make good on. The only thing I’m sure of is she won’t get caught fucking me.

It probably annoyed Stephanie that I paid Ellie more attention than I did her. Not that I care. She may think she has a shot with me, but I don’t take women I work with to bed and I sure as hell keep my distance from those who are spoken for. I don’t like drama and hate scandal. So if she’s looking for a sugar daddy she needs to look elsewhere.

I pass a few more detectives and interns, making the rounds and making it clear I’m staying. I’m not headed anywhere specific, in fact, I should start reviewing the list of candidates for SACU. But I’ve been in my office too long, and with everything that’s happened, I need to move.

Without thinking, I end up in my sister-in-law’s office. Tess, formerly Newart now O’Brien, top grad of U Penn Law, assistant district attorney, and married to Curran, is already knocked up with their second kid. I never expected Curran to get someone as high class as Tess. In fact, we were pretty sure he’d knock up one of those psychos he used to date like that masseuse with the pet monkey.

I rap on the door. “Just a minute,” she calls out. There’s some fumbling before she says, “Come in.”

I swing open the door. “Hey, Tess,” I say. I roll my eyes when I realize who’s here. No wonder she needed a minute.

Her light skin turns a furious red as she leans over her desk and pretends to flip through a law journal. I say “pretend”, because no way would her face be this flushed if she was actually working. And no way was she working with Curran standing that close to her.

“What?” he asks, grinning as his hand strokes down her spine.

I shut the door behind me. “Curran, what the hell?”

“You have a problem with me kissing my wife?” he fires back.

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