Page 7 of Feel Me

“Oh, my God,” I say. I didn’t think he could make the experience worse. Apparently, I was wrong. “It was a bet.”

“No,” he says, his voice growing softer. “It was just me being an asshole.”

I shake my head, wondering how in the world we’re going to survive each other. “At least we can agree on one thing,” I tell him.

His admission shouldn’t hurt me. Declan is nothing to me. But it does. I can’t explain why. Maybe it’s because he’s the walking image of perfection: Strong build, brilliant mind, and absurdly good looks. And I’m . . . not.

I’m not perfect nor do I resemble those size two models gracing the cover of fashion magazines. I’m also not like the women who look for excuses to walk into his office or laugh at the little things he says, those same women who fixate on his ass like the winning lottery numbers are scrolled across his rock hard cheeks. I’m just me, a woman who works hard, wants to do the right thing, and likes romance novels with shirtless pirates on them. What can I say, long-haired men curl my toes and Fabio always knew how to rock a paperback.

I want to tell him as much, and maybe get him to laugh just a little. But I don’t. I know the kind of women he likes and is attracted to, and none of them are anything like me.

He lets out a breath and leans forward, letting his hands fall to his desk. “Look, I’m sorry. About the way we met and what I just said about you and Curran. I’m trying to make things right between us.”

“Okay,” I say slowly, unsure whether to believe him. “But why did you ask me about Curran?”

“What?”

I tilt my head slightly. “Why do you care what he said to me? It didn’t have anything to do with you?”

“It didn’t?” he questions.

“Not really.”

He frowns as if annoyed. “It’s just that when you and Curran are around each other you like to bust my balls.”

Did he just say “balls”? Okay, so maybe the god-like Declan O’Brien is human after all.

“He told me he liked my dress,” I repeat. “And asked me if I wore it to celebrate your appointment to SACU.”

“And what did you say?” he asks, his tone turning serious.

“I told him, no. That I bought it because I like the way my boobs look in it.” I meant it as a joke then, and I mean it as a joke now, so when his eyes hone in on the girls, I’m more than a little shocked.

He catches himself a little too late, coughing into his hand. “It’s a nice dress,” he admits.

My jaw falls open again. Did he just check out my rack?

Another wave of pink flushes his face. He did just check out my rack!

I glance down again to make sure nothing is exposed. In the half second it takes me to look back up, he’s reached for his pad and a pen and switched to attorney mode. “So, we’re working together,” he says, moving on like nothing happened.

“We are,” I say, trying to keep my voice impassive. I scan his new office, feigning interest so I can force my attention off him. The bookcase, the desk, even the chairs are new. Dad really hooked him up, I guess hoping he’ll stay. And now that he all but promised Declan that he’ll be the next D.A., I know he’s not going anywhere.

I only wish I could believe it were for the right reasons.

My hands fall to my lap. “I suppose now is a good time to tell you what I’m looking for,” I say quietly.

“Whatyou’relooking for?” he asks.

I tilt my chin, wondering why he seems confused. “Well, yes. I have certain needs that I’m hoping you’ll help me with.”

His grip to his pen tightens. “Needs? For yourself?”

“For my unit,” I clarify. I wish like his brother, Declan also understood American Sign Language. Then I could sign and not give away how nervous I sometimes feel around him. I roll my ankle, trying to shake off some of my anxiety. For all he drives me crazy, he’s doing a hell of a job making me feel self-conscious. That doesn’t mean I’ll cower or stay quiet. “It’s my understanding that the assistant D.A.s currently assigned to SACU are burnt out and requesting reassignment.”

“That’s right,” he says, his expression sour. “Just a few hours on the job and I’ve already received transfer requests in writing.”

“I’d like to help select their replacements.”

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