Page 14 of Legal Attraction

Coral could feel his laughter beside her. And she couldn’t help but join in. “When you woke up this morning, did you write in your agenda, terrorist attack, royal karaoke party, and then run from sharks?” She snorted, then doubled forward as her stomach clenched in laughter. It was as if all the tension, the stress and build from the day, from the week, from many weeks of contention with her parents just came rolling out of her in waves. When she rolled back to lay flat, Rand’s shoulder was cushioning her head.

“This is nice.” She scooted closer. “It really is a great way to end this day.” The sound of the waves crashing in front of them, the moon lighting the air, the soft breeze and the warm sand made her much bolder than she otherwise would have been. She turned sideways and rested her hand on his chest. “Thank you. As ridiculous as it all sounds after the fact, I’m really glad you were here today.”

“Even if I didn’t let you stay and talk legal business with my clients?”

She was quiet for a long time, because now that he mentioned it, she was still salty about being asked to leave the room. “I just don’t think you can assume I would not have belonged in that space.”

“I think it’s safe to assume you did not. Are they your client?”

“If the client doesn’t care…”

“But he did care. It was the client who asked you to leave, if you recall.”

She sat up. “Because you advised him to.”

“As his attorney, that was my job.” He sat up also and their faces were much closer than she expected, but she didn’t back away.

“I get that. But your tone. Your whole.” She waved a hand over him. “Self. You turned into this clipped, sharp boss guy.” Her mouth twitched but she fought her smile.

“Boss guy?” He reached a hand out to catch her hair that was rising in the wind. “Do you like Boss guys?”

“Not usually.”

“But this boss guy?” He inched closer. He was glorious without a shirt in the moonlight. And everything about the evening was intoxicating.

“I like this boss guy.” She lifted her chin. His mouth was so close. “Except for a couple hours earlier.”

His smile grew. “And then you didn’t like him?”

“Not really, no.”

“And now you do?”

His breath tickled her lips, the softest puff left her yearning to close the gap, but she waited. “I guess we’ll see.”

His lips brushed hers in the smallest touch of friction. She closed her eyes, and then his mouth covered hers, his lips soft, with a hint of seawater teasing her senses. And heaven help her, she could not stay angry with this man. Angry was the farthest thing from her mind as all thought sort of melted into one. He pulled her bottom lip in between his teeth and then she lowered to the sand with him.

He cradled her head with one arm, his face above hers, their kiss growing in a slow intensity. Her fingers played across his shoulder.

And then the water rushed up and drenched their feet.

She called out, but he covered her mouth again, the water receding.

Rand kissed her a moment longer.

And then they stood. “Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.” Rand placed a hand behind Coral’s back and stepped further in toward shore as another wave inched closer.

“Tide must be coming in. I’m surprised.” Coral enjoyed Rand’s touch, but not his guiding insistence that they move away from the water. She stepped to the side so that there was more distance between them and then hurried up to where she’d left her dress.

They dressed side by side, not saying much. Her wet feet were now caked in sand but she slipped her dress back on carefully and then held out his shirt. “Not that I want you to put it back on…” Her smile was slow, purposeful. She wiggled his shirt out in front of him and then moved it just out of reach when he went to take it.

“What are you doing here, little lady? I thought we were getting dressed…or did you have other plans?” His eyebrow rose and wiggled just enough to make her laugh.

“I’m just messing with you. We’ve already done all my other plans might entail.” She held the shirt behind her which made him have to stand right in front of her. “I don’t usually make out with strangers on the beach.”

“But am I really a stranger? I think once you go through a national crises together, you skip right to…” He reached out behind her, his chest pressing up against her and grabbed his shirt.

“Right to what?” She dared him to name them, to label what they were.

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