Page 18 of Legal Attraction

“Thanks for the heads up. Looks like I need to get started then.” She scanned the front page and then stood and made her way out of the room. Maybe the others didn’t read it? Or maybe hers said something different, but the instructions were clear. She stepped down the hall, turned the corner and was on her way to the corner office. The front page specifically said to skip the rest of the paperwork and go directly to see Connor Smithson in his office. But out of the corner of her eye, a specific movement, one she would recognize anywhere, caught her attention. She stopped in her tracks. Someone ran into her from behind.

Trey laughed. “Hey, thanks for actually reading the cover page.”

She half laughed but hardly heard, her attention glued to the man in the office to her right.

Rand stared back, a packet of papers open in his hand, unheeded. His face was expressionless. And Coral could only guess what she looked like.

Trey called, “Hey, you coming? I don’t want to beat you there. It was your idea, after all.”

“Oh, yeah, thanks.” She looked back again at Rand whose mouth was now in a firm flat line. He hadn’t moved but he watched her until she had rounded the corner.

“Do you know Rand McCarthy?”

Ah, his last name. She recognized it more than his first name. He had been the top graduate at Harvard law years ago and had become famous for an article he’d written about Intellectual property in foreign markets. “Um, not really, no.” She shook her head. She knew nothing about this man, nothing except the feel of his skin under her fingers and his mouth caressing hers. She felt her face heat. That would not do. She needed to shut down all intimate thoughts about Rand right then.Mr. McCarthy. It was much easier to think of him as Mr. McCarthy. Not the man who had rescued her from terrorists, who had escaped sharks and had lain with her on the sand. No, he was definitely Mr. McCarthy.

“You okay?” Trey looked amused. “I’ve heard Mr. McCarthy has an effect on women.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

But Coral frowned so immediately at him that he frowned back. “So right. Super inappropriate. But that frown is better than the blushing. So maybe thank me?” He nodded and then picked up his pace.

“You racing me?”

“Of course I am.”

She stretched her stride as long as it would go and then walked as quickly as she could. The two entered the office at the same time.

“And we have a tie.” Connor Smithson clapped his hands. “Well done Ms. Anastas and Mr. Cruthers.”

Coral smiled. “Call me Coral.”

“And me Trey. She is the one who actually read the front page. I’m just here because I was smart enough to pay attention.”

“Both great qualities. And you get access to our high-profile client. I think we will give this first one to Coral.” He handed her a particularly thin file. “And this one to Trey.” The file he hefted into Trey’s hands was about five times larger.

“Thank you, I think.”

“Oh, you’ll thank me. Just remember to invite Coral to the court side seats now and then.”

“What?” He flipped open the front page. “Nice!” His grin was wider than before if possible.

Coral laughed. “What, is it like the Rockets or something?”

He turned to her, his face alight. “Better. The actual arena.”

“Wow, that’s awesome.” She nodded and then took a peek at hers. All information was X’d out. She looked at Mr. Smithson for clarity. “Are you kidding? Is this for real?”

“It is. But your client is a bit particular about his identity. It’s on a need to know basis.”

She could understand that level of privacy so she just nodded.

“We knew you would understand.”

Trey looked more curious than anything, but he didn’t say more.

“You can both go get moved into your offices and wait for the phone to ring.”

“Excellent.” Trey reached for the door to hold open for Coral. As they were both exiting, Jaden and Mel rushed toward them.

Mr. Smithson clapped. “Well done. Come on in. You two will also be assigned high profile clients for following our instructions exactly.” He winked at Coral.

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