Page 34 of Legal Attraction

She snuggled closer into him. “It’s still early but I can’t think about cases and files. Do you care if I put on a mindless movie?”

“That sounds perfect.” He put his arm around her and rested his head on hers. Within about thirty seconds, she was breathing heavily and asleep.

ChapterFourteen

Rand would have been fine at his place, but he was concerned about the car situation and was relieved to have Coral’s security sweep it for bugs in the morning so he agreed to stay. Not to mention the fact that he could hardly resist a chance to spend more time with Coral. She had captured his attention in ways no other woman had in a long time.

But when he arrived at work right behind her car the next morning, he recognized how complicated things could get for them both at work, their lives being at risk was a totally separate issue.

He parked in his usual spot right near the door. She parked further away in her spot. And the other associates were arriving. So he made his way inside without another glance in her direction.

If she weren’t there, he might have greeted them all. He was going to have to find a way to treat her no better or worse than a typical associate. While trying not to think about how good her lips taste while eating ice cream. He groaned and then shut those thoughts down immediately.

Gladys was back at her desk. “Hello. I hope you’re feeling well?” Rand leaned over the counter to greet her.

“I am, thank you. They have extra safety measures for me now.” She seemed cheerful, even robotic, like they’d told her what to say. He stopped himself. That was unfounded. He had to stop infusing everything with evil intentions.

“Excellent. Hopefully things will go back to normal around here and we won’t have to even think about it again.”

An odd something flickered across her expression but she pasted on a wide Southern Mama grin and nodded. “Oh, I’m sure they will be just fine now. We’ve got nothing more to worry about. Or so they keep telling me.”

“I’m sure you’re right. Now, thank you for collecting my messages for me. That’s a real help.”

“I’m happy to do it. Here’s your good morning calls. Not sure why you get so many first thing in the morning.”

It was because Rand always finished off a day, creating more work for the next. He liked to arrive with the day’s docket half planned and the clients moving in their desks. “Just what I’m hoping to see. Thank you again.”

His phone dinged. Mr. Goldstein wanted him to run the associate orientation meeting that morning. He closed his eyes for about three seconds and then responded by text with a thumbs up.

A firm wide memo went out moments later for all new associates to meet in the smaller conference room in thirty minutes.

The last thing he had time for or wanted to do that morning was run this meeting. But he grabbed the thumb drive with the slides they used for this meeting and made his way into the conference room.

The associates had started to make their way down the hall. They talked with one another. They seemed like a good group. The only one he hadn’t met yet was Trey Cruthers. He seemed cheerful enough. His scores and resume were exemplary. He was arguably the very best associate graduate of that year. And Rand was inclined to like him simply because he’d put on his resume that he was a night shift janitor through all of his undergraduate schooling. But then he stepped closer to Coral and she laughed in his face and the two looked cozy enough that Rand was immediately inclined to hate him.

He clenched his jaw a few times and then attempted to enter the room with something of a professional demeanor.

They had two more associates than they usually hired in a year. Rand had been told that they had an influx of work that merited the hires. And he viewed that as a good sign. A healthy firm needed more associates in his mind.

He stood at the door to shake their hands as they entered. Mel came first and she hugged him which he stiffly received, but then tried to shake Jaden’s hand which turned into an awkward hug with their hands in between. He gave up at that point and reached for Trey who had his hand firmly outstretched but then pounded his shoulder in a bro hug. Which left Coral. She stepped in for the hug and melted into him like she belonged right there with her face on his chest. And then she stepped away as though his whole life had not just flashed before his eyes and suddenly needed her for his happiness. He coughed. “Well, we’re a cozy bunch, aren’t we?”

Coral smirked. And he had to think all of the most annoying things he could find to not smile in return. “Welcome to your associate orientation.”

They took a seat at one end of the table, and he turned on the slide show. “Before we run through the slides, I thought it would be healthy to ask how is everyone doing?”

Trey lifted his coffee. “Great now. That was the craziest thing that will probably ever happen to me, right? Good to get it done on the first day.”

Rand laughed until he saw Coral smile beaming approval at Trey. Then he frowned. “Let’s hope it’s the worst thing to ever happen to any of us, and let’s face it, it could have been much worse.”

That sobered everything up. No more smiles at Coral. Good. “You all handled things in a professional, helpful manner. I know that everyone much appreciated your cooperation.”

Mel nodded. “When you sent us back into the bathroom, I thought for sure some man was going to come barging in your office.”

“And you left? You walked down the hall?” Jaden’s tone was part accusatory.

“I did, which no one but a trained professional should ever do.”

“Are you a trained professional?” Trey eyed him with a new found fear or respect or something Rand couldn’t define.

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