Page 31 of Legal Attraction

“And I didn’t want to start something with a woman I knew I would fall for who lived so far away. And was a princess.”

Did he say he knew he would fall for her? “Well, I’m still a princess.”

“You are, aren’t you? That added to the complications last week.”

“And now?”

“Well, now you’re a princess who lives here in my same town and works at my same job…And if I haven’t had a chance to make this perfectly clear, I am very happy about that.”

“I’m happy about it too except when I’m not.”

“But can we just decide to be happy about it tonight?”

She started to nod and then finished it. “Yes, we need something to be happy about.”

They finished up their hot food and then Rand carefully opened up a carton of ice cream. “And now, for the best part of this meal.” He lifted a spoon and scooped out some creamy soft nutty swirls.

“Mmm. I could get into that.”

“I hope you will. Here, try this bite.” He held out a spoonful of ice cream and watched while her lips encircled it and brought it into her mouth. Suddenly the temperature in the room rose. “I think I need another one of those.”

He dipped the spoon in and held out another bite. “I’ll give you as many as you like as long as I can do it like this.” His eyebrow wiggled just a little, just the one, and she decided it was his most charming feature. She scooted closer and opened her mouth. This time he followed the spoon with his own mouth, resting his lips over hers for the briefest moments and then licking his. “Mm. That is good. I’m going to get me a bite.” He filled his spoon again and Coral unashamedly watched him lick it clean.

They finished a pint of ice cream that way and by the time they were done, Coral needed about a gallon of water to cool her thoughts. She smiled to herself. No incoming tide to interrupt them now. Probably best not to start. Making out with your boss on your couch on your first day was not on her list of stellar resume builders. She sat forward and ran her palms down the front of her pants. “Should we talk about all this?”

He tugged at her arm. “Yes.” She was cradled in his arms, looking up into his face before she even knew what was happening. “But I’m not going to be able to think about anything else until I do this properly.” He lowered her face to hers, his lips hovering over hers. “Would that be alright?”

She nodded and then lifted her face to meet his. When his soft mouth caressed hers once, again, softly, tenderly teasing her, all the feelings from the beach came flowing back with a rush of current she was not prepared to handle. Her fingers dug into his arms, and she responded with urgency.

He shifted their position and deepened the kiss, cradling her with his arms and showering her with so many sensations at once all she could do was hold on. Until he slowed their pace and kissed her once more on her lower lip, holding it a moment longer before lifting his face from hers. “Wow.”

“Yeah, really.” She smiled. “I better not think about that when we’re at work.”

He moaned. “Please. Let’s not talk about work right now.”

“Right. Sorry. Kind of on my mind though.”

He sat up, tugged her hand into his and then nodded. “Too true. Okay. Let’s talk about it all.”

Coral needed to make a decision. How much should she trust Rand? And it was very difficult to think clearly about trust after being kissed like she had and being rescued by the man. But she cleared her head. “My team don’t think the two events are related.”

“Would they change their minds if they knew my bag was stolen at the airport?”

“Your luggage?”

“No, my briefcase, with a full docket of files regarding one of our manufacturing clients.”

“And you feel like it was pointed.”

“Absolutely.”

“Hm. Did the intruder try to steal any files from the office?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so? I’m being kept out of the loop on some of this and it’s very frustrating.”

“Why do you think that is? Why you? The guy with military experience.”

“I don’t know. What are you saying?”

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