Page 11 of When You Give a Lawyer a Kiss

I put my hand over my heart in a dramatic fashion. “I’m wounded.”

“Something tells me your ego can afford the hit,” she retorts.

I swallow hard. “Rest assured, I’m asking you to work with me in a strictly professional capacity.”

Although it’s the truth, I’m silently cursing the non-fraternization policy. Why is it that the only woman I’ve been interested in sleeping with in ages is the one I can’t have?

“Is your objection working directly with me?” I ask.

She nods. “I was hired as Rob’s paralegal. The gossip would spread if you transferred me after only a week on the job, and I’d rather avoid that. I want to earn my place here on my own merit, not because I have an in with the boss.”

I roll my eyes at the mention of Rob. That clown thinks he’s untouchable because he’s Maxwell’s nephew, but he’s just as expendable as the rest of our employees. If it weren’t for me, this place would have gone under when Maxwell was exposed for embezzling client funds. Thanks to my ability to think on my feet—and my talent for spinning stories—the company’s reputation remained unscathed, and I became a managing partner.

“Rob will be fine without you,” I say, waving off her concern.

He’s a junior partner with a limited portfolio and isn’t assigned high-profile cases requiring extra resources. I’m not sure why HR approved his request for a paralegal in the first place.

“As for the gossip, no one will question my decision, trust me.” I might not be able to squash every piece of gossip, but I’ll damn well do my best if it means she’ll agree.

Reese straightens her shoulders and lifts her chin to meet my gaze. “Mr. Tate, I appreciate the offer but respectfully decline.”

I move closer, our feet nearly touching, but she doesn’t flinch. “And what if I don’t accept your answer?”

She draws in a deep breath. “Then you’ll be sorely disappointed because I’m not changing my mind.”

“We’ll see about that,” I say, a faint smirk playing at the corners of my mouth.

She exhales sharply through her nose and narrows her eyes, clearly not amused. I’ve never had an employee dare question my authority until now.

She stands her ground, her steady and unyielding gaze fixed squarely on me. Anyone else would scramble to make a quick exit, but not Reese. There’s something oddly compelling about her determination to challenge me, and I find myself mesmerized by her boldness.

When a stray lock of hair falls across her face, I tuck it behind her ear. She shivers at my touch, and goosebumps scatter across her arms. The charged energy between us thickens as her eyes wander to my lips. Her breathing quickens as she tilts her head toward me.

The memory of her legs clinging to my waist, her fingers tangled in my hair as she drew me closer, and the feel of her soft lips pressed against mine has me suppressing a low groan. My hands twitch at my sides, itching to grip the nape of her neck and draw her in.

Reese looks like she’s battling a similar storm of emotions, her lips slightly parted as if on the verge of surrender.

The sound of voices in the hallway snaps out of my trance, and I take several steps back. What just happened between us isn’t acceptable workplace conduct, and as much as I wish otherwise, it can’t happen again.

In an attempt to get a handle on the situation, I clear my throat before rounding my desk to my office chair.

“You’re dismissed,” I tell Reese.

I catch a fleeting glimpse of her dejected expression before it vanishes.

“Yes, sir,” she says with a hint of sarcasm before slipping out the door.

I massage my temples, struggling to push Reese out of my mind. To quiet the thought that makes me want to chase after her—to hear her voice again.

Against my better judgment, I’ve made up my mind: I want her on my team. I can’t stand the idea of her working at my firm and not seeing her every day. I’ll just have to think outside the box to make it work, and I’m more than ready for the challenge.

Heat blooms in my belly as I think back to my interaction with Dawson yesterday. I could hardly concentrate on anything other than the spark of his touch. His hand caressing my cheek felt so right, my body completely ignoring the fact that he’s my boss. It was like it was acting on its own, overriding the professional lines we were crossing.

I recall how close he was, how his breath warmed my skin and his lips set in a hard line. His eyes flickered with a mix of desire and restraint as if battling the urge to close the remaining distance or walk away.

Dawson offered me a way out of working with Rob, but I couldn’t accept it. I was hired for a specific role and want to avoid any appearance of favoritism. This job is my primary income and supports my current expenses while I also save for law school, and I can’t jeopardize that.

Not to mention if I worked closely with Dawson every day, I would be too tempted to overstep boundaries I might not be able to reverse. I’d like to think I’d be able to keep things professional, but based on my reaction yesterday, it’s best not to play with fire.

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