Page 50 of Legal

“Okay.”

He took a step closer, and I took a step back. “Just a wild guess here, but I don’t think you made the drive over to come and talk about Cassie.”

“No, of course not.” I had to collect my thoughts, get my shit together. His jaw was freshly shaven, smooth skin that wouldn’t make my lips raw. Although, raw was nice too.

“Jillian?”

“Right.” I opened the bag, flashing him the purple box. “This is why I’m here. To give this back.”

He smiled. “I have enough purple boxes. I don’t need it back. You can keep it.”

“You know very well I’m talking about the dress.”

“I don’t want that either. It’s not my size.”

Argh. “Can you please be serious, Chase?” I had a whole bunch of ground work I’d planned to lay out—I went over it the entire way there—but now I couldn’t remember any of it.

“Do you think I can’t be serious when I need to be, Jillian?” He lightly skimmed my face with his fingertip, and I flinched. It was unexpected, and it sizzled.

I stepped back again. We were playing a game of cat and mouse. “I can’t accept the dress. Please, just take it.” I thrust the bag toward him.

He looked down without grabbing it, then back up at me. “But the sauce was acceptable?” I nodded. “Why is that?”

“Because….”

“Because it’s practical?”

“Exactly.”

“Don’t you like the dress?”

“The issue’s not whether I like it.” I felt like he was playing with me, watching me squirm a little before he pounced. “Yes, I like it. Enough that I wanted to buy it.” I paused, another question mark forming. “Wait, how did you know I wanted it?”

He touched his lips, and I licked mine without meaning to. “After the show, I saw you holding it up against you, large smile on your face. I recognized you from the audience and… and I won’t repeat the thoughts that were going through my mind at that time.” He leaned over and whispered, “Not here.”

The burn from his initial touch was spreading like wildfire. “And then you met me on the rooftop.”With your green, green eyes flecked with gold.My pussy clenched.

“And then I met you on the rooftop.”

The door swung open, and I jumped back, my heart jackhammering my ribs. Caught with my mouth on the cookie jar, shoveling in every last buttery crumb.

“Er, Mr. Nolan? I believe it’s been more than a few minutes.”

“Are the kids still eating their snack?” She nodded. “Then I’d appreciate if you could sit with them just a few minutes more. I’m wrapping it up.”

Chase shut the door when she left it ajar. I took a deep breath. Cassie was the distraction I’d needed. “So, you went back there and bought me the dress right after we…?” That actually sounded a little stalkerish.

He leaned against the wall. “No, I bought it later. I know the shop; it’s near my house. I was going to tell you about it, but the plans changed when you needed something to wear. I decided to pick up the dress myself.”

“Okay, well, I appreciate the gesture”—I tried handing over the bag again, but he paid no attention—“but we don’t have that kind of… arrangement. It’s not appropriate for you to buy me things like this.”

“Would it make you feel better to pay me back?”

Oh. I hadn’t thought of that option. “Yes, it would actually.” I swiveled my purse in front of me and unzipped it. I could keep the dress and my principles. Win-win.

He rested his hand on mine. “Not with money, Jillian. By letting me take you to dinner. Saturday. Seven o’clock.”

God, we were back to this? “What is it about you and dinner?”

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