Declan rounds his desk until he’s standing in front of me. “You look worried. Is it the new lawyer?”
I shake my head. “It’s us.”
The expression on his face settles into concern. “Us?”
“Yes,” I answer quickly.
His hand reaches out to my wrist. His fingers play with the sleeve of my red blouse. “Explain.”
I glance down at where his finger is now circling a small spot of my skin near my thumb. His touch does things to me, even in the middle of the day in his office. I fight off the urge to grab his hand in mine for comfort.
“I want to make partner one day,” I say, even though I’ve never uttered those words aloud to another soul. “I know it’s a family firm, but Mr. Thorsen does have partners that aren’t part of his family.”
“He does.” Declan nods. “I have every confidence that you will make partner.”
“Even if Rook finds out about us?”
His chin lifts. “You’re concerned that Rook would have an issue with us sleeping together?”
I shrug both shoulders. “I don’t know, but this isn’t exactly professional, Declan. I represent you.”
“You’re doing a damn fine job of that.” He cracks a brilliant smile. “I don’t see a conflict of interest here, Abigail. I see two consenting adults who have done a fantastic job separating business and pleasure.”
That might be the case for him, but I’m starting to feel things for him that reach beyond the bedroom.
“I’d offer to speak to Rook about this, but I sense that you prefer to handle matters like this on your own.”
I can’t help but smile at that. Knowing he recognizes my need to control my career means a lot to me. “You’re right. I can handle it.”
“You’re going to have this deal in the bag in the next few days,” he says with confidence. “It’s your choice if or when you tell Rook about us.”
“Thank you.”
He moves close enough that he can rest both hands on my hips. His gaze trails over my black pencil skirt before it settles on my face again. “Rook is an understanding bastard. I’ve known him a long time, and he gets that sometimes things happen between clients and their attorneys. He can be an asshole, but he does have a heart. You’d be surprised by who he is when he’s not at work.”
“Are you about to drop some hot gossip about my boss?”
His head falls back in laughter. “He told me he’s signing up for tap dancing lessons.”
My mouth falls open. “You’re joking. You have to be joking.”
His hand jumps up so he can trace a path over my bottom lip with his index finger. “I’m not, but don’t spread the news around. If you play your cards right, I’ll invite you to be my date to his first recital if he makes it that far.”
The thought of that makes me laugh. “It’s hard to imagine Mr. Thorsen tap dancing, or dancing at all.”
His grin flashes. “There’s a lot you don’t know about your boss, but that’s the only secret I’m revealing today.”
I lean forward to press my lips to his for a soft kiss. “I need to go. My lunch date awaits.”
He pulls back to look me in the eyes. “Can you fit me in for dinner?”
“Another night?” I ask because I need to stop by Mrs. Collymore’s on my way home after work.
“Another night it is.” His fingertips glide over my chin. “Let me know about any progress you make with Llura’s new attorney.”
“I will, sir.”
That earns me a smile. “You are going to make partner one day. You know that, right?”