Page 46 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

“No, but my father cast a large shadow in the law field. My brother did too. I’m kind of the also-ran lawyer, although I got lucky early on and handled some very high-profile divorces that meant I’d be basically set for life. Assuming I control my Laffy Taffy addiction.”

I choked out a laugh, sure he was teasing me. “Your what?”

“Laffy Taffy. Specifically grape but watermelon will do in a pinch.” He slipped his hand into his pocket and came out with a few small purple strips and a green strip. “Dealer’s choice.”

I grabbed a purple one and unwrapped the candy, taking a bite and laughing a little when it got caught in my teeth.

He dug into the green one and then produced more from his other pocket. “These are for Berry. I was hoping she’d be here.”

“On a date?”

“Well, not on the actual date, but hey, why not? It’s not like we’re doing anything but eating and glad-handing and maybe some dancing. Right?”

“You are not at all what I thought you’d be.” I managed to swallow my taffy and immediately went back for another bite. It probably wasn’t the best choice when my throat was still tight with nerves, although they were fading with every passing moment.

“I’m not at all what my father expected me to be either. Hey, you know, I appreciate the invite to this shindig, especially since you’ll be the most beautiful chick in the room in that dress. Or out of it. I mean, the dress isn’t what makes you beautiful, Sherbet.” He popped more taffy in his mouth, and I smiled around my own piece. “But you seemed nervous enough to jump out of your skin when TJ opened your front door, so I’m thinking you probably aren’t relishing seeing pompous dickhead. Assuming he might be there. So…we don’t have to.”

“No? I’m supposed to put in an appearance to raise Designing Women’s social profile in the community. We want to show how committed we are to social causes.”

“A check does that just as well. Or you could volunteer with me.”

“You volunteer?” I didn’t say no. Because I had no desire to go to this stupid gala thing. Not even just because pompous dickhead—err, David—was probably going to be there, but I didn’t relish socializing with a bunch of wealthy people I didn’t know.

I had no problem selling an image via a home. In fact, I adored ferreting out and maximizing a home’s potential. But I didn’t want to be the showpiece.

I preferred being in the background, thank you very much.

Exactly why I never should have assumed I could even fake the role of a judge’s wife competently. I was much more comfortable working with my team and poring over swatch books and design magazines.

“Sure. At least an afternoon or two a month at Kitten Around, the cat rescue that specifically helps critical kittens. Clint helps out there too, and my brother. They encouraged me to spend some hours there, and then I liked it so much I added another day every month.” His expression was entirely too earnest. “But you could come with me. You’d get the same effect and then you’d get TJ off your back. Or, better yet, send her to the gala next time.”

“Apparently, she and Dahlia have already been doing all the social heavy lifting for Designing Women. But she really wanted me to go out with you tonight.”

He broke off another piece of taffy, slipping it to me. “She’s just worried about you.”

“How did you get that out of her?”

TJ wasn’t exactly an open book, especially with people she wasn’t close to. She was almost as suspicious as I was, and that was saying a lot.

“A divorce attorney is half lawyer, half psychologist. We have to be comfortable reading people to know what levers to turn to get our clients what they want.”

“And you’re good at that, obviously.” Unthinkingly, I reached over to still his jumpy knee with my hand, yanking it back as if I’d touched a burning-hot stove.

“I am. But I like getting to know people. Who they really are, under the mask.” He glanced at the hand I’d balled in my lap. “You can keep on touching me. I didn’t mind.”

“Just your leg…you’re never still. I didn’t mean to do that. Just habit. I do it with Berry sometimes too, my way of easing her.” I shoved more taffy in my mouth, and he slipped me another wrapped piece from his pocket without a word.

I wondered if they were magic pockets. Their depths seemed endless.

I was pondering that very complicated question when I chanced a glance at his face and realized his multicolored bowtie was actually Spiderman-themed. I couldn’t help the giggle that spilled out.

He reached out, whip-fast, and cupped my chin. “No, don’t stop. That sound. I want more of it.”

I blinked at him, trying not to stiffen up. His fingers against my skin were so firm and so gentle at the same time. I shifted toward him, helpless to resist the pull of his force field. His cologne was smoky, woodsy, a campfire at dusk, drawing me closer to the flame.

We might as well have been surrounded by the woods. And I was safe in the dark green flickering depths of his eyes.

His lips touched mine, tasting of grape. Sweet. Not the least bit intimidating. I leaned in for more, taking a tentative lick at the seam of his lips, waiting to be invited in.

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