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We both linger for a moment, and I shuffle my weight from one high-heeled foot to the other as I struggle for something more to say. Which only serves to make me chide myself for even feeling the need to find more to say in the first place.

“Big plans this weekend?”

I want to suck the words back in as soon as they leave my mouth. Could Ibeany more desperate? I don’t know what the last week has done to me, but it’s making me more and more disgusted with myself.

“My father is hosting a charity gala at his house,” Ezra says with a flat tone.

“Ah. That sounds…fun.”

“It sounds excruciating,” he grumbles.

I find myself curious again as to what the story might be with the Hart men. The more clues left intermittently in conversation with Ezra, the more I suspect there are other pieces to the story than just a legal dynasty.

“At least the food will be good,” I offer. I try for teasing. “I doubt there will be anything as good as my stepmother’s party punch though.”

Ezra laughs quietly. “I sincerely doubt it.”

I can tell the moment his thoughts shift to the same place mine do, my cheeks heating as his eyes grow warm, no doubt remembering the last party we attended. If I’m being honest, I haven’tstoppedthinking about that party since I left it.

“You know…” He trails off, looking unsure. It’s not something I’m used to seeing on him. “You could always crash it.”

I bark out a laugh. “What?”

“You know.” He shrugs. “Pay me back for crashingyourfamily’s party.”

“Who said I wanted to pay you back?”

“Don’t you always?”

Damn it. He has me there. It’s very rare that I allow him to keep the upper hand if I can help it. Still.

“Something tells meyourfamily’s party won’t be nearly as entertaining as mine,” I chuckle.

His smile falters a bit, his gaze heavier. “No,” he says quietly. “Definitely not. But…it could be. If you came, that is.”

My pulse quickens at his thoughtful expression, and I have to swallow around the growing lump in my throat. “I swear to all that’s holy, if you make an innuendo right now—”

“I would never,” he insists, breaking out into an actual smile. It loosens something in my chest.

I consider for a moment, wondering what it would imply if I were to go like he’s asking. There have been so many lines blurring between us lately…half the time I don’t know which way is up. That alone tells me it’s probably not a good idea.

“I don’t know…” I frown at my feet. “I might be busy.”

Ezra says nothing while I stare at my shoes like a coward, and when I finally chance a glance back up at him, I notice his expression is teeming with disappointment.

“Right,” he says. “Well. If you change your mind…I’ll make sure you’re on the list.”

We’re standing still again, space between us that feels wide and yet too close, and I struggle for words, any words, that might cut the tension. But they never come.

“Anyway,” Ezra says finally, beating me to the punch. “I have a meeting. I’ll text you the details, yeah?”

“I didn’t say I would come,” I argue feebly.

Ezra’s grin is warm and bright, and I feel it lighting up partsof me that have long been in the shadows, leaving me feeling exposed. “I’m learning that it’s the things youdon’tsay that I should be paying attention to, Dani. That’s usually where your real feelings are.”

My mouth gapes at his back as he casually turns to walk away, and I can’t help but feel that for all the ground I gained in the courtroom today, I just lost a much larger battle outside of it.

The strangest part is how little I seem to mind.