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I shake my head. “My friend Alice thinks I’ve lost my mind,” I tell him. “For considering something other than Big Law, for not taking advantage of HLR, for turning my nose up at an opportunity some people would kill for, and so on and so on.”

Evan smirks. “Ah, but you’re not some people. You’re Sophie fucking Sutton. And something tells me it wouldn’t make you happy to build your career protecting the rich and powerful.”

I swirl my spoon through my dessert, returning his smirk.

“Not when I could be fighting them instead.”

His eyes glint with interest. “Yeah?”

“Yes.” I shrug, but my pulse quickens. “I mean, I don’t know. There’s this litigation firm in Manhattan, they’re very new, very controversial. It’s run by two women who are only taking the hardest cases.” I wave a hand. “You know, wrongful terminations, whistleblowers, NDA battles, defending the kinds of women the system’s designed to keep silent.” I glance at him. “Everyone in my class thinks I’d be committing career suicide.”

Evan tilts his head. “Those women sound like they’re ready to fight the whole world.”

I let out a light laugh. “And everyone in it.”

He studies me, expression unreadable. But when he finally speaks, his voice is a curious mix of awe and amusement.

“The perfect choice for you, then.”

For a moment, I stare at him in complete silence, unexpectedly moved—not because he thinks I’m special, but because he understands why I’d choose something like this. Because Evan sees the exact nature of the war I want to fight and still doesn’t try to talk me out of it.

Setting my glass down, I catch his face in both hands, pulling him down to me, the glossy black of my nail polish perfectly complementing his tanned skin.

“Evan Knight,” I tell him. “You’re a very good date, you know.”

“I know. You should’ve dated me earlier.”

I tut, frowning up. “Don’t make me regret giving you a compliment, now.”

“Need you a bit riled up, don’t I?” he says. His hands wrap around my waist, the skin of his palms burning into me as he slides his fingers under the hem of my top—and no further. “How else will I get you to come back to my hotel with me?”

“You could try beingnice.”

“I can be nice,” he murmurs, pulling me closer, and I can almost taste the hazelnut and amaretto and whisky on his breath. “I could be a very good boy for you, Miss Sutton, if that’s what you’d like.” Evan and I are kissing without me even realising who started the kiss. His mouth moves warmly against mine, only the lightest teasing touch of tongue before he pulls away. “But I don’t think you’d like that at all, actually.”

“I think maybe I would.”

He laughs, pulling away to raise a hand, wordlessly calling for the check.

“Maybe?” he says.

“Mm.” I pull open my purse and pull out my lip gloss to apply a fresh coat. “You’ll have to convince me.”

“Consider yourself convinced.”

“You’rethatconfident?”

“Trust me, Sutton, with the things I’m going to do to you tonight, I’m confident.”

“So arrogant, for a first date.”

He shrugs. “I’ll be more humble on the next one.”

“The next one?”

“Next Friday, New York. I’ll fly you in, and you can stay the night at my apartment.” He leans forward to kiss my cheek. “Ifyou’rea good girl forme, I’ll get you fresh coffee and pastries in the morning.”

I roll my eyes. “You’d get me those even if I was a naughty girl.”