Page 80 of His Temptation

I sighed and nuzzled his neck before peering up at him. The blue sky above him set off his eyes, and as the breeze continued to blow, bringing with it the scent of the river and the smell of cedar and pine, I stood in that moment with him, unmoving and lost in his sapphire eyes. As if time itself froze.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Emery asked, his lids a little heavy as he glanced at my mouth and back up again.

“Just memorizing your face,” I answered, stepping away from him. “Because if we go in those woods and a serial killer comes after us, I’m leaving you in the dust.”

He laughed and started walking toward the trail. I stared at his retreating form before jogging to catch up to him. My heart was still in my throat, but I played it off cool.

The real reason I’d stared at him—of why I couldn’t look away—scared me. So, I had made a joke instead of saying the truth… that, somehow, during the month and a half we’d been in each other’s lives… I had fallen for him completely.

Chapter 18

Emery

“The appeal was denied for Ritter,” Becca told me first thing Monday morning.

I paused, the coffee in my hand inches from my mouth. It took all my willpower not to look happy by the news. I worked my ass off on every case, and Jeff Ritter’s appeal—had it been approved—would’ve been no exception. But it was a relief to be done with it. At least for the time being.

I took a drink and set the cup down.

“Wow,” Becca said. “You look like I just gave you the weather report.”

“He can file again in a different court,” I reminded her. “It’s not over yet.”

“Let’s pray it is. That guy gives me the creeps.” She came over and placed a stack of papers in the tray on my desk. “Just need your approval on those and I can send them out.”

“You’re on top of it this morning,” I said, draining the rest of my coffee. God, I was exhausted. A certain eighteen-year-old had kept me up until one a.m. pounding my ass.

“Just motivated to kick today’s butt,” Becca answered, slapping her bicep. “I’ve started a new workout routine, and I have so much more energy in the mornings.”

“Well, while you’re kicking butt, can you also get me more coffee?” I asked, sliding my cup toward her. “Please?”

“Oh, look at you.” She furrowed her brow and snatched the cup off the desk. “Giving me those big blue eyes that you know I can’t resist. You should be ashamed.”

“Thanks, Bec,” I said, as she headed for the door.

She mumbled and disappeared down the hall.

I looked over my schedule for the day. An appointment with a client at ten, another at one thirty, and court at three. The business was great, but I tended to overwork myself a lot by taking on too many clients at once. Poor Becca dealt with the brunt of it, since she had to take care of most of the paperwork and answer the phone when all of them called asking for updates on their cases.

I’d need to treat her and her future husband to something really nice for their wedding next month.

Becca walked in with my coffee, along with a box of donuts, and set both on my desk.

I groaned as I looked at the sweets. “You’re killing me here. My metabolism isn’t what it used to be.”

“One donut won’t hurt you, Emery.” She took one from the box and placed it on a napkin. “There. I’m removing most of the temptation.”

“Thanks,” I said dryly. When she left my office, I took a sip of my coffee before concentrating on the computer document. After a minute, I gave in and ate the chocolate donut. Good thing she took the rest with her, otherwise I wouldn’t have had any self-control and probably would’ve eaten the whole damn box.

My phone rang an hour into my work, and I checked the name before answering.

“Foley?”

“Hey, Cross,” Jay said, his smooth voice sounding like sex incarnate. “Got a minute?”

We hadn’t spoken since the night we argued about Cason. No texts or anything. I had wanted to give him space to wrap his head around it, and when a week had passed with no word from him, I had assumed he was done with me.

“I have an appointment at ten,” I said, glancing at the clock and seeing it was twenty past nine. “But I can talk for a bit.”