Page 10 of Ridin' True

“Oh.”

I wasn’t sure, but that sort of sounded like a compliment.

I didn’t dwell on it.

I needed to get us on track, fast.

“Well, I’ll be your attorney, not your date,” I replied light-heartedly.

“And ain’t that a cryin’ shame, cause I know one thing for damn sure—those lips were meant for kissin’.”

Wow.

My mouth opened in the shape of anohas I gaped at him.

That wasdefinitelya compliment. Or, if not a compliment, a line I might have fallen for if we were anywhere other than my office.

The crazy thing was, it was the second time in less than ten minutes a man had hit on me from the other side of my desk. In each instance, it was totally unprofessional. But, in this case, I found I didn’t mind.

“You leave your mouth open like that, I’ll consider it an invitation.”

I sealed my lips closed immediately, and realized the pressure I felt against my chest was actually me trying not to laugh.

I didn’t know what was wrong with me, but I needed to bring myself back down to earth. Wildly attractive or not, I had a job to do.

I cleared my throat and managed to say, “I’m flattered, Mr. Barker, but—”

“Wrangler or Jed. Never Mr. Barker,” he interrupted.

My gaze found the patch with option one sewn onto the front of his vest. I was sure there was significance to that name, but I wished to remain as professional as possible.

“Okay,” I conceded, clasping my hands together. “Well, Jed, what you were told is true. I handle custody cases quite a bit, and I’m very good at what I do. I imagine you’re here because your kids mean something to you. Now, while there are other attorneys who can help you at Williams, Pritchard, and Pratt, I think your best bet is to stick with me. If your ex takes offense to the way I look, well…I’ll make sure I’m armed with enough ammunition on your behalf to counter anything she throws our way.”

I nodded when I was finished, quite pleased with myself for getting us back on track.

He stared at me for a little while longer and then replied, “Know this, gorgeous—only reason I’m not walkin’ out of here demandin’ another lawyer is because I love my kids more than life itself. Learned a long time ago I’m better off not thinkin’ with my dick. If you’re tellin’ me we’re doin’ this, I’ll just have to ask you out after we put this issue to bed.”

For a second, I let myself feel the sensation of weightlessness that accompanied his words. He called megorgeous, and it felt like something out of a dream. It wasn’t merely that it was a nice thing to say—it was that I’d never had a man who looked like him think that of me. It felt good, and I let myself have that for just a moment before I considered everything else he said.

I respected his priorities and appreciated how he wanted my brain more than he wanted my body. So, I was going to give him my best. I didn’t know his story, but I hoped it was a good one, and I looked forward to hearing it.

I pulled out my chair and motioned to the one across from me.

“Mr. Ba—I mean, Jed—why don’t you have a seat, and we’ll get started. I’m Alexia, by the way. I don’t think I introduced myself.”

Wrangler

Therewasnodoubtin his mind, he was going to taste those lips.

He wasn’t blind to her reaction to him, and it heightened his temptation.

She signaled for him to sit, but he needed just another second to let his dick calm down. He was damn near forty years old, and one look at her had his appendage confused about in which decade he’d been born.

Gorgeouswas putting it mildly.

Her shiny, brunette hair hung in beach waves down to her waist.

Her olive skin was flawless, and her eyes were amber and stunning.