really a fighter. I have strong reasons for not giving in to this stupid lawsuit, and I’m confident Kristen will come around.”
“What are they?”
“Oh, no. I’m not giving you any fuel to add to your settle-out-of-court delusions.
He chuckled. “They’re not delusions. If it’s any consolation, my sister understands you, because she’s stubborn, too, like my mother.
“Well, then it’s a good thing your mother isn’t here to see this. She would scold you, too.”
For a moment he didn’t speak, and the tenseness in his shoulders and his mouth made her realize she had unwittingly stepped on a land mine.
“My mother’s dead.”
She reached out because she simply couldn’t do anything else. Her voice was calm and even. “I’m so sorry.”
He attempted a smile, but it didn’t light his eyes. He reached out and touched her arm. “It’s all right, Brooke. It’s been a long time.”
“Doesn’t make it any easier. I can see that.”
“No. It doesn’t. My father died, too, in the same car accident. Drunk driver.”
Even though this man was considered an enemy, Brooke’s heart didn’t seem to know the difference. It melted and opened up because it was incapable of any other response to someone’s sorrow. “You raised your sister, then?”
He held her in silent regard for a long moment. He seemed quite relaxed, but then he shoved his hands in his pockets, proving there was more tension in him than he was showing. “I was eighteen. She was twelve.”
“That must have been so hard.” He nodded and looked away. Oh, damn, the tough-as-nails lawyer or the silver-tongued devil she could have resisted, but this vulnerable man touched her to her soul.
“I guess we’re getting a little off topic here. Could we go somewhere to get a bite to eat, or later once you’re free?”
“I-I-I’m never free,” she said caught off guard by the offer. She was stuttering. She didn’t stutter—at least, not anymore. Something subtle had changed between them, but she still suspected his agenda hadn’t changed.
“I’d prefer to keep our relationship purely professional.”
“Okay,” he said, a little too easily.
Perverse creature that she was, she wished he’d at least been a bit more put out by her immediate refusal.
“Does that mean we can’t have a bite to eat? It’s just a mutual agreement to eat together?” he went, on making her feel exceedingly better, a double warning sign which she carelessly ignored.
She shouldn’t…couldn’t want him pursuing her. Really, she must not allow it. On any level. No matter how good it made her feel. She couldn’t risk enjoying even something as simple as having her ego stroked. Much less any other part of her. She tried like mad not to look at his mouth again.
He grinned a little. “I just thought, hey, you’re a maid of honor in a wedding and I’m giving the bride away. I know absolutely nothing about weddings. As a woman, and an organized one it seems, you would know. I’m sure you’re planning everything down to the minutest of details.”
Oh, he was clever. Her first inclination was to jump in and help him. Would that be…bad? It would be very bad, she assured herself, if this was calculated, if he was using this opportunity and her nature against her. She just couldn’t be sure. He looked sincere, and she liked to give people the benefit of the doubt. She chuckled. “Planning a wedding is all about the details. I’ll give you that little tip for nothing.”
“My sister means everything to me. I’m sure you thought I was this ruthless jerk.” He laughed a little and shook his head. “Never mind. Don’t answer that.”
He caught her gaze and held it. The combination of that compelling intensity in his eyes and the laughter was downright lethal. Her skin tingled, her heart beat faster, and there were butterflies dancing in her belly.
“Or you can tell me exactly what you think of me over dinner.”
She’d never wanted to accept
“What are they?”
“Oh, no. I’m not giving you any fuel to add to your settle-out-of-court delusions.
He chuckled. “They’re not delusions. If it’s any consolation, my sister understands you, because she’s stubborn, too, like my mother.
“Well, then it’s a good thing your mother isn’t here to see this. She would scold you, too.”
For a moment he didn’t speak, and the tenseness in his shoulders and his mouth made her realize she had unwittingly stepped on a land mine.
“My mother’s dead.”
She reached out because she simply couldn’t do anything else. Her voice was calm and even. “I’m so sorry.”
He attempted a smile, but it didn’t light his eyes. He reached out and touched her arm. “It’s all right, Brooke. It’s been a long time.”
“Doesn’t make it any easier. I can see that.”
“No. It doesn’t. My father died, too, in the same car accident. Drunk driver.”
Even though this man was considered an enemy, Brooke’s heart didn’t seem to know the difference. It melted and opened up because it was incapable of any other response to someone’s sorrow. “You raised your sister, then?”
He held her in silent regard for a long moment. He seemed quite relaxed, but then he shoved his hands in his pockets, proving there was more tension in him than he was showing. “I was eighteen. She was twelve.”
“That must have been so hard.” He nodded and looked away. Oh, damn, the tough-as-nails lawyer or the silver-tongued devil she could have resisted, but this vulnerable man touched her to her soul.
“I guess we’re getting a little off topic here. Could we go somewhere to get a bite to eat, or later once you’re free?”
“I-I-I’m never free,” she said caught off guard by the offer. She was stuttering. She didn’t stutter—at least, not anymore. Something subtle had changed between them, but she still suspected his agenda hadn’t changed.
“I’d prefer to keep our relationship purely professional.”
“Okay,” he said, a little too easily.
Perverse creature that she was, she wished he’d at least been a bit more put out by her immediate refusal.
“Does that mean we can’t have a bite to eat? It’s just a mutual agreement to eat together?” he went, on making her feel exceedingly better, a double warning sign which she carelessly ignored.
She shouldn’t…couldn’t want him pursuing her. Really, she must not allow it. On any level. No matter how good it made her feel. She couldn’t risk enjoying even something as simple as having her ego stroked. Much less any other part of her. She tried like mad not to look at his mouth again.
He grinned a little. “I just thought, hey, you’re a maid of honor in a wedding and I’m giving the bride away. I know absolutely nothing about weddings. As a woman, and an organized one it seems, you would know. I’m sure you’re planning everything down to the minutest of details.”
Oh, he was clever. Her first inclination was to jump in and help him. Would that be…bad? It would be very bad, she assured herself, if this was calculated, if he was using this opportunity and her nature against her. She just couldn’t be sure. He looked sincere, and she liked to give people the benefit of the doubt. She chuckled. “Planning a wedding is all about the details. I’ll give you that little tip for nothing.”
“My sister means everything to me. I’m sure you thought I was this ruthless jerk.” He laughed a little and shook his head. “Never mind. Don’t answer that.”
He caught her gaze and held it. The combination of that compelling intensity in his eyes and the laughter was downright lethal. Her skin tingled, her heart beat faster, and there were butterflies dancing in her belly.
“Or you can tell me exactly what you think of me over dinner.”
She’d never wanted to accept
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