Unable to Resist by Cassie Graham Page A

rolls her eyes. “Yes, Andrea Lowell, age: twenty one; home: Portland, Oregon; weight: 105; birthday; October twentieth, nineteen ninety.”
    Liv nods and high fives Mia.
    “Yep, you got it. Plus, if we need to, Ann and I can distract whoever we need to in order to get you in.”
    I snort. “Riiight, you mean you’ll distract while I watch.”
    “Whatever. Same thing,” Liv says.
    Later that night, the bouncer took one look at Mia and let her right in. No questions.
    Granted, Liv and I had played up Mia’s strengths. She may be short, but she has legs for days. Add in smokey eyes, a short black dress, nude heels, and BAM, you got one hot woman.
    Men are so easy.
    Mia’s green eyes sparkle again with anticipation of hearing my recent happenings and I hug her again.
    She’s grown into her womanly looks now and is flat out gorgeous. Teenager no more.
    “I’m okay. I just met with the lawyer. It brought up a lot of emotions,” I admit truthfully, though keeping her in the dark a bit. They were emotions I didn’t know I still had until I met Duane.
    Shake it off, woman.
    Mia’s eyes roam over my face, and she nods. “You know I’m here for you.”
    “I know, and thank you. Maybe a girl’s night tonight? Just movies in the loft?” I ask.
    It’s Saturday night, and we usually go out, but I’m not really up for it.
    Mia instantly perks up. “Sounds great. I’ll bring the junk food.”
    “Okay, yay! I’m going to go talk to Liv really quick, then I’ll come back and help you out here.”
    “Don’t rush,” she starts, “I know Liv has been worried about you all morning. Take your time. I’ve got it out here.”
    She is such a great friend. I thank her again and turn in search for Liv.
    “Hey, Annie,” Mia calls.
    “Yeah?” I turn around to face her.
    “I have a feeling things are going to change. Everything will be okay. Have some confidence.”
    She always tells me to have confidence. Maybe I should start listening to her. I smile and nod.
    Liv is still loading pastries when I walk into the kitchen.
    “Damn, woman, are we completely out?” I ask.
    Liv huffs and brushes her short hair out of her eyes. The long hair she had when we first met is gone. Her dramatic, short bob makes her already intense beauty that much more powerful.
    “Yeah, we had a crazy rush this morning. Thank goodness we baked our asses off yesterday.”
    I turn to look at the glass counter out in the shop. Sure enough, it’s empty.
    “Well, we can make more tonight before we head up. We are going to have a movie night with Mia, is that cool?”
    “Sure, sounds fun. After last night, I don’t feel much like going out.” Liv adjusts the cupcakes on her tray.
    “You doing okay? How’s the hangover?” I ask with a grin.
    She gives the cupcakes a murderous glare. “I’m not going to be eating cupcakes any time soon, but I’m fine. How did your meeting go?”
    “Well, you aren’t going to believe what I’m about to tell you.” I lean on the island.
    Her eyebrows shoot up as she trades a full tray for an empty one on the table. “What? What happened?”
    I can’t help but laugh. Only my life would be so crazy that a guy I’ve been thinking about non-stop after a chance meeting in a bar would be my damn lawyer.
    “It’s him. Duane from last night. He’s my friggin lawyer,” I blurt.
    Her eyes go wide. She drops the empty tray and it clangs loudly on the ground.
    I snort at her reaction. “No shit. My thoughts exactly.”
    “Oops,” she says and quickly picks up the tray to put it in the sink. “Holy shit, Ann. How is that possible?”
    I shrug. “It’s not like I got his whole back story in the five minutes I talked to him in the parking lot.”
    I make it sound simple, like I’m over it, but I’m not. I’m pissed at myself for getting excited about a man, and I’m sad. How is it that I finally meet a guy I’m interested in, the first one in years, and he’s unobtainable?
    I’m not worthy of his