Winning Her Over by Alexa Rowan Page B

don’t want you to get in trouble.”
    “It’s not a problem. My boss paid for that. As a thank-you for my work on the case.” His neck heated as he considered how pompous that must sound to her.
    But she simply said, “Ah,” as if one of the world’s great mysteries had been solved.
    Even though he knew he shouldn’t pry, something compelled him to ask anyway. “Ah, what?”
    “Oh.” She met his gaze. “Um, I was just thinking that would explain the size of the tip you gave me. Which I was going to thank you for, by the way, but now I guess I should be thanking your boss instead.”
    A mischievous smile curved her lips, and it threw him off-balance. He had no idea what kind of game she was playing here, but whatever it was, he was in favor of encouraging her flirtation.
    He allowed his voice to grow slightly husky. “You can still thank me, if you want to.”
    She responded in kind, looking up at him through the dark fringe of her lashes. “How would you like me to thank you?”
    He grinned. “Orally is fine,” he said matter-of-factly.
    “What?” She reared back in shock.
    “Someone’s got a dirty mind.” Shaking his head, he leaned toward her. His smile broadened. “I just meant that you could use words.”
    He only caught a glimpse of the color flooding her cheeks before she buried her face in her hands.
    “Oh, God.” She sounded endearingly, miserably muffled. “I think I need to go home now.”
    If the table had been smaller—and if he’d known her better—he would have cupped a reassuring hand under her jaw. But it wasn’t, and he didn’t, so he’d have to use words, too.
    “Hey,” he said. “No need for that. This has been fun.”
    In fact, this meal with Brenna contrasted starkly with the rest of his life, which had been nearly 100 percent devoid of anything other than work for quite some time. Then and there, Cal resolved to change that.
    After he made partner.
    “Haven’t you had a good time?” he asked.
    Her hands fell away and she looked up at him, still adorably pink-cheeked. “Up to the point when I died of mortification, yes.”
    “Look.” He held her gaze. “We can call it a night, if that’s what you want. But I’m happy to grab some coffee, or a drink, if you want to keep going.” And he’d go right along with her, as long and as far as she’d let him. Even though what he should be doing was getting back to work. The closing argument was pretty good, but he still wanted to practice it a few more times before tomorrow morning, on the off chance the plaintiffs rested their case a day earlier than expected.
    Cal was used to late nights and short sleep, though. There was no reason he couldn’t spend more time with Brenna tonight and practice the closing again in the morning. Because he wanted this. He wanted her . She was a vision, straight out of any man’s fantasies. But that wasn’t the entirety of it. There was something intriguing about her, or maybe about the two of them together, that kept needling him, urging him not to simply let these few brief hours fade into memory.
    She shook her head, regret turning her sensual mouth down at the corners. “I really wish I could, but I’ve got an early start tomorrow.”
    It was a disappointing response, but he of all people understood the demands of a strong work ethic. “Maybe some other time, then.” Though he couldn’t imagine when that other time might be. He knew he was hard up, but when had he gotten so greedy that a fantastic meal, some intriguing flirtation, and maybe a good-night kiss if he was lucky, weren’t enough?
    When he’d met Brenna, that’s when. God help him.
    He added a tip to the receipt and signed it. Then he helped her into her coat before shrugging on his own.
    As they exited the restaurant, he rested a hand at the small of her back, wishing New England’s spring weather were less capricious. Too many layers of fabric now kept him from sensing the play of Brenna’s muscles as she