Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“Good.” I press my lips to her palm. “Are you hungry?”
“I’m famished,” she admits, with her eyes widening. “Do you have any food here?”
I nod. “I’ll whip us up something.”
“I’ll watch.”
I move to stand, but the feeling of her tugging on my hand keeps me in place. I face her again. “Are you okay?”
“I’m really good,” she whispers. “Maybe one night next week, you can put on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and come to my place for dinner.”
I huff out a laugh. “I’ll be there wearing whatever the fuck you want.”
“I love the buttoned-up businessman look on you.” Her fingers skim over the collar of the shirt she’s wearing. “I also love the casual look.”
I stare into her eyes. “You’re going to lose it when you see the cooking-in-my-boxer-briefs look I’m about to show you.”
“I can’t wait.” Her fingers thread through the hair on the back of my head before she takes my mouth in a lush, deep kiss.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Abby
Hours ago, I was sitting on a stool next to the island in Declan’s kitchen, watching him cook while I was wearing nothing but panties and a blue button-down shirt.
Now, I’m sitting across from him in his office while he wears that same shirt beneath his gray suit. I smile when I realize that he hasn’t shaved yet today.
Helena clears her throat from where she’s sitting next to me. “We couldn’t have predicted this bump in the road, Declan.”
That’s an understatement.
After Declan and I feasted on the Belgian waffles he made, we went back to bed.
I woke up at the crack of dawn to a text message on my phone from Marg telling me that she had taken my advice and retired.
I assumed she meant that she was taking that step after the Llura deal was finalized, but when I texted her back, she told me that she was done as of yesterday and her firm would be reaching out to Helena and me with the name of her replacement once they worked that out.
To me, that means starting the deal negotiations from square one again. Helena is more optimistic than I am. She views it as a positive sign since she thinks whoever they assign the deal to won’t have the same level of experience as Marg.
“You’ll handle it,” Declan directs that at me. “I trust you to get the deal I want, Abigail.”
“She will,” Helena fires back with a grin. “I’ve seen her in action, Declan. She’s a force to be reckoned with.”
Declan doesn’t say a word, but the look in his eyes tells me that he agrees with my mentor.
Regardless of who is now representing Llura, I have no choice but to own the negotiations on this deal. I have a lot to prove, to Declan, and, more importantly, myself.
“Stay a moment, Abigail,” Declan says as Helena and I get ready to leave his office.
“Of course,” I respond before turning my attention to Helena. “I’ll meet you in a few.”
“Let’s have lunch together,” she suggests. “They make this amazing seafood salad at this spot in Tribeca. I’ll call a car for us. Is thirty minutes enough time, Declan?”
Declan glances at her. “She’s all yours in twenty.”
Helena smiles. “Perfect.”
Although Declan doesn’t request it, she softly closes the door on her way out. I doubt she knows that we’re sleeping together, but if he keeps asking to see me in private, she’s bound to put two and two together.
Declan rounds his desk until he’s standing in front of me. “You look worried. Is it the new lawyer?”
I shake my head. “It’s us.”
The expression on his face settles into concern. “Us?”
“Yes,” I answer quickly.
His hand reaches out to my wrist. His fingers play with the sleeve of my red blouse. “Explain.”
I glance down at where his finger is now circling a small spot of my skin near my thumb. His touch does things to me, even in the middle of the day in his office. I fight off the urge to grab his hand in mine for comfort.
“I want to make partner one day,” I say, even though I’ve never uttered those words aloud to another soul. “I know it’s a family firm, but Mr. Thorsen does have partners that aren’t part of his family.”
“He does.” Declan nods. “I have every confidence that you will make partner.”
“Even if Rook finds out about us?”
His chin lifts. “You’re concerned that Rook would have an issue with us sleeping together?”
I shrug both shoulders. “I don’t know, but this isn’t exactly professional, Declan. I represent you.”
“You’re doing a damn fine job of that.” He cracks a brilliant smile. “I don’t see a conflict of interest here, Abigail. I see two consenting adults who have done a fantastic job separating business and pleasure.”
That might be the case for him, but I’m starting to feel things for him that reach beyond the bedroom.