Feeling disappointed and more parent than the child, Declan had headed to his mother’s to take her to dinner. She’d barely touched her food, upset his father hadn’t called, and then she’d started crying. By the time Declan had taken her home, called her best friend to stay with her, and given her some over-the-counter sleeping pills, he’d been on edge.
The crazy thing was, Zoe felt like the solution to how he was feeling. For a loner who didn’t get close to women, this one had fast become important to him. Meeting Zoe, and seeing his parents as they were, had made him realize that alone wasn’t always so wonderful. He’d hated the way he and Zoe had parted at lunch. In fact, he couldn’t get it off his mind. She’d been upset and he couldn’t help but wonder if she needed him the way he did her right now. He wanted her to open up and talk to him. To explain what was going on in that pretty little head of hers.
So here he was, wanting to see her. No. Needing to see her.
He glanced down a moment and then felt a rush of heat. Zoe. He felt her eyes on him. Damn. He felt her presence. What the hell was happening to him? His gaze lifted and he found her walking toward him, her expression sultry. Not surprised. Every inch of his body screamed for her. With awareness and warmth. Even his heart beat faster.
Never before had he responded in such a way to a woman. He watched her approach, anticipating her touch. Her soft scent. Her lips. The black dress she wore was short enough to display long, lean legs. The silky fabric hugged her curves displaying the sway of her curvy hips with tantalizing results.
When she stopped before him, he reached for her, pulling her close and brushing his mouth across hers. Heat swirled in the air charged with the electricity of their connection. Her body lightly touching his made him yearn for more. It would be easy to forget the shuffle of people around them. To devour her with his mouth and pull her tight against his hips.
“Surprise,” he said, feeling the way she fit perfectly in his arms with a wave of possessiveness.
Her hand went to his jaw. “Not an unpleasant one.”
His fingers trailed her wrist and slowly moved up her arm. “I wasn’t so sure. You left lunch a little abruptly.”
She wet her lips, tempting him with a quick flash of her tongue. Her lashes fluttered and lifted. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“Why?” he asked, studying her.
“It’s…hard to explain.” She started to pull her hand away.
He gently shackled her wrist. “Try,” he said in a gentle voice.
She swallowed. “Later.”
“Hmmm. Zoe?”
Declan and Zoe both turned toward the female voice. He’d barely noticed the woman who’d been walking beside Zoe.
“Oh God, Lucy,” Zoe said, trying to step away from Declan. For some reason, he really didn’t like that idea. He took her hand. She glanced at him, a slight frown on her face, but she didn’t try to escape. A feeling of accomplishment hit Declan. Holding hands
in public meant they were having more than sex. This was becoming a relationship. And at that moment, he realized, with certainty, it’s what he wanted.
“This is Declan Price,” Zoe said to her friend.
“Hi, Lucy.” Declan smiled and noted the twinkle in the brunette’s green eyes. She wasn’t upset about being forgotten at all. In fact, he had the distinct impression that she approved of his presence.
Lucy gave him a nod. “Nice to meet you.”
“She’s my closest friend,” Zoe said, glancing at him.
“Declan,” Lucy said. “Zoe and I are supposed to meet my husband for drinks at Serendipity. He has a table reserved. Want to join us?”
To see Zoe in a casual setting, relaxing and being herself sounded perfect to him, but he looked at her for approval.
Zoe bit her bottom lip and seemed to consider a moment. “Can you join us?”
* * * * *
Sitting beside Zoe in Serendipity, Declan found himself enjoying the casual conversation. He liked both Logan and Lucy. Both were businesspeople like himself. Why Zoe didn’t see them in the way she did him he didn’t know. They were of the corporate world and all the “dog eat dog” that went with it.
“So, Declan,” Logan said, “you’ve handled some pretty high-profile cases. Must be tough to defend some of the people you do. But I’m sure people ask you about that all the time. Maybe I shouldn’t.”
Declan shrugged. “I try to defend people who deserve defending. There are times when I choose wrong or when I somehow land in the middle of a case I never wanted. In those situations, you do what you are required to do but no more.”
“Does it bother you?” Lucy said. “Knowing a murderer went free because you defended him?”