The Lawyer (The Dalton Brothers 1)

Kendall

Icouldn’t remember the last time I had been so tipsy and had this much fun when I didn’t have a to-do list five pages long in my hand, each item running nonstop loops through my brain. But as I shook my ass in the center of the dance floor—Charlize getting his groove on beside me, Dominick dancing in front of me—my mind was focused on only one thing.

My lawyer.

Charlize had found himself a hottie to boogie with, and Jenner was at a different table, talking to some women, leaving Dominick and me alone. Therefore, there was only one thing to do, and that was dance.

The DJ was spinning beats that were blasting through the speakers, the bass banging through each of my muscles. Whenever I twirled, causing my stare to break from Dominick’s, I missed his eyes. I yearned for their intensity, for the heat of his palms that landed on a new part of me every time I faced him again.

There was something so deliciously enticing about that man.

The attraction had nothing to do with the skinny margaritas or the shots I’d taken. It was the look in his eyes that had me craving more of him, the feel of our bodies grinding together, like we were sticks starting a flame.

But he was my attorney.

And I was paying him a massive wage to negotiate a contract on my behalf. One that, twenty-four hours ago, would have seemed as possible as a rocket hitting me from outer space. The trajectory of my life was changing, and every time I tried to thank him, my words seemed too small. Far too simple. Not nearly heavy enough to express my gratitude, but that appreciation was all I had.

That was, unless I used my mouth in a different way, kissing him like I had last night.

Is that even appropriate?

I didn’t know, so I just kept dancing.

Teasing.

Feeling his body pressed to mine, both of us moving to the rhythm of each song.

When my ass ground into the front of him, his grip moved to my stomach, pushing me harder against him. When I bent forward, his hands rose along my sides, stopping just below my breasts. And when I finally faced him again, his scorching gaze was on my nipples.

He made the air in the room turn thick, now impossibly difficult to take a deep breath.

Especially when he growled, “You’re so fucking hot.”

I wasn’t just igniting a blaze between us; I was playing with fire.

I felt that in my chest.

I saw it in his eyes.

“That fucking ass …” he hissed in my neck. “Keep rubbing it against me, Kendall, and you’re going to get my cock inside it.”

Oh God.

I shuddered as my hands landed on his chest. I knew how defined it was—I remembered from last night. But the hardness of his muscles, the etching around his pecs, still made the tingles erupt.

He had a body unlike anything I’d ever felt before.

When it was covered in a suit, the first few inches of his stark white shirt unbuttoned to show the whisper of hairs on his chest, the scent of lust and spice flirting with my nose, he was completely irresistible.

To the point where I was overheating.

I needed air to calm myself down.

“Be right back,” I told him, and I hurried toward the front and out the door, slipping into the alley between the buildings.

I leaned against the brick exterior, surveying my surroundings since this was a place I’d never been to before. Several people were gathered along the sidewalk, waiting in line to be let in, their conversations a dull murmur.

But here, I was alone, the cool evening hitting my skin, hoping that it would let me focus on something other than Dominick.

To help with that, I took out my phone. There were messages from Daisy that I hadn’t read, ones that had come in since I’d last checked. She was getting angrier because I hadn’t responded, my attempt at letting her settle only antagonizing her more.

I had to reply and somehow make this better. To let her know I wasn’t abandoning her, that at the very least, I would always be here to manage her social media.

I just didn’t know what to say.

I pulled up her schedule, seeing what time she was free tomorrow, and then I began to type.

Me: I’m not ignoring you. I was trying to let you cool off. You know I can’t stand arguing, and that’s all it would have led to if I’d replied. I’m sorry. I want to talk about this, so how about I swing by tomorrow at two?

Daisy: Oh, the queen finally speaks. Negative seconds of fame, and you’ve already turned into a diva. So, that’s the time that works best for you? I’m glad I can accommodate your busy schedule.

Me: Actually, based on what you have going on tomorrow, that’s the time that works best for you. See you then.

Daisy: You’d better come ready to work. I have a growing list of things that you need to take care of since you completely bailed on me today.

My fingers hovered over the screen, tempting a reply. But I wouldn’t win this, so it wasn’t even worth the effort. Some people had the ability to see all angles. My sister wasn’t one even if I pleaded with her.

“Tell me you didn’t come out here because of Daisy?” I heard from the mouth of the alley, causing me to look up, instantly meeting Dominick’s eyes. “I know that’s who you’re texting. The same expression comes over your face every time her name is mentioned.”

I put my phone away, taking a long, deep breath. “She’s not the reason.”

“Then, what is?”

I swallowed, lifting my shoulders off the wall to push my whole back against it. “I just needed a minute.”

As he made his way over to me, his stare traveled to my chest, lowering again before gradually moving higher. “From me?” He stopped a few inches away. “From how badly you were turning me on?”

I couldn’t think when I was around him.

I couldn’t speak.

I couldn’t do anything aside from feel how aroused I was.

“Do you know how fucking hard you made me on that dance floor?”

“I felt that … yes.” My exhale came out as a moan. “I didn’t mean to.”

His laugh sounded more like a roar. “You knew exactly what you were doing to me.” He lifted his arm, his hand now pressed above my head.

“Dominick …” I tried to inhale and couldn’t. “You’re my lawyer.”

Is that even relevant?