The Lawyer (The Dalton Brothers 1)

Kendall

Me: Well, it’s official. I’m a cast member of Glitzy Girls. I’m holding the signed contract in my hands right now. Insert every excited and terrified emoji. Gah!

Charlize: Hell fucking yes, girlfriend! The world is going to eat you up. You’re going to be instafamous in seconds, just you wait. When do we celebrate? I’m ready to shake my sexy ass.

Me: Filming doesn’t start for two weeks, and I was fired from my prior job, so … yeah, any night works for me.

Charlize: That monster.

Me: It’s for the better. I keep telling myself that.

Charlize: You’re a far nicer person than me. Anyway, fuck her. I’m so happy for you. Like screaming-at-the-top-of-my-lungs kinda happy. Thursday night, I’m coming over and doing your glam, and then we’re going out. Drinks, food, more drinks—and no kidnapping by hottie lawyers.

Me: I saw the makeup you did on J. Lo last night for that awards show. The shots you posted on Instagram were stunning, Charlize. You’re so incredibly talented. I can’t believe you’re even willing to glam me up. From J. Lo to little ol’ me. Good Lord.

Charlize: Stop! You’ve got one hell of a canvas to work with, honey. We’re going to have so much fun. I’m off to a photo shoot. Kisses.

It was past seven in the evening when I walked into Dominick’s downtown office, the time he’d asked me to come in when I texted him this morning about this meeting. I hadn’t expected him to have any earlier openings—my research had told me he was the most sought-after entertainment lawyer in California.

When I reached the receptionist’s desk in the center of the fancy, large lobby, she greeted me with, “Hello, Miss Roy. Mr. Dalton is expecting you.” She pointed at the bank of elevators. “Top floor, last door on the right, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“I appreciate it.”

Remembering the journey Valerie and I had taken when we came here yesterday, I exited the elevator at the highest floor and walked down the hallway. As I reached the closed door at the end, I took a few deep breaths before I knocked. I didn’t know why, but Dominick still made me so breathless whenever I was around him.

“Come in,” he said from the other side of the wood the moment my fingers lowered to the handle.

Once I stepped in, I immediately felt his eyes on my body, the intensity of his stare making my insides tingle.

“What’s that?” He nodded toward the cooler hanging on my shoulder, the one I set on an empty chair, taking a seat beside it.

“It’s dinner.”

He continued to stare at me, reclining against the tall leather high-back, his arms crossing, looking so sexy in his dark gray suit and black tie, the start of a shadow appearing on his cheeks.

“And drinks.”

A smile came across his beautiful mouth. “How do you know I don’t already have dinner plans?”

The signed contract was underneath my arm, and I placed it on his desk. “I don’t, but I’m happy to eat alone in here if that’s the case.” I opened the cooler and took out two beers, twisting off the caps before I handed him one. “Homemade burritos, guacamole, and salsa. The only thing I didn’t cook were the chips.” I chewed the corner of my lip before I added, “Tempted, or are you going to pass?”

He clinked his beer against mine and took a sip. “You’re extremely persuasive, Miss Roy.”

I laughed as I reached inside the cooler again, removing the two dips and the large bag of chips along with the foil-wrapped burritos, setting it all up between us.

He opened the top of the foil, the tortilla almost at his mouth. “Thank you for doing this.”

“No bother. I love to cook.”

He took a bite, his expression telling me he was savoring it. “Damn it, Kendall. I had no idea what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t this.” He looked at the burrito as though he’d never seen one before. “This is excellent.” He dipped a chip into the guac. “Mmm, this is too.” He swallowed, washing it down with beer. “You really made this?”

“My talents extend beyond art … and my mouth. Don’t look so surprised.”

He chuckled. “You’re quick. I like that about you.”

“I’m trying to win you over with something other than my pussy.”

His stare deepened, a more serious look now crossing his cheeks. “Is that so?” He stilled, the moments ticking away. “Tell me, what is it that you’re looking for?” He pulled out a napkin from his drawer, handing me one as well, and used his to wipe his mouth.

I swallowed the bite I’d taken. “More.”

“And that is?”

There was no reason to hold it in. I was positive he could see the words before I even said them. If I wanted this to move forward, I obviously needed to be the one to take the first step because I still didn’t know if he’d ever planned to call me, and I feared what his answer would be.

“I like the way I feel when I’m with you, Dominick. I like waking up in your bed. I like how I can go from smiling my hardest to dripping wet. So, time, overnights, a commitment—that would be more.”

“A relationship.”