“Because I’m eating with Owen and he asked me to bring you.”
“Oh.”
I grab her coat out of the closet and hand it to her as she walks toward me. I’m sure she thought I was going to put it on her. Find some way to get my hands on her. But I don’t. And I can see her pout over it. I chuckle as I open the office door and head down the hall.
We eat lunch at a small café a block away from the law office. Lunch is normal. Owen doesn’t see the glances Grace throws me, and I pretend she isn’t even there.
Until dessert.
“I think I am going to have some dessert today,” I tell the waitress as she grabs our empty plates.
“Of course. Want to know the specials?”
I shake my head. “No, I think I’ll just have strawberries and whipped cream. Something light.”
“You got it.” She turns toward Owen and Grace. “Would you like anything?”
Grace’s face is turning pink and I smirk at her.
“I’ll just have a double espresso,” Owen orders. The waitress nods and walks away. “Dessert for you?” he asks me.
I shrug. “Was just craving something sweet today. And strawberries and cream is one of my favorite flavors.”
“Better watch your waistline,” Owen jokes. “Might need to add in an extra workout this week.”
“I’m sure I can find time to add in some calorie burning.”
Grace’s knee hits the table as she adjusts her legs under the table.
“You okay?” Owen asks her.
“Fine.” Her voice comes out high pitched.
Owen looks at her strangely but then goes back to talking about the case he is working on.
The waitress brings me my strawberries and Owen sips his espresso as his phone rings. “Shit, gotta take this. I’ll see you two back at the office.”
I wave him off and Grace punches me in the arm.
“What the hell, Carson!” she hisses.
“What?” I ask like I have no idea what she is talking about.
“In front of Owen?”
I grab a strawberry and dip it in the whipped cream. “I don’t know what you are talking about. We were having a pleasant conversation.”
She points at the strawberry in my hand. “Strawberries and cream? Your favorite flavor?”
“He would have to be a genius to figure out I was talking about your pussy.”
Her cheeks flame at my choice of words just as I swirl my tongue around the strawberry, licking the whipped cream off then taking a bite of the juicy fruit. “Mmm. Delicious.” I pick another up and offer it to her. “Want some?”
She turns her head away from me and sits impatiently as I enjoy my dessert.
When we make it back to the office, Grace is livid. I can feel the tension rolling off her body. It may have had to do with the way I ate those strawberries or the fact she thinks her brother knew what I was referring to. But he has no idea that I love the taste of her.
She spends the rest of the day ignoring me, and I know she is thinking of a way to retaliate.