“Frick.” She glanced at him. “Don’t even think of saying, ‘I told you so,’ or I’m putting on my Broadway music. I have a Gershwin CD just waiting for me to hit play.”
He just laughed and held his hands up as more snow started falling. He hoped Kate had something warmer than that light jacket with her this weekend, because he knew something she didn’t. He could be really persistent when he wanted to be, and it was going to be his mission to get Kate out of her comfort zone—and her room—and trying something new. Something that he would have to admit had been in short supply in his own life these past few years.
Having fun.
…
“Can you believe all this snow?” Jody from the bankruptcy department was saying to Kate and two other associates. Since they’d arrived over an hour ago, the snow hadn’t let up, and from the looks of the storm still raging outside, it wasn’t going to stop anytime soon.
Kate just nodded and agreed along with everyone else. She wasn’t very good at this small talk stuff and she couldn’t help but wonder what everyone would have to talk about if it wasn’t snowing.
She looked over at the bar where Dominic was placing their order, something in hindsight they should have done straight off. She could really use that drink.
From the corner of her eyes she kept an eye on the steady flow of attorneys streaming into the lounge. No sign of Tim. Which meant she had to stick around a little longer, until she could say hello and introduce him to her living, breathing, genuine boyfriend. Hopefully before they ran into Michael and Nicole.
Drinks in hand, Dominic turned from the bar and headed in her direction. Making her excuses to the group, she met him halfway. She took the glass of wine he offered and sipped. “Let’s grab a seat over by the windows.”
It was hard not to notice all the interested glances that kept coming their way as they crossed the room. Well, Dominic’s way. Not that she could really blame them. He certainly knew how to clean up when he wanted to. In dark jeans and a long-sleeved black polo that clung to his well-defined chest and nicely muscled arms, he looked casual but still sexy as sin. Throwing in his sculpted jawline and trademark crooked smile, he had the women from her firm bumping into walls to get another look.
Almost to their destination, she spotted Tim and two other partners seated in an alcove across from the seat where she and Dominic were heading. They must have been there the entire time.
Seeing their arrival, Tim came to his feet. “Kate. Good to see you made it before the storm hit. Jon and Martin here also just made it, but it looks like a couple of other senior partners might not get in until morning.” He shook his head in disgust. “Californians. They see a snowflake and they’re ready to call in the National Guard. You must be Kate’s boyfriend,” he said.
“Tim, this is Dominic Sorensen. Dominic, Tim’s the head of the labor and employment division at Strauss,” Kate continued as the two men shook hands and nodded. “And my boss.”
“Nice to meet you, Dominic. I’m afraid Kate’s been a little mum when it comes to her personal life. What line of work are you in?”
“Design and drafting. My family owns Sorensen Construction. We’re a small commercial construction company that works primarily in the Salt Lake Valley. Although we’ve recently been expanding statewide.”
“Sorensen Construction, huh? What are some of your current projects? Maybe I’ve seen them.”
“We recently completed some office space down at the Draper Parkway, and we’re negotiating for a contract with Eastman Motors.”
“Impressive. But knowing Kate, I wouldn’t have expected anyone less than impressive. She certainly has a solid head on her shoulders. Which reminds me,” he said and turned his laser-sharp focus on her, “Mark McKenna called earlier today, sounding a little…anxious, about the upcoming depositions. I told him he was in good hands, but when you get a chance, you may want to just give him a call. He needs a bit of hand-holding.”
She managed not to roll her eyes and instead assured Tim she’d take care of it.
“So what do you two have planned for the weekend? Hope you’re going to get out and have a little fun,” Tim added.
“I’m thinking that with all this powder, I might convince Kate to hit the slopes after lunch,” Dominic said.
She was about to tell him he was seriously deluded if he thought he was getting her out in that snow, let alone on skis, when he wrapped his arm around her waist. Making it almost impossible for Kate to breathe. Or think about anything other than the warmth of his arm. Of the pressure of his hand on her hip. His long expanse of muscled body pressed against her side. She managed to hide the shiver that shook through her, not of cold but of liquid heat.
“The snow will be spectacular,” Tim continued, seemingly unaware of Kate’s precarious state. “I’m afraid with my back, skiing is something I do at my own risk, but you two are young and healthy. You should get out there. Well, I don’t want to keep you guys. It was good to finally meet you, Dominic.”
“You, too, sir.”
Dominic pulled her along beside him, not yet relinquishing his hold on her, and she managed to keep her feet underneath her. “Nicely done,” she managed to say. “But I think you can let go of me now. You made your point.”
“Are you sure about that? Because while Tim was grilling me on my family’s business, you missed Michael’s entrance. He certainly didn’t miss you, however. I’d lay bets he’s watching you even now.”
She nearly stopped in her tracks but other than the slightest stumble, she managed to keep stride with him. “Really?”
“Really. So I thought we’d take this opportunity to show him and that fiancée of his that you have no interest in him anymore. How could you, when you have such a sexy, virile Latino glued to your side?”
She crooked a brow up. “Virile? Did you actually just say that?”
“What do you want to do? Go over and say hello to the happy little couple?” He came to a stop in front of the hors d’oeuvres table. Setting his glass down, he finally dropped his hand from her waist and grabbed a plate. “Or do we pile our plates with food and go upstairs and see if there’s anything good on HBO?”