“Of course. Many of our current clients require those services already, as evidenced by your meeting with Robert today. We could expand on that. Have you lead it. You wouldn’t have to fight tooth and nail to make partner.”
He was beginning to lay it on thick. “I’ll consider it,” I stated as I stood. “I have a phone meeting I have to get back for.”
“No problem.” He braced his hands on the arms of his chair to stand. “We’ll be here, awaiting your decision. No rush.”
“Okay,” I answered, feeling uneasy. I wasn’t expecting this at all. I knew Jason wanted me to join, but I never foresaw my father calling me in his office with the proposal.
“Oh, one more thing,” I paused, turning back to my father. “Would there be an issue with me practicing under the name Richards?”
He blinked. “You…you’d still want to practice under your mother’s maiden name?”
“I’ve established a reputation under this name. All of my licenses are under the name Richards. It would be a huge hassle to change that now.”
His mouth worked, opening and closing before he spoke. “If that’s what you wish.” His hands moved to button his tailored suit jacket. His voice had taken on a professional, polite yet distant tone.
I strode toward the door. As much as a part of me wanted to believe this was my father coming around, there was the adult me that knew people my father’s age didn’t change. For a second, I wondered if he’d had some ulterior motive. History had taught me not to get too attached where my father was concerned.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chanel
“Come with me to D.C.” His deep timbre sent chills up my spine as his warm breath passed over the damp skin of my naked back. I was lying on my stomach, cheek pressed against the pillow, facing him. His big body was stretched out, leg strewn over mine as the fingers of his left hand made small circles at the small of my back.
We’d gotten to his place not too long ago from a night out at another event hosted by a longtime friend of his. Another one of Xavier’s restaurants had catered the event that was held at theMuseum of Fine Arts. It was an event filled with much schmoozing and discussions of the various exhibits. The best part of the night, however, had been coming back, and Xavier barely shutting the door before he damn near ripped my dress off me. Presently, we were lying in bed in our afterglow.
“D.C?” I questioned.
“Yeah, I have to be there next Thursday through Sunday. A joint venture that’s now opening. There’ll be a lot of D.C. elites there. You’ll probably run into some old law school classmates.”
I groaned. “Uhh, that’s a reason for menotto attend.”
His deep chuckle warmed my core. “It wasn’t that bad there,was it?”
I give a half-smile. “No, I’m just teasing.”
“Then you’ll come.”
The movement on my back ceased as he awaited my answer, and right then I’d have agreed to almost anything to get him to keep touching me like that.
I nodded the affirmative. “Yeah, I’ll go. Someone’s gotta make you look good. Ouch!” I yelped when that little joke earned me a smack on the ass. Despite my protest of pain, the sensations transformed from a sting to a warm vibrating feeling that had me growing wet between my legs.
“Mmmmm,” I moaned as that magical hand eased its way down between my legs, spreading them and massaging my labia from behind. My breathing increased as I stared up into his dark eyes. A smirk played on his lips, also making his dimple appear.
“You get so wet for me.” His voice was even deeper than it had been just a minute before. That shit turned me on.
“But, I’m betting you can get even wetter,” he teased, moving behind me. He climbed on top of me as I continued to lie on my stomach. He held me in place with a strong hand in the middle of my back. His large body came in between my legs from behind, spreading them wider.
He removed the pillow that rested under my head and maneuvered my hips so that he could put it under them. Then, grabbing both my hands, he pushed my arms so they stretched above my head. I turned my face into the mattress when he pushed into me. Within seconds, all thoughts were lost as I could only focus on the pleasure he was giving me for the second time that night.
****
Xavier
“My father asked me to join his firm,” she informed me, still staring at the clouds outside her window. We were on our flight to D.C. for a long weekend, and although it was a working getaway for me, having her with me felt a little less like work.
“And?” I prodded.
“I don’t know. I told him I’d think about it.”
