“That’squiteanoutrageousoffer, Counselor.” Jaime flushed lightly, flicking her index finger against the stem of her glass.
Olivia wanted to see more, no, she wanted tocausemore such reactions in Jaime. “But not without merit?”
Jaime smiled and regarded Olivia with an inscrutable expression, her eyes dark, twin pools Olivia wanted to drown in.
She’d give a lot to be privy to Jaime’s thoughts right then. She was usually direct, but with Jaime, she worried her honesty might cause her to clam up and flee—the last thing Olivia wanted.
Jaime ran a fingertip over the rim of her glass. “Perhaps, but it would depend.”
“On what?” Olivia braced herself to avoid showing her relief at Jaime still playing along.
“How well you plead your case. I seem to recall you being quite…adept at making an argument stick.” Jaime smiled, the type of smile of someone who was way too pleased with themselves.
Olivia sat straighter, feeling a warm glow in her chest at Jaime thinking of her this way. “I suppose we won’t be needing anamicus curiae.”
Jaime chuckled, and the rough sound got to Olivia, only adding to the heat the eveninghad percolated so far.
“Do you have many references who would vouch for you in this particular area?” Jaime’s eyes glinted.
Olivia’s lips parted as the implication of her words sunk in. Why on earth had she said that? In her defense, being in Jaime Lachlan’s presence always messed with her head. She cleared her throat. “Not sure their opinions would be relevant, although I’ve never had any complaints.” Heat crawled up her neck and flooded her cheeks, but she resisted the urge to duck her head.
“You are quite arresting when you flush.”
Olivia’s eyes widened.
“All right, what about the glaring conflict of interest?”
“I have no pending cases before you,” Olivia said.
“No, but your firm does, if I recall correctly. About a month from now, the Lanx case.”
“A month is a long time, and since I’m not assigned to it personally, I fail to see a conflict of interest.”
Jaime tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table. “I don’t do romance.”
Olivia snorted. “My proposal didn’t entail romance. More like a night of uninhibited fun with zero strings or future expectations.”
This time, Jaime lowered her head, once more seeming quite interested in the stack of papers next to her plate.
Olivia believed in pursuing what mattered to her, and while she was no stranger to one-night stands (she had a strong preference for no-strings-attached arrangements) women usually approachedher. She rarely had to put herself out there, and she had never been asked toplead her casewhy someone should sleep with her.
For all intents and purposes, she should get up and leave. Yet here she sat, her brain churning over different strategies to win this argument. Maybe that’s what it was all about—winning. Getting one over Jaime Lachlan. And if such a win also included a nightwith the beautiful, intriguing woman, it seemed the uncharacteristic effort might just be worthwhile. After all, she did enjoy reveling in the spoils of victory.
Yet could Jaime be a spoil? Olivia didn’t approach women for a reason, too cautious of the havoc romance could wreak. All her life, she’d been focused on her profession—on providing for her family—avoiding fleeting matters of the heart that could distract her focus. She’d seen enough friends completely lost and adrift after a cherished romance fell to pieces.
On the other hand, she wasn’t looking for romance, and Jaime seemed as unattainable as ever. But somehow, she didn’t fit into her usual category of indulgences.
“All right. Even if we’re just talking one night, we’re practically strangers. Doesn’t what you’re suggesting—allowing someone to ‘draw out your emotional instincts’—require a certain level of trust between the involved parties?”
“I suppose, though, it also depends. I wasn’t proposing to tie you up and have my way with you.” Heat slashed through Olivia. “Although now that I’m saying it…”
Jaime swallowed hard. “Don’t you think the opposing counsel would object by now?”
“Based on what?”
“Tempting the witness,” Jaime rasped.
Olivia laughed. “I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered such an objection. Has it ever come up in your courtroom?”
