“I trust that you wouldn’t repeat the incident, but I wanted to be extra careful,” he says as he lowers his hand to his side and props himself on the side of my desk. I nod at the reassurance I didn’t even need to ask for as my gaze trails from his hand to his light-wash jeans up to his tucked-in blush button-down shirt. Strands of golden hair frame his face, not quite obscuring his crystal blue eyes.
“You look like a sunrise today.”
Finley crosses his arms and his feet as he semi-sits on my desk. “How so?”
“The light blue of your jeans fading into the blush shirt with a golden crown on your head. It’s like a sunrise.”
His lips turn upward, then he unleashes a brilliant smile. “I think that’s the nicest, most poetic compliment I’ve ever received, Leilei. Thank you.”
Something warms inside my chest at his praise. I am not the woman known for flowery words or—gag—poetry, but it was the first image to come to mind as I gazed upon him.
“Maybe I have a concussion,” I joke, unzipping my lemon bag and squeezing a wedge into my tea. “Want some tea?”
Finley moves behind me. “One second. Stay still. I want to check your head now that you mention concussions.”
I do as I’m told, mostly because a small part of me is excited his fingers will be on me again. I may not be able to withstand the contact for long, but mercy, I enjoy it before it gets to feel like too much. He lighty prods my scalp, and I applaud myself for wincing only a little before he moves his hand and returns to his propped position beside me. “No bumps or blood or caving in. You should be in the clear.”
“Duh,” I say, knowing good and well that I didn’t hit my head hard enough for a concussion. “And what are you doing here?”
His face falls, and I realize that I might have sounded rude. “I mean, I’m glad you are here, don’t get me wrong, but what prompted the visit?”
“I’ve missed you over these last few days while we’ve both been swamped with work,” he says plainly, not a hint of sarcasm orflirtation in his voice. It is a fact. He missed me. That warm feeling in my chest from earlier expands.
“What kind of tea can I get you? I have peach ginger, honey ginger, elderberry green tea, black tea…” I pause from fiddling through my tea stash in my desk drawer to look over at him with a raised brow. “I have so many more, Finley. We could be here all night before I’d finish delivering your options.”
He shakes his head, wearing that dazzling grin of his. “Black tea will suffice.” Then he actually sits on my desk; his long legs allow the tips of his dark brown dress shoes to reach the hardwood floor. “Thank goodness you keep your desk space clean and clear. I do enjoy sitting in places I shouldn’t.” There’s something about his tone as his voice trails off to a low rumble that fans the flame of heat within my chest. How much longer can my heart, my ribs, my skin withstand the increasing warmth?
“Oh, darn it. I don’t have an extra mug. I typically take tea time alone, and when Mr. Austen joins me, he brings his own mug.”
Finley shrugs. “No big deal. I’ll sip whatever you’re having…” he looks at my cup, a smirk flicking across his face as he glances back to me. “Bae.”
“Hadley bought me that,” I say, reaching for the mug and looking at the front of it. “Best attorney ever.” I hold the mug up to my face and smile.
“You’re adorable, bae. And yes, you are the best attorney ever. And you’re my bae.”
Huh?
“I’m your best attorney ever? Did you need an attorney for something? Is that why you’re here?”
Finley cocks his head, perplexed. “What do you think bae means, Lorelei?”
“Best attorney ever?” I state this as a question because now I’m reconsidering the acronym.
He chuckles and looks down, running his hands down his jawline. Which, by the way, is sharp. It gives him that haughty, regal air that I once condemned him for. But now I think it’s… Well, I think it’s kind of hot.
Man.
I’m becoming my sister…
“Bae is an informal way to address your significant other. It’s an acronym for Before Anything Else.”
Oh.
Huh.
“That’s interesting. I think I like ‘best attorney ever,’ though. Plus, we are not each other’s significant person.” I gesture between us and take a sip of my tea. The warm, spicy goodness slides down my throat. Tea is like an immediate sedative for me. Calming and relaxing.
“Not yet.” He winks. “I like calling you Leilei, anyway.” He holds out his hand. When I lift a brow, he motions towards my cup.
