“Second favorite?”
I’m surprised when we turn into a parking lot so soon after leaving the hotel, and he tells me, “My first favorite is closed on Tuesdays.”
Two hours later, with a stomach filled with delicious food and buzzing with caffeine, I follow Chris down a paved path through a thick grouping of trees. If my circumstances were different, this would make me a little nervous about being out in the wilderness with someone who’s basically a stranger. But with Chris, all I feel is safe. And calm.
The path takes us along the edge of Radnor Lake, and I stare out at the water, letting the peacefulness of nature settle into my bones. Chris points to something, and I see a small bench looking out on the water.
“Let’s go sit there,” he says, his voice quiet, as if not to disturb the tranquility.
I nod and follow him over to the bench. It’s not a large bench, but there are a few inches between us. Even with thedistance separating us, I can feel the body heat radiating off him.
“It’s so beautiful here. I don’t know why I haven’t come out here more,” I comment, my eyes locked on the hypnotic movement of the slight waves.
He clears his throat, draping his arm along the back of the bench, his finger just barely brushing my back, so lightly that I don’t know if I actually imagined it.
“I come here a lot. Mostly just to think.”
There’s something in his voice that has me shifting my eyes from the water to him, looking slightly out of place in nature with his expensive suit. His striking features have my breath catching, but what really draws me in is the strain I can decipher. I have no doubt his job is stressful, which I’m sure could contribute to some of it, but there’s something that goes much deeper. Much more agonizing.
I look back out over the water. “I can see why you would.”
A vibrating sound breaks the quiet. He pulls his phone from his pocket and groans before his dark eyes flick up to mine. “I’m sorry, I have to take this. She’s called multiple times.”
My stomach sinks. I didn’t even consider that this man might have a wife or girlfriend waiting for him at home.
You shouldn’t care either way, because he’s your attorney, Lily.
I force a smile. “Of course.”
He doesn’t return the smile as he stalks from the bench, connecting the call. “Mandi, what’s up? I’m a little busy.”
Curiosity has me twisting so I can watch him walk away. He wasn’t overly loving or friendly. His greeting was quite abrupt.Maybe they’re going through a hard time.
Giving him his privacy, I avert my stare, remindingmyself that nothing about his life is my business besides what involves him being an attorney. That’s it. Nothing more. Nothing less. I close my eyes and let the sounds soothe me. I can barely hear Chris’s deep voice, but it’s there, competing with the wind rustling the dry landscape and the distant honks of geese and ducks. My eyes pop open as the bench shakes with Chris returning to his seat.
I glance in his direction with a smile. He doesn’t look annoyed and angry, which is even more confusing, considering how he answered the phone. “Everything okay with whoever that was?” I pause, then find myself asking, “Your wife, I assume? Or girlfriend.”
Chris sighs and slumps a little, and the subtle signs of exhaustion are clear on his sculpted face. It makes me want to run my fingers over them to help soothe away what’s causing them.
His stare is intense and probing when he replies, “No wife or girlfriend. But yeah, everything’s fine. That was my paralegal and receptionist, Mandi. She needed to talk to me about a few things with another client, but nothing major.”
I perk up at that. Not that I really know what I expect to happen, but it makes me feel less bad lusting after someone else’s man. “Do you need to go back to the office? I’m sure you have a lot of other work to do.”
He clutches his chest. “Lily, are you trying to get rid of me? That cuts deep.”
I wrap my lips over my teeth as I swallow down my laugh and shake my head. “No, I just don’t want to take too much of your time after you’ve already done so much for me.” I take a deep breath. “I know it’s nothing big, but I can’t tell you how much this morning has meant to me. Nothing about my life is normal now, but this morning allowed me to take a break from the constant onslaught of fear and panic.”
He doesn’t respond for a moment before he captures my hand. He gives it a quick squeeze before letting go, and I immediately wish he hadn’t. “Lily, I know you’re going through a lot, but please know I’m on your team now. And that means being here for you if you need it, even if it’s just for a few hours of distraction.”
I sniff back my emotion. “I’d say your services are worth every penny, but I haven’t paid you anything.”
He chuckles. “Some would say spending the morning with me is priceless. I’m just glad that you are able to experience it for yourself.”
I shake my head with a watery laugh. “I’m glad, too, Chris. You have no idea.”
10
Chris
