My smile drops. “Faith, can you give us a minute?”
Chris’s intense, assessing gaze zips to me. My voice sounds hollow even to my ears. His eyes never leave mine, even as Faith says goodbye to us both.
When the door shuts behind her, I sink back into my chair, unable to keep up pretenses any longer. I figure if anyone can handle my moment of weakness, it’s Chris. Especially after our day together yesterday.
Without a word, he stalks across my office, and instead of taking the chair Faith recently vacated, he rounds the desk and leans against the edge, his long legs sticking out beside where I sit in my desk chair. I keep my eyes locked on his black loafers as I struggle to get a hold of my emotions.
“Lily…” Chris’s calm, deep voice draws my gaze up. When our eyes meet, my heart stutters. “What just happened? Your demeanor completely changed just a second ago.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I rub my forehead. I debatetrying to deny it, but figure it is no use. “Was it that obvious?”
“I don’t think she noticed.”
The unspoken part of that sentence has butterflies exploding in my belly. I drop my head back onto the headrest of my chair and stare up at Chris. His handsome face, lined with concern and other emotions I can’t quite decipher.
I press my hands to my stomach to quell the butterflies. “I’m sorry, I’m sure this isn’t why you stopped by here today. Speaking of, how did you know where I worked?”
Chris grips the edge of my desk on either side of his hips and leans forward slightly, staring down at me. “I stopped here today for you, so yes, this is why I stopped here.”
I swallow down the arousal at the intensity of his words. I highly doubt he meant them the way I’m taking them, but regardless, my body doesn’t care.
The corners of his lips lift slightly. “And I know this because when you were reading the detectives the riot act, you mentioned you work here.”
My lips lift to match his. “Oh, yes. I forgot about that.”
Before I can question him further, he stands to his full height. “Come on, let’s go.”
I shake my head in confusion. “What? What do you mean,let’s go?”
He extends his hand, indicating he wants me to take it so he can help me out of my chair. “I feel like that’s very self-explanatory.”
Unable to resist him, I place my hand in his, and the electricity burns my palm. “I mean, yes. You are correct. But where are we going?”
He pulls me to stand so I’m only inches from him. I force my body not to sway toward his.
“I’m taking you to lunch. You need to get out of here for a little bit.”
Dropping my hand, his palm rests on my lower back as he guides me around my desk.
I stop walking. “Hold on, let me grab my purse. And I have to be back by 1:30 for a meeting.”
“Done. Now let’s go.”
I gather my belongings and rejoin him. “Ready.”
His hand goes back to my lower back, and we walk out of the office. Anna and Faith are not outside my office, which is probably for the best. If I thought Faith was judging me before, I can’t imagine what she would think of seeing me walking out with my attorney, his hand on my back. Even if it is high enough to be less intimate.
But my body doesn’t seem to get the hint with the way it’s reacting to his touch. I need to remind myself I can’t be attracted to Chris.
For so many reasons.
12
Chris
Goddamn, Lily’s gorgeous.
Clearing my throat, I take a sip of water. I took her to one of my favorite restaurants that isn’t too far from her office, and we were just seated at our table. I have barely been able to take my eyes off her.
