It turned out that was all the invitation he needed. Naturally. He made a show of slowly folding the newspaper, like he hadn’tbeen lurking over me like a poorly disguised threat to my peace, and without waiting for permission, he sat down beside me.
So much for avoiding any Westwoods.
CHAPTER 7
JESSE
The first thing out of my mouth probably wasn’t my best work. “Are you stalking me?”
Strangely, Jacqueline didn’t even look surprised, and I wasn’t sure if that meant I should be impressed or concerned. She just took a sip of her iced coffee like being accused of stalking in a public park was just another Tuesday.
“Yes, I am,” she said after swallowing the sip she’d just taken. “I flew across the Atlantic, secured a position at one of the most competitive firms in Chicago, and orchestrated this entire moment just to sit on a bench near you.”
I nodded slowly. “Good to know. I just wanted to confirm.”
She gave me a mildly incredulous look and shook her head. “Boy, you really are full of yourself.”
I grinned. “Hey, you have to love yourself first, right? Otherwise, no one else will. Or whatever it is people say about that. What are you really doing in Chicago, then? I’m assuming you didn’t actually come all the way here just for me.”
“I work here now,” she said after pausing for a moment. “I did mention the competitive firm, didn’t I?”
“Sure, but doing what? You just said you secured a position, but it could be consulting. A temporary thing.”
“It’s not.” She glanced at me like she was debating how much effort I was worth. “It’s at a law firm.”
“Well, that’s vague,” I said cheerfully.
She shrugged. “On purpose.”
I laughed and shook my head, leaning back against the bench and settling in next to the siren I definitely shouldn’t be seeking out more time with. God, in her pencil skirt and fancy jacket, her dark hair pulled back into a low, professional bun, she was even hotter than I remembered.
Business Barbie.But the darker, more exotic version.I like it way too much.
“Alright,” I said, desperately needing to distract myself from how that jacket buttoned right under her boobs like it was framing them just for me. “I’ll play. Let me guess.”
She didn’t stop me, which I took as an encouraging sign. I deliberately let my gaze drift over her once more, careful to make it look like I was simply checking for clues instead of checking her out.
“Law, right? I’m going to say, corporate?” I tried.
Her eyebrows hiked up a little. “Maybe.”
I smirked, finally glancing away from her and mentally running through the big firms I knew of who had offices in this neighborhood. “Ellis & Addeson?”
Her gaze snapped directly to mine this time, suspicion suddenly flickering behind it. “How could you possibly know that?”
I smirked. “Because they’re a pain in my ass sometimes, but they’re also one of the best corporate firms in the city and you said the firm you work for is competitive.”
“You know them?”
I chuckled. “Yeah, I do. Alex has been moving more and more of our work to them because he wants them firmly in our cornerinstead of against us all the damn time. It was the obvious choice for you. Especially because they’re right down the block.”
Definite pride settled on her features, her lips pursing just a little bit and a sudden hint of smugness in her gaze. “I see.”
“Yeah, but that also means that you’re not just a lawyer. You’re a pretty damn good one. I’m impressed. You’re not just a pretty face.”
She didn’t smile or argue, just giving me another shrug before turning her attention back to the greenery surrounding us. I glanced at my watch out of habit, then back at her when I realized I needed to be getting back soon.
“You should have dinner with us tonight,” I said. “Jane and Alex are hosting a family meal. You can meet the rest of the Chicago brood of Westwoods. We can welcome you to the city.”
