Page 135 of Dr. Bad Boy

“I understand that, but as I explained to William Novak, this is an area of the law that I have a fair bit of experience in, and when I heard about the case, I thought I’d express an interest. For legal reasons.”

I can hear her voice murmuring through the phone, and he smiles.

“Of course. I’d love to discuss that further. Should we do lunch? Talk to Beth and get on my schedule. I can’t wait. Okay. Talk later.” He taps his thumb against the screen and hands the phone back. “Your fiancée is lovely.”

“Mmm. Did you just make a date with her? And what if I wanted to say goodbye?”

He shakes his head. “She didn’t want to say goodbye to you.”

“You’re the one that called her boss.”

He shrugs. “Yeah, but I’m the prime minister. It comes with some advantages. Now get out of my office. I’m meeting a potential new member of my security team in a few minutes.”

“I will in a second. But listen, I wanted to ask you something else.” When he gives me a raised eyebrow, likeyou’ve done enough damage for one morning,I wave him off. “I’d like to marry Violet sooner than later.”

“How soon?”

“Within the month. Something simple. A justice of the peace, that kind of thing. But I’d like you to be my best man.”

Gavin comes around from his desk, his hand outstretched. “Absolutely.”

“I know you’ve got some travel coming up, so maybe…”

“Come on, let’s go see Beth. We’ll put it on the calendar right now. Do you want to do it at 24 Sussex? Wait.” He stops and claps my shoulder. “We should ask Violet that.”

“Probably.”

“You do that. It might mitigate the damage done by asking me to meddle.”

I laugh. I have plans to lick and slap my way through that apology, but sure, getting married at the prime minister’s residence might help, too.

I reach the door before Gavin does, so I pull it open. Normally the outer office where Beth sits is a quiet place, humming with productivity and a general sense of officialness.

Right now, though, something is…happening.

I’m not even sure what, so I stop in the doorway and Gavin almost runs into me. I quietly step to the side so he can watch with me.

Beth is at her desk, but she’s staring wide-eyed at Lachlan, who has just pushed up out of his chair with so much force, it rocked back hard enough for it to leave a dent in the wall.

53

Lachlan

IthoughtI'd prepared myself for this moment, but seeing Hugh Evans in the flesh again after ten years is a punch to the gut.

I stiffly extend my hand. "Hugh, good to see you."

It's a lie. It's not good to see him at all. It's nauseating and confusing.Helooks good, though. Time has been kind to him—made him even sexier. Maybe it’s the suit. I haven't seen him in a suit before, and…

That doesn't matter.

He takes my hand, and I brace against the spark I fully anticipate. My body doesn't disappoint. As soon as his fingers wrap around mine, a strong, quick handshake, every cell in my body wakes up. I remember everything those thick, blunt fingers have done to me. My dick begins to swell at the familiar touch. I try to ignore it.

“Lachlan.” His voice is deep and gravelly, and there’s no ignoring the jolt I feel at my name on his lips.

I pull my hand away and turn to face Beth. “Would you let the prime minister know Hugh Evans is here?”

“He already knows.” At the sound of Gavin’s amused voice, I swivel around to see him and Max Donovan standing in the open doorway behind me. After a quick introduction, Gavin and Hugh disappear into Gavin’s office.

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