Page 13 of Pride & Precedents

"Indeed."

"But," I lean forward and look Henry in the eye. "I don't get it. So she's an old hookup. The world is small. Why did that have you sweating in the meeting this morning?"

Henry frowns, looking like a petulant middle schooler.

"I wasnotsweating."

I giggle. I can't help but want to poke the bear.

"You were too. And then you came back from lunch looking like you'd slept in your clothes. Thank goodness you stayed holed up in your office."

I laugh at how uncomfortable Henry looks.

"Well…" He downs his Black Label and clears his throat. "First, let me say thank you for not pointing all that out while we were in the office."

"Of course. I would never do anything to jeopardize your standing at work."

"Second, you're right. I guess you could call Naomi my," he looksreallyuncomfortable now, but something tells me it's the wrong time to laugh, "first love. At least…I lovedher. She broke my dumb, twenty-four-year-old heart, but she never even knew I felt that way about her." As if realizing he's revealed too much, he straightens. "But again, it will not stop me from doing my job to the best of my ability. It was forever ago. And I'm a professional."

I give him my best "understanding" face, usually reserved for when one of Gabriel's unrequited crushes shot him down, or when Aurora slashed her ex's tires when he dumped her right before taking a semester abroad.Gosh, they are full-onadultsnow.

"Henry, don't worry about it. I know you wouldn't let some history get in the way of helping a client. You're the best attorney I know, and still you have morals and character. I don't know if you realize how rare that is."

He smiles, his thigh brushing mine under the table.

"Thank you, Camila. That actually means a lot to me."

I gasp, and Henry pulls his leg back, alarmed.

"What's wrong?"

"It's just…you called me 'Camila'."

He looked confused.

"That's your name, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but younevercall me that. It'salways'Ms. Sanchez'."

Henry relaxes and lets his knee once again bump mine.

"I am a bit uptight, aren't I?"

I laugh weakly, unsure whether I should agree in case he remembers this on Monday.

"You said it, not me."

He laughs and scoots even closer so our entire sides are pressed together. My skin feels like it's on fire and goosebumps break out all over my body.

"That's just at the office. There's no reason I can't call you by your name when we're on our own. Camila is a beautiful name, by the way."

He's leaning even closer now, stroking his hand lightly up and down my arm. I shrugged out of my suit jacket as soon as we got here, and my arms are bare to him in just my silk shell.

He's staring at my mouth now. Either Henry is about to kiss me, or I'm experiencing the first signs of a stroke. He leans in,slow enough to give me the chance to retreat, should I choose. But I wouldn't. Not with how I feel tonight. Not after all these years.

Tonight, I release a contented sigh as he presses his lips against mine. The kiss is delicate at first, restrained because neither of us know whether we should cross this line. I open my mouth in invitation, and that's all he needs to slip his tongue inside.

And now I see why all those women embarrassed themselves for another date. He is agodwith his mouth. His tongue expertly strokes against mine, his lips firm and insistent. He puts one hand around my throat and the other at my nape to tilt my head and deepen the kiss.I see you, Mr. Park! Who knew you had kissing game like this?!

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