Page 59 of Breaking His Law

“Vivienne?”

“You learn fast.”

“But you don’t have any evidence that she was involved with the death of her husband.”

“That’s not my job to investigate, Arianna, but the police department might just need a nudge in the right direction.”

She grants me a giant smile and I about melt on the spot. She’s breathtaking and I think she likes that I’m a man of my word.

“And what’s the second thing you need me to do?” she asks.

I take a step closer to her, bow my head, and move my lips to her ear to whisper in it. “Buy a dress for the ball.” Preferably one that’s easily removed. “And put it through expenses. I’ll pick you up at seven next Friday.”

She angles her head, her eyes locking with mine. “I can pay for my own dress, Nathan.”

“It’s for work. It’s an expense. Don’t argue with me.” It’s not for work, it’s all for me, because I’m a selfish and devious bastard when it comes to her.

“Well, then if it’s for work, I’ll accept your offer. I’ll buy the most expensive dress I can find.” She inches back a bit and studies my face. “I’ll be ready at seven next Friday.”

Her continual nettlesome jabs make a smile pull at my lips. Verbally sparring has become the thing we do best. Well, sex together is something we’d win Olympic gold at, but linguistic acrobatics we’d win silver for sure, no doubt about it.

“Buy the most expensive shoes you can find too,” I counter. “You’ll be the most captivating woman in the room.” And everyone will know she’s with me.

Mine.

I might just be buying her a dress, but I would buy her the whole fucking boutique if it meant I got to see her delectable curves wrapped in the finest material money can buy and show her off to the world.

When they see us together, they’ll know who she is to me.

Because I’m the boss, and I can change the rules anytime I want.

My decision.

I’m tired of fighting how I feel, but I’ll spin the white lie for a little longer that she’s attending with me as my secretary, when in fact it couldn’t be further from the truth.

I want her.

All of her.

20

ARI

I scrub my hands down my face as the shower washes away the remnants of my day down the drain. Pushing my fingertips through my soaked locks, I give my scalp an extra massage to ease the lingering tension.

I’m convinced my life is one big test. Working for Hart Law being the most difficult one yet. I’m being pushed to the outer limits in ways I never expected, as if the world is playing a game of Push Me Pull You.

I can’t take any more and I have the worst case of emotional whiplash.

Confusion? Tick.

Intense, unstable thoughts about Nathan? Tick.

Like him one minute? Tick.

Annoyed with him the next? Tick.

Feelings of grief for what and who I lost? Tick.