Page 29 of Sugar

“You sent someone out for this?”

He lifted his chin like that wasn’t a crazy thing to do.

I didn’t bother to ask how he knew my exact order. I got the same thing every single day, and the baristas usually started making it before I entered the building.

The shock was from the considerate gesture itself. I had no clue why he’d done it.

“Does this level of research help you land those prominent clients?” I asked, using the question as a segue back to the interview.

“I am thorough in everything I do.” He lifted his own cup but paused with it partway to his mouth. “Much like you, it seems. How did you know about Mayor Daniels?”

“Stab in the dark,” I answered honestly. When he raised an expectant brow, I expanded, “You were photographed at a charity dinner together. Shortly after, he was photographed leaving a restaurant with Charles Wesley of Wesley and Ellis.”

“And you reached your conclusion from those two images?” His skepticism was clear in his voice and expression. “As I recall, your friend’s father was at that charity dinner.”

That wasn’t a surprise. Doug and Eve had mastered networking for the practice, and that kind of event was the perfect place to find new patients with money to blow while contributing to a worthy cause that painted Exquisite Aesthetics in a positive light.

“If he was, I had no clue,” I said.

Easton sat back and put his elbows on the arms of the chair before steepling his fingers. He studied me for a long moment. “You’re telling the truth.”

“I usually am.”

“Then how did you know?”

“In the picture with you, the mayor was leaning toward you as he spoke. Like he was trying to convince you of something. Like accepting a job offer. Since he followed that up with a meeting with a different attorney, it was a safe bet you turned him down, and he was continuing his search.”

“Impressive.” And the look on his face said he meant it.

“Am I correct?”

“You know you are.”

A flutter of pride and warmth spread through my chest at the way he said it.

He wasn’t done, though.

Skewering me with a look, the challenge was clear. “But now for the bonus question… Did he hire Wesley?”

I shook my head. “Unlike with you, the mayor was keeping his distance as they left the restaurant. He looked annoyed.”

“That’s because Daniels is smart. He knew Wesley called in the tip to get media coverage of the meeting.”

“Isn’t that counterintuitive in a profession that’s pretty big on confidentiality?”

“Losing one potential client is a small price to pay when the photo will bring in countless others who now see you as eminent and in demand.”

“Is that why you turned down his offer?”

He gave me the same blank stare he’d given June. “No. I turned it down because politics are both a headache and dull as fuck.”

I had no clue why, but hearing Easton say fuck—even in the innocuous context—sent a zip of lust straight to my core.

Needing to cool my rapidly heating body and thoughts, I took a drink before twisting the cup in my hand. I hoped it conveyed the nonchalance of a casual conversation enough for him to temporarily forget I was a journalist.

Well, a journalism major, but still.

“Is there a reason Mayor Daniels was pursuing a new legal team?” I asked, even knowing it was highly unlikely he would tell me.

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