Page 103 of My Office Rival

“Well, I’m hoping you’ll come back to New York with me,” I responded and took a gulp of my beer for courage. “And I’m hoping you’ll start the firm with me. You could take as manypro bonoimmigration cases as you want.” Her eyes went wide at the words.

“Really?” She searched my face, and I held perfectly still, afraid to breathe.Say yes, please say yes.My grip tightened on her hand, and she squeezed back. “Okay.” She smiled, wide and bright, and relief flooded my body.

“You’re in?”

“I’m so in. Boutique M&A? Immigration on the side? A totally random combination, but I love it.”

“Hell yes.” I put out my hand for a high five, and she smacked it, grinning like a wild woman. “Welcome to the business, partner.”

“Oooh, I like that.”

“I thought you might,” I teased. “I’m so taking the bigger office, though.”

“Get a nice big desk so we can have sex on it.” She winked, and I choked on my rice.

This was going to be fun.

64

CYNTHIA

Jason pulled up to the nondescript building in a small office park off the side of a quiet road. Dust kicked up and the sun beat down already, even at 8:42 a.m.

“You ready, counselor?”

I looked over at him, his tousled blond hair glinting in the sun, the collar of his white shirt unbuttoned to show a sliver of skin. But best of all were his electric blue eyes, shining with intelligence and humor, those under-eye circles still there, still drawing me in.We’re the same, you and I, his face told me.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” I was nervous for my first day. I knew very little about this area of the law, and I had the stink of big law firm life about me. I’d chosen my outfit carefully, wanting to fit in with the other lawyers here. Nothing flashy, heels at a manageable height. Hell, I’d even brought my own lunch. Well, lunch that Jason had made for me. He was like a sexy chef and a professional athlete rolled into one intelligent package. I wanted to straddle him where he sat.

“Stop looking at me like that, or you’re going to be late,” he growled.

I gave him a shameless smile. “Sorry. I still can’t believe you droveme to work.” I hated driving, and he drove me as much as possible. I didn’t even mind that he called me a “passenger princess.”

“I wanted to see you off.” He smoothed a thumb down my jaw. “I’m proud of you.” His eyes shone with sincerity. “I know it’s a big leap, but you’re fucking brilliant. Remember when you took Gene down? You’re a shark, and don’t you forget it.”

My heart swelled. “I did, didn’t I?” Gene was going to be indicted any day now, along with Jason’s other clients.

“Well, I’m going to take some of the credit for that one,” he teased.

“Fine. Fine. You did protect me from him. Seeing you go all growly and ‘touch her and die’ was pretty fucking hot.” I fanned myself, and he grinned at me, eyes crinkling.

“I’d do it all over again.”

I leaned over and sealed my lips to his, tasting, teasing his mouth open until he was twining his tongue with mine. I pulled back, and he leaned his forehead against mine. I closed my eyes.

“Forever, Cynthia. I’m not letting you go,” he promised, conviction in his words. My heart tripped, like it did every time he told me this.

“Forever,” I agreed.

EPILOGUE

Jason

Istraightened my suit and squared my shoulders before knocking on Mitchell’s office door.

“Come in.”

I entered into the hyper-modern space and seated myself across from Mitchell’s desk. He hit a key on his keyboard with decisive force and turned to me.

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