Page 5 of Breaking the Lawyer

"Is that a good thing?"

"I haven't decided yet." He studies me for a moment, his gaze so intense I almost look away. Almost. Then he sighs, a soft exhalation that seems to carry some decision with it. "Give me your phone."

"Why?"

"Just give it to me."

I unlock my phone and hand it over, watching as Christian taps on the screen. His fingers are long and elegant, moving with the kind of precision that suggests he knows exactly what he's doing. When he hands it back, there's a new contact: "Christian" with a phone number.

"There," he says. "You win your bet."

I stare at the number for a moment, then say, "You didn't have to do that."

"I know." He stands up, gathering his jacket, a sleek leather number that looks soft to the touch. "But I wanted to."

I narrow my eyes. "Will you answer if I call?" I ask, trying to establish if the number is even real.

Christian's smile is small but genuine. "Guess you'll have to find out."

And with that, he gives me an up-nod, turns around and walks away. I find myself watching the way he moves—confident, fluid, like he’s aware of the effect he has on people. There's a strange pull in my chest, an urge to follow him, to keep talking.

It wasn't supposed to feel like this.

"No fucking way," Tyler barks a few minutes later, peering at my screen over my shoulder. "You actually did it."

"Pay up," I say, pocketing my phone. The number feels like it's burning a hole in my pocket.

"How'd you manage it?" Alex asks, looking genuinely impressed.

"Charm and good looks," I reply with a confidence I don't entirely feel. "The usual."

"Bullshit." Tyler says. "You must have told him it was a bet."

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't." I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. "A win's a win."

Alex slaps a hundred onto my waiting palm with an eye roll, at the same time Tyler mutters, “Fine. I’ll Venmo you.”

Mike glances into his wallet, then sighs. “Same.”

As we gather our things to leave, I can't help but glance around the bar, searching for a glimpse of dark eyes and a sharp jawline.

I spot him at the other end of the room, talking to someone else now—a tall blonde with a model's build. They're standing close, laughing at something. I feel a strange twist in my gut, something that might be jealousy if that made any sense at all.

But then, as if sensing my gaze, Christian looks up. Our eyes meet across the crowded space, and for a moment, everything else fades away. He gives me a small nod, a half-smile that feels like a secret between us.

"Brooks? You coming?" Tyler calls, already at the door.

"Yeah," I say, tearing my eyes away from Christian. "Right behind you."

Suddenly, the newfound hundred in my pocket feels a lot like guilt, and an entire letter-bound tome filled with questions I don’t have any answers to.

Chapter 2

THE AWFUL NOISE that wakes me up and splits my skull in half turns out to be my phone buzzing against the nightstand.

I promptly ignore it, groan, and summon all the strength I possess to haul my ass out of bed, then stumble toward the bathroom with one eye still glued shut.

At least I have the entire Sunday to get my shit together, so not all is lost.

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