Page 35 of The Holy Grail
“Um, I object.”
“On what grounds?”
“On the grounds that it’s ...” she trailed off, searching for legitimate sounding grounds, but in the end had to settle for, “objectionable.”
“Um, your objection is overruled.” His expression amused, he added, “I can out lawyer you all day.”
“Didn’t you just get done telling me how bad of a lawyer you are?”
“Yes, but I’m still better than you are.”
“Um, I object.”
“On what grounds?”
This time she was better prepared. “On the grounds that I’ve watched every single season ofLaw & Order.”
He gave that some thought before ceding the argument. “Sustained.”
When they were both finished, and Malcom was clearing their plates, Jules watched him. She took in his good looks, strong build (clothes could hide a lot, but she was pretty sure a naked Malcom was a beautiful sight to behold), and thought about how nice he was, how smart he seemed, and wondered why he hadn’t found someone after Jules had ghosted him. When he caught her staring at him intently, he stopped what he was doing.
“What is it?” he wanted to know.
“I was just thinking how very attractive you are,” she told him bluntly, then fanned her face for good measure. “Because you really are.”
He cleared his throat self-consciously, as if the compliment had caught him off guard and he wasn’t sure how to respond. “Thank you, I guess.”
She tilted her head at his discomfort. “Your mom told me your looks have always made you uncomfortable.”
“She did?”
Jules nodded. “She also told me it can draw the wrong kind of women, and the fact you approached me in the restaurant meant you were probably really smitten with me.”
“Smitten?”
“That was her word. So, were you?”
He returned to the seat next to her. “Obviously. But, it was your voice that drew me in to begin with. I heard you say you’d ‘go to the mattresses’ for your friend in that smoky drawl—”
“Smoky drawl?”
“Yes. I heard it through all the restaurant chatter, and that’s what made me look around to see who was referencing my favorite movie.”
“What if I’d been a hideous beast?”
“Well, it would’ve made it easier to approach you, that’s for sure.”
Jules’ expression softened. “Your mom did say you could be shy when it came to women.”
“Jesus Christ,” he muttered, glancing up at the ceiling. “Thanks, Mom.”
She released a soft chuckle at his obvious embarrassment, finding it endearing. “I liked your mom.”
“So do I, normally, but given some of the things she apparently told you, I’m actually surprised you still pursued me.”
“Me, too.”
When he seemed slightly uncertain if she was being serious or not, she reached over to gently trail a finger along the back of his hand, which was resting on the granite countertop. “Not because you weren’t worth pursuing, but because I rarely pursue,” she told him softly. “But I’mveryglad I did in this case.”
