Page 40 of Resisting the Lawyer (Dirty Hot Resistance 3)

I don’t know where the yawn comes from but I find myself mumbling, “Maybe a few minutes wouldn’t hurt.”

She chuckles, the vibration reaching inside me.

My stomach full, I close my eyes. “Just a few minutes.” Her scent surrounds me and it reaches into the crevices of my soul and fills in the lonely spaces. I know this isn’t easy for Elise, none of this is. But admiration rears its head in me that despite her apprehensions, she’s refusing to be buried under the mountain of fear heaped on her.

I open my eyes and see her watching me with a soft expression in her eyes, one I’ve never seen before.

She immediately becomes flustered when she realizes she’s been caught.

I let out a husky laugh and reaching out with my right hand, I hook it behind her neck and pull her down for a sweet kiss.

She doesn’t resist and when we have to part for air, she’s smiling in that shy way of hers.

Her smile always makes me want to muss her up.

Seeing the intention in my eyes, she immediately clasps her free hand over my eyes. “Stop it!” There’s a hint of laughter in her voice.

I relent. Closing my eyes, I slip away in a few more minutes, not having to realize how tired I was.

I don’t know how long I’ve slept for but when I come to, I feel oddly reenergized and it takes me a few minutes to get my bearings.

Elise is resting her head on her palm, her elbow propped on the arm of the couch. Her eyes are closed and she’s dozing. I take her in her slack features and my lips curve, affectionately.

A glance at the wall clock reveals that it’s been near to an hour. The food containers still have some left in them and I gently sit up, making sure not to disturb her.

The slightest movement has her eyes snapping open and she blinks, instantly alert. Her first reaction is to look at the clock and she visibly relaxes. “I must have fallen asleep as well.”

I’m digging into the pasta, ignoring the fact that it’s cold now. “As a first date, this is pretty great.” I stuff a spoonful into my mouth.

She’s trying really hard not to laugh. “You’re really shameless, you know?”

I swallow while she yawns and rubs her eyes, and then I grin. “I’ve been completely overwhelmed with work these days. Getting a nap, getting fed, and having a pretty woman to flirt with, I don’t think it can get any better.” While I eat a second helping, I see something on her face, a slight hesitation, and I can see that she wants to discuss something with me but doesn’t know how to broach the subject.

We chat idly for a while and I slowly round the conversation to what’s on her mind.

The now empty dishes have been stacked on the side while she’s sitting stiffly.

I realize that this whole thing was more than just a date. I wait in silence for her to speak and as it stretches, she gets more and more agitated while I grow calmer. “Elise, whatever you have to say, just say it.”

She looks frustrated now and then gets to her feet and starts pacing.

That’s a surprise to me because she doesn’t seem like a pacer. That’s more of my thing. I lean back against the couch and watch her, patiently.

It takes her a few minutes, before she speaks, “What do you want from me?”

I blink, not having expected that. The answer is torn from me without hesitation, “Everything.”

Her jaw tightens and now she stills, her hands forming into fists by her side, “I have a child, Lucas. I don’t know what ‘everything’ means in your dictionary.”

And then I understand.

This is the turning point of a relationship.

Something raw blooms in my chest.

Elise isn’t a person to lead me on. She’s trying to play fair. If she thinks that my goals don’t align with hers, she’ll walk away from this, to do us both a favor.

Seeing that I’ve not spoken anything, she continues, “You say you’ve had feelings for me for a very long time.” She struggles with the phrase ‘had feelings’ as if she doesn’t quite believe it yet. “That’s a long time to be interested in someone and not make a move. So, I just want to know what I’m stepping into.”

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