The Cartel Lawyer by Dave Daren (popular books to read .TXT) 📗

“This is amazing,” I said after I’d managed to swallow the too large bite.

“Thanks,” she said. “I forgot the salad bowls and dressing. Do you prefer ranch or Italian?”

“Italian,” I answered.

“Okay,” she sauntered into the kitchen and then returned with the bowls and dressing.

We ate in silence for a few minutes, until I had finished my salad and half of my pasta. I was so full that I couldn’t eat another bite, and I pushed my plate away from myself with a contented smile. I hadn’t had such delicious pasta in a long time, but the peppers and onions had added just the right amount of spice, and I was sure that I could get used to eating it on a more regular basis.

“Now that you’re fed,” she said when she noticed that I was finished. “What did you want to talk about?”

“I won’t be able to represent your case against the Everson Juvenile Detention Center,” I told her.

I braced myself for the stream of questions or the anger that might follow my declaration. We had worked hard together over the last few days, and I was sure that she would want to know why I was suddenly backing out.

“Why?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

“It’s a conflict of interest with a new case that I have,” I hedged. “But you have a strong case, and any attorney you ask will be able to take it up in their sleep and have the place shut down.”

“You’re positive you can’t help me?” she stuck out her bottom lip a little in a pout that made my pulse race.

“Yes,” I said with a sympathetic smile. “Like I said, it would be a conflict of interest.”

“Hmm,” she said as she stood and gathered our plates.

“I really am sorry,” I said while I helped her to bring the dirty dishes into the kitchen with her.

“It’s okay,” she said with a small shrug. “I understand.”

She scraped the scraps of spaghetti into the trash before she pulled out containers for the leftovers. She handed me a bowl for the salad while she took care of the noodles, sauce, and garlic bread.

“I’ve enjoyed working with you,” I told her once she’d put everything in the fridge.

“I have, too,” she said with one of those bright smiles that made my mind go blank for a second. “Do you want a drink? To celebrate the end of our working relationship?”

“Sure,” I said and then reached over her to help her reach the wine glasses that she had started to stretch for. “So, you’re not mad?”

“No,” she told me as she twisted around so that she faced me. “Actually, since we don’t have to be professional anymore, I thought that we might be able to get to know each other better.”

“I would be interested in that,” I said while I took a step back to give her enough space to get into the utensils drawer for the corkscrew.

“Great!” she exclaimed as she opened a bottle of red wine and poured us two hearty glasses.

I took a sip of the dry red wine. It was delicious, but all I could focus on was the way that it stained her bow shaped lips. I remembered the last, only, kiss she’d given me. It had been sweet and soft, and it had left me yearning for more.

My eyes drifted down the length of her well-toned body, to her muscular calves and thighs, and then back up to the hint of her breasts that peaked out from the bottom of her black crop top.

“This wine is wonderful,” I said as I licked my lips and forced my eyes back up to hers.

“It is,” she replied before she set her glass down and then crossed the small space between us.

She ran her hands up my chest, and my heart began to hammer against my ribcage while my pants became tighter. She took the glass from my hand and set it on the counter before she stood on her tiptoes to brush her lips against mine.

“Are you sure?” I asked as I wrapped my arms around her hips to rest my hands on her round butt.

“I have never been more sure of anything in my entire life,” she whispered. “And if we’re not going to be working together anymore, then we’re free to do whatever we want.”

“That does sound enticing,” I said as I leaned down to kiss her again.

She opened her mouth to let my tongue in, and I tasted spaghetti mixed with the red wine. I heard my stomach grumble again, just for a moment, and then I indulged in the softness of her lips. I trailed kisses down the side of her neck as I reached up into the bottom of her shorts and lifted her onto the counter.

“Rob,” she gasped when I nipped at the soft flesh at the nape of her neck. “I want to go to bed with you. Now.”

“I’m at your command,” I chuckled before I took her earlobe between my teeth.

“Let’s go,” she demanded as she pushed at my chest.

“As you wish,” I said while I took a step back to let her jump down from the counter.

“The bed’s upstairs,” she informed me as she slipped her hand into mine and began to tug me toward the bright-red spiral staircase.

The stairs creaked under our weight as I followed her up into the loft. I watched her every step as my need for her grew until it was almost unbearable. I grinned as we reached the bedroom, and she started to tug off my clothes.

She tossed me onto the bed and then climbed on top of me after she had stripped. She was the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen, and I wanted