“No. I’ll wake up early tomorrow and look over all the documents. But tonight, I want you to forget about everything, okay?”

“Okay. Thank you for taking the case. And for being here for me.”

“This is my place. Next to you. For the good and the bad. It’s not all going to be smooth sailing, but you can count on me through all the ups and downs. I promise you can count on me.”

“Thank you.”

Her voice was a little shaky, as if she feared the idea just as much as she wanted it. I understood her perfectly. We’d both been through the wringer before, and it had ended up in either heartbreak or disappointment, or both.

“So, how are you going to make me forget about everything?”

“You mean my natural charm isn’t enough?” I wiggled my eyebrows at her.

She grinned. “I don’t know. I think you should up your game.”

“I see. Are you sure you can take it?”

I slid a hand under her skirt, placing it midthigh. Her eyes flared, and she licked her lips.

“Hmm... maybe I shouldn’t trust such a devious man after all. Your mind is always wandering into dirty territory.”

I tilted my head. “Not this time.”

“Really? What’s your hand doing under my skirt, then?”

“The first step in helping you relax. That’s on the agenda tonight.”

“No, no. I owe you some quality relaxation time.” She narrowed her eyes playfully. “In fact, I know what would make both of us relax.”

“Care to share?”

“Nah, I think I’ll torment you for a while.”

I promptly attacked, withdrawing my hand from under her skirt and leaning closer. She leaned back at my abrupt approach, balancing herself on her hands. I saw my opening then and tickled her armpits.

Val laughed wholeheartedly. I was so proud I’d made her laugh tonight.

“Stop, stop, stop.”

“Still not sharing?”

She shook her head. I changed tactics, bracing my hands on her waist instead.

I ran the tip of my nose up and down her neck. She shuddered, and I took immense pleasure at the way her body reacted to me. Her hips slid forward an inch, as if searching for me. When I cupped her bra over her shirt, drawing circles around the peak, she arched her lower back, moaning.

“I’ll make you tell me,” I promised.

“Oh, I know you will.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Carter

I dove headfirst into the documentation, reviewing every single detail, then double-checking my own work. I did this in addition to the existing workload, which meant I worked late into the night and woke early in the morning.

Even when I’d been a broke student taking on every odd job available, I’d never had so much on my plate. The last thing I needed was the news Mom dropped on me.