Legal Attraction: A Romantic Suspense Novel (Legally Suspenseful Romance)

Chapter 6

Rand’s gaze was immediately drawn to Coral dancing on the outskirts of the group, a small group of obviously interested men circling near her. Her smile filled the room. Wide mouth, white teeth, laughing happiness beamed out of her as she spun and jumped and danced on the floor. But she was an awkward dancer. He laughed. Her body just didn’t quite match the music. While her arms were raised and her head bobbing, her feet jerked a bit, her hips…He wanted to put his hands right at her hip bone and pull her close. But she was not moving exactly to the beat. He pulled off his tie, left his jacket on a nearby chair, and stepped into the throng. Suddenly more than anything he wanted to be a part of this. His head hummed in expectation.

Anders and Astra ran into the throng like they’d been there forever and from the looks of the others, they were all best friends, or at least tight. Upper management would be happy to hear they could probably expect some more clients from this group. They were wealthy, to be sure, and Mediterranean nations needed lawyers as much as anyone else, more so judging by the conversations already happening with Nico. He rolled up his sleeves. The room already felt warm but he was ready to relax. He’d taken his eyes off Coral for a few seconds only but when he turned back in her direction, she was no longer there.

A group of women he remembered to be the princesses from earlier approached and for a few songs he was distracted by them and their questions and demands for attention. A man should be happy at so much attention from beautiful women, but his head swiveled looking for Coral enough that they soon drifted away. Where had she gone?

He made eye contact with her through the crowd on the opposite side for a brief second. She glazed over him as if she didn’t notice, but he knew she did. He saw the spark for a second. Then the people closed between them and his view of her was blocked. A slow song started up and most people drifted off the floor, grabbing drinks and fanning themselves.

One of the princesses, Lila, approached and wrapped her hands up around his neck. “Let’s dance.”

“I’d never turn down such a beautiful offer.” He put one hand on her waist and tugged one of hers into his own from off his neck. “Let’s cool off a little.” The space created between them allowed a little bit of cool air.

She pouted. “I don’t mind a little heat.”

He didn’t either, but it depended on where it was coming from. “All the same. This is more fun anyway.” He spun her around a moment and then brought her out with one hand and back to him. They danced the rest of the song. During the last bars, she inched closer. “You seem like you’d be fun tonight.”

The eyes he felt watching him were never Coral’s.

He stared down into an inviting and beautiful face. But she too wasn’t Coral. And then he winked. “I might be, another night.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Thank you for our dance.”

She nodded and twirled in front of him then headed for the bar, swinging her hips. When he turned the other direction, Coral stood in front of him.

“Just the woman I wanted to see.”

“Really? You seem pretty distracted by a lot of other people you wanted to see.”

He looked over his shoulder and then back to her. “I’ve spent the whole night looking for you. Where did you run off to? One minute you were here and then nowhere.”

Her smile grew. “I’ve been around. Come on. Want to see something cool?”

“Cooler than karaoke dancing? I haven’t even heard you sing?”

“Even cooler than that.” She held out her hand which he took.

“I’m in.”

Her fingers were cool and soft and they easily weaved in with his. Their hands hung casually at their side. On the outside they probably looked totally comfortable, relaxed. But inside his arm was doing a little something crazy with his heart hammering through his veins. It had been a long time since he’d felt this level of interest in a woman’s hand.

She led him through several rooms and down hallways in the rather immense home and then out the back door and into the cool night air.

“I already know you’re leading me right. This breeze is awesome.”

“Want to go down by the water? There are cool rocks and if the water is low, a cave.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him in a ridiculous manner and he decided she was an eye person and he was definitely a fan. Hers were a brilliant green. Such an awesome water loving Mediterranean shade, but a rare color in the States. He found it difficult to look away.

“I’m up for another adventure today. Let’s go check it out.”

“Just what I wanted to hear.” She tugged him along over the back patio and through gardens and out on a large expanse of green that led to a stairwell.

The ocean crashed below, and the air had a salty mist to it. He smiled. “This is exactly what I needed.”

They climbed down the stairs and stepped out onto wet sand. She immediately kicked off her shoes, and he did the same, rolling and then tucking each sock into its respective shoe.

Her mouth twitched while she watched him, but she didn’t say anything.

He laced their fingers together again. The sky was dark, the light from the moon hidden behind a rocky ridge until they approached the water close enough that the moon shone down on the air around them. And then it was all lit with a silver glow that felt magical. The moonlight line across the water defined a path straight to the horizon. “I want to go out there.”

“Do you?” Her eyes flashed with adventure and then she started tugging him to the water.

But he laughed. “No, no. I want to follow that path. Did you ever look at the moon path on the water and want to follow it, to keep going straight to the horizon?”

She stepped closer, shaking her head. “I don’t think so, but that’s pretty poetic for an attorney.”

“Attorneys can be poetic.” He felt mildly defensive. “We’re not as stiff as some might think.”

“Oh, you’re not?” She danced in front of him. “Prove it.” Then she turned and ran toward the water, splashing in until she was up to her knees.

“That’s not really fair. Your dress isn’t even wet.”

“Oh, it’s wet. See, drops!” She spun. “You coming?”

Her dancing light and carefree form was too much to resist. But he wasn’t stepping into the water in his suit pants. He loosened his belt.

When her eyes widened, he called out. “Turn around. Nothing to see here.”

She whirled around so fast he laughed. Wow, there was something to like in this beautiful energetic woman. Something with staying power. Not for the first time he wished he could spend more time with her.

He folded his suit pants carefully to preserve the crease, grateful he was wearing a good solid pair of compression shorts instead of underwear and then he pulled off his shirt. Before he could think twice, he was racing into the water, past her in a flurry of splashing waves that hopefully doused her completely and then dove into the ocean.

The cool water welcomed his tired frame and he took his time before surfacing. When he came up for air, she was right beside him.

“Do you often skinny dip with strangers?”

“This doesn’t count. These shorts are as good as any speedo.”

“Hmm.” A wave rolled under them. He kicked off the sand to ride the top of it as it went past. “The water is gorgeous.”

“It really is. There is nothing in all the world like the Mediterranean.” She dove into the next wave and came up smoothing her hair back. “This feels nice.”

He moved closer but she scooted back and laughed with her hand up. “I left my dress on the beach. I was wearing a Valenti. Not about to dunk that.”

“Is that a designer?”

“A very specific designer. Yes.”

“So, what are you wearing…now?” With a laugh, he pretended he could see down into the dark water.

“Oh stop. It’s the same as a bikini. Just stay over there where you belong.”

“You’re making the first moves here. I’m just here for the swim.” He swam a few strokes further out. “How far is it shallow?”

“We have at least another thirty yards. He’s got the best property on this island.”

“He seems like a great guy. I’m going to like working with him.”

“Do you think you will come here often?”

“I don’t know.” He glanced at her twice, but she wasn’t looking into his face. “Would you be happy if I did?”

Then she had his full attention. She swam a little closer. “Would I be happy to see more of you?” She studied him, her face half shaded and half lit from the moon. “Yeah, I think I would. But I’m not here very much.”

He reached for her hand and tugged her closer. “I’d be happy to see a little more of you too.” She stood close, near enough he could pull her up against his chest if he wanted to. And he wanted to. But something held him back. Instead. He raised her hand to his lips. The salty water felt sharp on his tongue as he kissed her knuckle.

Then something bumped his leg. “What the…” He stepped aside, looking all around him in the water.

She sucked in a breath. “Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.” She gripped his arm. “There’s a whole school of them.”

“Uh…what exactly?” He could see nothing in the dark water and nothing on the surface.

But she pointed and a few feet from them, in the light of the moon, a view into the water showed a huge amount of darker shapes swimming underneath.

“Do you think they’re all around us here?”

“Or they will be soon. We should head in.”

“Why? What is it?”

“Oh, nothing, not sure. But we should move in.”

Then movement picked up. He could see puckers and rolling on the surface of the water and feel something rushing around his legs. Then a whole line of fish leapt into the air.

“Now! We should get to shore now!” She started running toward the sand.

He leapt beside her, put an arm around her waist and pushed them through the water, keeping her as close as possible.

The fish leapt and moved around them, their bodies hitting his legs, their fins cutting him as his thighs began to burn.

Something larger splashed behind them. “Run!” She screamed and he glanced back over his shoulder to see a dorsal fin way too close. And then another a little further away.

“Sharks?” He swallowed. Hungry, feeding sharks? He stepped with longer strides and they both leapt out onto the sand. He whipped around, looking at the water behind them. More than just two dorsal fins circled, and the fish were going crazy. He tried to catch his breath as he stared in half horror. “Were we almost shark dinner?” he turned to her.

A stunning Coral stared back with wide eyes. She looked amazing, her skin glistening in the moonlight. Her body was tight and curvy and he forced his eyes to stay glued to her face.

“I don’t know. I mean, they prefer fish. So it’s likely they would keep eating the fish?” She shrugged and then turned her attention back to the water.

They watched fish leaping in the air, sharks circling in the moonlight until the water became still once again.

Coral wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

“You’re cold. I’m sorry. I should have offered my shirt immediately. I’m just sitting here not knowing what to do about what just happened.” He stood, brushing the sand from his hands. Then he reached for his shirt. “Wear this.” He turned away while he handed it to her. It seemed better than watching her dress.

She patted the sand. “Here, sit a moment. The sand is still warm.”

He joined her and it was. His skin had dried and so the extra sand was falling off and it all felt nice against the growing chill.

“Today has been the strangest day of my life.”

He nodded, then laid back in the sand, staring up at the stars. “For me too. But it’s ending pretty great.” He side eyed her and she looked back over her shoulder for a moment before joining him, staring up into the sky.

He could think of a lot worse days.