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

Chapter 7

“Thank you for doing what you did today.” She snorted. “And for following me into shark infested waters. I had no idea. I swear.”

“Mm. Hmm.” He shook his head. And then he started to laugh, his body shaking on the inside.

Coral could feel his laughter beside her. And she couldn’t help but join in. “When you woke up this morning, did you write in your agenda, terrorist attack, royal karaoke party, and then run from sharks?” She snorted, then doubled forward as her stomach clenched in laughter. It was as if all the tension, the stress and build from the day, from the week, from many weeks of contention with her parents just came rolling out of her in waves. When she rolled back to lay flat, Rand’s shoulder was cushioning her head.

“This is nice.” She scooted closer. “It really is a great way to end this day.” The sound of the waves crashing in front of them, the moon lighting the air, the soft breeze and the warm sand made her much bolder than she otherwise would have been. She turned sideways and rested her hand on his chest. “Thank you. As ridiculous as it all sounds after the fact, I’m really glad you were here today.”

“Even if I didn’t let you stay and talk legal business with my clients?”

She was quiet for a long time, because now that he mentioned it, she was still salty about being asked to leave the room. “I just don’t think you can assume I would not have belonged in that space.”

“I think it’s safe to assume you did not. Are they your client?”

“If the client doesn’t care…”

“But he did care. It was the client who asked you to leave, if you recall.”

She sat up. “Because you advised him to.”

“As his attorney, that was my job.” He sat up also and their faces were much closer than she expected, but she didn’t back away.

“I get that. But your tone. Your whole.” She waved a hand over him. “Self. You turned into this clipped, sharp boss guy.” Her mouth twitched but she fought her smile.

“Boss guy?” He reached a hand out to catch her hair that was rising in the wind. “Do you like Boss guys?”

“Not usually.”

“But this boss guy?” He inched closer. He was glorious without a shirt in the moonlight. And everything about the evening was intoxicating.

“I like this boss guy.” She lifted her chin. His mouth was so close. “Except for a couple hours earlier.”

His smile grew. “And then you didn’t like him?”

“Not really, no.”

“And now you do?”

His breath tickled her lips, the softest puff left her yearning to close the gap, but she waited. “I guess we’ll see.”

His lips brushed hers in the smallest touch of friction. She closed her eyes, and then his mouth covered hers, his lips soft, with a hint of seawater teasing her senses. And heaven help her, she could not stay angry with this man. Angry was the farthest thing from her mind as all thought sort of melted into one. He pulled her bottom lip in between his teeth and then she lowered to the sand with him.

He cradled her head with one arm, his face above hers, their kiss growing in a slow intensity. Her fingers played across his shoulder.

And then the water rushed up and drenched their feet.

She called out, but he covered her mouth again, the water receding.

Rand kissed her a moment longer.

And then they stood. “Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.” Rand placed a hand behind Coral’s back and stepped further in toward shore as another wave inched closer.

“Tide must be coming in. I’m surprised.” Coral enjoyed Rand’s touch, but not his guiding insistence that they move away from the water. She stepped to the side so that there was more distance between them and then hurried up to where she’d left her dress.

They dressed side by side, not saying much. Her wet feet were now caked in sand but she slipped her dress back on carefully and then held out his shirt. “Not that I want you to put it back on…” Her smile was slow, purposeful. She wiggled his shirt out in front of him and then moved it just out of reach when he went to take it.

“What are you doing here, little lady? I thought we were getting dressed…or did you have other plans?” His eyebrow rose and wiggled just enough to make her laugh.

“I’m just messing with you. We’ve already done all my other plans might entail.” She held the shirt behind her which made him have to stand right in front of her. “I don’t usually make out with strangers on the beach.”

“But am I really a stranger? I think once you go through a national crises together, you skip right to…” He reached out behind her, his chest pressing up against her and grabbed his shirt.

“Right to what?” She dared him to name them, to label what they were.

But he just looked down into her face, his eyes caressing her just a bit and then tapped her nose. “Right to this.” His mouth spread into a wide grin, eyes all tease. Then he slipped his arms into his shirtsleeves, thankfully leaving it unbuttoned to flutter in the breeze. She reached down and grabbed her heels as they made their way back to the stairs and toward the house.

Waves of attraction rolled off of him. They had chemistry. But that wasn’t everything. And she really wasn’t the type to be kissing any man on the beach, stranger or no. She was just going to chalk this whole evening up to post trauma and give herself some grace. She glanced at him again, his abs, well defined, his profile sharp and his lips soft. She’d do it again. Her smile grew. No one would blame her, and he certainly knew that there could be no expectations. Though she might not mind a phone call or two. “I don’t even know where you live.”

“Do we want to go there?” He stopped and turned to her. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, but it willfully freed itself immediately. “I don’t know where you live either.” He waited, watching her. The moon was behind his face so she could see nothing in the shadows that so easily hid his feelings.

“I mean, I asked.” She smiled. But then held up a hand. “But maybe you’re right. You know where to find me. If you reach out in the next few weeks, I’ll have some fond memories come rushing back to keep me warm.” She laughed. “And if not, I’ll still have the memories.” She let her eyes linger all over him and then turned again to walk toward the house.

His laugh was low and enticing. Before she knew what was happening, his hand was on hers, she was whirled back and, in his arms, his mouth kissing her all over again.

She leaned into him, her shoes dropped once again to the sand, her fingers moving along his warm skin to his shoulders.

He paused and then kissed her one more time. “Just in case you needed a few more memories.” His hand slipped down her arm, sending a cascade of goosebumps. Their fingers laced together like they’d been holding hands for years.

Coral lifted her hand to wave to the security cameras.

“What are you doing?” Rand followed her gaze.

“Just waving at Lucan. I’m sure he will personally scan the tapes after a day like today.”

He waved too and then dipped his chin. “Can they hear us too?”

“I don’t think so? But you never know. Lucan is the best at what he does.”

“And this doesn’t concern you? All the surveillance?”

She shrugged. In truth, it bothered her a lot. One of the main reasons she’d decided to pursue a law degree in the USA was to gain a bit of privacy. “Princess, remember?” She winced. The moment she dreaded in every dating relationship, reminding the man that she had her own set of complications.

He just nodded. Then he swung their hands together. “Thank you for tonight.”

“And for today.”

When they stepped back into the house, music beat out from the smaller party room just like before. But she paused. “I’m going to head back to the rooms. I think I’m done with that for tonight.”

“I’ll walk you there.”

He didn’t say the words with any meaning, they weren’t meant to communicate anything other than the face value, were they? Was he hoping to be invited in? They walked side by side, Rand looking totally unaffected while a storm raged inside Coral. But when they arrived at her door, he simply pulled her into a hug. “I’m so glad you were safe today.” And then nodded, turned and left her at the door.

She wouldn’t have invited him in, but now she was left completely unsettled. Didn’t he want to come in? Had she done something to turn him off? Was he unimpressed? She pushed open her door, shaking her head. She could not begin a series of endless what-if ruminations.

Sleep came easier than she expected and morning brought messengers from her parents. They were coming with demands that she leave immediately. They no longer thought her safe unless with their own country.

That clinched things for Coral. She was packed and on an airplane headed the opposite direction before most of the rest of the house was awake. She had a moment of regret in not saying goodbye to Rand, but like he had said, did they really want to know about their own real lives? Apparently, he did not. It didn’t stop her from checking her phone multiple times on the flight over, but nothing ever showed up from Rand.