Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
DALLAS
I held Audrey against me, savoring the feel of her lush, warm body.
I could've stayed there forever. We both lost control this time, and I didn't give a damn.
After a few minutes, the timer went off in the kitchen, and she lifted her head.
Her lips were swollen and puffy, her eyes still dark, and her hair a tumbled mess.
Damn. She was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen.
“I have to check on the lasagna,” she said softly.
“So you do.”
She slowly lifted herself, and I instantly missed being buried deep inside of her.
Not much later, we were sitting at the table, the fire flickering while we ate dinner.
I considered what Russ had said today, that perhaps I could make room in my life for more than work.
The crux was there was only one right woman, and I’d known that for years.
She sat across from me just now. I simply had to figure out if I could bridge the chasm between the limits I’d set for myself and what I wanted.
The following morning, I woke before Audrey and reluctantly rolled away from her.
Climbing out of bed, I had an almost visceral reaction to how much I wanted to stay there with her curled up warm and soft against me.
I took a quick shower, forcing myself to go downstairs and get to work.
Work would help me straighten out my head, or so I thought.
With a fresh cup of coffee, I dug into the wall of emails updating me on the investigation since my interview the other night.
My team had made another arrest in Connecticut.
This was how investigations often played out.
It was like dominoes. We’d catch a break and more would follow.
I was restless and antsy. Work usually kept me focused, yet I remained distracted.
Audrey and my feelings for her were sending me in loops in my mind.
Not long after I was up, I heard the shower running upstairs.
The moment I heard her footsteps on the stairs, my body was on alert in anticipation.
She came around the corner of the stairs into the archway and looked across the room.
Her dark hair was damp, her cheeks rosy from her shower.
“Good morning,” she said.
Molly's claws clicked on the hardwood floor when she trotted across the room, rubbing her head against my leg as I petted her. She wiggled madly, her tail thumping against the chair.
“Morning Molly,” I said, flashing a grin toward Audrey. “Nothing like a morning greeting from a dog.”
She laughed softly. “I smell coffee. Is there enough for me?” she asked.
“Of course.”
She turned away, passing into the kitchen and calling Molly’s name.
Whether or not Molly actually knew it was her name, she understood the tone and immediately walked into the kitchen.
I heard Audrey getting food for her. I tried to keep my attention on the screen, but my body was already on alert just having Audrey nearby.
She returned to the dining room, sliding into the chair across from me where she’d set up her own computer. I glanced over.
“What's the status with your job anyway?” I asked.
“Well, I had the month off either way, so I figured I'd deal with it when I get back. Like you, I'm checking email here and there.”
I’d never had a chance to talk with her about her legal career. I knew the basic details in passing from Thea, but I’d never inquired further. Not because I wasn’t curious, but because feeding my curiosity about Audrey had been off limits for me.
“All I know from Thea is you’re an Assistant Attorney General in the New York City office. Which division?” I asked.
She took a sip of coffee, swiping her tongue across her bottom lip and promptly distracting me. “I’m assigned to the Environmental Protection Bureau. I stay busy cracking the whip at businesses cutting corners,” she said with a quick grin.
“I bet you’re damn good at it. You never were one to back down from a fight.”
Her smile widened. “I’ll take that as a compliment.
It’s funny. It’s easy to think this work isn’t as difficult as the more hard core criminal stuff, but white collar crimes are nasty, and they fight dirty.
I don’t mind. I like buckling down for a long paper fight,” she said, lifting one shoulder in a light shrug.
“So you like it then?”
“I do. My job isn't quite as glamorous as the defense attorneys who can charge a fortune. But I prefer to try to make a difference. Most of my cases are definitely the little guy fighting the big guys,” she explained.
I suddenly had a ton of questions, realizing the wall I’d put up around hearing anything about Audrey had left too many blank spaces.
She took another sip of coffee, and all I could do was watch her full lips close over the edge of the mug, her tongue swiping across her lips again when she set her mug down.
My cock stiffened, and I shifted in my chair.
“How about you? Do you like your work?” she asked.
“I love it. It’s my life,” I said quickly.
As soon as I spoke, I realized my words were pure habit. I did love my job. I was damn good at it, and that meant something. Yet, Russ’ comments rustled in my mind.
Audrey was quiet for a beat and then nodded. “So you say. Thea worries you work too much.”
“Perhaps I do,” I managed with a shrug, beating back the emotion tightening my chest.
Audrey’s phone rang, breaking into the conversation.
I forced my attention back to my computer while she took a call from what sounded like something related to her various wedding cancellations.
Molly curled up on the floor where the sun fell through the windows.
I settled in to work, as did Audrey after she finished her call.
The morning passed quietly. At some point, I heard Audrey’s breath draw in sharply as I was returning from the kitchen with another coffee refill.
I glanced to her as I sat down. “Everything okay?”
She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before glancing back to me.
“It’s Matthew. He wants to argue about some of the wedding charges.
Not exactly a surprise. He's also emailing and saying he wants to talk again.
He didn't feel like it was fair you were there the other night.” She rolled her eyes.
“He's such a jerk. I wish I’d paid attention sooner. It sucks that it took him screwing one of my bridesmaids to get through to me.”
Aside from swearing up-and-down about what an asshole Matthew was, I didn't have much to offer, so I nodded. “Need more coffee?” I asked when she lifted her cup and set it down upon noticing it was empty.
“I can…”
The ringing of her phone interrupted her.
“You get that. I’ll get the coffee,” I said, standing quickly and snagging her mug.
When I returned to the dining room, she was on the phone arguing with Matthew.
“Matthew, don't…”
I didn't know what he said, but I could hear the muffle of his voice, loud enough it was clear he’d raised his voice. Inside of a millisecond, I was furious. I reached over and snagged the phone out of her hand.
“Dallas!” she hissed, her eyes flashing.
I shrugged. I didn't give a damn if she was pissed. I lifted the phone to my ear.
“Leave her alone,” I said clearly.
I ended the call and blocked the number before handing the phone back to her.
“I thought you blocked the number,” I said.
She nodded tightly. “I did. He's calling from a different number now. I can handle this, Dallas. Let me handle it,” she said firmly.
I stared at her, thinking I didn't want to let her handle any of it alone.
Realizing I didn't have a right to make that demand, I recalled all the times Thea told me I could be high-handed.
Right now, I didn't care to be anything other than that.
I told myself I would feel the same way even if I hadn't been buried deep inside of Audrey last night.
Yet, that was a fucking lie, and I damn well knew it.
I didn't answer her. I simply nodded and sat back down at my computer.