Chapter 3
cause of action
“That’s quite an outrageous offer, Counselor.” Jaime flushed lightly, flicking her index finger against the stem of her glass.
Olivia wanted to see more, no, she wanted to cause more such reactions in Jaime. “But not without merit?”
Jaime smiled and regarded Olivia with an inscrutable expression, her eyes dark, twin pools Olivia wanted to drown in.
She’d give a lot to be privy to Jaime’s thoughts right then. She was usually direct, but with Jaime, she worried her honesty might cause her to clam up and flee—the last thing Olivia wanted.
Jaime ran a fingertip over the rim of her glass. “Perhaps, but it would depend.”
“On what?” Olivia braced herself to avoid showing her relief at Jaime still playing along.
“How well you plead your case. I seem to recall you being quite…adept at making an argument stick.” Jaime smiled, the type of smile of someone who was way too pleased with themselves.
Olivia sat straighter, feeling a warm glow in her chest at Jaime thinking of her this way. “I suppose we won’t be needing an amicus curiae.”
Jaime chuckled, and the rough sound got to Olivia, only adding to the heat the evening had percolated so far.
“Do you have many references who would vouch for you in this particular area?” Jaime’s eyes glinted.
Olivia’s lips parted as the implication of her words sunk in.
Why on earth had she said that? In her defense, being in Jaime Lachlan’s presence always messed with her head.
She cleared her throat. “Not sure their opinions would be relevant, although I’ve never had any complaints.
” Heat crawled up her neck and flooded her cheeks, but she resisted the urge to duck her head.
“You are quite arresting when you flush.”
Olivia’s eyes widened.
“All right, what about the glaring conflict of interest?”
“I have no pending cases before you,” Olivia said.
“No, but your firm does, if I recall correctly. About a month from now, the Lanx case.”
“A month is a long time, and since I’m not assigned to it personally, I fail to see a conflict of interest.”
Jaime tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table. “I don’t do romance.”
Olivia snorted. “My proposal didn’t entail romance. More like a night of uninhibited fun with zero strings or future expectations.”
This time, Jaime lowered her head, once more seeming quite interested in the stack of papers next to her plate.
Olivia believed in pursuing what mattered to her, and while she was no stranger to one-night stands (she had a strong preference for no-strings-attached arrangements) women usually approached her.
She rarely had to put herself out there, and she had never been asked to plead her case why someone should sleep with her.
For all intents and purposes, she should get up and leave.
Yet here she sat, her brain churning over different strategies to win this argument.
Maybe that’s what it was all about—winning.
Getting one over Jaime Lachlan. And if such a win also included a night with the beautiful, intriguing woman, it seemed the uncharacteristic effort might just be worthwhile.
After all, she did enjoy reveling in the spoils of victory.
Yet could Jaime be a spoil? Olivia didn’t approach women for a reason, too cautious of the havoc romance could wreak.
All her life, she’d been focused on her profession—on providing for her family—avoiding fleeting matters of the heart that could distract her focus.
She’d seen enough friends completely lost and adrift after a cherished romance fell to pieces.
On the other hand, she wasn’t looking for romance, and Jaime seemed as unattainable as ever. But somehow, she didn’t fit into her usual category of indulgences.
“All right. Even if we’re just talking one night, we’re practically strangers. Doesn’t what you’re suggesting—allowing someone to ‘draw out your emotional instincts’—require a certain level of trust between the involved parties?”
“I suppose, though, it also depends. I wasn’t proposing to tie you up and have my way with you.” Heat slashed through Olivia. “Although now that I’m saying it…”
Jaime swallowed hard. “Don’t you think the opposing counsel would object by now?”
“Based on what?”
“Tempting the witness,” Jaime rasped.
Olivia laughed. “I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered such an objection. Has it ever come up in your courtroom?”
Jaime’s eyes crinkled. “Not that I recall.”
“Then the judge would likely overrule such an objection.”
“The fact that I haven’t experienced something is hardly enough reason to shelve an argument.”
“No, normally not, but in this case…” Olivia said.
“Yes?”
“Aren’t you judge and opposition? So, I guess you could decide as you wish.”
“That doesn’t seem fair. How could you ever hope to win if judge and opposition are one? Not to mention, it would violate due process,” Jaime said.
A heady rush of nerves slithered through Olivia. “Do you want me to win this case?” She dropped the register of her voice, and the resulting rise of color high in Jaime’s cheeks delighted her beyond measure.
“Maybe I’m trying to spare you an appeal.”
“That’s the same, isn’t it? I’d only file an appeal if I were to lose, and if you want to spare me, then you must wish for me to win.”
Jaime’s jaw tightened. “I’d say it’s more about fairness than any…wish fulfillment.” Her throat bobbed.
Olivia couldn’t suppress a grin as she reclined in her chair.
“An interesting term, Your Honor. To me, it would imply there is a wish to be fulfilled. I didn’t know you harbored such a fantasy, but I’m intrigued.
Care to elaborate?” Her fingers tingled, and while she still doubted Jaime would agree, their little game had her on edge, in the most delicious of ways.
Jaime narrowed her eyes. “Considering your earlier question started the procedure, I'd say if there was a wish to be fulfilled, it would be yours.”
“Obviously.” Olivia felt almost high—all earlier tiredness had evaporated in the excitement. She loved getting under Jaime’s skin. “You are a very striking woman.”
“I feel another objection should be coming.”
“Hmm. I’d say it should be overruled, as I’m merely stating a fact.”
Jaime chuckled. “Is this how you draw women into your bed?”
“Do you think I need to draw women into my bed?”
Jaime held her gaze, and Olivia struggled to keep from fidgeting while her heart battered her chest.
“No,” Jaime rasped. “I believe they follow you quite willingly.”
Olivia smiled.
“None of it applies to our situation, though, and these…precedents are moot to what we’re discussing.”
“True. In the end, it comes down to this: are you attracted to me, and if so, is it enough to take such a risk?”
Jaime leaned forward. “So, you concede accepting your offer poses a risk?”
“Not to me, no, but I acknowledge it does in your view, and that matters, too.” Olivia wanted it, a night with Jaime, more so than she’d ever confess, but only if it was also what Jaime wanted. She didn’t manipulate people, well, not in her private life.
“Why would it matter if all you’re looking for is some fun?”
Olivia canted her head. “Do you think I’m that callous?” Jaime’s earlier comment, ‘lawyers like you,’ rang in her mind.
“I’m not sure what I think of you. I don’t know you.”
“You never answered my question. Are you attracted to me?”
Jaime once more held her gaze.
The noise of the busy, increasingly crowded bar fell to the wayside as Jaime’s intense expression once again trapped Olivia, while she wondered if she was biting off more than she could chew.
“I wouldn’t still be sitting here otherwise,” Jaime’s voice, self-assured, almost bordering on arrogant, should be illegal.
Olivia struggled to keep her visceral reaction to the confession from showing on her face, but heat radiated through her. “In that case, are you prepared to rule on the matter?”
“Yes, I am.” Jaime signaled for their server, who arrived a moment later and rang them up.
They paid in silence, with Olivia a second away from jumping out of her skin.
Jaime rose, gazing at her expectantly. “Lead me to your room, Counselor. Let’s see if you can uphold your end of the bargain.”
It took more self-control than Olivia expected to rise in a measured manner, instead of jumping up, grabbing Jaime’s hand, and dragging her back to the hotel.
So far, this encounter painted outside all her lines, and while a part of her urged her to contemplate things further, her body, hot and wired with desire, yearned to push forward.
Besides, her usual tête-à-têtes didn’t involve one Jaime Lachlan, who’d been on Olivia’s radar—in one way or another—for the last five years.
How utterly pathetic, really. At least it wasn’t something she’d ever share with Jaime.
“What exactly is your part in it?”
Jaime smiled before stepping closer, so close Olivia caught a whiff of her perfume, something earthy and appealing. “I’ll let you have your way with me,” she whispered near Olivia’s ear.
Olivia almost swayed. Good Lord. She might be in over her head, but she’d never admit that either.
Instead, Olivia straightened and threw a self-assured smile at Jaime—project confidence even, or especially, when you don’t feel it. The attitude had gotten her through so much, and people were rarely ever the wiser.
“I like the way you think.” And with that, they left the bar and headed back to the hotel.