As a lawyer, I’m used to discovery, but I never saw this one coming.Every day, River gives me ten reasons to stay away, and then eleven reasons why I can’t. Our relationship was to remain strictly business, or at least I tried.Four years of marriage, and everything with Cole has changed. I never knew two people who lived together could be so distant. But I’m not ready to give up on him.
One man wants to break me.
The other is just trying to get even.
Both are lying to me.
“What?” he asks, leaning his elbows on the table.
“This,” I say, gesturing between us, “would never last more than one day.”
The ultra-cocky grin he had on his face the first day I met him in my office is back. “You might think that, but there’s something I know that you haven’t figured out yet.”
“And what’s that?”
He closes some of the space between us. “Every inch of your perfect little body is aching to know what my hands would feel like. Every. Fucking. Inch. You hold a shield up, thinking it will keep me away, but there’s nothing I don’t see.”
My mouth hangs open. He’s so wrong, but he’s so right. River is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. He’s untouchable—unobtainable—and I’m married. The holes in my marriage have led me to think about things—him—in a way I normally wouldn’t. When Cole touches me, he just doesn’t reach deep enough. It’s left a void. I hate to admit it, but that’s just the way things are.
Before I can come up with a rebuttal, the waitress brings us our plates and sets them in front of us. Staring down, I pretend my salad is the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen. The strawberries and blueberries make it pretty.
“Did I strike a nerve?” he asks, sliding the plate of fries so they’re within my view.
“You’re on every single one of them.”
He laughs sadistically. “But I’m right.”
“You’re wrong. I wouldn’t let you near me even if I were single.” I pick up a piping hot fry and carefully bite into it.
“If you were single, I guarantee I’d have you in my condo naked right now.”
