He took a step toward her. “How about ‘I have no statute of limitations when it comes to making you feel good’?”
From the deep, compelling tone of his voice Alisha inherently knew he was telling the truth. “I’ve never heard that one before.”
“That’s because I just made it up. I can be pretty quick on my feet.”
She was surprised her feet were still holding her up. “Very creative, Counselor. And to quote another cliché, I don’t want to end up as another notch on your bedpost.”
He sighed, a rough one. “Why is it that women always think men have ulterior motives?”
“Probably because they do.”
“Believe it or not, my reasons for inviting you over don’t have anything to do with sex.” He rubbed a hand over his nape. “What if I told you that I could just use a friend?”
She could tell him she related to that on a very personal level. “I’m sure you have plenty of friends.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to know who your friends are in this business.”
How true, Alisha thought. “I’m not sure we can really be friends.”
“Sure we can.” He moved a little closer. “We can have a friendly conversation, like we’ve been doing since the first time we met.”
“Friendly? You call telling me my car was a piece of junk when I asked you about a mechanic the other day friendly?”
“And then you told me in explicit detail where I could drive it.”
“True, but you deserved it.”
Daniel shrugged. “I think you take everything too seriously.”
“And you don’t?”
“Yeah, most of the time, but not around you. Beats the hell out of me why you bring out that side of me.”
Exactly what Joe had said earlier. “That’s because I’m not like most women you know. I don’t automatically swoon in your presence.” It took great effort on her part not to do that.
“To be honest, I like that about you. That’s why I want to spend some time with you. We can watch the fireworks from my living room window. Do you see a problem with that?”
Alisha saw a big problem—namely she’d be sorely tempted to climb all over him if he moved even a millimeter closer. “For all intents and purposes we’re opponents.”
“We’re not opposing each other on any case.”
“We could in the future.”
“I’m not concerned about the future. I’m only thinking about tonight.”
How tempting it would be to take him up on his offer. How very, very tempting. But Daniel Fortune’s status as an unflappable attorney was second only to his rep as an in-demand lover.
He took another slow step toward her. “Do you really want to spend the rest of the evening alone, Alisha?”
She didn’t want to react so strongly to the way he’d said her name, but she did. “I’ve been alone before.”
“So have I, but it’s New Year’s Eve. People shouldn’t spend the holiday alone if they have other options. Unless you’re involved with someone.”
“Not currently.”
“Then I don’t see any real harm in it. Nothing complicated. Just two friends seeing in the new year together.”
Alisha hadn’t really viewed him as a friend per se, but he wasn’t a seedy stranger. After all, he’d made it his life’s work putting criminals behind bars. In that regard, he was safe. His magnetism…well, that was another thing altogether.
But she truly didn’t want to be alone. Not tonight. She would keep a tight grasp on her control. She would go to Daniel Fortune’s apartment and take her chances. “Do you have any wine?”
His gorgeous grin heralded success. “If I do, then you’ll come home with me?”
“Yes. To watch the fireworks and have a drink.”
“You’re welcome to check out my bedpost for notches.”
She didn’t dare get anywhere near his bed. “No thanks.”
“I wouldn’t mind showing you my custom-made wet bar. Lots of shelves. And counter space.”
“Room enough for two, no doubt.”
“Probably so, with a little careful maneuvering.”
Alisha felt as if she’d been thrust into some unknown dimension. Maybe he did want to do her. Worse, she wanted to do him. Joe and Julie would be so proud. But caution spoke louder than carnal need. “Be careful, Counselor, or I’m going to rescind my offer.”
He looked somewhat contrite. “Sorry, but you walked right into that one.”
She only hoped that when she walked into his apartment she’d keep a choke hold on her hormones. “Where’s your car?”
“I’m on foot.”
She pointed to the lot across the street. “Mine’s over there. I’ll drive us.”
“Save your gas. We can walk it from here.”
Maybe walking wasn’t such a bad idea. Maybe then they’d be too tired to do anything that might be deemed risky. Maybe they should jog. “Okay, Counselor. Lead the way.”
And with only minimal second thoughts, Alisha accompanied Daniel Fortune to his condo, feeling as if tonight she might go anywhere he cared to take her.
Two
Daniel Fortune liked order, but tonight he’d invited chaos into his world in the form of five feet two inches of prime redhead with an attitude. The reasons he’d asked Alisha Hart into his home had been only partially true. Yeah, he could use a friend, because real friends were rare. But the truth of the matter was he wanted more than her friendship. He wanted her. He had since the first time he’d lain eyes on her. But the timing hadn’t been right back then, and timing could be everything. He needed to remember that, otherwise she’d be out of there quicker than he could say “I object.”
She wandered around his apartment for a few minutes, picking up various items to study them. Just when he was about to ask her to take off her coat and stay awhile, she pulled the black all-weather jacket from her shoulders and tossed it and her purse onto the club chair in the corner.
“You’re very neat,” she said as she ran her fingertips over the back of the steel-gray leather sofa.
“I like everything in its place.” Daniel liked having her in his place. He liked her sassy mouth. He liked the fact that she gave as good as she got. And he really liked the man-killing dress.
She strolled toward him and pointed behind him. “That is a nice wet bar.”
“Thanks. You ready for that wine now?”
“Sure.”
Turning his back to her, he took a glass from the marble shelf and pulled the bottle of merlot from the built-in wine rack. He could see her watching him from the mirrored wall behind the bar as he dislodged the cork and he hid a smile as her eyes tracked down his back and lower. She was checking out his ass. He had no problem with that. In fact, he’d be willing to give her a closer, unencumbered look if she asked.
After pouring the wine into the glass, he turned and her gaze zipped up to his face as he offered it to her. “Enjoy.”
She took the wine and a sip. “This is good. Aren’t you going to have some?”
“I don’t