Make Me Want. Katee Robert

flushed at the memory and she took a shaky sip of wine.

      What was the protocol for greeting a man who’d used his fingers to make her come on his couch the night before? They weren’t dating, so a kiss seemed inappropriate. They weren’t even really friends anymore, so a hug was likely presumptuous. A handshake was just absurd.

      Gideon saved her from having to decide by sitting before she had a chance to stand. He shot a look at the host. He probably meant it as a polite dismissal, but it actually looked scathing. Lucy watched the man nearly run from the table. “You really have to work on your attitude.”

      “My attitude is fine.”

      “Without a doubt, but you have a very intimidating persona. You know most women judge a man by how he treats the waitstaff on their first date—and you would have just nixed the possibility of a second date and we haven’t even had appetizers yet.”

      Gideon raised his eyebrows. “Good day in court, I take it.”

      “We’re not talking about me.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. Enjoying poking at him a little. “Though that was a very smooth change of subject.”

      The corners of his lips twitched upward. “Yes, it was. We’re not here to talk about my dating prospects. We’re here to talk about yours.” He looked up as a waiter approached and she actually saw the effort he put into forcing a smile. It looked downright pained, but it was better than nothing. “I’ll have a seven and seven.” He glanced at her half-full wineglass. “Another?”

      “Sure.” She didn’t drink more than two glasses often, but she’d busted her ass on today’s case and the judge had been persuaded to dismiss the entire thing. It was a coup that should have been the tipping point for her promotion, but when Rick Parker had come by her office to congratulate her, he’d made a comment about the big, broody man who’d been in to see her yesterday. Because, of course, who she was or wasn’t dating was just as important as her professional skill set.

      Well, damn it, Parker’s crappy attitude wasn’t going to ruin her night.

      “Tell me about the case.”

      She almost refocused the conversation, but the truth was that she didn’t have anyone to talk to about it. Her sister was supportive and wonderful, but Becka had her own thing going on and couldn’t be less interested in law. Get together for drinks and chat about life and what their parents were up to? Sure. Hash out the details of whatever case Lucy was working on? Not a chance. And Gideon actually looked interested.

      She picked up her wineglass. “I got the entire case thrown out today. All they had was circumstantial evidence and a bad attitude about my guy’s priors. They were so certain he did the crime, they didn’t look at anyone else. Anyone on the outside would have come to the same conclusion, but it’s always a crapshoot with Judge Jones.”

      “That’s great, Lucy. Congrats.”

      “Thanks.” She smiled and then took a drink. “How was your day?”

      “Productive.” He leaned over and pulled a tablet out of his briefcase. “I have some things to show you.”

      Disappointment coated her tongue when he slid the tablet across the table to her. They’d barely gotten their conversation started and now they were back to business. You hired him as a business decision. You don’t get to have it both ways. It wasn’t fair to ask him to go back to being her friend along with her being his client.

      She picked up the tablet and found pictures of three men. She clicked on the first one—a blond guy with a close-cropped beard and a seriously expensive suit—and found a file. “‘Aaron Livingston, born May thirteenth...’” He’d compiled a list of information ranging from where Aaron was born to where he graduated high school and college—and his GPA at both. There was also a notification about possible likes and dislikes. “Wow, Gideon. You really don’t do anything halfway, do you?”

      He had compiled the same information for each of the other two men. Interestingly enough, all three of them were local and had gone to prestigious business colleges, graduating close to the top of their class. All three had moved on to respected companies and seemed to be doing well for themselves.

      Using their information and ignoring their pictures, she wouldn’t have been able to pick any of them out of a lineup. “This... Wow.”

      “You said that already.” He frowned. “Is something wrong? I assumed that you were looking for someone in the same financial class as you, and leaning toward white-collar businessmen. That is why you came to me, correct?”

      Yes, at least in theory. In reality, this whole thing was playing out much differently than she’d expected. It didn’t make a bit of sense, especially because it was proceeding exactly how she’d hoped. “No, it’s fine. They’re excellent candidates.”

      Seeing them laid out like this, the situation just became so much more real. In a very short period of time she’d be sitting across the table from one of these men, rather than Gideon. She’d be torturing herself with wondering if they’d kiss her after dinner—if maybe they’d expect more to happen.

      I’m not ready.

      She took a gulp of her wine. “Can we get dinner to go?”