But I had to say, not even my boss lived quite like this. ‘Course she wasn’t one of the founders of the firm, and she hadn’t been around as long as Steve had. But she was still doing okay. I’d been to her house, after all.
Damn. Cato wanted out of the law firm. I never would have guessed that, not in a million years. He’d always seemed to love his work. But I had to say…it made me like him even more, that he had other interests and wasn’t driven entirely by the money. I could totally see him working in nonprofit, maybe running some sort of agency, or even being their in-house counsel. He wouldn’t get paid the same, but he had simple tastes. He’d do just fine.
And maybe even be happier. Nothing wrong with that.
We’d finished up a cooked-to-perfection filet mignon served to us by Steve’s cook—how many people had someone freaking cook for them?—who was now laying out some kind of homemade ice cream thing with espresso coffee poured over the top. It had an Italian name I would never remember, but it was beyond delicious.
“So what are you going to do about Eva’s mandate?” Cato asked.
Hmmm. How much to tell him…?
“I don’t know. What would you do if you were me?” I asked.
Ha. Deflection.
He sat back in his dining chair, head tilted while he studied me.
“I have an idea,” he said.
I wasn’t sure why, but my heart started to thump. And the room grew warm.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Well, you could date me,” he said matter-of-factly, as someone might announce rain was coming.
And there it was. The elephant in the room.
When you’re friends with someone for years, have lunch and drinks every week, cry on each other’s shoulders about dating and such, it seemed as though something like this was bound to happen—a growing affection. How could it not?
Because it sure was for me. And it looked like it might be for Cato.
“You think I should date you, do you?” I asked, my voice shaking.
He shrugged. “Yup. You would if you were smart, anyway.”
Whoa. He was going for it.
“Well, I guess we’re gonna find out if I’m smart.”
Why not have a little fun?
“Look,” he said, “I know you have another guy you’re dating. Actually, maybe even more than one. I’d like you for myself, but I am patient. But if you’re going to date around, I think you should give me a chance, along with anyone else you’re seeing.”
He walked over to my side of the table and reached for my hand. I stood and followed him to the sofa, where our evening had started. Somewhere along the line, Mel had lit a fire in the living room fireplace. The room was toasty, and after the bubbly, I didn’t have a care in the world. No job crap, no sister crap, and best of all, no dating crap. I was relaxed and ready for a good time as I sank into the plushy sofa.
I reached for his hand.
“I think that is a fair request, Mr. Cato Lowell.” God, I wanted to kiss him so badly just then. So I figured I would. No time like the present, and all that…
I leaned toward him, and he tilted back for a split second, not something a girl wants to see when she’s trying to be gutsy. While I tried to figure out w
hat to do next, he must have screwed up his own courage, because before I knew it, I was enjoying his mouth on mine.
Bingo.
God, he felt good. I wanted him to drink me until there was nothing left. There was something so magical—and comforting—about falling for someone you trusted so much and knew so well.
Never mind that I’d been with the other guys just before. But it didn’t matter. I wouldn’t let it. Cato’s touch was fresh and new. Really, all of them were so totally different and yet so completely magical. Special. Beautiful.