I can't speak. The look on his face, the tone of his voice, those things convince me he's not doing this for revenge. He genuinely wants to be with me.
And he feels so good pressed against me.
He feathers his lips over mine. "Have dinner with me, Elena. In my hotel suite."
"What will we do after dinner?"
One side of his mouth kicks up. "I'll leave that to your imagination."
I swallow, but my throat still feels tight. A forbidden affair with my boss's ex-husband? That's not like me at all, but I want this man. Want him like crazy. He's right about Raisa abusing her position, so maybe that gives me a great excuse to take what I want and not feel bad about it.
"Come on," he whispers, his voice so sexy it makes my tummy flutter. "Take a chance."
"You've already used that pun. Try coming up with a new one."
"How about this?" He backs up a step, depriving me of the sensation of his body against mine. "Roll the dice, because Chance will always be on your side."
I can't help smiling. "How can I say no to that?"
"Does that mean yes?"
"Mm-hm." I lunge forward to plant a firm but quick kiss on his lips. "Yes, Chance, I will have dinner with you."
He releases a gusty breath, his shoulders sagging. "Thank you."
It's so cute how relieved he is, but I'm forced to make him a little unhappy. "But we can't do it until Friday. We've got all those cases you need to catch up on, and you need to prepare for depositions and that injunction hearing and---"
Chance raises a hand, nodding and sort of frowning. "Yes, you're right. All of that takes precedence, which is damn irritating. Promise me we will have dinner Friday night."
"I might have to work over the weekend too."
"But we can take one night off." He leans in again, his lips ghosting over mine. "Say you'll be mine Friday night. Please, Elena."
Suddenly, I have trouble catching my breath. With him so close, smelling so good, I can manage only one word. "Yes."
He grins. And then he kisses me again, even hotter and longer than before, leaving me as warm and soft as a caramel candy in the sun. It feels wonderful.
We go back to work, and though I get my job done like I should, my mind keeps creating images of what Friday night might be like.
Chapter Seven
Chance
For the next two days, I have a hell of a time concentrating on work. I get to see Elena even more than I'd hoped, since she's helping me prepare for depositions and all those other things that sounded so important a few days ago but now seem inconsequential. But I'll take any excuse to spend time with her. We have lunch together on Thursday at Elena's favorite spot, where we have waffles, her favorite, and I tease her about eating breakfast for lunch.
I love teasing Elena. And I love that she teases me too.
When Friday finally arrives, I find myself checking the clock---any clock, wherever I am, from the one on my mobile to the one in Times Square---to see if it's time for my date with Elena yet. Tonight, I'll have her in my bed. Finally. I've had her in an elevator, but this will be our first real date and our first time making love in a soft bed with silk sheets.
I know she'll look stunning with her naked body stretched out on that bed.
We don't get to have lunch together. Elena is at the law library again, and she took a lunch with her, in another of those depressingly brown paper bags. I have pizzas delivered to the office for the paralegals and interns, and some of the other attorneys join me in eating with them. Raisa does not.
Twenty minutes after we finish lunch, Elena returns to the office. I hear her lovely voice, though I can't tell what she's saying to her coworkers. I wait a few minutes, to let her settle in at her desk, then I call Elena into my office. While I wait for her, I darken the glass wall between my office and the cubicle farm until it's opaque. No one will think that's odd, since I often darken the glass for privacy. And I need privacy for what I have in mind.
I'm leaning against the window frame when she walks in.
She lowers her sweet arse onto the chair across the desk from me. "What can I help you with? More research?"