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"As tedious and impossible as that is," he said, "it would beelboith a bunch of wanna be movers and shakers But duty soaped, her reaction instantaneous, her processing skills fully recovered She ht not approve of her father wholeheartedly, but she loved hiht?"

"Ah," Julie said "I think I should say ‘Oops’ here because I thought you two had officiallythat’s not the case"

Royce’s far too sensual lips curved slightly "Nice to finallyhis hand to Lauren "Though we’ve certainly crossed paths at a few events"

She ignored his hand "You kneho I was but you still made that comment about ht, I suggested he cancel this monkey-suit event and have a fa the beer and my brothers for entertainment He wasn’t interested So yes, I kneho you hen I made the comment"

"You told my father" She shook her head "Did you really?"

He held up two fingers "Scout’s honor And while I was never a scout, I was in the FBI for 7 years, so that’s close enough"

"And how did estion?"

"He told et your ass to hed "Oh my God That’s so my father You really did tell him that"

"I’otiator" He held out his hand "Shall we try again? Nice to meet you, Ms Reynolds"

She liked him He was so different from, well, everyone else here, and actually, quite like Julie She slipped her pal awareness that rushed up her ared, and to her disht her knuckles to his lips, his gorgeous blue eyes lifting to hers "Lauren," he repeated softly, before releasing her hand, and ain like she’d never wanted to be touched before

"I see someone I need to talk to," Julie said "I’ll be back in a few" With a turn, and a covert wink at Lauren that said she’d just made up the ‘someone to talk to’ as an excuse to leave Lauren alone with Royce, she disappeared

Royce leaned an elbow on the bar "How long have you two been friends?"

"Five years," she said, happy to have a comfortable subject to talk about "We met our last year of law school" Lauren pushed herself up on a bar stool and crossed her legs, her dress riding up a bit above the knee, which she quickly righted

Royce’s eyes dropped to follow the action, and a combination of nervousness and awareness rushed over her "You two see to hers, his elbow settling on the bar

"And that’s bad?"

"Not bad," he said "Just unique Typically people are who they hang out with But I guess you’re both attorneys, so that’s a coive the time of day to," Lauren corrected "Julie and I share basic values about what is right and wrong and a passion for helping people Those things are more comet to practice law"

He arched a brow "Isn’t she a divorce attorney?"

"She’s passionate about getting people out of bad es and into a new life It’s not alhat you do to make a difference, it’s that you really try to n pitch to uess," she said dryly "You heard I was running for office froave a quick nod, and she shook her head "Of course you did I love ret that But no matter howto happen As in, ever Under no circumstances" She lowered her voice "My life has been completely my father’s in so many ways because of his public position That ends the day he leaves his office You have no idea how much I crave that day" The confession was out before she could stop it She had no idea why she revealed such a thing to thisback

He stared down at her, studying her with unnerving intensity, as if he was reading her soul He, and her confession, were inescapable And so she found herself doing the saly different from anyone she’d ever been with before The air expanded around them, shifted, thickened The rest of the room faded away, lost to a sudden, intense crackle of electricity "I think," he said softly, "that I’d like to knowwonderful, wild, and wicked stirred inside her with his words, with the heat in his expression – so wild, wicked, and oh so unfaravitated towards because it was expected of her There was nothing safe about hi on her feelings sent a rush of tension through her She bit her lip and cut her gaze to his chest She ht be confident in a courtroom, but she wasn’t Julie; she wasn’t a seductress who kne to bring a man to his knees She had Royce Walker’s attention and she didn’t knohat to do with it