If He Only Knew.... Debbi Rawlins

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СКАЧАТЬ on a second-story stage, and dancers with big blue twirling skirts.

      “Hi, do you have a reservation?” A pretty blonde, or she might have been had she not had both her nose and left eyebrow pierced and bolted, approached him.

      “I don’t think so.” He glanced around, hoping Sara had also arrived early.

      “Oops.” Sighing, the blonde consulted a list, using the tip of a bright pink fingernail that matched her short tight spandex dress. “We’re full up tonight.”

      “Thank you, anyway.” He’d wait outside and give Sara the bad news. Meanwhile, he’d get them another reservation.

      “Were you meeting someone?”

      He’d already started to leave and withdrawn his cell phone to call the hotel concierge. “Yes, but that’s all right.”

      “What’s the name?”

      “Sara Wells.”

      “Ah, yes. Chloe made a reservation for the two of you. The lady’s not here yet, though.” The woman smiled, and Cody caught a flash of a silver stud embedded in her tongue. “You can wait at the table or the bar.”

      Damn. He jammed his cell phone back inside his suit jacket. “The table, thank you.” He glanced over his shoulder toward the door, futilely hoping to see Sara, and then followed the blonde to a table in the back of the restaurant.

      Although the patrons were an odd assortment of yuppies and bohemian types, none appeared to be financially lacking. Judging by the abundance of Louis Vuitton and Chanel purses sitting on tables, and the gold Rolexes encircling many a wrist. Of course the accessories could all be knockoffs, or then again, supporting evidence of social climbing.

      God, he didn’t want to think that about Sara. But he wasn’t going to be taken for a fool, either.

      He sat down, taking the seat that faced the entry, and was promptly approached by a waitress who took his scotch order. While he waited, he glanced around and noticed that a young man was actually painting on a canvas while three others at his table watched. The abstract he worked on was actually pretty good. He couldn’t say the same for the acoustics. The music was too loud, and so was the laughter and chatter all around him. He’d wanted a nice, quiet dinner. One where he and Sara could talk.

      The waitress returned with his drink, but before he could ask her anything, he saw Sara heading toward him. A simple, sleeveless cream-colored blouse was tucked into the slim waist of her jeans, and her blond hair seemed slightly wilder than he remembered her wearing it. Longer, too, skimming her shoulders. She looked so beautiful.

      He started to rise but she waved for him to stay seated. To his amazement, his heart beat faster the closer she got to him. That hadn’t happened since he was twenty. In court, at times, while awaiting a verdict. But he hadn’t been this attracted to a woman since…

      Since that damn kiss.

      “Traffic was brutal,” she said as she pulled out a chair and gracefully sat down. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

      “Just got here. And I’m early.” He’d forgotten how much he liked her lilting Southern accent. Not too pronounced. Soothing. Which was odd, because accents generally annoyed him.

      She glanced at her watch, frowned and then promptly lowered her wrist and smiled. “Interesting place, huh?”

      “That’s an understatement.”

      She looked past him, her gaze narrowing as it flitted around.

      “It’s got a lot of energy.” He caught their waitress’s eye as she served drinks at another table and she gave him a nod.

      “I’ll say.”

      “You seem surprised.”

      She shifted, clearly uncomfortable, but only shrugged a shoulder. “I was getting my hair done when you called and I asked my hairdresser for a recommendation.”

      “Ah. I like it.”

      “What?”

      “Your hair.”

      “Oh.” She absently tugged at a curl that wound its way toward her cheek. “Not my usual.”

      “No,” he agreed. At work she’d always worn her hair in a sleeker style, one he normally preferred on women. But this sexy tousled look suited her heart-shaped face and contradicted those clear, innocent blue eyes. “So where do you usually go?”

      “Me?”

      He smiled. “Yes.”

      Sara gave a self-deprecating shake of her head, her lips curving. “I don’t go out much.”

      He found that hard to believe. She had to have a lot of dates. “Really?”

      She briefly met his eyes and then turned her attention to the waitress who’d finally shown up. Sara ordered white wine, and then changed her mind and asked for a frozen margarita. “Dakota got me hooked on those,” she said as the waitress walked away. “How is she, by the way?”

      “Great. Busy as usual.”

      Sara’s gaze narrowed. “So what are you doing in Atlanta?”

      “Representing a client.”

      “I didn’t think you ever left New York.”

      He smiled. Basically, that was true.

      “Seriously. I would’ve thought you’d have sent Matthew or Sterling.”

      “Yes, well…” Of course he should have. Everyone in the office was probably wondering the same thing. Dakota had been the only one to call him on his decision to come himself. She’d even had the nerve to ask if Sara was the reason. As if he’d let his personal feelings influence a professional decision. “The guy I’m representing…his father is an important client and he’s called in a favor. His son’s gotten himself into a little trouble that’s become too public.”

      She seemed to tense, her pink-tinted lips tightening as she leaned forward. “Anyone I would know?”

      The local papers had already run the story so it wasn’t a matter of maintaining confidentiality. Her reaction, however, made him hesitate. He shook it off. What difference could it possibly make? “Harrison Manning Junior.”

      “Ah.” She relaxed back in her chair. “I read something about him in the newspaper. He’ll never see the inside of a courtroom.”

      “Not if I do my job,” he said, confused at the flash of anger in her eyes. “Do you know him?”

      “He’s in the Journal a lot. This isn’t the first time he’s gotten himself in a mess.”

      That was news to him. “Really?” Cody picked up his drink and took a sip while studying her over the rim, his curiosity piqued. This was supposed to be a slam dunk case.

      She blushed a pretty pink, then shook her СКАЧАТЬ