Excerpt 1:
Luckily, my phone rings at the perfect moment.

“Excuse me, I have to take this. It might be important.”

I get up from the table and walk into the living room. When I pick up my phone and see his name flashing on the screen, I almost decide to drop the call and go back to the kids’ interrogation.

“Hey,” I greet him.

“Oh, hey,” Seth says. “I meant to call earlier, but I haven’t had a free moment. How’s everything going?”

“All good.”

“Are you sure?”

“We’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

“Oh, but I’m not worried about the children. I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

“I’m managing too.”

“You wouldn’t know it by your voice.”

“I’m just a bit…”

“Have they put you on trial?”

“With the help of my friend Paul.”

“Does he tell all your secrets?”

I only have one secret at the moment. The fact that your voice makes me feel so inexplicably good.

“Something like that.”

“I’d like to be there to hear them.”

I sigh at the thought of wanting the same.

“I can give you a summary when you get back.”

“I don’t want a summary. I want every detail.”

The way he says it sends a hot shiver down my spine.

“I’m not good with details, but I can do my best.”

A long, endless moment of silence, filled with his heavy breathing; then, Seth says, in his seductive voice, “I’m sure you will.”

 

Excerpt 2:
“I don’t know what… I’m not usually emotional.”

It’s bullshit. I’m usually so emotional. 

Why do I lie? Why do I care what he may think of me?

“Try taking deep breaths and drinking some more water.”

I do as he says while he takes off his glasses and lays them on the desk, revealing his beautiful green eyes to me. 

I had not noticed them before.

I have a weakness for green eyes.

And I have a soft spot for strong men, with strong arms and tough looks, the kind you hope will be tender inside and in private and only with you.

Am I fantasising about my lawyer? 

“First, starting tomorrow, please switch to decaffeinated.”

“What? Oh, the coffee. Sure. Decaf. Duly noted. Sorry. I was distracted for a moment.”

“Second, stop apologising. You won’t go anywhere with that attitude.”

“Oh… O-okay, I’ll try.”

“Will you try?”

“I will do my best.”

He sighs, his face tense.

“They will tear you apart in court.”

How does he think this revelation will help my agitation?

“Work on it. A lot.”

“I will work on it,” I assure him.

“And third…”

Oh God! Is there also a third point? I don’t think I can even do the first two!

“I’m very sorry for your loss.”

“Oh.”

I didn’t expect this, and I don’t react well to unexpected things.

“Please don’t cry again.”

“I’m sorry.”

The lawyer gives me a dirty look.

“Oh god! I’m so, so sorry!”

He shakes his head several times, but I could swear I see him lifting one corner of his mouth.

“I’ll calm down, I swear.” I take another tissue and blow my nose again. “I can’t control my tongue and tears when I’m agitated. I will do my best to be careful. I solemnly promise.”

“I’m not comfortable with tears.”

“Oh, sure, I understand. I’m not comfortable with tears, either. Especially if they are my own.”

This time, he laughs. He can’t hide it!

Although it was not my intention to make him laugh, I must say that I don’t mind him in this role at all.

There. Another point against me.

Mr Kennedy can laugh, and he does it well. I don’t know if it’s possible to do it badly. I mean, that’s something positive in itself, isn’t it? Unless he laughs at me, then it becomes something else entirely.