Chapter 203 Chapter 203

Chapter 203 Chapter 203
Interesting approach.

“Shall we talk?”

Wynter moved so he could take his rightful place behind his desk.

When she sat, her chair tipped sideways, and she had to catch herself so she didn’t fall off the seat.

“More reminders to keep yourself humble?”

Remaining on the cushion would require all her ab strength.

“Or to discourage visitors?”

“If there are people in my office, it means both of us are wasting time.”

But here she was.

She leaned forward to pick up the iced macchiato.

“Do you mind if I give your receptionist the other?”

“I counted on it. You may not like me, but I’ve seen you interact with others. Of course you wouldn’t let a coffee go to waste to make a point.”

She hated that he seemed to know so much about her.

“Edmund has a sweet tooth. And it will be perfect with the orange scone I bought him.”

Somehow she managed to stand up without losing her balance. She picked up the hot beverage and carried it to Edmund.

“Be sure to come back often.”

He smiled his thanks.

“Where were we?”

Lucas asked when she returned.

“Discussing your potentials.”

Blazing ahead, she opened her app.

“The first is twenty-seven—”

“Too old. Next.”

She swallowed her impatience. But before she could continue, his cellphone rang, and he excused himself to answer.

Though she couldn’t overhear the person on the other end of the call, he was no doubt speaking to a woman.

“What did you find out?”

A few seconds later, he checked his watch.

“I’ll be there by one.”

Then he continued the conversation, all while keeping his gaze on Wynter.

Not allowing herself to be unnerved, she scrolled to the next candidate.

Then she took a sip of her coffee.

It was perfect. Creamy, sweet, and cold.

“Love you too.”

Wynter blinked. For someone with a heart locked in a deep freeze, his smile and easy expression of affection took her aback.

“I’ll let you know what I think.”

After the call ended, he explained himself.

“My sister. She lives in Galveston and asked me to take a look at a building she’s considering buying. The owner likes Lyla and thinks it’s perfect for her needs. It’ll go on the market at the end of the week, and he offered her an opportunity to preview it.”

He picked up his Americano.

From downtown, the trip could be made in about an hour, maybe more, depending on traffic.

“Let’s discuss your second potential so you can get on the road.”

“Go with me. Give us an opportunity to talk without interruption.”

What? A drive to the coast in the middle of a Monday?

“What would I do while you looked at the property?”

“Browse shops on the Strand? Have an ice cream cone? Walk on the beach? Have a glass of wine at Pier 21 and watch the barges pass by?”

Damn him. All of those choices sounded much more appealing than being cooped up in the office all day.

“Or you could join me on the tour. Your opinion would be valuable.”

She shook her head.

“I know nothing about commercial real estate.”

“You’d be handy to have around during contract negotiations.”

Speechless, she didn’t respond.

“I understand you were quite formidable in court.”

So he had known she was an attorney.

“And out of it too.”

He grinned.

“I need to get going. So if you want to continue trying to talk me into meeting one of the prospects you’ve found, you’ll have to ride along with me.”

He was ruthless in the pursuit of what he wanted.

“I’ll treat you to dinner on the west end—the Bayview. It’s a restaurant that I enjoy, right on the bay. Near the country club, with an excellent view of the sunset.”

“I have to work.”

Even to her own ears, the excuse sounded hollow.

“Because you have so many demanding clients?”

When she didn’t respond, he went on.

“There’s no reason you can’t make phone calls or answer emails from the road.”

All true. Besides that, she had plenty of comp time accrued for the weekends she worked. The only thing she would need to do was update her calendar again. And being with him was work.

“If you want to go home and change into something more casual, I’ll pick you up there.”

Giving him her address was stepping into dangerous territory. But the idea of the sand and the surf made her reckless.

A moment later he’d keyed her information into his sleek-looking phone.

“One hour?”

She nodded. That would give her a chance to arrive home, gather a few things, and swap heels for sandals. But it wasn’t long enough to rattle her nerves and make her change her mind.

Inside her small condominium not too far from Discovery Green, she hurried to her bedroom and pulled out several different outfits. She rejected a sundress. It might not be warm enough in the evening. Same with a skirt. Then a pair of capris.

The pile growing on top of her bed, she decided on a pair of white pants and a blouse over a T-shirt. Formal enough, but also casual if they did any walking.

Next she hurried to the bathroom and swept the makeup and brushes that she’d used this morning into a drawer.

She had to look in three different places for a ponytail holder. Then, after securing her hair, she wrapped a colorful scarf around it.

Breathe. This is business. Nothing more.

Nonetheless, she swiped on a coat of the lipstick that she wore when going out with friends.

Woo Me Red.

She told herself it wasn’t to impress Lucas.

Then she wondered when she’d started lying to herself.

Less than the allotted hour later, she was ready. To burn off nervous energy, she loaded the dishwasher and rinsed the coffeepot.

Good thing she was prompt because he rang her doorbell ten minutes before she expected him.

She answered the summons. He stood on the porch larger than life, in all his masculine glory, the sun toying with the highlights in his raven hair and his aura branding the atmosphere.

Her mouth watered.

Even though he wore slacks and a blazer, there was no way to mistake the fact he truly was American royalty.

She stepped back, and he accepted her unspoken invitation to enter, shutting the door behind him, filling the small entryway.

With a long, lazy smile, he swept his gaze over her.

“Everything about you is beautiful.”

She gulped. He’d been clear that he wanted to date her, but she needed to keep the boundaries firm.

“Mr. Rutherford—”

“Lucas.”

His correction was light but laced with steel. Was that his Dom voice?

She shivered as warmth flowed through her. Despite her resolve, that tone packed the power to guarantee her compliance.