Chapter 2: I'm Engaged

“I definitely don’t want to be a lawyer,” he said, continuing to make small talk. Would this elevator ride ever fucking end? “I had to come because of work-related stuff but this is my first visit … and probably my last.”

“Mine too.” I couldn’t meet his gaze, torn between my curiosity about the man beside me, dejection over the interview I’d just finished, and an almost uncontrollable desire for a complete stranger.

I fucking needed to convince my fiancé that waiting until we were married was a stupid idea. As I thought of ways to talk to him, I focused on the suckage that had been my interview. It hadn’t gone well. None of them over the last month had, and it was freaking me out.

My mom once told me I wouldn’t make a good lawyer because my heart was too generous. I dismissed the comment as ridiculous, but now I wondered if I should have chosen another career. When I first started law school, I believed it was my generosity that would make me a good lawyer, even great. But my interview today and the seven others confirmed my mom might be right.

I wasn’t a shark, not even close. I believed the facts should speak for themselves. That the truth would defend the innocent, but that only worked if the defendant was innocent, which was only ten percent of the time. The other ninety percent of clients were criminals. Or at least that was how it seemed. I witnessed that truth more than once while working through law school. Out of all the cases I helped defend, probably five were truly innocent. The rest… well, I preferred not to think about it.

Working for the prosecution was another option, but there hadn’t been any positions available.

Griffin cleared his throat, bringing me out of my thoughts. “How’d it go?” he asked, brightly. "Your interview," he continued, clarifying.

The question threw me off guard. It wasn’t the standard small talk. He seemed genuinely interested, his features sincere. Too bad I didn’t have good news. I should lie. In social situations such as this, that was an accepted practice. Just tell him I was fine. Still, lying wasn't one of my strengths. “Not great.”

“How so?” He rotated, leaning his shoulder against the back wall, facing me, giving me another whiff of his amazing scent. “That doesn’t seem right. I’ve only been talking to you a few moments, and I’d hire you on the spot.” He gave me a disarming grin that sent chills down to my toes.

He didn’t look more than thirty, and I was struck again by how fucking hot he was. Not classically so, like my fiancé but still, there was something about him that pulled me in. I wanted to be near him, and I wanted him.

Was I really so easily swayed?

Not usually, but I was horny as hell, thanks to the no sex rule. It'd been a whole fucking year without sex. It was ridiculous. But he’d made a promise to his priest, which was stupid since he didn't even act that religious. I'd reluctantly agreed but my time in my bedroom alone with my fingers and dirty thoughts wasn't the same as making love to the man I was to marry. That left me sexually frustrated.

Magnetism, I thought, my mind going back to Griffin. He had serious fucking charisma.

“How long have you been graduated from law school?” Griffin asked, giving me another lopsided grin.

“Not long. A couple months.” Will this elevator ride never end?

“How were your grades?” He looked at me seriously, as though he were interviewing me for a job.

“All A’s,” I said, surprised this gorgeous man and his weird questions were making me feel better.

“Uh-huh. And how is your knowledge of contracts?”

“Great. Contracts are one of my specialties.” It was true. The intricacies of writing and reading over contracts had turned out to be one of my favorite parts of school. I liked the tediousness of going over the wording with a fine-tooth comb to make sure everything was phrased correctly, that there were no loopholes. Several of my classmates even started calling me Loopy because of it. The reason was two-fold. They thought I was loopy for liking such a tedious part of the law, and then for the obvious reason of loopholes.

“Really?” His joking manner turned serious. “You can understand that stuff?”

“Sure. It’s easy.” I adjusted my bag, moving it to the other shoulder.

He tilted his head like he meant to ask me a question. But then he changed his mind.

I swallowed. “Maybe I should have you put in a word for me,” I continued, giving him another minute with his thoughts.

His gorgeous smile returned. “You got it.” He went over to the panel filled with floor numbers. “Just tell me who I need to talk to. I won’t leave until you have the job you want.” His eyes shone with kindness and a hint of mischief.

“No, thanks.” I smiled at his thoughtfulness, but pulled his hand from the buttons, ignoring the zing our connection caused.

“I’m serious. I’ll do it.” Griffin nudged my shoulder with his.

“It’s okay. I don’t know that I really want to work here anyway,” I admitted, knowing it was the truth. Peace came over me at the realization and I smiled. “Thanks though.” The man who interviewed me had been aggressive with obvious killer instincts. He could smell blood aka my hesitation and went after me like a wounded fish. I was relieved when the meeting ended.

“Sure. No problem. If that’s what you want.” He straightened, rolling his shoulders back. “Anything else you need me to do?” His eyes twinkled playfully while his lips twitched.

The movement was so damn sexy, my core clenched. I was actually wet with want for this man.

I shook my head. “No. I’m good but thank you.”

He held out his hand again. I took it, trying not to think too much about the fact that I felt so comfortable and hot and needy with him.

“Good luck in your job search, Katie Jayne,” he said.

The elevator doors opened at the lobby.

Fucking finally.

“Thank you,” I said and meant it.

“After you.” He held the doors so they wouldn’t close.

I walked out and rushed for the exit. But before I got to the spinning doors, I glanced back, looking for Griffin. “It was nice to meet you,” I said when I found him.

“You too.”

At the revolving exit, I got in but decided I should ask him out for a coffee or something so I could thank him for lifting my spirits. A quick glance inside the lobby revealed he was flirting with the pretty blonde behind the reception desk. He already had her laughing, his hand in hers.

I felt my smile drop and exited onto 8th Avenue. The man was a player, no doubt about it.

The sidewalk was crowded, the air stifling. It was early September in New York City, but the temperature was still sweltering. Within minutes, my suit jacket stuck to my back just to prove it was that fucking hot.

Super, I thought.