Chapter 42 – A Dangerous Pull

Emma barely remembered the drive home. Her mind was too tangled with the way Alex had looked at her, the weight of his words lingering like a touch that never came.

I'm going to kiss you, Carter. But not tonight.

She hated that it affected her. Hated that her body had responded before her mind could catch up.

By the time she stepped into her apartment, the city lights casting a golden glow through the windows, she had convinced herself she was being ridiculous.

She wasn't some naive woman falling for the first man who played mind games with her.

She was Emma Carter.

She didn't get played.

Shaking off the lingering tension, she kicked off her heels, pulled her hair loose, and poured herself a glass of wine. Work. She needed to focus on work.

She grabbed her laptop, determined to drown herself in legal briefs, but her phone vibrated before she could even open the first file.

Alex Kingston: Still thinking about me?

Emma's grip on the glass tightened.

She should ignore him.

She would ignore him.

But her fingers betrayed her.

Emma Carter: You're unbelievable.

Alex Kingston: And yet, you're still here.

Emma groaned, setting her phone down like it was a grenade.

Why did he always have the last word?

—

The next morning, Emma walked into her firm's headquarters with a renewed sense of purpose. She needed to snap out of whatever spell Alex had put her under.

She had a case to win.

"Emma, you're here early," Olivia, her paralegal, greeted as she stepped into her office.

Emma nodded, setting down her coffee. "I have depositions to prepare for. What's the latest on the Kingston case?"

Olivia hesitated. "Uh… well, about that."

Emma frowned. "What?"

Olivia handed her a file, biting her lip. "Alex Kingston filed a new motion this morning. And he personally requested a meeting with you."

Emma exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. "Of course he did."

—

An hour later, she stepped into a conference room where Alex was already waiting.

He looked… annoyingly good.

Dark gray suit, top button undone, sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal strong forearms. He looked too casual for a man who had just thrown another wrench into her case.

He glanced up, smirking as she shut the door behind her. "Carter."

Emma crossed her arms. "Kingston."

He leaned back in his chair, completely at ease. "Did you miss me?"

She scoffed. "I missed sleep, which I lost thanks to the extra work you just created for me."

His smirk widened. "So you were thinking about me."

Emma groaned. "Can we just get to why you're wasting my time?"

Alex picked up the file in front of him and slid it across the table. "I think you'll find this very interesting."

Emma eyed him warily before picking it up.

And then—

Her stomach dropped.

"You've got to be kidding me."

Alex looked entirely too satisfied. "Surprise."

Emma clenched her jaw, flipping through the pages. "You're bringing in a third-party claim? This late in the case?"

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "You didn't think I'd make this easy for you, did you?"

Emma inhaled sharply. "This is a cheap move, Kingston."

His lips twitched. "Says the woman who once had an entire case dismissed on a technicality?"

Emma narrowed her eyes. "That was different."

He tilted his head. "Was it?"

She exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay calm.

"You know this won't hold up," she said finally.

Alex's gaze darkened just slightly. "That depends. Are you willing to bet on it?"

Emma hated how much he got under her skin.

She hated how much she liked it.

—

The meeting ended with nothing resolved except the confirmation that Alex was the single most infuriating man she had ever met.

By the time she returned to her office, her pulse was still unsteady.

Not from anger.

From something far more dangerous.

—

That evening, she found herself staring at her phone again.

She should not text him.

She should delete his number and pretend none of this was happening.

Instead—

Emma Carter: You think you're so smart, don't you?

The reply was instant.

Alex Kingston: I know I am. But I'm glad you finally admitted it.

Emma shook her head, biting back a smile.

She was so screwed.