Payback’s a bitch, ain’t it, Mr. Love ’Em and Leave ’Em?
Quentin scowled as he maneuvered through the busy downtown streets by rote.
He couldn’t believe Lexi was punishing him for a crime he hadn’t even committed. Since their argument, he’d found himself replaying his consultation meeting with Jocelyn Savoy. He’d analyzed every word spoken, every gesture made, to see whether he’d inadvertently given the woman mixed signals. She was beautiful, no doubt. And he’d often been accused of flirting without conscious thought, like his brain was naturally programmed to do it. Hell, he’d flirted with Reese the first time he met her, and still did so every now and then just to get a rise out of Michael. But it was harmless. He had no desire whatsoever to make a play for his best friend’s wife, and he damn sure wasn’t stupid enough to sleep with a client.
Sohadhe flirted with Jocelyn Savoy? Maybe a little. He’d still been smarting from Lexi’s rejection the night before, so maybe he’d turned up the charm with Jocelyn to make himself feel better. But he definitely hadn’t said or done anything overt enough to warrant receiving topless photos from her, damn it. After Lexi stormed out on him, he’d called Jocelyn and told her that if sheeverpulled another stunt like that, she’d find herself looking for another attorney. And just for good measure, he’d reassigned her case to one of the firm’s senior associates so he wouldn’t have any dealings with her.
When it came to his prior bad acts regarding women, Quentin knew the evidence was seriously stacked against him. But after everything he and Lexi had shared, how could she think he’d jump from her arms into another woman’s bed? And how could she believe he’d only wanted her because she presented a challenge? Didn’t she know how much she meant to him?
The night they’d spent together had been pure, unadulterated heaven. Really, the experience couldn’t be accurately described without the accompaniment of a celestial choir.
Quentin had slept with countless women, had experienced every sexual position known to man and had probably even invented a few of his own.
Nothing,absolutely nothing,could have prepared him for making love to Lexi.
She’d rocked his world.
When she’d showed up unexpectedly at his place that night, the sight of her had nearly brought him to his knees in worshipful gratitude. He’d been obsessing over her for days, despite his attempts to remain solely focused on the trial. When she’d first arrived at the restaurant for dinner, he’d taken one look at her in those scandalously sexy stilettos and he’d wanted to devour her whole. Who knew that his sweet, feisty little sidekick could inspire such powerful lust in him? Who knew that she could wring such mind-blowing orgasms out of him?
Of course he’d always been aware that Lexi was no virgin. Over the years they’d swapped stories about their relationships and had sought each other’s advice on dealing with the opposite sex. So, yeah, he knew she was getting laid—and how often. But whenever he’d envisioned her sleeping with other guys, he’d slammed the brakes on his thoughts, reminding himself that she was his best friend, therefore he had no business speculating about her sex life. Oddly enough, this had been harder to remember when she was married. Every time he’d imagined Adam McNamara running his hands all over her, kissing her and making love to her, some dark, unnamed emotion had stirred within him.
Once, when McNamara was supposed to be out of town on business, Quentin had gone over to the house to watch a basketball game with Lexi. She’d answered the door with mussed hair, flushed cheeks and kiss-swollen lips, sheepishly explaining to him that her husband had come home early from his trip.
Quentin had stayed away for a month.
But he no longer had to keep his distance from her. Even if he’d wanted to, he couldn’t. He’d tasted paradise, and he had to have more. There wasn’t an inch of Lexi’s beautiful body that he hadn’t kissed or caressed in his determination to stake a claim on her. Because make no mistake about it. She belonged to him now. And there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.
His silent cell phone mocked him, wrenching a savage curse from his mouth.
Instead of being on top of the world tonight, basking in the glow of his courtroom victory, he felt like tearing something apart with his bare hands.
As soon as he got home, he changed into sweats, tugged on a pair of his father’s old boxing gloves and headed to his weight room to take out his frustration on the punching bag. As classic Motown songs of redemption and heartbreak played in the background—courtesy of his dad’s old record collection—Quentin jabbed and punched the bag as if he were fighting a despised opponent in the boxing ring.
By the time Smokey began crooning “The Tracks of My Tears,” Quentin had worked up a good lather. He pulled off the gloves and stalked to the kitchen to get some water.
A surprise awaited him inside the refrigerator.
An expensive bottle of Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve—his favorite Irish whiskey.
With a slow, delighted smile spreading across his face, Quentin removed the bottle and read the attached note dictated in Lexi’s neat, looping script:Congratulations, Q. I’m so proud of you. Here’s a toast to my favorite crusader.
His gaze skipped further down the card.P.S. But I’m still not speaking to you.
He scowled, then stared up at the ceiling and shook his head in resignation.
She giveth, and she taketh away.
Chapter 12
Wolf’s Soul was crowded by the time Lexi and Byron arrived on Thursday evening. Nearly every table and booth was occupied. Smooth, pulsing jazz performed by the Howlin’ Good band added to the lively din of laughter, conversation and clinking glasses that permeated the restaurant.
Surveying the crowd from the doorway, Byron grinned. “I usually miss working here. Not tonight, though.”
Lexi chuckled. “I don’t blame you.”
“Michael said he’d save us a table close to the stage.” Byron held out his arm to her. “Shall we?”
Smiling, Lexi tucked her arm through his, and together they advanced into the deep, plush cave of the restaurant. As she scanned the faces in the crowd, she instinctively braced herself for the moment she’d see Quentin.
