Page 14 of Zane

And it was interesting work, he realized. Cleaning up the area was challenging, even if the politicians were into it for a photo op and to pad their political ambitions. The entire area had been taken over by lowlifes and was teeming with gang bangers, a haven for drug dealers. The police had gotten involved and were ridding the place of criminal elements. The Stanhope name was enough to have people backing away without too much of a fight.

Buildings were slated for demolition, the ones that could not be saved. He had gone to the area to see what was what and had taken his biker friends with him, more for protection than anything else. And he was going to put them to work too. It was a good deal all around.

So, he didn't have time to think about a certain prim and proper lawyer who insisted on popping into his mind at the oddest times.

He avoided the courthouse but could not help following the case on social media.

"You look good in here." Zoe glided in, wearing one of her killer suits, this one of smoky gray with an eye-popping rose pink sweater. Her thick black hair was done up in an intricate French bun at the nape of her neck. Diamonds were at her lobes and around her neck. He could not help but think that she looked so different from the woman who had taken up residence in his mind.

"Don't get used to it," he growled. He had borrowed the office because he needed the space and the resources. He also could not ignore the fact that his parents had wandered in on some pretext of looking at the project. He knew what they were hoping and was going to have to disappoint them. He did not do corporate.

"Oh, I might just do that." Amused, she walked over to sit on the edge of the desk. "Your clothes need work though." She flicked an elegant hand at the slate-colored T-shirt and denims. "And your hair-" She sighed. "Darling, when was the last time you had Dimitri pay a visit?"

Raking a hand through the unruly strands, he simply grinned at her. "Months. He was becoming a pain in the ass. What do you want? Or are you just here to critique my wardrobe?"

"What wardrobe?" she muttered. "I just wanted to see what's going on." Turning the folder around, she peered at the blueprint and the jottings. "I understand you had some trouble on the site yesterday?"

"Nothing we couldn't handle." He flexed his right hand and could still feel the ache from the punch he had landed on the guy who had gotten in his face. The man had an iron jaw and a thick skull.

"You know we could send people to guard the area."

"And have those assholes thinking we cannot handle them?" He snorted. "Not a chance."

She studied him, her expression one of concern. "This macho thing you have going on is not attractive."

"Says who?"

"Women are not attracted to men who court danger."

Leaning back in the soft leather chair, he eyed her in amusement. "See how much you know."

"Darling, I worry about you."

"Not your job. Now, if you don't have anything productive to add to what I'm doing, go away."

"There's a function-"

"No."

Her sigh of irritation had him smiling.

"You didn't let me finish."

"I didn't have to. You said function, and I'm thinking a suit and a tie and conversations with boring executives and the works, and my skin starts crawling."

"It's the annual lawyers' ball, the one where we try and raise money for the homeless veterans. This year we're including the DA's office as well. A show of camaraderie to the other side, so to speak."

He didn't hear the rest of it; all he heard was the DA's office.

"The DA's office?"

"Yes." She gave him a curious glance. "Why?"

"Nothing." Try as he might, he couldn't get rid of the idea that was popping into his head. He would get to see her. Of course, he could always do that by popping into the courtroom. But he wanted to see her outside of work. Wanted to see what she looked like when she wasn't in court.

"I'll think about it."

She blinked at him. "You will?"