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But apparently that was all conference room talk. Because this suave, smooth man in front of me was almost unrecognizable to the grumpy one I’d had an appointment with only this morning.
Maybe this dress was that good. I slid a hand down the curve of my hip. Actually, I knew this dress was that good, but it would take full-on magical skills to turn Brady Martinez from boardroom grump to wedding flirt. I immediately wanted to see how far I could push this. How far this dress’s magical skills could really go.
I shrugged, a low, quiet laugh slipping between us. “Thank you. Just someconstructive criticism. Maybe lead with the compliment first next time.” Constructive criticism was his favorite phrase. One day he’d used it so much that I'd begun to keep a tally at the top of my notes on how many times he said it.
Five.
The ridiculous man had said it five times.
His eyes crinkled, thick lashes dropping over sweet, milk chocolate irises as he stepped towards me. “Ah, thank you, Ms. Grove. Are you charging me for that advice?” he volleyed back happily, sipping the cocktail in his right hand. Clear liquor, the vibrant green lime on the edge drawing my attention. Gin and tonic. Interesting choice. You could learn a lot about somebody from their choice of drink.
Simple. Trusted and predictable. Not at all what I’d expected.
“Pro bono, just for you.” I couldn’t stop the smile as it crept across my face.
“Well, should I feel special?”
“Maybe.” I tossed my hair over one shoulder, smirking as his gaze followed the motion. “Are you going to get me a drink?”
Brady’s eyes crinkled again, and I found I loved it. We didn’t get a chance to smile much during our meetings, but my heart was beating double time as his whole demeanor transformed with that smile. “It’s an open bar. You do know that.”
I rolled my eyes, my lips cracking into a wide smile. Purposefully, I let my tongue peak out to brush over the crease of my mouth, careful not to smudge my lipstick. I’d seen him watch me before, but having him this close and watching his intensity hone in on that one quick movement sent pride swelling in my chest and heat rushing to my core.
“Yes, of course I know that. It’s a gesture, Brady.”
His head tilted, gaze flickering over my face for a long moment. I’d never called him Brady before. It'd always been Mr. Martinez. My cheeks heated. Well, in public I always referred to him as Mr. Martinez, even against his requests. At home, I had a whole list of names I called him. Some of them less friendly than others.
But regardless of what happened in the privacy of my home, there was something in the air tonight, or in my second Manhattan, that was making me more open to the option of calling him by his first name.
Monday I would go back to Mr. Martinez, and he would go back to being a client. But tonight I was wearing my favorite little black dress, the drinks were good, and I felt like a goddess when he looked at me like that.
Throwing a heavy wink my way, Brady stepped away. I pretended not to watch him as he stood at the bar, but then, that ass was too good to pass up.
“A Manhattan and a Diet Coke, no ice,” he told the bartender with a friendly nod.
I turned away, swallowing down a girlish giggle at the fact that he actually knew my drink preferences. I fanned myself briefly with a napkin. I had to get a grip on myself.
“For you,” Brady said a minute later, holding out each drink.
I gave him a closed-lip smile, curiosity piqued. “Options?”
“You always order soda at work, so I thought you might like something different than your Manhattan.”
“Oh. That was thoughtful.”
Brady chuckled, the sound low and rough.
Warmth bloomed low in my belly and my cheeks. Thank God for the restaurant’s low-lighting. I had to be as red as a tomato. My fair skin was a freaking traitor in moments like this.
“I can be very thoughtful.”
“Just not at work.”
His face changed, growing almost remorseful. “I don’t mean anything by my critiques at work, Cecelia. You and Grove Communications are doing great work for us at Leden.”
I looked around us, feeling vaguely like someone must be watching us. Seeing only the blur of Ashlyn and Liam’s guests and a sprinkling of family members, I looked back to him. “Wow, thank you.”
“I mean it. It’s just my job to push all the possibilities. I hope you understand it doesn’t change anything about how I feel about you.”
