Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Now that you neglected to mention,” Cole growled.
Erin laughed. “I figured the less you knew, the better.”
“I can handle sitting at Carmichael’s table. Because I’ll be sitting next to you.” His eyes darkened, bringing her back to that moment in the car when he’d had his hands beneath her skirt and she’d been so close to coming . . .
She shook her head, focusing on his words and not the sizzle behind his eyes. And it was his comment that had her beaming. She knew it and didn’t try to hide how much his words pleased her.
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Guessing her intent, he turned his head, and her lips met his. It was a brief kiss, but one that was public and filled her with absolute contentment.
“So that’s how it is,” a familiar voice said.
Cole placed his hand on her hip and lifted his head. “Carmichael.”
“Sanders.” He slid his gaze to Erin. “You look beautiful. In fact, you’re glowing.”
Cole’s grip tightened.
“Thank you, Evan.” Before she could continue any conversation, the lights above them flickered.
He glanced up. “I guess that’s our cue to move on to the next part of the evening.”
Erin nodded. “See you at the table?”
Her boss met and held her gaze. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“What was that all about?” Cole asked when Evan walked away.
Erin shrugged. “Beats me. The man’s always got some agenda.”
Cole’s gaze followed the path Evan had taken to the main ballroom. “Then I guess it’s time to see what he’s got planned now.”
Chapter Eleven
As always during these sorts of dinners, which Cole had been to in many guises and disguises over the years, the speeches and awards portion of the evening came first. It tended to be a dry, boring, yawn-inducing event no matter which association hosted the festivities. Erin’s Bar Association dinner, which encompassed quite a few New York counties and jurisdictions, was no different.
More than once, Cole was tempted to reach beneath the table and pick up where he’d left off with Erin in the car. Only respect for her prevented him from acting on his dirty inclination, but that didn’t stop him from creating his own fantasies about the idea. Sliding his hand into her warm, wet heat, toying with her while the speeches droned on . . .
“You might want to pay attention now.” Carmichael leaned over and spoke to Cole, snapping him back into the present.
“And now we get to the last award of the evening,” the speaker on the podium said.
Cole didn’t know why this should matter to him, but he refocused his attention.
“The recipient of this year’s Rising Star Award, given by the Young Lawyers’ Section of the Bar, is a woman with remarkable legal skills who shows exceptional promise for a bright future in our profession. A graduate of New York University School of Law, our honoree went on to work as an assistant district attorney in the town of Serendipity, Putnam County, where she has worked for the last five years.”
Evan Carmichael spoke once more. “She’s special. Don’t hurt her.”
Before Cole could tell the man to mind his own business, Erin’s name was announced as the recipient of the Rising Star award.
From the way she sucked in a startled breath beside him, she was floored by the news.
“Congratulations,” Cole whispered as she turned to him, her eyes wide.
“I had no idea!” She glanced over his shoulder. “Evan?”
“You earned it,” he assured her.
From the podium, the speaker continued to list her credits and accolades. She sat on a number of young lawyer committees for the state bar association, and she had a record number of prosecutorial wins to her credit. But what seemed to sway the votes in her favor was the establishment of a pro bono office in downtown Serendipity, where, among other things, poor and often abused women obtained divorce settlements and property owners caught in the recent recession found legal help in an attempt to retain their homes. And to staff said office, she’d recruited attorneys from all facets of the law and coaxed them to donate their hours. For free.
No wonder she’d insisted she not miss her weekly night there. She wasn’t just a volunteer; she’d founded the thing. It was her baby. Another reason Carmichael saw her as a political asset. Family connections aside, Erin Marsden was indeed special. Cole had merely sensed it in her giving nature. Tonight had shown him concrete proof.
A few minutes later, they called her to the podium; a round of applause followed, and Erin stepped up to thank the audience and accept her award. As she spoke, a lump formed in Cole’s throat. And stayed there.
He hadn’t planned on having children, but he was, and he couldn’t ask for a better mother to his son or daughter, a better role model, or a finer woman than this one. He wasn’t sure what to do with the feelings rolling through him and was grateful when she stepped down from the podium, rejoining him at the table.