Free Seduce Me by Jo Leigh Page B

chair, Fred shook his head as he pulled out his oft-used puzzled expression. “That’s not the vibe I got.”
    “It’s the vibe that was there. Trust me. The only reason I was able to go for it was because I’d never see him again. Seriously, he’s into one-night stands and staying single.”
    “Please, please tell me this wasn’t sleazy. He wasn’t condescending or acting like he was doing you a favor, was he?”
    “God, no. Not even. I wasn’t kidding when I said we had a great time together. It was the best date I’ve ever had, bar none. Because we were honest with each other. We both had plenty of opportunities to walk away with no regrets. He was a gentleman, and he was quite attentive.”
    “Okay. Just checking. It’s a rough city out there.”
    “Thanks for worrying, but no. It was inspiring and illuminating and he’s probably ruined me for other men. At least for a while. I don’t mind, though. It was worth it, if for nothing else but to show me what to ask for. What to reach for.”
    “An attorney with a big loft?”
    “A man who gets pleasure from giving it. A man who pays attention and goes out of his way to be careful. Who listens.”
    “Okay.” Fred got up, pushed his chair in and finished the last dregs of his whiskey. “Does this trading-card thing have a gay edition?”
    “No, but that’s a fabulous idea. You should start one.”
    “Yeah. I’ll get right on that. Think you can sleep?”
    “Nope. Maybe. But I don’t have to get up until ten-thirty. If I’m willing to have the quickest shower in history.”
    “I hate to tell you, sweetheart, but even if you conk out when your head hits the pillow, you’re not going to get your regular eight.”
    “Regular eights are for ordinary days. I’ll live.”
    He kissed her cheek. “You did good tonight. That inspiration thing is catching. Although I’m happy with Tony for now.”
    She looked up at her friend. “I’m glad.”
    Fred eyed the cheesecake and her clean fork with a worried look. Thankfully he just smiled and headed for the stairs. Cleanup was a snap, but when she finally crawled between her sheets, the night and alcohol caught up with her, and before she’d even finished reliving the way Max had looked at her over dinner, she slipped into sleep.
    * * *
    O N S UNDAY , M AX was still in recuperation mode. At least today he wouldn’t be fielding phone calls from his office, headhunters trying to convince him to jump ship. Not that he minded the second category of calls.
    He’d planned on going to his local bar, but his couch had proven too comfortable. Surprisingly, his inertia had more to do with his night with Natalie than laziness. The odds of meeting someone as interesting were not in his favor.
    As often as he’d daydreamed about having time to himself without the crushing pressure of the tort case, unstructured down time wasn’t his friend. He should have realized it. He was a planner, always thinking about the next move, the next angle. He was damn good at scheduling his life so he didn’t get overwhelmed.
    Until the second year of the case, that was. His enormous workload didn’t leave him with a spare moment to do anything besides sleep, eat and work out—and he’d finally hit a wall. The workouts were the only thing that saved him.
    That was probably why he felt so out of sync now. Tomorrow he’d go back to the gym, get his blood pumping and his muscles straining. It wouldn’t take him long to find his rhythm again. While he didn’t regret spending an idle week in recovery, the next two weeks were earmarked for getting serious about his future. In the legal arena, he was the it guy of the moment, which was great for his ego, but he couldn’t let it get to him. A man who let his ego call the shots was looking for trouble. Luckily for him, his inherent need to plan and control his own destiny would keep him in check.
    He’d always known there was the potential for a top-notch lawyer in a prominent firm to