Free Against the Wall by Rebecca Zanetti Page A

cookies toward her son and broke the tension.
    Jake released Sophie’s gaze and dropped into a vacated chair. “Idiot EPA,” he mumbled between bites.
    “Jake, are you done for the day?” Loni asked.
    “Definitely.”
    “Good. Sophie needs to see the five acres for Willa’s Garden, and I have an appointment in town. Would you show it to her?” Loni edged toward the door.
    “Subtle, Mom. Yes, I’d love to show Sophie around.”
    The double meaning wasn’t lost on Sophie. Probably wasn’t lost on any of them.
    “Good. ’Bye.” Loni made her escape.
    Sophie clasped her suddenly trembling hands. She had the oddest urge to tackle the lawyer to the ground and steal a kiss but busied herself gathering the extra copies of her presentation. What was wrong with her?
    “So they suckered you in, huh?” Jake turned amused eyes on her.
    Oh yeah. Her job. The one she loved. Man, she lost all sense of reality when Jake was around. She ran a quick hand over her face. “Completely. Easily and without much of an effort.” Of course it helped that she wanted to design the garden.
    “They do that.” Jake grabbed another cookie. “But—” He paused, obviously to choose the right words. “The tribe isn’t going to support the Charleton Group’s proposal on that land no matter how much we like your design.”
    Sophie stilled. “Are you sure?” Maybe he was wrong about the council. They’d seemed to like her golf course design.
    Jake rubbed his chin. “They may seem like a sweet, old, bingo-playing group, but they’re ruthless. Before you know it, ten years will have passed and you’ll have designed everything from memorials to summer gardens. We both know you’re meant to be in the city.”
    She frowned. “We both know I belong in the city?” The man had just met her. At his nod, she raked her gaze over his now relaxed form. “Look who’s talking. Armani looks good on you, Jake.” She’d bet anything he was a force to watch in a courtroom.
    One eyebrow lifted. “I was in court today.”
    “Obviously. What wrong are you and the EPA trying to right?”
    “Ah, stereotyping, are we?” His narrowed eyes belied his lazy drawl.
    Heat roared through her ears. “Excuse me?”
    “I sat on the opposite side from the EPA today, sweetheart.” He explained why the tribes often sat across the fence from the government.
    She tilted her head. Every time she thought she had a handle on Jake Lodge, he surprised her again. His analytical mind complemented his sexy grin in a way that would intrigue any woman. She had to fight her attraction in order to save her uncle’s company.
    “Come on, we can load these, and then I’ll take you to the memorial site.” Jake stood and tossed his trash into the can before grabbing both foam boards with the golf course designs and holding out a hand.
    She relaxed as he turned off that direct stare and placed her hand in Jake’s much larger one. Warmth shot heat to her lower stomach. Warmth she didn’t want to feel.
    Because he was right; she was a city girl.
    Wasn’t she?

Chapter Eight
    Sophie sketched a quick design for a garden, including natural stone paths, a koi pond, and picnic areas. The site had been perfect for the memorial, and she’d enjoyed tromping through the brush with Jake after he’d thrown on cowboy boots. Even in a suit, the man looked natural surrounded by wild nature. He hadn’t tried to kiss her again, and she told herself she was glad. There was no future for them.
    Although that hadn’t stopped her from agreeing to dinner with his family. She glanced at the clock. He’d return for her in less than an hour.
    The cell phone jarred her out of her musings.
    “Hi, Sophia.” Preston’s voice came smooth and sure over the line. “Miss me?”
    Not so much, actually. Interesting . “I’ve been working. How’s the Seattle job going?”
    “Don’t ask. We’ve run into some interesting competition. How’s it going with the tribe?”
    Her shoulders