Free Awakening by Sydney Holmes Page A

like in the office.”
    His eyes flash with something, surprise, anger, I can’t tell and it’s annoying. I’m usually good at reading people.
    “Uptight in the office, huh? Yeah, the office can get to me. I much prefer the outdoors.”
    “And what about Emily? Talk about wound up! I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re super nervy and all, but she takes the cake. Please, tell me that not all lawyers are that restive.”
    When I look up from my salad he is staring at me with an amused expression on his face.
    “What?” I stop eating. I can’t tell if he really is amused or if he’s mad.
    He laughs out loud. Okay, amused.
    “You’re not like them other gals are ya, Miss Young?” he says, in a western accent. I shake my head, laughing. “Okay, fine. Law school was great. I came out of it a little too brash and passionate. Working as a lawyer is, in fact, fractious. But it’s what I do now.”
    “So in summary, law school rocked, the real world sucks. That about sum it up?”
    He laughs; a real belly laugh, which is a great sound and highly infectious. I laugh too.
    “Yeah, Young. That about sums it up.” He pauses to eat some more. “Are you seeing anyone?”
    I almost choke on my last bite of sandwich. That was quite a non sequitur.
    “Well, yes. But—” But what, I wonder. But Darren showed his true colors the last couple of days, but I am really attracted to you, but, but, but—
    “But—” He draws me back to the table. He looks so vulnerable, his eyes searching something in mine.
    “But, it seems like it has run its course.”
    He smiles at this. My entire stomach tightens with sensations I can only guess are disloyalty, guilt, perhaps desire for the man in front of me. I can’t make heads or tails out my reaction or my behavior.
    “Are you done? I need to get back to the office.” Ryan stands. Of course, the office. For a moment, I had completely forgotten why we were here.
    We gather our plates and napkins and clear the table. As I throw the food in the trash bin our hands brush together. A delicious tingle runs up my spine with his touch. How can he do that to me? I’m not 16 years old, for Pete’s sake! It’s exasperating.
    We pull up to a mirrored office building near downtown. Neither one of us have talked much since lunch and that has left me wondering if my answer to his question has repelled him. I should’ve just said yes and left it at that. It sounds so slutty, the way I answered him. I’ve been kicking myself all the way here.
    “Okay, then. Thanks for lunch. It was nice to get out of the office.” I turn to face him with a forced smile.
    He pauses in gathering his coat and briefcase and looks at me. “It was my pleasure. You should be outside more often, it suits you.”
    Just when I think he is about to get out, he stops and looks at me. His hand gently reaches across the car and his soft fingertips slide down my check, his thumb caressing my lips. My heart beat spikes and I immediately flush with heat. An uncoiling of desire seeps into my belly as I feel my breath quicken.
    “You let me know when that relationship gets to the end of its course.”
    Oh! My eyes widen in surprise and I am about to respond, but he is out of the car and shuts the door before I can even form a sentence.
    ~~~
    Walking back into the office, I feel an extra spring in my step. I feel almost buoyant. It’s ridiculous, I know, but I can’t help it. Reviewing the last few days of my life, I feel as if I’m poised on the top of an abyss. Any moment I’m going to jump off into the wild unknown.
    Thinking back about my job and how I work with the staff here, I realize that this isn’t a bad gig. If I wanted to, I could turn this into a career. I just don’t want to. I know I’m smart enough to be a lawyer, I know I could be good at it. Meeting Emily and Mrs. Foster gives me pause, though.
    I think the best thing for me to do is find an internship at a law firm and sit in on some classes. I need