Free Attractive Nuisance (Legally in Love Book 1) by Jennifer Griffith Page B

dent. “Shut up, Wyatt.” Ah, the fourth grader resurfaced. Camilla remembered hearing Wyatt’s name in conjunction with the meteor crater story. This guy had been a cohort on more than one of Zane’s tall tales. Perfect for the Paul Bunyan persona to be part of those. “Now, where’s that meal you been promising me?”
    Why did he leave out the helping verb? The guy’s grammar. It irritated. And yet, that was a good thing. It kept her from allowing him to get any closer than arm’s length. Because if there was one quality Camilla could never endure, it was disrespect for the law. Of grammar.
    Okay, there might be a few other things she couldn’t live with.
    And she didn’t let herself remember that he’d handled her BMW with great care—and appreciation. Because remembering that might put a point in his favorables column. No.
    No! This guy did not get to have columns. He was a colleague, not a potential boyfriend.
    Geez. Now she’d better get some food. Her brain had started one of its calorie-deprivation spin cycles.
    “My, oh, my. Look at you.” Wyatt stood back and let his eyes slide up and down Camilla for a moment. “I can see why Zane wanted the full Prospector’s Inn treatment for you.” He turned to Zane. “You say she’s a lawyer? I bet she wins every case. The judge can’t rule against her.”
    “They call her the Judge Whisperer.”
    “They do not!” Camilla shoved his arm. It didn’t have much give, either. “Don’t listen to him. I’m Camilla Sweeten. We’re just working on a case together. This is a working dinner, so if you have a quiet spot where—”
    “Where you won’t be disturbed?” He winked an oversize wink. “Gotcha. Of course I do.”
    “Where our discussion won’t disturb other diners—that’s what I was going to say.” And where they could talk freely about the case without worries of being overheard by someone who might be indiscreet, she should say too, but she didn’t need to.
    “Oh, everyone else has gone home. It’s almost nine now. Welcome to your private dining experience at the Prospector’s Inn. We can arrange a room for you afterward, as well, if you like. It’s an inn, after all.” Wyatt pushed a stubby finger at Zane’s collarbone.
    “That won’t be necessary, thanks.” Zane spoke up, to Camilla’s relief. “And you can lay off all the nudges. She’s right. This is a working dinner. We do have things we have to discuss.” He was coming to her defense against this log-splitting oaf, who might have been charming if he hadn’t insisted on making her so uncomfortable. “What’s on the menu tonight?”
    “Like you requested. The prime rib.” Wyatt led them to a corner table, one with several candles burning as a centerpiece and a red gingham tablecloth. The carved wood chairs were surprisingly comfortable, and Zane got hers for her, then helped scoot her up to the table. Huh. She hadn’t expected that. A guy hadn’t gotten her chair for her in…who knew how long? “What’ll you drink? We have microbrewery specialties. We have Coke products. We have—oh, I know what you’ll like.” Wyatt stopped his questioning and stomped away, over the hardwood floor. The place smelled amazing, like well cooked meat and spices and wood-burning stoves and chocolate.
    “I wish we were a little nearer the fire. It’s cold up here. We’re at 9,000 feet in elevation. Man, your car took those hills like a champ. Didn’t even miss a gear.”
    “It’s a beaut. I can’t believe it’s mine.”
    “Gives us both empathy for our bandit. He’s got good taste. If I turned to a life of crime, I’d probably be a copycat thief.”
    “Don’t even say that.” Camilla toyed with her cloth napkin, folding it into smaller and smaller triangles. “Now, what have you found? You sounded so excited.”
    “Uh-uh. I told you no more findings until after food.” He warmed his hands over the candles’ flames. “Have you ever been up here before?”
    “I