Page 81 of Love: Take Two

"Am I interrupting something?" Rory asks.

I turn to find her grinning slyly; I know she's already seen too much.

"We were just discussing another client," I lie awkwardly, straightening my tie. "Awa had an insightful viewpoint on a potential amendment to their rider."

Rory's smile widens. She taps her clipboard with a pen.

"Of course," she says, reaching behind Awa for a stack of scripts. "Feel free to go back to whatever it is you were doing."

I watch to make sure she's back on the soundstage before slumping against the table.

"She knows about us," Awa murmurs, confirming what I'd feared. "Camila told me when we went out the other night."

I rake my hands through my hair and sigh.

"Is that OK? I mean, will you get in trouble with the case still active?"

Awa lets out a snort.

"Only just barely. The charges were dropped, so any loose ends are mainly administrative."

"Does that mean you and I…" I trail off, reaching for her again. I frown when she pulls away.

"Not yet," she answers. "Let me square things up with Jill, sign a few papers. Then I'm all yours."

Her pinky finds mine once again, hidden beneath the desk. I intertwine our fingers.

"Promise?" I'm begging, but I don't care. We've wasted more than enough time.

"Promise."

Chapter forty-one

Awa

It took everything in me not to grab Noah, kiss him in front of everyone, and then drag him to the nearest trailer to pick up where we left off in my apartment that night. The night I wish both of our phones had been on silent, even though it might've meant the end of Yong-rae's career if we hadn't acted quickly.

In his perfectly tailored navy suit, white teeth dazzling and eyes dancing with the promise of pleasure, he was almost too beautiful to look at directly.Oh, but I looked.I looked, and I lusted, and then I went home and got tangled in my sheets to the memory.

No, we still haven't said the words. Yes, the thought of him backing out whenever I actuallydosay the words is terrifying. It's hard to ignore what's been a pattern with the men in my life, him included. But something in his eyes says this time isdifferent. Noah has grown, he's changed, and now, for the first time, my feelings are reciprocated.

But regardless of what every cell in my body was yelling at me to do, the temporary retainer agreement is still in place. That means Yong-rae is still on my client roster, and Noah is ethically off-limits.

I pick up my pace, practically jogging through the lobby of Jill's office building. One more signature, and my one and only case for Yong-rae Kim is closed.Would I look too desperate if I called Noah right after?

"I had a feeling you'd be here first thing," Jill says once I'm escorted to her office. I drop into the chair opposite hers.

"What do you mean?" I ask, feigning nonchalance. Jill's way too perceptive to fall for it.

"I mean," she says with a knowing grin, "that you would only call me for something really important. Or someonereally important. I didn't catch a vibe when you brought in Yong-rae for his deposition, but you sure were jumpy whenever his agent came up." Her grin turns into a wicked smile. "The hot one? With the smile that could get a woman in trouble?"

"I still have no idea what you're talking about," I lie. She laughs, but thankfully doesn't press me further.

"Well,whatever'sgot you here so early," she continues, "you're in luck. The court officially recorded the dismissal of charges two days ago and provided our copy yesterday afternoon.I had my paralegal, Wanda, get right on it, and all that's missing is your signature on the formal letter of termination."

She taps the paper in front of her, a single page dissolving my role as his attorney. I let out a breath when I sign.

It's done.