Page 8 of Royal Cocktail

She cleared her throat, determined to stay focused. “I should get home.” A group of three drunk guys stumbled by, all ogling her and whistling. Harmless, but annoying. She ignored them, her attention still on her companion. “I’ve got finals soon.”

Disappointment registered on his face, but he only nodded, then extended his hand. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

“My condo’s close. I’m fine.”

His attention cut back toward the three drunken guys, then returned to her. “Then I’ll walk you to your door.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“No, but I know how daunting it can be to feel like you’re being watched. Like you can’t go from one place to another safely. Please, let me escort you.”

She realized he spoke with an exactness to his words. His voice polished and careful. “Why do you know that?” she asked as they walked slowly down the street.

“Let’s just say I’ve had an interesting life.”

“You’re too young to have completely had a life yet.”

“I’m twenty-six. So let’s say that I’ve had an interesting life so far.”

She nodded slowly. “Are your parents celebrities?”

“Something like that.”

“That must be hard,” she said. “Being in the spotlight. They chose it, but you didn’t. But ultimately, you’ll … have your own life.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. I come from a very traditional family,” he said, “but I also know that we’re very old school. And definitely an anomaly compared to most of the population.”

She was about to ask what he meant when he continued.

“And you? Were you born into a family of lawyers? Or have you chosen this path?”

“Both. My great-grandfather founded a firm. I’ll join, but only if my grades … are up to the firm’s standards. And only … after I clerk for a judge.”

“You’re not willing to just skate because you’re family.”

He said it with approval, and she stood a little taller, amazed that he recognized that in her. And liked it.

“What if you didn’t want to be a lawyer?” he asked as they approached the cross street. “What if you truly didn’t want to, but you absolutely had to?”

The question was so surprising that she actually stumbled to a stop, then looked him up and down. She had no idea why he was asking it. He might simply be making conversation, but somehow she doubted it.

She licked her lips, not sure what the best answer would be, so she said the only true thing that came to mind. “My family wouldn’t do that to me.” But even as she said the words, she wondered if they were true. Her father had aspirations for her, after all.

“Pretend.”

She frowned but tried to really think about the question. “I … I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to let them down, but…”

She trailed off with a shrug, and he nodded.

“Exactly,” he said. “But.”

For a moment, they stood in silence, then his lips curved in a slow smile. “Will you do me a favor?”

She swallowed, feeling a little excited, a little nervous. She had the strange realization that she’d been flirting, something that had never come naturally to her, but it felt good with this guy. Easy. “I don’t know. What’s the favor?”

“Will you turn around and let me buy you a drink?”

She thought of finals coming up. About how she’d been almost relieved that Hannah had bailed on her, because she needed to go lock herself in her apartment, curl up in bed with a mug of coffee and her antitrust book and learn everything she could.