Chasing Forever (The Forever Series #1)(31)

Regan opened the lid on her cappuccino and blew on the contents before taking several large gulps. She refused to walk into a potential ambush without caffeine. Her mind was still too fuzzy to navigate any pending minefield.

In the hallway, she caught up with Lucas who had stopped at Annabelle’s desk. She fell in step behind him not wanting to make small talk. He obviously agreed because he didn’t make any move to comment or walk with her.

Lucas knocked on Richard’s door, and Richard held up one finger indicating he was still on the phone. Lucas leaned against the wall next to the door with his ankles crossed. Too frustrated to ignore him, Regan stood in front of him and put her hands on her hips.

“Are you ignoring me?” she asked.

“No,” he answered.

“Did you get the Rule 12(b)(6) motion I emailed you yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Are you mad?”

“No.”

“Can you expand your answers beyond one syllable?”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “Maybe.”

“Ahh, two syllables. I’m impressed. Can you try putting together two words or maybe even a full sentence?”

“I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to charm you into making another mistake.” He turned to the side, pulled his phone out of his pocket, and started scrolling through his email.

She put her hand over his phone. “Don’t be a jerk.”

“I’m being practical. I’d like to avoid further whiplash. One minute you’re acting as if you’re interested in me, the next you’re talking about Parker. By the way, did you see Parker this weekend?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I didn’t do anything this weekend except work on the motion you wanted, and Parker and I aren’t exactly serious. We’ve only been on two dates.”

“Is that right?” he asked, turning to face her again. “Are you sure he’s on the same page because when I met him, he seemed to think things were pretty serious between the two of you.”

Regan shrugged. “We’ve known each other for a couple years. He was being considerate. Nothing more.”

“If you say so.”

Regan’s eyes narrowed. “Unlike you and your friends, I don’t enjoy playing games with people so regardless of how you thought Parker acted when you met him, Parker knows where our relationship stands.”

“I’ll ignore the cheap shot about playing games because on some level I earned it. But I’m curious…” Lucas shifted his body so his lips were only inches from her ear and he whispered, “did you tell Parker what happened at the park on Friday?”

She turned her face and his lips were so close that if she leaned forward just slightly, maybe an inch or two, she would feel his lips brush against hers again. He bit his lower lip, and her fingers twitched with the thought of running her finger along the seam of his lips. She loved the way his lower lip was noticeably larger than the upper.

“Well,” she said in a soft voice. “Technically, if Parker and I aren’t exclusive and if the thing in the park was a one time thing, I don’t think I need to disclose anything to him. It would be nothing more than a momentarily lapse in judgment.”

He lowered his voice even further, a slight smile curling up the corners of his lips. “And, technically, what happens if the thing in the park wasn’t a one time thing?”

She should walk away or at the very least take five steps back. Unfortunately, she didn’t want to. The way he looked at her as if he were challenging her, teasing her, wanting her, drove her absolutely crazy and not in a bad way. She glanced down the hall toward Annabelle’s desk to check if they were being watched. All clear. “Are you insinuating that you’d like it to be more than a one time thing?”

“Technically, if you’re still—”

“Lucas. Regan,” Richard said from his doorway. “Thanks for waiting. The CEO of Jestine Development is a talker. Sometimes I feel like his therapist rather than his attorney.” He shook his head.

Regan took two steps back and looked down hoping to hide the blush creeping across her cheeks. She was playing with fire.

“No problem,” Lucas answered.

“Come in,” Richard said, waving his hand in their direction.

Regan followed Lucas into the office and sat in the open chair near the door. “Jack called this morning. We spent an hour reviewing his attorney fees. He’s requested that we find ways to be cost effective with billable hours and expenses.”

Regan didn’t comment. As a summer associate, it wasn’t her place to say anything. Two hours of Lucas or Richard’s time exceed the amount of her monthly rent.

“We can do that, but it will be tricky with the trip scheduled this Wednesday,” Lucas commented. “Two attorneys, two nights, two hotel rooms, numerous meals. We could comp Regan’s time as a gesture of goodwill.”

Richard leaned back in his chair and crossed one ankle over his thigh. “That was my initial thought too, but I remembered your request to stay at your family’s vacation home. I mentioned it to Jack and he liked the idea. We don’t have to comp Regan’s hours, and Jack doesn’t have to pay your hotel expenses. It’s a win-win situation.”

Regan had to force herself to remain seated. She couldn’t believe this was happening. She wanted to stay as far away as possible from his family’s vacation home and Lucas too. Being around him clouded her judgment and she already suffered enough fallout from her cloudy judgment where he was concerned.