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.Paralyzed, she watched Serena hesitate, and then head her way.Skye raised her eyebrows, then followed the direction of Cory’s transfixed gaze.“You look a little pale.You okay?”“Fine,” Cory muttered.She willed her legs to move, but they betrayed her desire to make a hasty exit.What was the point anyway? Serena had already seen her, and she was heading straight for them.If Serena could handle a direct confrontation, then she could too.She couldn’t deny she welcomed the sight of her as much as she dreaded the fallout from last night.While she was bleary-eyed and rumpled, Serena looked rested and, as usual, her outfit was perfectly put together.Skye waved as Serena approached.“Hey, Serena.We were just talking about Eric’s case.”Serena flashed Skye a bright, friendly smile that fizzled when she turned to look at Cory.“Good to see you, Skye.I was hoping to talk to you today.” She didn’t acknowledge Cory’s presence other than with a slight nod.Her next words seemed directed into the space between them.“When do you think the judge will rule on your motion in Eric’s case?”Skye shifted in place, looking decidedly uncomfortable.Cory knew the question was meant for her, and now she wished she’d told Serena she hadn’t even written the motion and why.But when she’d been with Serena last night, work was the last thing she’d wanted to discuss.Even now, her resolution to keep her distance was fading fast against the pull of attraction she felt.Who was she kidding? Distance was necessary.Besides, she wasn’t used to having a client to deal with, someone standing over her shoulder, watching her every move.If she wanted that, she would’ve gone into private practice.She didn’t feel like sugarcoating every bit of this process because Serena was the sister of the man she represented, and without any consideration, she threw her former desire to protect her out the window.“I didn’t get to it.”“What?”“I didn’t finish it and I didn’t file it.”“Care to explain why? And would you also care to explain why you didn’t tell me?”“Actually, no.” Cory caught a glimpse of Skye shaking her head, warning her from this path, but she plowed on.“I don’t report to you.”“Is that so?”“Absolutely.Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going back in to do the work I’ve been assigned to do.Skye, call me after your meeting.” As she turned to leave, the mix of hurt and anger on Serena’s face brought back memories of her passion, a completely different kind, from the night before, but she shook away the reflection.She had a plan, and passion wasn’t part of it.*Serena bored holes into Cory’s back with her eyes, to no effect.She stood, fixed in place, as Cory marched into the clinic offices without a backward glance.After several silent seconds, she realized Skye still stood next to her and she felt silly for arguing with Cory in front of her.“I’m sorry.”“You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”Skye’s voice was gentle and kind, but she was dead wrong.She had a lot to be sorry about.Letting her guard down, succumbing to her feelings for Cory.The list was long, but it no longer mattered.She’d be on her way home today if she had to sit at the airport all day waiting for a seat on standby.“I appreciate the work you’re doing, and I’d like you to keep me posted on your progress directly.Is that okay?”Skye looked puzzled.“Sure.I’ll report everything I learn to both you and Cory.Is there a problem?”“No problem, but I’m leaving and I just want to make sure that even though I won’t be here, I’ll be in the loop.” She’d sent Paul an e-mail late in the night, a cursory explanation about her planned departure.He’d asked her to stop by before she left, and she decided she owed him a face-to-face, even if she dreaded having to explain in person.She’d prepared a list of reasons to give Paul about why she was leaving, all purposely vague: family, work, pressing needs at home.She’d planned to make the meeting short and quick and any follow-up discussion could take place on a long distance call.Bottom line, she’d made up her mind.She had a list of possible afternoon flights in her purse, and once she packed, she’d plant herself at the airport until a seat opened up.She did feel guilty about abandoning her promise, but she couldn’t face the idea of working in such close proximity with Cory after they’d crossed the line.“Why are you leaving?”Serena hadn’t expected the blunt question from Skye, and she sensed Skye would see through her “pressing needs” excuse.She stared at her feet, but she couldn’t admit the real reason she had to go.What would she say? That the heat of Cory’s closeness threatened to burn through the layers of protection she’d worked her whole life to build? That Cory was obviously a player, and she couldn’t protect her heart? Both things might be true, but she didn’t feel comfortable sharing either of these reasons with Skye, no matter how much she trusted her.She settled on something innocuous.“I don’t think my presence is adding anything.I’m on my way in to talk to Paul and let him know my plans [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]