The Chocolate Garden (Dare River Book 2) by Ava Miles

zeroed in on her face, but he didn’t smile. Something’s wrong . He was supposed to be on tour with her brother.
    She increased her pace, and when she reached him, she put a hand on his arm. “What happened?”
    A smile appeared—an expression she was unaccustomed to seeing on his face. “Nothing, darlin’. Everyone’s fine. We didn’t have a concert today, so I flew down here to attend to some business. The others are traveling on to the next venue.”
    Her relief was immediate, and she became aware of the people mingling in the hall watching them. “Good. That’s good. You have business here?”
    “Yes,” he responded. Short and to the point.
    She hadn’t seen him since the wedding, and now that she knew Rye wasn’t in any kind of danger, she took a moment to drink him in. Clayton looked downright masculine in a gray dress shirt and black slacks. Part of her wondered if he was wearing cowboy boots, but she didn’t dare look.
    “You’re a client here?”
    “Yes, Jared Kelly is my lawyer. Mama’s too.”
    Her boss? How had she not known that? Could he be the reason she’d gotten the internship and not J.P.?
    “Jared mentioned you’re one of the brightest law students they’ve ever had working here. He said you’re both innovative and meticulous, a rare combo. It sounds like everything is working out for you.”
    They were still standing in the middle of the hallway, and it wasn’t the most private place to ask him what was flashing through her mind. If he’d gotten her this job, she wanted to know it.
    “Can you spare time for a cup of coffee?” she asked, choosing to forget his cruel comments from the wedding.
    “Still looking to ‘dance,’ darlin’?” he drawled.
    Like hot oil searing bread dough and making it bubble, his comment brought back the flush of anger she’d been trying to put behind her since the wedding. “No, I have something else to ask you, and since you’re a client…”
    “That ploy won’t work, darlin’.” His mouth curved. “I’m not your client.”
    Didn’t she know it? “You’re being difficult. I just want to ask you something. How about I walk you out? I was about to grab lunch anyway.”
    He fell into step with her, and the cluster of people watching them fanned out like a flock of geese. Part of her was glad he hadn’t left her in the lurch. She realized it was time to stop dancing to Clayton’s tune; she was just going to play the tune she wanted and see what happened.
    “It’s a bit late for lunch,” he mused as they reached the elevator.
    “I lost track of time.”
    “You’re working too much. And forgetting lunch? You’re so thin, a brisk wind could blow you away.”
    So he didn’t find her attractive? Lovely. Just what she wanted to hear. Well, she wasn’t about to put on weight to please him.
    The elevator chimed when it opened. “I love it here.”
    “What are you working on just now?”
    She leaned against the back wall as he pressed the button for the lobby. “Legal stuff.”
    Again with that cocky grin. “I’m a lawyer, remember?”
    An embarrassed laugh sputtered out. “Right. I keep forgetting that.”
    His hand gestured to his body. “I don’t rightly dress the part anymore, but in my Vandy days, Rye, J.P., and I were spit and polished.”
    “It might have been interesting to see that.” If he’d looked that incredible in a tuxedo at the wedding, what would he look like in a suit?
    “Now, your dress. Well, that’s another thing all together.”
    His drawl was like a slow caress along her skin, and she instantly felt the attraction rush through her. Fortunately, no one else was in the car with them because she was sure she was blushing. Damn it all to hell.
    “Thank you,” she replied as they came to a stop and the doors opened.
    “I wasn’t paying you a compliment, darlin’.”
    She refrained from cursing, but oh, how she wanted to let loose a good one just to see if she could shock him.
    They walked across the