The next day at work, Charlotte’s supervisorb, /bYvonneb, /bbhanded /bher two new case bfiles/b.

Yvonne bspoke /bquickly and bto /bthe pointb. /b“This one’s ba /bcivil appeal. The original attorney left bthe /bfirm, so it’s been reassigned to you. The appeal deadline bis /bing up fast. bYou’ll /bbneed /bbto /bdraft bthe /bappeal brief and get everything submitted to bthe /bcourt today.b” /b

She handed over the bsecond /bfile. b“/bThis one’s a workce injury bcase/b. You’ll need bto /btake the client for an official injury assessment and a disability evaluation. Try to get it done today or tomorrow. Tomorrow’s Fridayb, /bso don’t push it to next week.b” /b

Charlotte took the folders and nodded. “Got it. No problemb./bb” /b

It was her second bday /bon the jobb, /band she already had cases to handle. This really was the topw firm in Jersey City.

She didn’t mind the workload. Having active cases meantmissions, and more importantly, hands–on experience.

She reviewed bthe /bbcase /bfiles and spoke with the clientsb. /bBoth cases were fairlyplex. She scheduled the injury evaluation for the next day and focused on finishing the appeal today.

By the time she wrapped up, the sky outside waspletely dark.

The office was quiet. Everyone else had gone home. Charlotte hadn’t even had time for dinner.

She tidied her desk, turned off the lights, locked up, and stepped out into the night.

Her apartment was only a ten–minute walk from the office, so she walked to and from work every day.

Her phone rang. It was Sean.

“Lottie, are you home byet/b?”

“I just left the office. Heading back now.b” /b

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet. I was nning to order something once I got

home.”

Sean chuckled. “Miss Riley your food delivery is en route.”

“What? bYou /bordered for me?”

His voice was low and yful. “Your delivery guy is Sean bJasper/b, on his way to your building nowb./bb” /b

Charlotte let out augh. “You’re delivering it yourself?”

“Yep.” Sean’s voice was soft and warmb. /bb“/bI’m almost there. Should reach your building in about fifteen minutes.

Fifteen minutes perfect timing. It would take her ten minutes bto /bwalk back.

Sean was nothing if not bprecise/b.

In Charlotte’s memoryb, /bhe had never bbeen /bthe type bto /bjoke around. bHearing /bhim bcall /bhimself her delivery guy? That was miles away from the cold, aloof Sean Jasper she bused /bbto /bknow.

But these past few days, something had shifted.

He wasb… /bdifferent.

The mood had lightened thanks bto /bhis teasing tone. Charlotte couldn’t bhelp /bbut bsmile /bas bshe /byfully quipped, “You sure you didn’t nt a tracker on me, Mr. Jasper? Because that would be a privacy vition.”

Sean’s voice dropped, low and smooth. “Then what’s Attorney Riley going bto /bdo? Arrest me? I’ll dly surrenderb… /bat your mercy.”

Especially thatst part-“at your mercy.” Sean deliberately slowed his voice, bthe /bdeep, velvety tone bced /bwith quiet seduction. The way he said it made Charlotte’s cheeks burnb. /b

Charlotte cleared her throat quicklyb, /btrying to cover her fluster. b“/bbYou /bprobably shouldn’t talk and drive. Distracted driving is dangerous.b” /b

Sean chuckled. “I’m not driving. My driver isb./bb” /b

Charlotte was rendered speechless.

They bchatted /bbthe /bwhole way as she walked, her voice light and full ofughter. She was so focused on bthe /bbcall/b, bshe /bdidn’t notice the figure

standing under the tree just outside her building.

“Charlotte.b” /b

The deep voice cut through bthe /bdarknessb, /bcold and sharp.

She stopped in her tracks.

It was bZac/bb. /b

+25 Bonus