If He Only Knew...

Sara’s first reaction was outrage but as she listened she realized the tears had been in gratitude. Cody had spent his own money and time to track down her ex-husband and secure the woman’s delinquent child support payments. His only condition was that the woman agree never to speak of it again.

After that, everything changed, at least in Sara’s eyes. Too bad he never let others see that human side of him. Did he think it made him look weak?

Soft jazz filled the air, and Sara tried to focus on the soothing sound of the keyboard and not Cody. Socializing, talking to his subordinates. Being human. Reminding her of that night four months ago. Better to remember that than if they had hooked up, then leaving would be a hundred times more difficult than it already was.

“I don’t think Tony sees us. I’ll go get him.” Dakota got up. “We’ll be right back.”

Sara nodded, and feeling her throat tighten again, picked up the margarita. The icy coldness soothed the inside of her mouth and the heat that had started in her chest. Now would be the perfect time for Cody to approach her.

The thought had barely crossed her mind when she felt him behind her. She forced herself to breathe as she pulled back her shoulders.

“Hey, Sara.” Wrong voice. It was one of the junior attorneys from the firm who claimed Dakota’s seat.

“Oh, Barry.” What did he want? He’d hardly said a dozen words to her in the past six months.

He hesitated. “You expecting someone?”

“Dakota went to get her fiancе.” Sara casually glanced over her shoulder, ostensibly to look for Dakota. Cody was gone. She twisted all the way around. No sign of him.

“I just wanted to buy you a drink.”

Only a lifetime of Southern hospitality stopped her jaw from dropping to the table. “ You want to buy me a drink?”

He looked a little sheepish and quickly turned to signal the waitress.

“Thanks, Barry, really, but this is going to be my last one.”

“Look, I don’t blame you for being ticked at me. I’ve been a jerk.”

“I hadn’t noticed.”

With his caramel-colored eyes and dark hair he was good-looking when he smiled, but that didn’t happen often. “Dakota told me about the screwup you caught on the Clarkson brief. I was pissed at first.”

“Me being a temp and all.”

“Well, yeah,” he said unabashedly. “Then I heard you caught a mistake Margot made, too. Bottom line, you saved my ass.”

Sara shrugged a shoulder. “Not a problem. I had to type it, so of course I noticed.”

He shook his head. “You had to understand the content to notice. Most of the secretaries have been with the firm for years but couldn’t have caught it on a dare. You’re wasting your time. You should be in law school.”

Sara just smiled. Been there. Done that. Yale. Second in her class. But none of these people needed to know that.

Barry studied her for a moment. “You have plans for dinner?”

“I have to pack. Early flight tomorrow.”

“Where are you going again?”

“Atlanta,” Cody answered for her.

Sara and Barry both stared as he pulled out a chair and joined them.

His knee brushed hers and the slight touch sent her pulse skittering. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”

Barry looked from him to Sara and then back to Cody. “I didn’t know you hung out here, boss.”

“I don’t.”

After an awkward silence, Barry noisily cleared his throat. “Right.” He pushed his chair back. “Okay, well, I guess I’ll be going.”

Cody didn’t say anything, simply sipped from the glass he’d brought with him.

Barry stood. “Good luck to you, Sara. Travel safely.”

She smiled, and then waited until Barry was out of earshot. “You were rude to him.”

“Was I?” Cody’s gaze narrowed and he seemed genuinely surprised.

“If you hadn’t noticed, we’re at a party. My party.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

She watched him stop a passing waitress and order another scotch, shaking her head when he added a margarita. After the woman left, Sara asked, “Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Treat people that way.”

He frowned. “The waitress?”

“No, Barry. Other people in the office.”

He leaned back in the burgundy leather club chair, studying her, amusement in his eyes. “You make it sound like I’m an ogre.”

Sara leaned forward, staying locked on his gaze. He didn’t show surprise at her boldness, but she knew it was there. She’d purposely played the stereotypical Southern belle for the past ten months, sweet and accommodating. But she didn’t have to play a part any longer.

Maintaining eye contact, she said, “Number one, you’re aloof, which makes you inaccessible to your employees, and if you have a sense of humor, you hide it well. Does everything have to be all business all the time?”

It occurred to her in a flash of belated insight that she wasn’t angry about how Cody treated Barry. She was pissed at how he’d treated her. Oh, he hadn’t been mean or anything, but he had to have felt the sparks that ignited every time they were together. His being here was proof that she hadn’t been the only one who’d been smitten. So why now? Why not months ago, when she could have done something about it?

The margarita beckoned as the truth hit her once again. He hadn’t pursued her because he thought she was a secretary. A temporary one, at that.

She sipped her drink, her gaze turned away from his, wishing she had left ten minutes ago. Oh, hell. Who was she to judge Cody for being an arrogant snob? That he had sized her up by her appearance? She certainly wanted him based on his.

“That’s it? That’s the whole lecture?” The right corner of his mouth slowly lifted.

“Yep. That’s the whole thing.” She looked away, planning her exit strategy.