Beguile her: Laws of Seduction Book 2 Read Online Free
Author: Ava Hayworth
chance.
As we head north up the East River, we chat with a group of junior associates including Alex and his date. The view of the Manhattan skyline is spectacular. I find to my surprise that I am actually enjoying myself. Davis is witty and charming. When we are not chatting with the other associates, we spend a lot of time talking and laughing. At some point I do see James. Our eyes meet, and I feel a jolt of heat shoot through me. I see Elizabeth approach him and reach out to touch his arm, and I, resolutely, turn away. They do not approach us.
A large buffet is laid out in the main cabin. I stuff myself on lobster patties and shrimp cocktail. Davis declares the sliders delicious, but I am too afraid of them sliding right onto the front of my dress. I debated what to wear this evening, deciding not to wear the proverbial little black dress. Instead, I opted for a marbled gray, strapless chiffon dress. A knot is tied across the sweetheart neckline, and the chiffon material comes down to an asymmetrical hem at knee level. I love the way the flow of the fabric brings out the grays in the pattern.
Davis and I are chatting with a group of junior associates when Becca and her date join our group. Her date is also a lawyer, but he works at another firm. They apparently know each other from law school. After the introductions are over, Becca turns to me. “Nice dress, Lainey.” Somehow the way she says it makes it sound like she means the exact opposite. Davis must have picked up on it too, because he puts his arm around me and draws me closer. Leaning down he kisses my cheek next to my ear and whispers, “Ignore her. She’s just jealous. You’re beautiful.”
Shifting my head back to look up at him, I meet James’s eyes squarely over his shoulder. I don’t know what thought process was going through my head, because suddenly I am reaching up and pulling Davis’s head down for a kiss. I know that we are standing with a group of people, but I don’t care. The thought that James is watching makes me burn and spurs me on, and I deepen the kiss. Finally, Davis pulls back and grins down at me. “Well, that was unexpected.” Realizing what a spectacle I must be making of myself, I blush, and an uncomfortable laugh escapes me. Looking around at the others, I see that they are all gaping at me. I do the only thing I can do in this kind of situation: escape to the ladies’ room.
Was I trying to make James jealous? Is that why I kissed Davis so publicly? I question my own behavior. How can I treat Davis like that? I was basically using him to get back at James, and he doesn’t deserve that. “What kind of person does that make me?” I wonder dismally. I am beginning to realize that there is something about James that makes me behave in a wild, unruly manner that is completely uncharacteristic. At least I thought it was against my nature. I am coming to realize some things about myself that are new and surprising. I am starting to see glimpses of the girl that I used to be before everything changed. I refuse to let my mind wander to the incident that was the turning point in my life. I thought the girl before the incident was gone, With d by ordered, structured, and goal-oriented Elaine. Now I wonder.
As I exit the restroom, I am surprised to find James standing on the other side of the door. Before I realize what is happening, he has taken my wrist and is pulling me down the darkened corridor. Coming to the end, he opens a door and pulls me in. I briefly register that we are in some kind of lounge meant for the ship’s crew. There is a couch as well as some folding chairs that look like they have seen better days. The room is small and lit by a standing lamp that is bolted to the floor in the corner. I hear the sound of the lock turning in the door and turn around to confront James. “What are you doing?” I ask him incredulously.
“I wanted to speak with you… in private.”
“I can’t just
As we head north up the East River, we chat with a group of junior associates including Alex and his date. The view of the Manhattan skyline is spectacular. I find to my surprise that I am actually enjoying myself. Davis is witty and charming. When we are not chatting with the other associates, we spend a lot of time talking and laughing. At some point I do see James. Our eyes meet, and I feel a jolt of heat shoot through me. I see Elizabeth approach him and reach out to touch his arm, and I, resolutely, turn away. They do not approach us.
A large buffet is laid out in the main cabin. I stuff myself on lobster patties and shrimp cocktail. Davis declares the sliders delicious, but I am too afraid of them sliding right onto the front of my dress. I debated what to wear this evening, deciding not to wear the proverbial little black dress. Instead, I opted for a marbled gray, strapless chiffon dress. A knot is tied across the sweetheart neckline, and the chiffon material comes down to an asymmetrical hem at knee level. I love the way the flow of the fabric brings out the grays in the pattern.
Davis and I are chatting with a group of junior associates when Becca and her date join our group. Her date is also a lawyer, but he works at another firm. They apparently know each other from law school. After the introductions are over, Becca turns to me. “Nice dress, Lainey.” Somehow the way she says it makes it sound like she means the exact opposite. Davis must have picked up on it too, because he puts his arm around me and draws me closer. Leaning down he kisses my cheek next to my ear and whispers, “Ignore her. She’s just jealous. You’re beautiful.”
Shifting my head back to look up at him, I meet James’s eyes squarely over his shoulder. I don’t know what thought process was going through my head, because suddenly I am reaching up and pulling Davis’s head down for a kiss. I know that we are standing with a group of people, but I don’t care. The thought that James is watching makes me burn and spurs me on, and I deepen the kiss. Finally, Davis pulls back and grins down at me. “Well, that was unexpected.” Realizing what a spectacle I must be making of myself, I blush, and an uncomfortable laugh escapes me. Looking around at the others, I see that they are all gaping at me. I do the only thing I can do in this kind of situation: escape to the ladies’ room.
Was I trying to make James jealous? Is that why I kissed Davis so publicly? I question my own behavior. How can I treat Davis like that? I was basically using him to get back at James, and he doesn’t deserve that. “What kind of person does that make me?” I wonder dismally. I am beginning to realize that there is something about James that makes me behave in a wild, unruly manner that is completely uncharacteristic. At least I thought it was against my nature. I am coming to realize some things about myself that are new and surprising. I am starting to see glimpses of the girl that I used to be before everything changed. I refuse to let my mind wander to the incident that was the turning point in my life. I thought the girl before the incident was gone, With d by ordered, structured, and goal-oriented Elaine. Now I wonder.
As I exit the restroom, I am surprised to find James standing on the other side of the door. Before I realize what is happening, he has taken my wrist and is pulling me down the darkened corridor. Coming to the end, he opens a door and pulls me in. I briefly register that we are in some kind of lounge meant for the ship’s crew. There is a couch as well as some folding chairs that look like they have seen better days. The room is small and lit by a standing lamp that is bolted to the floor in the corner. I hear the sound of the lock turning in the door and turn around to confront James. “What are you doing?” I ask him incredulously.
“I wanted to speak with you… in private.”
“I can’t just
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