After All by Kristen Proby Page 0,17

over case notes. Well, unless he’s asking me to fetch them or file them away.

But read them? No.

“Uh, okay.”

“Great. Have a good day, Nora.”

And with that, he walks into his office and shuts the door, just like any other normal day.

Confused, I open the folder and find a handwritten note from Carter.

N—

We said to act normal at work, so this is the only way I could come up with to send personal messages back and forth. I’m looking forward to our date this evening. And if I haven’t told you yet today, you look fantastic.

He wrote this before he even saw what I was wearing today. Carter Shaw is a charmer.

I hope you have a great day. The hours will creep by for me.

—C

I did not expect this. Flirty notes that we pass back and forth in this folder seems a bit childish, but exciting at the same time.

We can’t email back and forth because that leaves a trail. We could just text—that would be easier—but this is sort of old-fashioned and tantalizing. And the fact that Carter was creative enough to come up with it sets the butterflies in my belly into full flutter.

I tuck the note in my purse and pull out a blank piece of paper.

C—

Thank you for coming up with such a fun way to communicate during the day. It’s kind of sexy that you thought of it. I see you’re wearing my favorite slacks today.

I’m also excited for our date. What time should I be ready to go for the day?

TGIF!

—N

I tuck the note into the folder and walk into Carter’s office.

“I read over your notes and added my own, for you to read at your convenience.”

I pass him the folder and immediately turn to walk back to my desk.

On my way out the door, I whisper to myself, “I hope you know what you’re doing, Nora.

“Hey, Sienna,” I say when I see the attorney standing at my desk. “What can I do for you?”

“I need a full-time assistant,” she says with a sigh. “I thought I could get through a couple of weeks without one, but my plate is already full, and I don’t feel comfortable calling on you all the time. You have your own full-time job.”

“Okay, let’s take a look at the résumés that have come in from the staffing service and see what we have.”

“Thank you,” she says with a smile. “Meet me in my office whenever you’re free.”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

“You’re the best,” she says with a grateful smile and walks back toward her office, down the hall from her husband’s. Quinn wanted her close. Not because he thinks he has to help her, or save her from anything. He knows Sienna is more than capable of taking care of herself.

No, he just loves her to distraction and wanted her to be nearby. It’s romantic and sweet.

Two words I never would have used to describe Quinn in the past. He’s always been kind to me, but he’s the reckless one. The bad boy. And now, with Sienna, he’s still edgy with a soft spot for the woman he’s crazy about.

I’m happy for him.

Just as I’m gathering my laptop and supplies to take into Sienna’s office, my phone pings with a text from Carter.

I’ll meet you in the parking garage at 6:00.

I send him back a quick reply and then call him on the office phone to let him know I’ll be with Sienna for a bit.

Today is going to be the longest day of my life.

“I’m so dang full,” I say with a sigh as I pat my belly. “If this is going to be the norm when we go out on dates, I’ll need to start some sort of rigorous cardio routine. And, frankly, I don’t like to sweat.”

Carter laughs and reaches for my hand. “You don’t like to sweat?”

“No. I don’t. It’s just . . . sweaty.”

“So noted,” he replies. “I plan to feed you well, Nora. I plan to do a lot of things well.”

If that doesn’t send a zing down my spine and straight to my lady parts, I don’t know what does.

I cross my legs, here in his car, trying to relieve the pressure between them.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“Fine. Just fine. And full. Thanks for dinner. One of these nights, I’d like to cook for you.”

“Do you like to cook?”

“I love it, I just don’t usually have a lot of time for it. I cook for Gabby and me a lot when