His soul.
She tossed aside what she read and picked up a different manila folder, withdrawing a sheaf of papers from it. Once more, Wynn did his best to concentrate on reading and failed miserably. Her perfume wafted over to him, taking him back to having her in bed, naked, her skin heating and the floral scent rises as their bodies came together.
Without warning, Scarlett pushed to her feet, a slow smile lighting her face.
“I may have hit on the way to set you free.”
CHAPTER 8
Scarlett pulled up to Rhett’s home, noting the DeLaurias’ SUV and a gorgeous, sky blue Spitfire had beat her there. She assumed the classic sports car belonged to Wynn and eyed it with envy. He’d offered to pick her up but she’d told him she’d be coming from court and would meet him instead. Hopefully, he would offer to drive her somewhere in it another time. She had a weakness for hot guys behind the wheel of a cool car.
No. Forget about it. Wynn Gallagher was her client. She was nothing more than his attorney. Maybe in the future, his friend.
Then why couldn’t she get the image of a naked Wynn out of her head? Just the thought of his lips pressed to her throat and his hands roaming her body caused her mouth to grow dry.
“Enough!” she told herself. She better pull it together before she saw him. If she didn’t, the eagle-eyed duo of Sydney Revere and Cassie Corrigan would know in an instant how she felt about Wynn.
Reaching for her purse, she also grabbed a small bag with a change of clothes before heading to the front door. She rang the doorbell and her nephew opened the door, his grin revealing he’d lost both front teeth now.
“Auntie Scarlett!” Kyle exclaimed, throwing his arms around her waist. “Drew’s gonna be in karate with me this year.”
She ruffled his hair. “That’s fantastic, Mr. Toothless Wonder. You’ll need to teach him all about the pledge and earning badges.”
“Mom said to tell you to come to the backyard. Dad’s making pizza.”
“Pizza?”
Kyle beamed. “We got a pizza oven. It’s fun ‘cause we get to pick our toppings. Mom says you have to have a veggie topping with every meat but last night I picked way more meat. Don’t tell.”
Scarlett gave him her best conspirator smile. “I won’t. I’ve got to change clothes first before I head outside.”
“Okay. I’ll tell them.”
She went to the nearest powder room and slipped out of her jade green suit and cream silk blouse and the sky-high heels that made her legs look terrific but cramped her toes. Pulling out a sleeveless, ice-pink shirt, she put it on and then stepped into khaki capris and camel-colored sandals. A quick glance in the mirror told her that her makeup and hair looked fine but she added a bit of gloss. She wanted to look her best. It didn’t matter that Wynn Gallagher was no more than a client. Scarlett had a burning need to make him want her as much as she wanted him. Since she couldn’t have him and would probably suffer all night watching him, he needed to suffer a little right alongside her.
She went to the kitchen because she heard voices and found Kyle and Cadence eating their dinner. Scarlett brushed a kiss on her niece’s forehead and ruffled her nephew’s hair before she headed out the back door. Immediately, she saw everyone gathered in a circle under a large umbrella around a table. Her pulse jumped as she caught sight of Wynn and moved to join the group. The mantra in her head kept saying, “Be cool,” but her heart raced as if she’d just galloped in the Kentucky Derby.
“I smell pizza,” she proclaimed. “And I hear Rhett has a new toy.”
Her brother gave her a wry smile as he kissed her cheek. “An outdoor pizza oven is not a toy. It’s a thing of beauty. I can’t believe we never thought to put one in. I’ve got three different pizzas baking now.”
“You know me—you had me at pizza,” she teased. “I don’t care what toppings you place on it. Pizza is the bread of my life.”
Cassie greeted her. “Rhett’s getting down when to shuffle them around. Most important, he’s excelling at dessert pizzas.”
“Sweets? Now, we’re talking,” Sydney said. “Come sit with me, Scarlett.”
She did, first kissing Dash hello and then greeting Wynn. She noted he looked handsome in a blue and green plaid sports shirt and slacks—and happened to be sitting on her other side.
“Long day in court?” he asked.
Scarlett smiled. “Long and victorious.”
She shared a few details about the case she’d wrapped up, which involved a playwright claiming his former friend had stolen one of his characters and used it in a novel to be published soon. Thanks to building a solid foundation, Scarlett had proven the similarities between the two characters and linked the character back to the playwright’s childhood. The man had lifted heavily from his own experiences in creating the play’s lead. With today’s ruling, the play would go on to be produced on Broadway—and the novel would never see the light of day.
Rhett took a long, aluminum peel and scooped out a sausage and mushroom pizza, placing it on the granite island and then used a smaller peel to move the two remaining pizzas to different locations. Cassie sliced the pizza and passed plates around as Rhett removed a second pizza topped with Canadian bacon and pineapple.
“I hear there’s homemade pizza!” Breck O’Dell proclaimed as he rounded the corner of the pool. He greeted everyone with kisses and hugs and then stopped at Wynn. “Wynn Gallagher. Damn. You’re even taller and
