The Way You Love Me. Donna Hill

gave a brief nod and turned to the row of bottles behind her.

      “Ohhh, I see Mr. Fine is back,” Mellie said, sidling up to Bailey.

      “Yep,” she said noncommittally. She reached for the bottle and nearly dropped it because her hands were shaking so badly. She managed to fix the drink and place it in front of him.

      “Here you go. Anything else, let me know.” She started to turn away, and Justin grabbed her hand.

      “Wait.”

      She glanced down at his hand covering hers. Electricity skidded up her arm. Her lips parted slightly so that she could breathe.

      “I want to apologize about the other night.”

      “Nothing to apologize for.”

      “Yes, there is. Jasmine was rude, and her comment was uncalled for. I don’t want you to think that’s how I think or what I feel.”

      She blinked. Her thoughts scrambled. She swallowed. “Whatever.”

      “It’s true.”

      Her heart was beating a mile a minute. If he didn’t let go of her hand, she would self-combust. She pulled her hand away. “Thanks for the apology. I’ve got to get back to work.”

      “And I’ll be right here until you talk to me.”

      She threw him a look, and he stared right back at her. On shaky legs she turned away and walked to the end of the bar.

      “What’s the deal with Mr. Handsome?” Mellie asked. “I saw him grab your hand. Girl, you need to stop playing so hard to get. Even Stevie Wonder could see he has a thing for you.”

      “Mellie, would you please stop? He does not.”

      “Hmm, okay. If you say so.”

      Bailey dared to glance down the length of the bar, and Justin raised his glass to her. She quickly looked away. Was he really going to sit there all night? And where in the hell was Addison?

      Bailey’s cell phone chirped in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw Addy’s name on the screen. “Girl, where are you?” she asked under her breath.

      “I’m running a little late. What’s wrong?”

      “He’s here.”

      “Who?”

      “Him. Justin.”

      “Oh, damn. Well, what happened?”

      “Nothing. He said he came to apologize.”

      “Okay, and...”

      “And, I can’t talk to that man, and he said he’s staying until I do.”

      “Don’t be ridiculous. Obviously, he’s interested. He didn’t have to come to see you.”

      “He also is obviously involved.”

      “Maybe, maybe not. You’ll never find out talking to me. See you soon.”

      Bailey heaved a sigh and stuck the phone back into her pocket. She glanced at Justin, who was nursing his drink. She straightened her shoulders and walked back down the length of the bar and stood in front of him.

      “I accept your apology.”

      He looked at her from beneath those incredible lashes. He set his drink down. “Good. That’s a start.”

      “A start to what?”

      “To us getting to know each other.”

      “What about...your friend...Jasmine?”

      “It’s not what you think.”

      “How do you know what I’m thinking?”

      “You’re thinking that she and I have a real thing going on. That she’s my woman and therefore there is no room for an us.”

      Her stomach fluttered at the tone of his word us. “There isn’t an us.”

      “There can be. If you give me a chance to show you.”

      “You still haven’t answered my question about you and Jasmine.”

      “Ask. What do you want to know? I have nothing to hide.”

      Her gaze darted around then finally settled on him. “What...how serious is it between you?” She ran her tongue across her bottom lip.

      Justin angled his head to the side. “She is the daughter of one of the partners at the firm where I work. Her father and mine think that the two of us would make a perfect partnership.” He paused, looked beyond her defenses and seeped down into her center. “I don’t.” He slowly turned his glass on the bar top, studying the remnants of the amber liquid. He lifted his dark eyes. “I want to get to know you.”

      Her heart thudded, and her flesh heated. The sound of his voice, the look of raw hunger in his eyes, had her wanting to believe whatever those luscious lips said.

      She rested her weight on her right leg. “You used to getting what you want, Mr. Lawson?”

      “Most of the time. But I do go after what I want...all the time.”

      Her nipples tightened. She tore her gaze away. “We come from two different worlds. I’m not the kind of woman you’re used to.”

      “How can you be so sure that you know what I’m used to...better, what I want?”

      “I was at the party, remember? I saw the kind of circles you travel in.”

      “And you think that’s all I am?”

      “Aren’t you?” she challenged.

      “No. And I want to prove that to you.”

      “Why? Why me?”

      He hesitated. “Because I can’t stop thinking about you. Day and night. I want to know what it’s like to kiss those lips of yours, to hold you, touch you, to whisper in your ear, to make love to you.” He ran the tip of his finger along her knuckles.

      Her skin sizzled, and her clit twitched in response.

      “I’ve got to get back to work,” she managed to eek out.

      “I’ll be here when you get a break.”

      And he was true to his word. Justin ordered dinner at the bar. And each time that she came in his direction, he made a joke, or shared something about himself, like how he painted in his spare time, that one of his favorite vacation spots was Sag Harbor in the summer, and that his older brother, Rafe, was one of his best friends. And Bailey laughed at his corny jokes and told him about her best friend, Addison, and how she helped her out from time to time. She told him that she really enjoyed her job and how much she wanted to get back to law school.

      “You mentioned that the last time we talked. Law school. Maybe I could help.”

      She stopped short. “What do you mean help?” she said a bit more harsh than necessary.

      He held up his hands in surrender. “Whoa. All I meant was that maybe I could make a few calls.”

      “No! If I get in, it will be on my own, not because some big shot pulled some strings.” She spun away, fuming on the inside. How dare he? But what could she expect? Clearly he saw her as some poor waif who needed rescuing by a knight in shining armor.

      “Hey, girl!”

      Bailey turned around. “It’s about time,” she groused.

      “What is wrong with you?”

      “Nothing.”

      Addison looked around and noticed Justin at the end of the bar. “Something go wrong?”

      “Yeah, plenty. Be right back. We need some clean glasses.” She stormed off.

      Addison