Don't Break My Heart... Again

Chapter 5: Invitation

Tora’s POV

She looked around his office before slowly turning to him and extending her hand. What had she gotten herself into?

“Tora Harolds,” she said as he firmly shook her soft hand.

“Derrick Brant,” he replied. “What can I help you with today?” he asked. She didn’t respond right away. She had come here with hopes that the young rising star of a lawyer Derrick Brant would be able to win her freedom. She hadn’t counted on him being the same handsome guy who had saved on the night she almost lost everything. She needed a lawyer - but she didn’t want it to be him. So she had to find a way out of this awkward situation with no follow up questions.

“Well,” she said tilting her head and improvising. “I feel... terrible – I never properly thanked you for saving my life that night.”

“You’re quite welcome. I’m impressed you were able to track me down,” he commented but she ignored it. “You’re not from around here are you?” he ventured, taking a step closer and studying her. She blushed under his penetrating look and resigned her gaze to his broad chest.

“No,” she said quickly, working on her exit strategy.

“Well, I was raised with good manners and it would be downright rude of me if I didn’t take you for a night on the town,” he smiled smugly. Tora struggled to keep herself from rolling her eyes. She weighed her options: she could nip this in the bud and turn him down or she could humour him and part on good terms with man that had saved her. She decided on the latter but she wasn’t going to make it that easy for him.

“I think I’ve managed to find my way around,” she challenged him, lifting her chin a fraction of an inch.

“Then I think we’ll learn a lot from each other,” he replied. He was too close now; she could smell the sweet muskiness of his cologne and catch the mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Let’s just keep in mind that I’m kind of off the market at the moment,” she sidestepped him and made it to the door, “Shall we?”

She left him to ponder her last words as she walked out the door.