Love Is Louder by Antoinette Candela, Paige Maroney Page A

to be the husband I should be, I don’t want to share.
    My cell phone rings from my seat. I glance at the number.
    Lisa again .
    My heart skips in my chest. Loosening my tie, I sink down into the leather seat, debating whether or not to pick up. I wish I had a drink right now to slow down the demolition process going on in my mind. I peek at the time on the dash. It’s just a little past five. This can be something work-related, so I pick up.
    “James,” she breathes my name when I answer, her voice alluring, causing my body to stir. Shaking my head, I ignore the effect her voice has on me and answer.
    “Lisa.” My voice cracks on her name. I need to get a handle on my fucking nerves. “Is there a problem at the office?”
    “No, just a bunch of us from the office are going out for dinner and drinks again to discuss some cases that we weren’t able to go over during this morning’s meeting.” I hear a note of anticipation in her voice. “I was just calling to invite you.”
    I blink and take in some warm summer air that passes through my SUV. I shouldn’t go. I should wait for Brie like she waits for me. Swim some laps in the pool and have a couple of beers alone. “Do you really need me there?” I glance up at the empty house, ready to take my keys and briefcase and head inside.
    “You’re the DA. Nothing goes unless we get your stamp of approval. It won’t take long. A couple of hours at the most.”
    I check the time again. Five minutes have passed. If I decide to go out, I’ll need to bypass the Bull and Bear. I look back at my house and then at the time once more. I tap my fingers on the steering wheel with my sweaty palm, trying to keep my scattered thoughts on track. My brain never stops these days with so much on the line with my job.
    “James...are you still there?”
    “Yes, where did you plan on going?”
    “Pascal’s. Some of the staff is already there.”
    This place is not much better. I was just there celebrating my wedding anniversary with Brie and low and behold I ran into Mason. My luck can’t be that bad that he’d show up there again.
    “Okay. I can go for a couple of drinks right about now.”
    “Great. I’m still at the office. Do you mind swinging by to pick me up?”
    She’s good at this kind of thing, and I’m playing into her hand. Nobody intimidates me, especially not some female who works under me.
    I shake off the worry and answer like the fucking self-assured confident DA I am. “Sure. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
    “Perfect. See you soon.”
    I hang up and run my hand over my face. “Couple of drinks over work…nothing more.”
    What’s the harm in that?

I roll over to block out the sun raging through my window to admire this beautiful woman standing naked in my bedroom. Dana lingers in the doorway, long black hair past her shoulders and aqua eyes that would have any man drop to his knees.
    Dana moved back to New York from Florida to work as a paralegal at Sanderson and Benz, LLP, a law firm located downtown. We reconnected when I saw her one night at the Bull and Bear, and we picked up where we left off, like five years never passed. She was a high school fling, college fling, and my current fling when we both need something on a sporadic basis.
    The attraction is there, but not the connection on an emotional level. Dana is a romantic and lives with her head in the clouds when it comes to relationships. She wants a man to conquer and dominate her, but at the same time, adore her. The fact I have trouble with commitment and Dana is looking for her Prince Charming are a couple of reasons why we won’t work as a couple. I’m not sure I want to be living up to those kinds of expectations hanging over my head. Plus, the whole friends with benefits thing has worked out pretty well for us. Why mess with a good thing?
    “Good morning.”
    “God,” I grumble. “What time is it?”
    “Whatever time you want,” she says as she gently rolls me onto my back