Enemies or lovers? Liam, a successful young lawyer, is allergic to love. He’s always between business trips and, devastated by a dark secret, he has put a lock on his heart. That’s the way he likes it. But when he crosses paths with Zoe, all his principles fly out the window. Zoe is the opposite of his usual conquests: natural, funny, impetuous... and she has no plans to make room in her life for a man. *** I watch her delicate hands work over my torso, becoming intoxicated by her scent rising to meet me from her neck. “I’m so sorry,” she insists, now scrubbing the fabric with concentration, taking breaks to dab her forehead with her arm. She’s damaging my designer shirt. Instead of pointing that out to her, I observe her every movement. I surprise her a few times as she nibbles her thumb. A habit that reveals how nervous she actually is. “I’ll pay for the dry cleaning, of course. And free coffee for a week.” I don't reply. I resist the temptation to run my hand through her long, silky hair. I find her beautiful: her fragility, embarrassment, simplicity. “A month?” she offers, obviously worried by my silence. “It’s fine for the coffee. A week and we’re even,” I reassure her. "For the dry cleaning, I'll take care of it. Don’t worry about the clothes. It could happen to anyone.” She stops and looks at me, smiling, relieved by my pacifist reaction. “I think your shirt is ruined,” she announces, nibbling her lower lip. “Yeah, I think you’re right about that!” I agree, laughing. I’m speechless when she starts working on my pants, kneeling down between my legs. Is this a joke? I thought this kind of thing only happened in movies! Except there’s nothing funny about the position. On the contrary. The pressure she’s putting on my crotch awakens sensations in my entire body. My imagination becomes quickly uncontrollable. I want her. Forbidden thoughts start to creep into my mind. To touch her. Caress her. Kiss her. She suddenly stops, as if she had heard my inappropriate thoughts. Time stands still for a second, and the noise of the café customers dies down. Here we are, the two of us, completely isolated from the rest of the world. *** Love, Law, and Lattes: A brewing romance, Avril Rose, complete novel