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“I’m sorry, that wasn’t my intention. I was only trying to get you to stop overanalyzing it. It’s not a legal problem you have to solve, okay?”
    “Overanalyzing? Me?”
    He smiled. “If I thought about everything I did, the way you do, I’d never get anything fucking done.” His hand dropped from hers as he pushed himself away from the bar. “And speaking of fucking…” The smile lingered on his sensual mouth, his usual charming I’m irresistible and you know it smile. It wasn’t directed at Eleanor but the blonde in the corner, who had put her phone down and was now giving him the eye in return.
    Eleanor shook her head. “You’re incorrigible.”
    “No, I’m honest about what I want.” He flashed her a glance. “And what I want is only happiness for you, Ell. You know that.”
    I guess we can’t all be honest about our feelings…
    She tried to ignore the sound of Luc’s voice in her head. “I do.”
    “Remember that caution…” he said the word like he was tasting it and not enjoying the taste, “…is for children and old people. And you’re not either of those things. Ditch the caution for once, Eleanor. Live a little. God knows you deserve it.” With that he stepped away from the bar and began to thread his way through the tables toward the blonde in the corner.
    She didn’t watch him go, frowning into her wine instead, his words slowly settling down over her like a blanket weighted down with lead.
    Live a little. As if she wasn’t living now.
    Well, actually, you’re not, are you? All you ever do is go to work and come home. Go out to a bar with Kahu and the others, and that’s only if you’re lucky.
    The thoughts were insidious and did nothing for the discomfort sitting inside her. Yes, it was an intellectual, narrow kind of life, but it satisfied her. She didn’t have either the time or the inclination for more.
    It’s been a while since you tried for more…
    Laughter drifted across the room, Kahu’s, the woman’s. She couldn’t help herself; she turned to look. The blonde was leaning toward Kahu, elbows on the table, an openly hungry expression on her face. That woman didn’t seem to care about caution either. Or fear. No, she was just hungry.
    Yes, well, for some people it was that simple. But she’d never been one of those people. Not since Piers had taken her desire and twisted it, used it, manipulated it.
    Burned all the passion right out of her.
    Sick of her thoughts, she looked down at her phone sitting on the bar beside her glass. There were already a few texts from colleagues, and a couple from a student, some meeting reminders.
    God, she didn’t have time to sit around drinking by herself and thinking about Lucien North. What she should be doing was finding him and telling him her honest feelings about him, which was to back the hell off. Then she needed to get back to work and think about that instead.
    Eleanor collected her phone and slipped off her barstool.
    She didn’t bother with the rest of her wine.

Chapter Four
    Luc lay on his back on the grass, the shadow of the pohutakawa a cool darkness over his face. He kept his eyes closed, the sounds of the city a low hum in the background.
    He liked this part of the university grounds. A peaceful, grassy space with lots of trees not far from the law school. Everyone else was in classes so he had it to himself, especially nice since he’d come here to think.
    Or rather tell himself what a stupid fucking idiot he’d been the day before with Eleanor.
    He’d spent the whole of the previous week making sure they crossed paths, not deliberately stalking her, but whenever they were in the same area, he made sure she noticed him. And she had. It had taken a couple of days but soon it had got to the point that whenever they were in the same space, her gaze would automatically find his.
    That had been so incredibly satisfying. Like he’d passed a difficult exam with flying colors or something.
    Then he’d missed her