Read Love Irresistibly for Free Online Page A

understand.”
    Cade’s tone was a touch dry, likely not enjoying the fact that she’d taken charge of “his” meeting. “I can get you a subpoena.”
    They wrapped up their meeting after that, making plans to meet at the restaurant at seven A.M. on Sunday. “I’ll let the lobby guard know to expect you, so you won’t have any trouble on that end,” Brooke told them.
    She walked them to her office door, where both Huxley and Vaughn shook her hand and thanked her again for her assistance.
    Cade paused in the doorway. “I’ll meet you guys in the reception area,” he told the agents.
    Brooke waited until the two agents had left before turning to face Cade. He was very tall—easily a good three or four inches over six feet—so she had to tilt her head back to hold his gaze. “Planning to threaten me with more federal charges, Mr. Morgan?”
    He took a step closer. “You knew you were going to cooperate with us from the beginning, didn’t you?”
    Actually . . . yes. Or at least from the point in the conversation when she’d realized that Sterling wasn’t in any legal trouble. Both the attorney and businesswoman in her knew that one did not lightly refuse to cooperate with the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office. Cade Morgan may have irked her, but there was no doubt that he was a powerful man in this city.
    “I negotiate multimillion-dollar deals for a living,” she told him. “You may have your subpoena power and tough-guy speeches, but I’m not exactly a novice at the bargaining table. You got your bugged table at Sogna. All I wanted in exchange was an acknowledgement of the courtesies that Sterling Restaurants is extending the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
    Cade crossed his arms across his chest, the jacket of his suit pulling tighter around his broad shoulders. “For the record, I don’t believe I actually agreed to this ‘favor’ you asked for.”
    “Nor did you disagree. Implied consent.”
    He gave her a long look. “I can’t decide if you’re irritatingly self-assured or just . . .” He seemed to ponder this for a moment, and then shrugged. “Nope, I’ve got nothing else. ‘Irritating’ it is.”
    Seeming to have settled this, he turned to go. “See you bright and early Sunday morning, Brooke Parker.”
    Then he strode out of her office just as confidently as he’d come in.
    Most annoyingly.

Four
    “WELL, I THINK that was a very productive visit.”
    Walking alongside Vaughn as the three men crossed the parking garage, Huxley concurred with his partner’s assessment. “Assuming Brooke can deliver on getting the hostess to seat everyone at the right tables, this should go off smoothly.”
    Cade headed to the front passenger door of Huxley’s Range Rover. So it was “Brooke” now, apparently. Not surprising, seeing how she’d practically had both agents eating out of the palm of her hand.
    They all climbed into the SUV. As Huxley started the car, Vaughn spoke from the backseat, continuing to sing the praises of Brooke Parker of Sterling Restaurants and the Sarcastic Quips.
    “I liked when she offered to have the camera directed at Sanderson’s table. I would’ve suggested it regardless, but it’s great that she’s so willing to cooperate.”
    Cade fought the urge to roll his eyes. Okay, so she was hot. Whatever . And pleasant enough to people who didn’t threaten her with obstruction of justice charges. Big deal.
    “If only all lawyers were that agreeable to work with,” Huxley said. “It would make our jobs a hell of a lot easier.”
    “So true,” Vaughn agreed.
    A silence fell over the car.
    “Although she didn’t seem to like you very much, Morgan,” Vaughn mused.
    Yes, thank you, he’d caught that. “Somebody had to be the bad cop. Clearly, it wasn’t going to be either of you two.” And in fairness, that hadn’t been the role he’d expected the agents to play. Brooke Parker wasn’t a witness, or a suspect—they’d been approaching her in her