Read Slow Hand for Free Online Page B

building. “It was once Miss Ruby’s boardinghouse.”
    â€œBoardinghouse or bordello?” she asked.
    â€œProbably one and the same.” He grinned. “Half the reason I signed the lease was that I liked the irony of practicing law in a former bawdy house.”
    She stepped up onto the ancient-looking wooden boardwalk and gazed down the neat row of authentic nineteenth-century buildings lining both sides of the street. He opened the door with Evans & Knowlton, Attorneys at Law etched on the glass, and gestured for Nikki to precede him inside.
    â€œMornin’, Iris,” he greeted a plump middle-aged woman. “This is Miz Powell. She’s up from Atlanta and will be using the office to take care of some personal business. Please allow her free rein to the computer, fax, et cetera…”
    â€œSure thing, Wade.” Iris smiled at Nikki. “Nice to meet you, Miss Powell.”
    Nikki extended her hand with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry to impose on you like this. I’ll try not to get in your way any more than necessary.”
    â€œGet in the way? A little bitty thing like you?” Iris waved her hand with a chuckle. She then gave Wade an assessing once over, her brows meeting in a frown. “You look like you could use some coffee.”
    â€œThat rough, eh?” He rubbed his bristled jaw. It was a particularly nice jaw, strong and square with the sexiest dimple in the middle of his chin. Why did he have to have that? She was such a sucker for dimples. Nikki wondered what the ones above his ass looked like. She’d noticed that part of him too but acting on her physical attraction to him could only lead to trouble.
    What was wrong with her? One moment he was aggravating as hell and the next she was checking out his ass? Her intense reactions to him bewildered and annoyed her. She’d been around a number of hot cowboys before—more than she cared to remember and certainly none worth wasting brain cells thinking about. What made this one any different? He’s your lawyer, nothing else , she reminded herself.
    â€œNow, I didn’t actually say that,” Iris replied. “I’d be happy to run down to the café while you get cleaned up. The usual?” she asked.
    â€œJust coffee,” Wade replied.
    â€œAnything for you, Miss Powell? Coffee?”
    â€œYes. Please,” Nikki answered. “I could use the pick-me-up. It was a long night and will surely be a full day.”
    â€œHow do you take it?”
    â€œExtra cream, no sugar. Thank you.”
    Wade hung up his hat, and then came behind the desk to glance over Iris’s shoulder. “What’s on the docket this week?”
    â€œNot much. Just more disputes over grazing rights.”
    â€œGrazing rights again! I’m damned sick of environmentalists and special interest groups sticking their noses into our business. Give ’em an inch and they’ll take it all, not giving a damn that the majority of people here are just trying to eke out modest livings.” Wade raked his hand through his sandy hair with a curse. “Damned vegan tree-huggers will destroy our entire state economy.”
    Iris rolled her eyes as if anticipating a full-blown tirade. “Be back in a jiffy.” She winked at Nikki as she slipped out the door.
    Nikki grinned. “I take it you’re not a card-carrying member of the Green Party?”
    â€œNo.” His gaze narrowed and brows pulled into a frown. “You’re not one of them I hope.”
    â€œWho me?” Nikki shook her head. “No, sir-ee, I’m a live-and-let-live Libertarian and a longtime omnivore. My grandparents had a chicken farm in Lavonia. I betcha didn’t know Georgia is the country’s biggest chicken producer.”
    â€œNo, ma’am.” His shoulders visibly relaxed. “I didn’t, but then I’m not a big chicken fan myself.”
    She let her gaze