Finally (8 page)

“You can fi x it, right?” She pressed up onto her tiptoes, anxious for my agreement.

“Fix the mayor insulting an important corporate backer by rallying against their questionable labor practices?” I didn’t know why I was taking it out on the messenger, but sometimes I was convinced Tammy needed to focus her wrangling skills from getting in and out of the right spots to keeping a handle on the mayor’s error prone ways. “Yes, I can fi x it. Do not let her take another podium until I’ve fi gured out how, though.”

“You’re awesome, Linds. She’ll be thrilled to hear it.”

Not relieved, thrilled. Typical. What else did I expect when I worked for a politician who had diarrhea of the mouth? If only I’d dropped out of that fi rst Poli Sci course in college. I could be boring myself to death in a cubicle running numbers instead of trying to fi gure out how to get my boss out of a coffi n deep hole without a rope.

“Your friend is an idiot,” Yoshi Nakamura, the city’s best public defender and one of my good friends, declared as he sauntered into my offi ce moments after Tammy’s escape and dropped into a chair. The familiar move had started three years ago when he’d left a posh law fi rm for the public defender’s small cubicle with a twenty-fi ve year old scratched desk and questionable chair that would fail whenever he tilted back more than ten degrees. He’d often bring his case load over and work at the extra table I had in my offi ce. Since our work habits were similar, I never minded.

“So is my boss,” I said under my breath, but the wide grin on his round face told me he’d heard.

61

Lynn Galli

“Don’t tell me…”

“Yep, another mouth drool today.”

“She must really hate you.”

“Probably more than I know,” I joked back. “What’s this about my friend?”

“Oh, that Valerie—thanks for requesting I get assigned to that fi asco by the way—has been handed a gift from the ADA and won’t take it.” The gel in his normally polished black hair failed him with his repeated head shaking. The side part that could be used as a straight edge kept fl opping back and forth as he blew out his frustration. “And she keeps asking me to talk s-l-o-w, she d-o-e-s-n-t un-der-s-t-a-n-d me.”

“Oh my god,” I blew out, matching his frustration. It was one thing to be stupid, quite another to be racist and a xenophobe.

Yoshi had moved onto my dorm fl oor during our second semester at college. At the time, he didn’t know much English. Now, his native Japanese accent was barely detectable anymore. “What can I say? She’s defi nitely an idiot. Was she arraigned today?”

“Just fi nished up. The ADA cornered me on the way out, offering one year suspended with completion of an anger management course. Can you guess how she reacted?”

“With anger?” I didn’t even need to guess. I knew how she’d react to someone telling her she had an anger problem. She loved accusing me of my short temper with her, but push it back and she’d go ballistic.

“Got it in one.” He tapped a fi nger to his nose. “Should I call Thad to see if he can reason with her or do you want to tackle this yourself?”

I leaned back in my chair, contemplating the choices. A sense of serenity settled over me as I realized I didn’t need to be involved. “Neither. She’s a big girl. If she wants to be a moron, let her.”

His brown eyes bugged out at me. “Really? Is Thad on board 62

Objection

with this? You’re really not going to get her out of this?”

“I honestly couldn’t care less anymore. Did the ADA say how bad it was?” I hadn’t bothered to ask Valerie since she kept insisting it was nothing more than a sting.

“The woman has a bruise, so I’d say she landed a good one.”

I let another long breath escape. “Can you even imagine?

Chatting with some guy and someone comes over and slaps you?

She had to be wondering if she’d stumbled into a reality show somehow.”

“Yeah, I’m not looking forward to having this go to trial.

There is no defense I can put up.”

Nodding my head, I knew he’d have his work cut out for him.

“She might come to her senses before the trial date. When is it?”

“Eight weeks. That new judge who keeps catching all the crap cases got it. If I didn’t have a ton of clients to defend in front of her, I’d feel bad for her.”

My eyebrows shot up at the mention of Judge Brooks. She’d tracked in and out of my mind all weekend. I was hoping to bump into her again soon. Maybe I’d have to make up a reason. “What’s the gossip on her?”

His eyes pinged back to mine and a teasing twinkle formed.

“I was wondering when you’d get around to noticing her.” His hours made it so that living vicariously through his friends was the only viable relationship he could maintain. Mine weren’t a lot better, but at least I’d had a date in the past three years.

Folding my arms, I pushed back against my chair. Classic and very telling defensive posture, but I didn’t care. “I ran into her on Saturday. I didn’t even recognize her. That’s all.”

“Oh, that’s all. You can’t fool me, Linds. You don’t gossip, and you don’t ask about someone unless it directly relates to your job, orrrr,” he dragged out, “you’re interested in her personally.”

“I’m just asking. She seemed to know who I was. I didn’t want to be caught off guard again.”

63

Lynn Galli

“Uh-huh,” he placated. Annoying little bastard. “We’ve got eight to one odds she’s gay.”

I let a snort escape. “You guys actually place wagers on stupid crap like that?”

“We place wagers on whether the boss will sneak a cigarette before or after the morning meeting. Of course we’re keeping book on something as big as the possibility of a lesbian judge who could completely upend the tone of the court.”

“There are conservative lesbians, you know.”

“She doesn’t look conservative to me.”

No, she didn’t, nor did she sound conservatively minded, either. Crap, now he’s got me thinking about her sexuality, which shouldn’t be something I have time to think about. The lingering glance at the check in my back pocket on Saturday should tell me everything I need to know about her sexuality, but it was possible she really was just looking at the check.

“Stop thinking about how not conservative she is. I know you.”

“You know me well enough to know I hate when people say they know me.”

“Yep,” he smirked, rising out of his seat. “Let’s grab lunch and go dangle you in front of the courthouse.”

“You really need to get cable.”

“Waste of money. I get all the entertainment I need out of my single, clueless friends.”

Like he was much better. “Really not liking you, right now.”

“Wait till I scribble your number on each of the pleadings I’ve got to deliver to Her Honor’s inbox today.”

I snaked my arm around his neck and put him in a slight choke hold. “You will not or I’ll volunteer you to help every one of my idiot friends whenever they do something really idiotic.”

64

FOUR

Her voice didn’t surprise me this time. I was sitting outside the courthouse waiting on Yoshi for another of our quick lunch breaks when the alluring judge spoke from behind me.

“You’re on courthouse grounds now, Ms. St. James. Don’t let me catch you moonlighting out here.”

“Don’t need to. Business is so much more crisp over at the children’s park.”

Her blue eyes studied every inch of my face. “Why do I have the feeling you could lie well enough to fool even yourself?”

My mouth nudged open. “I should be insulted, I think.” That I was amused made me a little warped. Maybe a lot warped.

“But the fact that you’re not makes you all the more fascinating.”

“Are you always this bold, Judge?”

“Call me Suzanne and I just might tell you.”

I smiled at the tease. Suzanne. Nice name. I could imagine saying it softly, gently, coaxingly, in a whisper, and as a shout.

Suzanne. Suzie. Sue. I hoped I’d get the opportunity to use every version of it. “Not on courthouse grounds, Judge.”

She tilted her head in acknowledgement. A fl icker of gratitude popped into her expression. I wondered if her reluctance to accept formality was why she was being stuck with all the crap cases. “Is that your way of telling me you’d like to see me off 65

Lynn Galli

courthouse grounds?”

She’d done it again. I found myself speechless with someone so direct. In my business, directness was fl eeting. I didn’t know how to react.

“You know there’s a pool about you?” I thought I’d try to elicit the same reaction from her.

“In the PD’s offi ce? Yes, my spies have delighted in telling me all about it. Do they have one on you?” Her eyes twinkled with a bit of cockiness. So much for speechless.

“No need,” I told her lightly. “They all know I’m gay.”

She looked me up and down, raising her eyebrows. “And now, so do I.”

Hel-lo, Judge.

Before I could come up with something that didn’t sound mildly smarmy, she continued, “What say we fi nd an opportunity to call me by my fi rst name? Friday night, maybe?”

My head was nodding before I agreed verbally. We set a time and place to meet up and, when Yoshi approached, said our goodbyes.

“Don’t say it,” I warned my friend when his knowing grin lingered on the departing judge.

“I can’t tell you that I saw this coming from a mile away?”

“Didn’t I just tell you not to say it?”

“It,” he shot back. “Oh, and while we’re grabbing lunch, can we talk about how your friends are idiots again?”

“You’re my friend.”

“Shut up.” His grin grew wider, and I couldn’t help joining him.

***

The restaurant seemed tranquil on the outside, but when I stepped through the door, an explosion of activity surrounded 66

Objection

me. A true Greek taverna complete with people singing, dancing on tables, breaking plates, and tossing napkins. The sight stopped me cold in the doorway.

“Good choice, right?” That luscious voice spoke right into my ear.

I started forward, turning to spot my sneaky date. Blue eyes glinted in mischief as she watched my startled reaction. Swept up on the sides, her hairstyle gave her the appearance of being both casual and dressy. With the wide smile, she looked even more beautiful in this setting than in the few times I caught her commanding a corridor in the courthouse.

“I’ve never been here.”

“I can tell,” she teased. “I thought if you turned out to be a dud as a dinner date, I’d at least have some other entertainment.”

Her hand waved to indicate the very active dining room.

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. Who would toss out a teasing insult thirty seconds into a fi rst date? “You are something.”

“Thanks.” She joined my laughter, making me feel instantly at ease with her. The spark in her beautiful eyes that said she liked my own attempt at casual dressy helped with the comfort level, too.

We were seated at a corner table, away from much of the activity, but still on the periphery. The look she exchanged with the hostess told me that she’d arranged for this table. I liked that she’d teased about the possibility of a bad date but planned on having a good one.

Suzanne made suggestions on what to eat when I told her the only Greek food I’d ever had was a gyro at a street fair.

Surprisingly, having her take charge was relaxing. I found myself enjoying the date all the more now that I didn’t have to worry about making sure every little thing went all right. It helped that the more I got to know her, the sexier she became, and she’d started out pretty damn sexy.

67

Lynn Galli

“What would I have to do to get you up dancing with the rest of these fi ne diners?” she asked with that mischievous grin I was going to set as a daily goal to see.

“Table dancing is saved for second dates.”

“Is that your way of asking me out again?” One eyebrow quirked. “You like to beat around the bush, don’t you?”

“I work for politicians.”

“Say no more.”

She made conversation so easy. Laid back yet constantly aware, it was hard to imagine her sitting as a judge. Impossible to imagine her fi tting in with the court’s current panel of conservatives. I’d have to sneak into her courtroom soon to see her in action.

As for our dinner, it had been the best date I’d had in years.

I didn’t feel like she was posing questions to tick off boxes on some list or weed me out. It was just an easy exchange, lots of kidding, lots of positive observation, and lots of fun.

“That drug deal, want to tell me more about that line of work?”

Back to the kidding, I see. I opened my mouth to spill the story when my brain stepped in and stopped me. Yoshi had said that she would be hearing that case. I probably couldn’t tell her about it. Not that it would be against the law, but it could become a compromising position for her if we became closer. Probably best not to mention it.

Having seen my expression go from open to closed in the space of a heartbeat, she misinterpreted my response. “That was a joke. Sometimes I take it too far.”

“No, it’s okay,” I reassured her. “Let’s just say my friend paid me back for money I loaned her. I’d make a whole lot more dealing drugs, I’m sure.”

She studied me for a moment, noting my now relaxed posture and expression. I knew right then how she’d become a judge.

68

Objection

She could tell when someone was lying to her. Lots of people say they can do that, but very few actually can. She could. It was written on her face and why she was so direct. I found it all very refreshing. “I’ve seen enough in my courtrooms to know that you’re right about the money.”

“And the possibility of shooting someone is always a bonus,”

I quipped back.

“Indeed.” She leaned back, taking her coffee cup with her.

Her eyes fl icked away toward the loud group in the center of the restaurant. “I don’t think I’ve ever had that much fun at a family dinner, have you?”

“I don’t think anyone’s had that much fun at a family dinner.”

Not without a lot of alcohol.

Her head nodded as a grin took over her face. “About that second date,” she started, signaling for the check, “how about something a little more lively next time?”