The Defendant (35 page)

“Dad!” Daniel gasped and was enveloped in a hug so hard it stole his breath.

“Son! Christ! I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I love you, son. I love you.”

His father’s pain-filled words were murmured over and over again, like a recording that had no end. Daniel clung to his dad like a mountain climber who, at any moment, could slip and fall over the edge. His heart pounded, his breath came fast, but still he didn’t let go. It was Josie and Chase whose softly uttered words finally penetrated his head.

“Daniel, honey, let’s come back and sit down,” she murmured and gently prised him away.

“Come on, mate, let me help you back to your seat,” Chase said and took hold of Trevor’s arm.

The rest of the hearing passed in a blur. Daniel listened to his counselor, Phoebe, explain to the court how he hadn’t been thinking in terms of killing the man in his mom’s bedroom. His only thought had been to protect her and for that, no one could blame him.

Josie backed up what Phoebe had said and also talked about the heroic way he’d saved her from a certain sexual assault. The reminder of that night sent a shudder running through him and he had to concentrate hard to remember that this time, it had turned out all right.

His lawyer pleaded for leniency and cited various case law as precedents. The judge seemed to absorb all that was said and after a short adjournment, came back with his decision.

While he accepted the prisoner was only twelve and had merely acted on instinct, it was also necessary to send a message to other members of the public that laws were there for a reason and had to be obeyed. Taking into account all of the evidence, and weighing up the need for deterrence against the need to be truly fair, the judge handed down a two-year custodial sentence with a non-parole period of six months.

Daniel’s legs gave out underneath him and he collapsed down on his seat.
Six months non-parole period.
It was better than he’d hoped. Much better. And from the look on the face of his lawyer, Harton was happy with the outcome, too.

He leaned over and gave Daniel’s shoulder reassuring squeeze. “It’s a good result, Daniel. In six months, you’ll be out of there.”

Daniel could do little but nod. A moment later, Josie was beside him, enveloping him in warmth and love. She hugged him close.

“I’ll come by and visit as often as they’ll let me and I’ll bring Jason with me. I’ll make sure Phoebe is allowed to continue to meet with you and we’ll keep up to date with your school work. We’ll talk on the phone and email and before you know it, you’ll be back home where you belong.”

He stayed silent and buried his face in her chest and breathed in her sweet Josie scent. He had no more words and none were necessary: Nothing was going to change the judge’s decision. He’d stay out of trouble and do his time and count down the day to his release.

He felt the weight of his father’s reassuring hand, heavy on his shoulder, and blinked back a sudden rush of fresh tears. Knowing he had people who loved and cared for him waiting for his return would make the long days and nights ahead of him bearable. There would be life after the detention center. He was determined to make sure of it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Josie let herself into Chase’s condo and set the sacks of groceries on the kitchen counter. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to return to the house on Whiskey Creek Road and was grateful that Chase had invited her to stay with him. She thought of her early musings about the little cottage and was saddened to know that her dreams of buying the place and living there had come to such an awful, abrupt end, because after what had happened there, she’d never be able to live there again.

She shuddered at the thought of what might have happened if Daniel hadn’t barged into the room, brandishing the baseball bat. His intrusion had been enough to startle the man who’d been intent on doing her harm and she’d never be able to express the depth of her gratitude.

Only that morning she’d visited Daniel in the detention center a couple of hours away and had been pleased to discover he was doing well. His school grades were up and he’d mentioned the names of a couple of other inmates who were fast becoming friends. At the end of their visit, he’d even given her a slight smile. It was a start.

Now, she emptied the grocery sacks of their contents and tamped down on a surge of excitement. She was cooking Chase dinner and she’d gone to great pains to make it special. Ever since the night of her attack, he’d treated her with kid gloves. At first, she’d been far too traumatized to do more than allow him to hold her close, but the assault had been more than a month ago and it was time to wrestle her life back.

She’d been receiving intensive counseling ever since it happened and had attended another therapy session earlier that day. She thanked God and Daniel for saving her the horror of a rape, but it had still taken exhaustive therapy and regular self-acclamations to convince her none of it had been her fault. She had been a victim of circumstance; a pawn in an evil man’s plan. She hadn’t asked for it, she hadn’t deserved it and she owed it to her, Doctor Josie Marguerite Munro, to forgive herself.

Today, inspired by Daniel’s progress, she’d made some progress of her own. She’d said the words aloud. Not only to herself, but in the presence of her therapist. And she’d meant them. She refused to be a victim for a second longer. She refused to let Scott Jones win.

She’d learned the name of her attacker through Chase after Jones’ arrest. She shuddered again and whispered a prayer of heartfelt gratitude that it was over and he was safely locked back up in jail. His trial would come much later and she’d have to cope with the ordeal of giving evidence and re-living the memories that would inevitably resurface. For now, she’d focus on the present and that very much included Chase.

Chase Barrington.
The love of her life: her moon, her stars, her everything. Despite the horror of the preceding events, whenever she thought of him, her heart swelled with happiness. So much, she didn’t think she could contain it and she didn’t want to. She wanted to cling to the feeling forever and die with a smile on her face.

The sound of her cell phone ringing interrupted her thoughts and she tugged it out of her handbag. Glancing at the screen, she smiled.

“Hello, Chase. I was just thinking about you.”

“Nice thoughts, I hope. I’m always thinking nice thoughts about you.” His voice was low and suggestive and she giggled. Heat stole up her cheeks.

“I was just calling to let you know I’m going to be home a little earlier tonight. We’ve had a quiet day at the station and Riley told me to go home. Sometimes I really like that brother of yours.”

Josie laughed quietly again and her heart rate picked up its pace at the thought Chase might soon be there.

“I’m just preparing dinner. Come home as soon as you can. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Josie ended the call and continued with her preparations. She’d bought fresh seafood from the deli and was making garlic prawns and rice. It was Chase’s favorite dish, along with pecan pie. She’d ordered the pie from the bakery. All she had to do was whip up some cream.

She thought of other uses for whipped cream and the heat in her cheeks burned hotter. Though she’d spent every night since the attack wrapped up in Chase’s strong arms, he’d done nothing more than kiss her softly and lovingly on the lips and hold her through the night.

Not that she was complaining. She loved being held close against his chest. She felt safe and secure and protected. But, she wanted more, she needed more and tonight, she was going to try her hardest to get it.

The thought of seducing Chase sent a flutter of nerves dancing around inside her and she flushed with heat again. They hadn’t made love since the night before Scott Jones’ attack and her body craved intimacy with him again.

Hurrying, she stored the rest of the groceries and put the prawns away in the fridge. They wouldn’t take long to cook. Right now, she had more important things to attend to.

Rushing down the hall, tugging clothing off as she went, she hurried into the bathroom and turned on the faucets in the shower. When the water was hot, she stepped inside the cubicle and quickly lathered her hair. She shaved under her arms and shaved her legs and rinsed out the conditioner until her hair was squeaky clean.

Knowing it wouldn’t take him long to reach his condo, she turned off the water and quickly toweled herself dry. Striding naked into the bedroom, she opened Chase’s closet and took out the shopping bag she’d stowed in there a couple of days earlier, after she’d been browsing through the women’s section in a department store.

The black satin and lace negligee had snagged her attention from right across the room. It had been displayed on a shapely mannequin that filled it out in all the right places. She’d wandered over for a closer look, checking over her shoulder to make sure no one else had noticed her interest.

The fabric was soft and shiny and felt like a river of silk beneath her fingers. The low V-neck and corresponding thigh-high slits up either side were more daring than anything she’d ever imagined wearing.

She turned away from it more than once, but each time, she’d been drawn back. The third time she returned to the display, she snatched one in her size off the rack and hurried to the cashier.

Thankfully, she was served by a young girl who was more interested in picking the polish off her fingernails than taking any notice of Josie’s purchase. She’d brought it back to Chase’s unit and had hidden it in the back of his closet, hoping there would come a time when she’d be brave enough to wear it.

Now, she pulled the flimsy excuse for a nightie from the department store bag and shook it out. It felt as soft and silky as it had in the store and it flowed across her fingers like warm caramel. She imagined Chase seeing her in it and desire and anticipation coursed through her.

Working quickly now, she pulled the nightdress over her head and shimmied it down her body. It fit just as snugly as the one on the model in the store. She didn’t have time to blow-dry her hair, but combed the wet strands and quickly twisted them into a loose knot. She spritzed herself with perfume and had just disposed of the store bag when she heard Chase’s key in the door.

Her heart stuttered with excitement and then, a second later, took off at a flat-out gallop. She heard him call her name and swallowed against a mouth that had suddenly gone dry. It was one thing to think about seducing him, but now that the moment was upon her, it was like it was their very first time. She stood frozen with indecision in the middle of the bedroom.

Chase appeared in the doorway and the look of shock, followed immediately by excitement, shattered all of her fears. As if in a trance, he shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it on the floor, his gaze riveted to hers.

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, are you real?” he muttered and closed the distance between them.

A moment later, she was crushed against him and his hot mouth was over hers. He kissed her until she was gasping for breath and then he kissed her a little more. His hands roved over her back and caressed the satin-covered softness of her hips. His hand cupped her bottom and pressed her against his erection.

The feel of his hard cock pressing against her belly sent fire shooting all the way down to her core. She burned for the feel of him inside her and craved the relief only he could give. It couldn’t come soon enough.

She squirmed against him and let him know with her mouth just how desperate for him she felt. In case he didn’t get the message, she told him.

“I want you. I need you. Make love to me, Chase.”

Emotion flared in his eyes and he dragged her back against him for another mind-blowing kiss. She threaded her arms up around his neck and clung to him. Suddenly impatient for the feel of his skin, she loosened his tie and struggled with the buttons of his shirt. Within minutes, she’d accomplished her task and sighed in satisfaction when she placed her palms flat against the firm muscles of his chest. They bunched beneath her fingers.

She bent her head and swiped her tongue over one of his nipples and was rewarded by his sudden intake of breath. With a surge of purely feminine power, she bit back a smile and laved the other one.

Chase threw back his head and groaned. “You’re killing me, Jose.”

“Can you think of a better way to go?” she murmured, her voice low and husky with desire.

His eyes flared hotly. Without warning, he bent and picked her up. In two long strides, he reached the bed and deposited her gently across its breadth. A moment later, he joined her.

Toeing off his boots, he kicked off his socks and then loosened the belt around his waist. Her hands went to his and stilled them.

“Here, let me.”

His hands fell away and he lay back against the pillows. His eyes closed on a taut sigh. Josie knelt beside him and went to work on his pants. Within moments, the hindrance of his belt, button and zipper were removed and she slid her hand into his boxers. His cock was hard and hot and throbbing and she marveled at its size. Her fingers tightened around him and once again, she was rewarded with a gasp.

She released him and tugged at his suit pants and he assisted by lifting his hips. She pushed the clothing down his legs and he kicked it off the rest of the way. Her gaze roved over him and came to a rest on his erection. It strained against the fabric of his underwear and it was all she could do not to climb astride him.