The Law of Attraction (3 page)

“Sure we can.” He moved a little closer. “We can have a friendly conversation, like we've been doing since the first time we met.”

“Friendly? You call telling me my car was a piece of junk when I asked you about a mechanic the other day friendly?”

“And then you told me in explicit detail where I could drive it.”

“True, but you deserved it.”

Daniel shrugged. “I think you take everything too seriously.”

“And you don't?”

“Yeah, most of the time, but not around you. Beats the hell out of me why you bring out that side of me.”

Exactly what Joe had said earlier. “That's because I'm not like most women you know. I don't automatically swoon in your presence.” It took great effort on her part not to do that.

“To be honest, I like that about you. That's why I want to spend some time with you. We can watch the fireworks from my living room window. Do you see a problem with that?”

Alisha saw a big problem—namely she'd be sorely tempted to climb all over him if he moved even a millimeter closer. “For all intents and purposes we're opponents.”

“We're not opposing each other on any case.”

“We could in the future.”

“I'm not concerned about the future. I'm only thinking about tonight.”

How tempting it would be to take him up on his offer. How very, very tempting. But Daniel Fortune's status as an unflappable attorney was second only to his rep as an in-demand lover.

He took another slow step toward her. “Do you really want to spend the rest of the evening alone, Alisha?”

She didn't want to react so strongly to the way he'd said her name, but she did. “I've been alone before.”

“So have I, but it's New Year's Eve. People shouldn't spend the holiday alone if they have other options. Unless you're involved with someone.”

“Not currently.”

“Then I don't see any real harm in it. Nothing complicated. Just two friends seeing in the new year together.”

Alisha hadn't really viewed him as a friend per se, but he wasn't a seedy stranger. After all, he'd made it his life's work putting criminals behind bars. In that regard, he was safe. His magnetism…well, that was another thing altogether.

But she truly didn't want to be alone. Not tonight. She would keep a tight grasp on her control. She would go to Daniel Fortune's apartment and take her chances. “Do you have any wine?”

His gorgeous grin heralded success. “If I do, then you'll come home with me?”

“Yes. To watch the fireworks and have a drink.”

“You're welcome to check out my bedpost for notches.”

She didn't dare get anywhere near his bed. “No thanks.”

“I wouldn't mind showing you my custom-made wet bar. Lots of shelves. And counter space.”

“Room enough for two, no doubt.”

“Probably so, with a little careful maneuvering.”

Alisha felt as if she'd been thrust into some unknown dimension. Maybe he did want to do her. Worse, she wanted to do him. Joe and Julie would be so proud. But caution spoke
louder than carnal need. “Be careful, Counselor, or I'm going to rescind my offer.”

He looked somewhat contrite. “Sorry, but you walked right into that one.”

She only hoped that when she walked into his apartment she'd keep a choke hold on her hormones. “Where's your car?”

“I'm on foot.”

She pointed to the lot across the street. “Mine's over there. I'll drive us.”

“Save your gas. We can walk it from here.”

Maybe walking wasn't such a bad idea. Maybe then they'd be too tired to do anything that might be deemed risky. Maybe they should jog. “Okay, Counselor. Lead the way.”

And with only minimal second thoughts, Alisha accompanied Daniel Fortune to his condo, feeling as if tonight she might go anywhere he cared to take her.

D
aniel Fortune liked order, but tonight he'd invited chaos into his world in the form of five feet two inches of prime redhead with an attitude. The reasons he'd asked Alisha Hart into his home had been only partially true. Yeah, he could use a friend, because real friends were rare. But the truth of the matter was he wanted more than her friendship. He wanted her. He had since the first time he'd lain eyes on her. But the timing hadn't been right back then, and timing could be everything. He needed to remember that, otherwise she'd be out of there quicker than he could say “I object.”

She wandered around his apartment for a few minutes, picking up various items to study them. Just when he was about to ask her to take off her coat and stay awhile, she pulled the black all-weather jacket from her shoulders and tossed it and her purse onto the club chair in the corner.

“You're very neat,” she said as she ran her fingertips over the back of the steel-gray leather sofa.

“I like everything in its place.” Daniel liked having her in his place. He liked her sassy mouth. He liked the fact that she gave as good as she got. And he really liked the man-killing dress.

She strolled toward him and pointed behind him. “That is a nice wet bar.”

“Thanks. You ready for that wine now?”

“Sure.”

Turning his back to her, he took a glass from the marble shelf and pulled the bottle of merlot from the built-in wine rack. He could see her watching him from the mirrored wall behind the bar as he dislodged the cork and he hid a smile as her eyes tracked down his back and lower. She was checking out his ass. He had no problem with that. In fact, he'd be willing to give her a closer, unencumbered look if she asked.

After pouring the wine into the glass, he turned and her gaze zipped up to his face as he offered it to her. “Enjoy.”

She took the wine and a sip. “This is good. Aren't you going to have some?”

“I don't drink alcohol. I've seen what it can do to people who can't control their impulses.” He'd lived with the sorry results for most of his childhood and faced them daily during adulthood in the context of his job.

She held up the glass. “That's why I'm only having this one. I still have to drive home tonight.”

He'd prefer she stay until morning, but that was probably asking too much. “You've only been here a few minutes and already you're talking about leaving.”

“I'm just being realistic, Counselor.”

“It's Daniel. Tonight we're not attorneys, we're friends.” He gestured toward the couch. “Have a seat and make yourself comfortable.”

He followed her to the couch, keeping a fair distance just so he could watch the sway of her hips as she walked. Nothing wrong with a little mutual ass-checking.

Alisha settled against the corner of the sofa and he sat on
the opposite end, trying not to crowd her even if he did want to be closer.

“If you don't drink, then why do you keep alcohol around?” she asked.

He stretched his legs out before him and rested his joined hands on his abdomen. “Strictly for socializing.”

“I see. Have custom wet bar, will entertain. I'm sure it impresses your friends.”

“I don't entertain too often. Hard to find the time. And as I've said before, friends are few and far between these days.” A reminder of why she was here, nothing more than simple companionship.

She kicked off her shoes and curled her legs beneath her. “So are the rumors true?”

With her dress now riding high on her thighs, he had one helluva time concentrating on conversation. “What rumors?”

“That you're going to run for D.A.?”

“That depends on party politics. They could decide someone else would make a more appropriate candidate.”

“They would be crazy not to consider you.”

“I don't have a wife and kids, so that could be a determining factor.”

She toyed with the hem of her skirt, drawing Daniel's attention. “Oh, I don't know about that. As a bachelor, I'm sure you would garner the female vote.”

“Would I get your vote?”

“That depends. I have yet to see you in action.”

“Do you mean in a courtroom?”

She sent him a sly, sexy smile. “Of course that's what I meant.”

Damn. “If it's okay with you, I'd like to move off the topic of work.”

“Fine by me,” she said. “Tell me about your family.”

That was one conversation he preferred to avoid, but out of courtesy he offered, “I have a brother and two sisters.”

She took another drink of the wine and then set it down on a coaster on the end table. “What about your parents?

He figured she'd ask that next and he planned to keep it simple. “Both dead.”

She gave him a sincere, sympathetic look. “I'm sorry, Daniel. I didn't know that. What happened?”

“A car accident about seven years ago.” Enough said. He shifted toward her and draped an arm over the back of the sofa. “What about your family?”

“I'm an only child. My mom and dad live in a small town in West Texas.”

When he noted the hint of sadness in her voice, he asked, “Why aren't you with them?”

“Well, because the drive takes me nearly a day and I would have had to turn around and come right back home. I did spend Christmas with them, though.”

“Sounds like you're a close family.” Something Daniel had a hard time fathoming in light of his bitter past.

“Very. They're absolutely the best. We didn't have a lot of money while I was growing up, but it didn't matter. I had everything I needed and a lot of love.”

Something he couldn't even begin to relate to. He'd had the material objects because of his banker father, but the man had been bankrupt when it came to love. Daniel opted to keep the conversation focused on her. “I bet you were a cheerleader in high school.”

She let go a terse laugh. “Hardly. I didn't have adequate pom-poms.”

Don't do it, Fortune.
But he couldn't prevent his gaze from drifting to her breasts before he went back to her blue eyes. “I don't see anything wrong with your pom-poms.”

A slight blush stained her cheeks. “Thanks, but I wasn't the cheerleader type. I was the studious type. I concentrated on making the grade instead of the usual high school stuff like sports and dating, that kind of thing.”

“You didn't date?”

“Not really. Not until college, and even then not that much. I was bound and determined to be the best law student ever. I graduated with honors.”

“Then you went to work for Gailey and Breedlove.”

“Yes. They recruited me.”

Daniel prepared to ask something he'd wanted to know for a while now. He'd heard some speculation about her departure, none that he'd been able to verify. “That's a pretty prestigious firm. Why did you leave?”

“It's a long story, but basically I found that the justice scales were tipped toward those who had the money and means to pay for a good defense. That's why I decided to strike out on my own and try to do my part to make things more balanced.”

Not the version he'd heard, but he'd settle for her explanation without pressuring her for more. “That's why you signed on to serve as a public defender?”

“Yes, but I want to eventually concentrate on general law instead of criminal law, providing good counsel to those who have the need but not necessarily the money.”

“How do you expect to make a living at that?”

“Actually I have a few cases that could prove to be lucrative—provided I win. Just nothing up-front until they're settled. But I'm getting by.”

“And I suspect you're working your ass off.”

She patted her hip and smiled. “Believe me, it's still there.”

“I've noticed. And I'm glad.”

She looked somewhat self-conscious as she twitched on the cushions. “By the way, how is Jim Krauss in court?”

For a moment he wondered if she had a thing for his colleague. Nah. The guy was about as boring as they come. And married. “He's fairly good. Why?”

“I'm wondering what I'll be facing during the Massey trial, if it goes to trial.”

“I thought we weren't going to discuss that,” he reminded her.

“Just curious.”

“Krauss better be at his best since you're damn good.”

“How would you know?” she asked. “You've never really come up against me.”

The images the comment evoked had every muscle in his body coming to attention. “True, I haven't. But I'm sure we'd both enjoy it immensely.”

“You're certainly confident, Counselor.”

“Remember, it's Daniel tonight, and you're not all that short on confidence either.”

“No. I'm just short.”

“Your hell-on-wheels attitude makes you seem a lot taller.”

She laid a hand above her breast. “Attitude? I don't have an attitude.”

“Yeah, you do, Counselor.”

“It's Alisha,” she said, throwing his words back at him. “And you have to have a little bit of an attitude in this business to be taken seriously, especially if you're a woman.”

He gave her a long glance from face to feet, pausing in between. “Believe me, it's more than obvious you're a woman, attitude or no attitude.” When he moved closer and pushed a wayward curl from her shoulder, she immediately tensed. “Relax. I'm not going to jump you.”

“Do you think I'd be here if I really believed you would?” she said without looking at him.

“Something's making you nervous.”

“Okay, I admit it, being here with you makes me nervous.” She sent a quick glance his way. “Are you happy now?”

He could think of several things that would make him happy. Having her nervous wasn't one of them. “I'm strung a little tight myself.”

That brought her attention back to him. “The iceman ner
vous? The prosecutor who prides himself on being totally in control?”

God, he hated that whole “iceman” thing. “Believe me, I'm not always in control.” Right now his control was in jeopardy. “And under certain circumstances, I'm definitely not the iceman.”

“You could've fooled me. I've never seen you look the least bit on edge.”

“Maybe you haven't been looking hard enough. Or maybe you just don't want to see it because around you I'm always on edge.”

“Around me?”

Time for the truth, regardless of the consequences. “Yeah. Every time I'm near you. Don't pretend you haven't noticed this thing between us.”

“What thing?” Her sudden inability to look at him contradicted her denial.

“The one we've been skirting for the past few months.”

“I have no idea what you're talking about.”

“Okay, have it your way. I'll spell it out for you.”

“Please do.”

When Daniel inched a little closer, this time Alisha didn't move. In fact, she felt as if her bottom had been bonded to the cushions or perhaps she was simply mesmerized by his aura.

“I noticed you for the first time last year, while you were still working for Gailey and company,” he said. “But I also noticed you were with Troy Moreau most of the time and I sensed something was going on between the two of you.”

He had that one nailed. “We worked together quite a bit.” The truth. “Nothing more to it than that.” A lie.

The look he gave her said he didn't exactly believe her. “Back then I didn't approach you for that reason and because I was involved with someone, too.”

“Who?” Did she have to sound so absurdly jealous?

“It doesn't matter. That's been over a long time. When I
heard you'd been added to the public-defender rolls, I started looking for you.”

Unbelievable. “You started looking for me?”

“Yeah. Do you remember that day you negotiated the plea on the Jones case back in August?”

“That was my first case as a public defender.”

“Do you remember me coming in to sign off on the deal because the D.A. was out of the office?”

Boy, did she, right down to every detail, including the red diamond pattern on his navy tie. “Yes.”

“I didn't have to be there. Hildebrand talked to me about it beforehand and I'd given my okay. I came in because I wanted to see you.”

Alisha felt the creep of a blush climbing up her throat. “Really?”

He smiled. “Really. And after that I kept searching you out just so I could talk to you. Didn't you ever wonder why we kept running into each other?”

“I assumed you just found provoking me so much fun, you couldn't stay away.”

“I didn't want to stay away from you. The provocation was just a cover for the fact that I wanted to know you better. A lot better.”

She was having a difficult time buying any of this. She was having a harder time remaining upright while he was so close. “I bet you say that to all the girls downtown.”

“No. And if you're going to say you haven't noticed the chemistry between us, Alisha, then you're lying to yourself and to me.”

Confession time, she thought. “All right, maybe I did notice.”

“You've also noticed my ass.”

Wonderful. She'd been caught. “Unless you have eyes in the back of your head, I don't see how you could know that.”

“When I was standing at the bar a minute ago, getting your
wine, I was watching you in the mirror and saw you giving it a look. But that's okay because I've looked at yours more than once.”

Alisha's head started to whirl, but it wasn't the limited amount of alcohol that had her thoughts so jumbled. It was him. “Why did you wait until now to tell me all of this?”

He reached up and brushed another rebellious strand of hair away from her cheek. “You kept giving mixed signals every time I was around you. Stop, go, maybe. I was never sure how you were going to respond to any kind of overture from me. But after I saw you tonight, sitting in that bar alone, looking so damn good, it was all I could do not to grab you up and carry you out.”