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How silly. She could handle this situation with adult diplomacy.
This is not that difficult, Alisha.
Stepping onto the sidewalk, Alisha studied the stars and blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “A really nice night for sex.” Oh, crap. She’d been paid a visit by Freud instead of Baby New Year.
Daniel pushed off the pole and narrowed his eyes. “What did you just say?”
Alisha felt the fire rising to her face and more than likely she probably looked as if she’d been slapped. Someone should slap her for the questionable comment. “I said it’s a nice night in Texas.” Good save, Alisha. “Why?”
“Because I could’ve sworn you said something about sex.”
She folded her arms beneath her breasts and prepared to lie. “I’m not surprised you thought that. I hear men think about sex about every six seconds.”
“A total exaggeration. More like every ninety seconds.” He topped off the comment with the most patently seductive smile she’d ever seen on a man.
“I stand corrected.” Although right now standing before him made her want to drop to her knees in brazen worship as if he’d been ordained as a D.A. demigod.
I’d do him…in a heartbeat….
A round of pop, pop, pops from a series of firecrackers echoing through the streets yanked Alisha back into the real world, where defense attorneys and prosecutors didn’t mingle, especially between the sheets. Yes, it happened, that much Alisha knew. But not to her. She’d learned her lesson the hard way, and since that time she’d walked the professional line even though right now she wanted to walk right up and kiss the esteemed Daniel Fortune. The way she’d fantasized about kissing him for months now. She’d fantasized about a lot more than that.
He broke the silence by asking, “Why didn’t you wait inside until midnight?”
She hugged her bag to her chest. “First, it’s too crowded. Second, Billy Wade was singing like a wounded banshee. Third, sleep’s at a premium these days and I need to get home.”
“Yeah. I imagine it is with the Massey case pending.”
She attempted to look appropriately incensed—very hard to do in the presence of a man who took charisma to a whole new level. “You’re determined to get me to discuss that, aren’t you?”
“No. Just making an observation.”
And that was the reason for his attention. “You’re being too polite to me, Counselor, which leads me to believe you’re making nice so I’ll give you a clue about my strategy.”
“There’s a couple of things you need to know about me, Counselor. The Massey case isn’t my problem because my job is to prosecute the worst of the worst. Felonies, not misdemeanors. And I don’t make nice with a woman to gain information.”
“Then what do you hope to gain by making nice?”
“I don’t hope to gain anything. At least, not in terms of our professional relationship.”
Alisha wasn’t sure where this could be leading but she did know it could be down a dangerous path. “We don’t have anything other than a professional relationship.”
“We could.”
That almost shocked Alisha right out of her viselike heels. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re a prosecutor and I’m a defense attorney.”
“No reason why we can’t be friendly outside of the courts.”
Alisha could think of one big reason—namely she’d gotten a little too friendly with a colleague and she’d lived to regret it. “Maybe having a personal relationship with associates might work for you, but I’ve never considered it to be a wise move.”
“I don’t know if it works for me because I’ve never done it before.”
That was a hard one to swallow. “You’re telling me that you’ve never fraternized with one of the many female attorneys in this town?”
“Never found one I cared to fraternize with.” The look he gave her said, Until now. Or maybe her imagination was commandeering her brain again.
Turning the topic back to their profession seemed wise. “By the way, I wanted to add my congratulations on your handling of the Richardson case.”
“And I should congratulate you on bulldozing the new guy into taking a plea on the Langston case.”
“I didn’t bulldoze him. I just did some serious negotiating.”
“You scared the hell out of him.”
She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Okay, call me scary. I’ve been called worse.”
“Such as?”
“Stubborn. Single-minded—”
“Sexy as hell?”
Ha! “Can’t say that I’ve heard that in anyone’s verbal repertoire when describing me.”
“Well, it’s in mine, because you are. Especially tonight.”
Alisha fought the inclination to look behind her to see what other woman had arrived on the scene. She pointed toward the street. “I’m going to head home now.” Before she did something totally stupid.
“Where do you live?” he asked.
“In an apartment north of town, about twenty minutes away.”
“I’m a lot closer. Only a few blocks away. The new condo development.”
“The one that overlooks the river? That’s rather pricey. I didn’t know the D.A.’s office paid so well.”
“I manage. The view alone is worth it.”
“I’m sure it’s great.”
“You should come over tonight and see for yourself.”
Surely this couldn’t be happening to her, a tremendously sensual man asking her over. Actually it couldn’t be happening, or it shouldn’t. “Let me guess. You want me to go over your briefs.”
“My briefs are in order, unless you feel the need to do a quality check.”
She rolled her eyes for the second time tonight, even though she had a sudden image of doing that very thing. “You’re a big boy. I’m sure you’re quite capable of tossing out your old underwear when necessary.”
“We were talking about underwear?” His grin was teasing and terribly tempting.
She laid a dramatic hand on her chest. “My apologies, Mr. Fortune. I guess I’ve confused you with all of the other male jurists who just love to throw out those clichéd legal pickup lines.”
“You mean things like ‘Let’s engage in a little discovery’? ‘I’ll show you mine if you’ll show me yours’?”
“Yes, but we can’t forget my personal favorite—‘Let’s go back to my place and study the penal code.’”
He took a step toward her. “How about ‘I have no statute of limitations when it comes to making you feel good’?”
From the deep, compelling tone of his voice Alisha inherently knew he was telling the truth. “I’ve never heard that one before.”
“That’s because I just made it up. I can be pretty quick on my feet.”
She was surprised her feet were still holding her up. “Very creative, Counselor. And to quote another cliché, I don’t want to end up as another notch on your bedpost.”
He sighed, a rough one. “Why is it that women always think men have ulterior motives?”
“Probably because they do.”
“Believe it or not, my reasons for inviting you over don’t have anything to do with sex.” He rubbed a hand over his nape. “What if I told you that I could just use a friend?”
She could tell him she related to that on a very personal level. “I’m sure you have plenty of friends.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to know who your friends are in this business.”
How true, Alisha thought. “I’m not sure we can really be friends.”
“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.
Two
Daniel 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 nervous? 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.”