by Geri Foster
“Be thankful we’re getting in to see the judge so fast. We could be sitting here for a couple weeks twiddling our thumbs.” She walked him to the door, grateful for all he had done. Especially for that afternoon when he’d taken her mind off of all her troubles.
She opened the door and rested her hands on the frame. Looking up into his dark, sexy eyes, his mahogany hair and handsome face created a flutter in her heart. The next thing she knew, his arms were around her and he was pulling her against his strong, powerful chest. Muscular arms, big and strong, held her tightly.
She glanced up as his lips descended toward hers, blinking slowly before closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around his neck. Lips, sexy enough to bring the dead back to life, touched hers and ignited a flame deep inside her. He kissed so leisurely, one would think he had nothing else in the world to do.
She moved closer, pressing her body against his. She felt the weight of his hand on her back and his thighs pressed against hers. The kiss went on so long she didn’t think it would ever end. She didn’t want it to. She loved being in his arms.
As he finally broke the kiss, she opened her eyes slowly. He leaned down placing his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist.”
“It’s okay.” She smiled. “I enjoy kissing you. Until yesterday, it had been a long time since I’d been kissed like a man meant it.”
He smiled arrogantly and gave her a mocking bow. “I’m glad I could accommodate. You can call me anytime you like. I’m always available to kiss a beautiful woman.”
She laughed like a six-year-old girl at a tea party. He made her feel so young, so new, and so vulnerable. “I’ll have to remember that.” She leaned back against the door, tilting her head. “Do I have a limit on those kisses?” she teased.
He shook his head. “Absolutely not. And they’re free of charge.” His expression turned serious. “There’s nothing attached to those kisses. Whatever I give, I do so freely.”
She dropped her gaze to her folded hands. “I understand.” He turned to leave. “Thank you, Marcus, thank you for everything.”
He waved without turning around. “Don’t mention it. Happy to oblige.”
Kendall closed the door and locked it. Marcus’ kiss stamped on her lips, her body still tingling, she nearly swooned. Did women really do that? She’d never experienced anything like that before. Though she could count the boys she had kissed on one hand, she still bet what Marcus made her feel was rare and magical.
Things were different now, compared to how she was as a young girl, married to a foolish boy. She was a grown woman who knew exactly what she wanted, and for a second that surprised her. After years of hiding away, trying to be invisible, she wanted to be seen. And she wanted the one looking to be Marcus. Momentarily, she grew concerned about going after him. Dare she put herself out there again?
Marcus and Bobby Joe. Two men so opposite the differences were impossible to fully describe. Marcus was an intelligent man, ambitious and kind. Bobby Joe, on the other hand, had barely made it through high school and had been in and out of trouble most of his life. Not to mention, he had perfected being a lousy husband.
Marcus was a whole different kind of man. And she knew she could count on him to be there for her. He already had been, time and time again over the past five years. Maybe security had been missing from her life all this time. The stability of a solid romance. One not residing at the bottom of a whiskey bottle. Plus, it didn’t hurt that the passion he stoked in her was off the charts.
Kendall smiled as she went through the house making sure again she’d securely locked up. Even with Bobby Joe in jail, she found it hard to feel safe. He’d fooled her too many times.
After her shower, she slipped into her pajamas, took the blanket from her bed, wrapped it around her shoulders and strode to the couch. She’d sleep there tonight just in case. Her bedroom sat at the back of apartment and she often felt trapped and unable to escape from there.
A smile on her face, she fell asleep with the taste of Marcus’ kiss on her lips.
Bobby Joe was stirred from sleep by Lucas, standing outside the cell with a cup of coffee in his hand. “Take this, you’re going to need it. And get a move on. You’re due at the courthouse in twenty minutes.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Bobby Joe stood and reached for the coffee. “I don’t need any favors from you, Quinn.” He took a sip, scowled. “You really turned out to be a traitor, you know that? We used to be friends.”
“We were. We were good friends. Until you started pounding on Kendall. That did it for me, imagine that.”
Bobby Joe continued to sip the scalding brew. “I didn’t hurt her half as bad as you want to believe. And besides, what’s between me and my wife is none of your business. I don’t care whether you’re the Sheriff or not.”
Lucas turned to leave. “Just be ready. If you’re late, it’s automatically contempt of court.”
“You’d just love that wouldn’t you, you turncoat!” Bobby Joe shouted to the slamming door. He wondered how he and Lucas had ever been friends, that there had ever been a time when they were, like his daddy often said, two peas in a pod.
So, Kendall got mouthy and he slapped her around a little. Didn’t mean Lucas had to turn into a maniac about it. After that, knowing he and his old buddy no longer saw eye to eye, he decided what the hell, no need to try and fit in anymore. So, he got the bright idea to rob a liquor store. Luckily, he got away with it, but Lucas suspected him and told him to his face he refused to be friends with a thief. Their relationship had never been the same since. Lucas turned his back on him that day and never had anything to do with him again.
Some friendship.
As soon as he drained the last sip of coffee from the cup, David, the deputy, came in, handcuffed him, then led him out into the office where Lucas waited.
“Okay, Bobby Joe. Let’s get it over with.”
Bobby Joe fought against the handcuffs. “You think you can make these any tighter? You’re cutting off my circulation.”
Lucas glared at him, his mouth tight. “Be glad they aren’t around your neck.”
With that, he grabbed him by the elbow and, between he and David, escorted him across the street to the courthouse and up the stairs to the judge’s courtroom.
As they pushed him towards the front, he noticed Kendall would be sitting behind him with that damn lawyer, Marcus. Another traitor. So smart, so intelligent, so educated. Bobby Joe couldn’t stand him.
He forced a fake grin and turned around as they passed. “Glad to see y’all. Hell, this is like a three-ring circus. Y’all here to see the show?”
Lucas jerked him the rest of the way to the front of the courtroom and shoved him into a chair. “Sit there and keep your mouth shut unless the judge asks you a question. Understand?”
Before he could respond, the sound of heels clicking against the wood floor caught his attention and he turned to see Rachel Snyder heading toward Kendall. She slid in the pew and put her arm around her friend. Another person he didn’t care for.
“What the hell was this? Come and see the monkey in court?”
The judge entered the courtroom wearing his black robe. Damn, good old Judge Kato. Him and his daddy were best friends. Bobby Joe smiled to himself. He wouldn’t be going anywhere.
Marcus did not represent Kendall with her case between her and her ex-husband. He didn’t think it appropriate. He loved her, and he’d do everything to keep her away from Bobby Joe. Her lawyer happened to be a good friend to him, but he was out of town at the moment. Neither of them thought, in this instance, Kendall needed representation though.
By all appearances, today’s hearing was a simple cut and dry case. Bobby Joe had broken into her home and attacked her. By doing so, he broke the law. Lucas had more to do with this particular case, anyway.
He reached over and took Kendall’s hand and squeezed. She glanced up at him, her eyes troubled. He leaned closer. “It’s going to be okay. Remember,
we have a plan.”
She lifted her chin, placing her mouth close to his ear. “I don’t know. If Bobby Joe walks out of this court I may leave the country.”
He smiled down at her. “If you do, I’m going with you.”
Judge Kato came in and banged his gavel on the desk, getting everyone’s attention. The Bailiff announced court was in order and the judge asked Lucas to explain what they were doing there.
Lucas held his Stetson in his hand. “Friday evening, at approximately seven pm, I went to Kendall Cochran’s house. I was called there because of a domestic disturbance. When I arrived, Marcus Matthews was there defending Ms. Cochran from her ex-husband, Bobby Joe Cochran. I remind the court that Mr. Cochran has a restraining order out against him.”
“What does Marcus have to do with this?” the judge asked, his eyes narrow and suspicious.
“Marcus and Kendall had just returned from an evening out. While they were gone, Bobby Joe managed to unlock the door and was inside trashing her apartment. When he saw her, he attacked, and demanded she give him a thumb drive that Kendall claims to know nothing about.”
“And you say Marcus was with her?”
“Yes, and he is the only reason Kendall is in court today. I have no doubt, if he wasn’t there, she’d be dead. Bobby Joe had a weapon which the Bailiff has custody of. Marcus did his best to hold off Bobby Joe until I got there. Once on the scene, I handcuffed Bobby Joe and took him into custody, where I’ve held him since Friday night.”
“You may sit down. Thank you, Lucas.” The judge gave Bobby Joe a hard glare. “What the hell were you doing over there, Bobby Joe? You know better than that. I made it clear when I issued the restraining order you were to stay away from her. I’m beginning to wonder if you’re capable of doing anything you’re told.”
Bobby Joe squirmed. “Judge, now, I didn’t go over there to hurt her. I just wanted something that belonged to me. But instead, she caused the fight.”
Judge Kato looked doubtful. “Why in the world would she start a fight with you knowing good and well what you did the last time?”
“I don’t know. She came after me with a butcher knife.”
The judge looked at Lucas. “Did you find a weapon, Sheriff?”
Lucas stood again. “No, sir. There was no knife or any weapons in sight except the gun Bobby Joe had. The one Marcus tried to wrestle out of his hand.”
Bobby Joe jumped to his feet and pointed to Lucas. “He doesn’t know because he never bothered to look to see if she had a weapon. There could’ve been a cannon there and he would’ve missed seeing it because he was so worried about Kendall.” Bobby Joe glared at Lucas. “I had that gun to protect myself.”
Lucas turned to Bobby Joe and shoved him down in his seat. “You had that gun to threaten Kendall with. To try to make her give you something to save your hide.”
“Order,” Judge Kato demanded, then waved Kendall forward. Marcus released her hand and gave her a thumbs up. “Tell the truth and you’ll be fine.”
She stepped out of the pew and walked toward the front of the room, carefully positioning herself so Lucas was between her and Bobby Joe the whole time, fearful that if she got too close to her ex-husband he might take a swing.
“What is your version of all this, Kendall?” the judge asked. “Did you come at him with a butcher knife?”
“No, sir, Your Honor, I did not. The minute we walked in the door, he saw us and was on top of me before I knew what happened. He slapped me across the face, shoved me against the wall, then choked me. He screamed and yelled the whole while, claiming I had a thumb drive he needed and if I didn’t give to him, there were men who’d harm him.”
“You have a thumb drive?”
“Your Honor, I do not. I’m a hairdresser. I don’t even have one for personal use, let alone one of his. If you asked me to describe what he is asking for right now, I couldn’t do it. Also, when he and I divorced, he took almost everything and left me with what he didn’t want. If it was so important to him, why didn’t he take it then?”
“That’s a good question, Bobby Joe. Why didn’t you take it when you left? Is it yours? If it belongs to you, then you have every right to it. What you don’t have the right to do is break into her house and attack her while looking for said thumb drive.”
“Your Honor,” Bobby Joe said in a pleading voice. “I need that thumb drive. My life depends on it. It doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to this scary guy who wants it back. If I don’t deliver, he’ll kill me.”
The judge shook his head. “What have you gone and gotten yourself into? This should be enough to wake you up. Why are you in possession of something that could cost you your life? Now, who wants this thumb drive and why?”
“I can’t say.” Bobby Joe pressed his fingertips to his chest. “I’m trying to save my life. I just want to give it back to them and be done with it.”
“But in the process of doing that you broke into a home and you attacked Kendall. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“I don’t know.” He glared at Kendall. “But I know her, and if she had a way to hurt me she would. That’s why I know she kept the thumb drive.”
Lucas cleared his throat. “May I say something, Your Honor?”
Judge Kato dropped his head into his palms and let out a frustrated breath. “Please do.”
“Bobby Joe, if you thought Kendall had that thumb drive, why didn’t you call and ask me to check with her? Since she doesn’t have that much to do with computers, it’s of no value to her. Kendall had no way of knowing your life was in danger. Who would’ve told her that?”
Bobby Joe shook his head like a wild bull. “None of you understand what I’m trying to say.” He pointed at Kendall. “You all think she’s so innocent. Well she’s not, I tell you. She’d kill me in a flash if she could get away with it.”
Kendall flattened her hands on the table and looked at the judge. “Your Honor, I have no desire to harm Bobby Joe Cochran. All I’ve ever asked is for him to leave me alone. That’s why I put out the restraining order. He’s dangerous. My last visit to the hospital proved that. I just want him to leave me alone and go away.”
The judge banged his gavel on his desk again. “Bobby Joe Cochran, you’ve been given every chance a man should have. And yet you continue to break the law. I sentence you to ten days in the county jail. After that, you will return to this courtroom and I will read your sentence.”
Judge Kato banged his gavel and stood.
Bobby Joe jumped to his feet and swung his fist. “Why put me in jail? All I want is what’s mine. You have no right to do this to me.”
The judge motioned to Lucas. “Take him to county lockup. Let him sit there for a few days and think about all this.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll deliver the prisoner myself this afternoon.”
The judge looked at Kendall. “I’m sorry this happened. I’m sorry Bobby Joe can’t get a single thing through his thick head. But I promise you justice. And if that means Bobby Joe Cochran spends years behind bars, so be it.”
He glared at Bobby Joe. “Court is adjourned.”
Chapter 9
Kendall walked back to the pew where Rachel and Marcus waited. Rachel hugged her tightly. “Well, that’s a surprise, given Judge Kato’s reputation in these cases. It’s not much, not yet anyway, but at least he’s in jail. You can finally breathe in peace.”
“That’s true,” Lucas said, coming up behind Rachel. “That will give Bobby Joe time to do a whole lot of thinking.”
David walked Bobby Joe by them. “So much for having one’s day in court,” Bobby Joe hissed, glaring at Lucas. “This isn’t over. And when I get a chance, you’re all going to pay.”
Lucas grabbed Bobby Joe by the collar and pulled him close. “You threatening an officer of the law? Because if you are, I’ll drag you right back to the judge right now and there’ll be another hearing you’ll face.”
Bobby Joe scowled.
Marcus took Ke
ndall’s hand. “And just so you know, I’m taking the apartment next to Kendall. The next time you break in, you might run into me.”
Bobby Joe’s face reddened and he tightened his fist. “I’m not afraid of you, Matthews.”
Marcus smirked. “Something change since high school? Because from where I’m standing the only thing that’s different is Kendall finally got herself rid of you.”
Bobby Joe lurched at Marcus, but Lucas held him back. “That’s enough.” He released him and pushed him towards David, who escorted him out of the courtroom. “That’s one screwed up character,” he said, shaking his head. “No telling what he’s up to.”
Rachel moved closer to Kendall. “Still think you need Marcus next door? You know I have my concerns about that.”
Kendall held up her hands. “It wasn’t my idea. I’m blaming all of this on Marcus. He claims this might convince Bobby Joe to stay away. If there’s even the remotest chance that him living next door might keep Bobby Joe away from me, I’m all for it.”
“I second that,” Lucas said. “Bobby Joe knows better than to mess with Marcus.”
“I’m hoping it’s only going to be for a short while. When Bobby Joe returns to court, I hope there is a sentence waiting for him and not probation. That’s what scares me.” Marcus put his arm around Kendall. “I think she needs a break from the idiot.”
Lucas reached over and rubbed Kendall’s back. “I’ll second that. I’ve been worried about you, we all have.”
“I know.” Kendall started for the exit. “Right now, I need coffee. Any takers?”
Lucas kissed Rachel on the lips. “I have to get back to work. I’ll check in on you later today.” With that, he left, heading back to his office.
Rachel’s phone rang, and she excused herself as she stepped outside to take the call.
“I could eat some breakfast.” Marcus smiled. “I’m hungry and I don’t have to be in court until this afternoon.”
They turned to leave and, just as they got to the door, two shots rang out. Marcus grabbed her arm and pressed her against the building, covering her with his body. Lucas ran toward David, who managed to find cover for him and Bobby Joe behind the squad car.
