Jack’s eyes widened. Did she mean—?
“What position would counsel care to take today?”
She put down the transcript and clasped her hands. “I was wrong. I would ask this Court to take judicial notice that love at first sight is not a myth. I’m further prepared to stipulate that you did fall in love with me on that occasion, although I reserve the right to question your personal wisdom in doing so.”
“Be careful, Ms. Carroll. You know that only the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court have the right to question this Court’s reasoning.”
She grinned at him, unrepentant. “I stand corrected, Your Honor.” Minx.
He stared at her, waiting for her next outrageous remark. But her eyes had softened in appeal, and he took pity on her. “Why are you really here, Elise?”
She glanced at the court reporter. “I want it on the record. I’m in love with you, Jack McIntyre. I’m sorry I lack your judicial wisdom and farsightedness. I’m sorry it took me six months to see what you saw in six seconds. So sue me, I’m slow.”
Ms. Riley and the court reporter laughed. Jack could feel his lips twitch.
Elise went on, “May it please the Court, will Your Honor marry me? And by ‘marry me’ I don’t mean officiate at my wedding—you’ll need to get one of your colleagues to do that—but will you take me as your wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live?”
“Nothing in there about ‘obey,’ I notice.” He clenched his jaw to keep from grinning.
“I believe once we’re married the Court will no longer have the power to compel my obedience by threatening to find me in contempt. At least not officially,” she observed.
“You came here seeking the Court’s indulgence, Ms. Carroll, so don’t push your luck.”
“No, Your Honor.” She flashed that heart-stopping smile.
“The Court will take your proposal under advisement.” Jack signaled to the reporter to turn off the tape. “Counsel, approach.”
Elise came over to the side of the bench. Jack leaned over and kissed her. “Are you sure?”
“Completely. I want a future with you and no one else. I’ll settle for nothing less.”
“What happened to change your mind?”
She looked sheepish. “Long story. My mother called me yesterday. Turns out I took their divorce rather harder than I knew. I guess it left me ill-equipped to see how marriages work. Will you forgive me for letting you leave, Jack? I was an idiot.”
He shook his head. “Not an idiot, Elise. Never that.”
“Could I have your answer on the record, though?”
He gaped at her. He had to accept a proposal of marriage on the record? Was none of their romance to be private? Then she turned on that smile, the one he couldn’t resist.
“You really are outrageous,” he whispered.
“Yes, Judge.”
“Stand back.”
She went back to the defense table.
“We’re on the record. In the matter of—” He looked down at the papers, read the caption, and groaned. “Really, Elise? Oh all right, I’ll say it out loud. In the matter of The Estate of Matt Tree-Moany, this Court finds that petitioner’s request is granted.”
A surprising number of people cheered. Jack looked over. In addition to Tony in his usual spot by the door to chambers, Brenda and Mr. Alexander were standing there. All of them had sappy grins on their faces. And—yes, Judge King and Judge Williams had inserted themselves into the cluster. Jack supposed he should be thankful he didn’t have the entire Third Circuit in his courtroom.
“This matter is adjourned,” he said firmly, and stood up. It gave him great satisfaction to use the gavel.
“All rise,” Tony said, still laughing.
Jack came around from his side of the bench to where Elise was standing. “You couldn’t just make an appointment to talk like a normal person,” he asked her before taking her into his arms.
“You weren’t home yesterday,” she accused. “I ran there, arrived sopping wet with sweat, and rang the doorbell. Nothing.”
Jack didn’t bother explaining that he’d been working. His house had become intolerable, every room filled with her spirit. He’d been using it as a place to sleep, and hardly even that.
Elise continued, “Anyway, it seemed more fitting this way. If you were brave enough to declare your love in a public hearing, the least I could do was propose marriage the same way.”
“That’s my moonlight girl.” He proceeded to kiss her. Very judiciously.
The End
Author’s Acknowledgements
As usual, I invoke the standard boilerplate: Many people helped me with this book, but all the mistakes are my own.
Blackjack & Moonlight started with an idea I had over fifteen years ago—back when I was a law clerk in the real life Courtroom 10A. Even though Kate Welsh, then a chapter-mate at Valley Forge Romance Writers, told me I couldn’t have a heroine with prematurely gray hair, I never let go of that one image: A handsome judge walks into court, falls for a lawyer standing there, and has to recuse himself. I didn’t know their names, I didn’t know what would happen next, I just knew they’d fall in love.
Well, it took them long enough! And, honestly, they hadn’t a chance of a happy ending if it weren’t for the following people:
My editor, Deborah Nemeth, who’s had multiple opportunities to think how this story might work best. Trust me, I took all her suggestions. (Well, almost all…) Deb has invested in me, in my writing, and particularly in this book. She may even have a tiny crush on Blackjack himself. Acknowledging her help is like saying I need oxygen. Luckily, I don’t mind stating the obvious.
My critique partner, Zara Keane, who read a very, very early version and liked it even back when my writing wasn’t so likable. Her belief in my ability to improve has lit many, many dark hours of self-doubt.
Megan Mulry and Janet Webb, who cheered on Blackjack from nearly the beginning. They’re both such intelligent readers that I knew I must be doing something right.
My Stonecoast MFA mentors, Elizabeth Searle and Michael Kimball, who worked with me on vital aspects of characterization. Bluntly, without their help Elise might be both boring and a bitch. (My words, not theirs.)
The Firebirds aka the Golden Heart® finalists of 2012. All that time I was quiet on the loop, I was working to polish the story that made me a Firebird, burnishing it until it was as good as all the things they’ve already published. They inspire me to do my best.
Finally and most importantly, Ross, my husband and publisher. Thank you, sweetheart, for trusting that a book I wrote in 2010, revised in 2011, worked on at school in 2012, revised in 2013 and finalized in 2014 would actually get published. Thank you for being patient, understanding, and eagle-eyed when it comes to typos and infelicitous writing. Thank you most of all for crying at the ending.
Blackjack and Moonlight: A Contemporary Romance Page 31
