He realized she’d stopped talking. He’d gotten distracted by Alicia once again. If he didn’t pay attention, she’d fire him before he even started.
“So, you want me to talk to these folks and get statements from them.” He reached over and took the sheet she offered him. It contained a list of names, occupations and last known addresses.
“Yes.” Alicia tapped her pen against the blotter, stopping suddenly as if realizing what she was doing. “This is a very sensitive case. My client is divorcing a prominent member of the community.”
“Messy.”
“Yes.” Alicia shoved her fingers through her hair before rubbing the back of her neck.
Gill wanted to rub it for her, maybe nibble on her nape. She looked tired.
“And it’s going to get messier. She’s suing for full custody of their daughter. Her husband abused her for years, but she kept silent about it, hiding it. She’s finally gotten the courage to leave him.”
All thought of seduction fled and he sat up straight. The thought of any woman being abused set him on edge. “How bad?”
“Bad enough.” Alicia shook her head. “I’m not sure she would have left him if her brother hadn’t moved back to town. Her husband, Jim, is a bully, but he’s a charismatic bastard who has half the town almost convinced that Elizabeth is mentally unstable and an unfit mother.”
“Don’t worry. I know how to ferret out information from people. I’ll get you what you need.”
She took out an official form, laying it on the desk in front of him. “Keep track of whatever hours you spend working on this. I’ll make sure you get paid.”
Irritation filled him. He wanted to be more to her than just the hired help. He folded the paper and tucked it into his back pocket. “It shouldn’t be any problem, even with the people who don’t live here any longer. It may take me a bit longer, but I’ll find them.”
He stood and so did she. Gill could see the dismissal in her eyes. He wasn’t having any of it.
“I’ve dreamed of you the past two nights.” He wanted a reaction out of her and he got it. Her face paled, then turned red. Sauntering around the side of the desk, he came to a halt just in front of her.
She tipped back her head so she was looking straight at him. “This is not a good idea.”
“Probably not,” he agreed, but that small fact wasn’t going to stop him. He cupped the back of her head with his palm and leaned down. Their lips met. Alicia kept her mouth closed and held herself stiff, but she didn’t push him away. He was a patient man, and continued his quiet assault on her senses.
He licked at her lips, remembering her unique taste. Memories of that mouth licking and sucking at his body made his temperature rise. He clasped her shoulder with his free hand, urging her closer.
Alicia moaned and the sound shot straight to his groin. His balls pulled tight against his body as his cock lengthened and thickened. Her mouth parted and her tongue darted out to touch his lips. He kept the pressure light, encouraging her to take what she wanted.
He could feel her quivering. Sense her indecision. He wanted to drag her up against him and grind his pelvis against hers. Instead, he waited, gradually deepening the kiss.
Their tongues tangled, breath mingling as they rediscovered one another. When her breasts grazed his chest, he almost howled with pleasure.
What the heck was she doing? Alicia couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Passion was making her lose all common sense. There was no other explanation for her actions. She shouldn’t encourage him. She couldn’t afford to have an affair with Gill, but oh, how she longed to.
She’d never met a man who could make her body sing like he could. A simple touch from Gill was as good as an hour’s foreplay from another man. She was a chocoholic and he was the finest dark chocolate available. He was addictive and too much of him wasn’t good for her.
He was working for her. She needed his expertise with this case. Alicia had always made it a policy never to mix work with pleasure. She’d watched other colleagues try it over the years and it never worked out well. There were always problems.
“We can’t,” she gasped as he broke away and kissed his way down her jawline and neck.
“Sure we can,” he whispered. “We’re both adults.” He captured her earlobe between his teeth and nipped gently. Alicia shivered. “And we want each other.”
She couldn’t argue with him when his tongue was tracing the sensitive whorl of her ear. His strong fingers slid down the back of her head to her nape, holding her in place as he nibbled on her earlobe. Dampness gathered between her thighs, making her squirm.
She wanted him to stop. She wanted him to never stop.
She was being torn apart. Two halves of a whole—one sensible, one passionate—
both warring for control. Her knees threatened to give out and she grabbed his shoulders for support. Big mistake. Her fingers curled into him. His muscles were thick and heavy.
He was so solid she wanted to lean on him if only for a moment.
His skin, so warm and firm was almost within her reach. She tugged at the fabric of his shirt, pulling it from his waistband and slipping her hands beneath. Her fingers played over the expanse of muscle beneath. The crisp hair in the center of his chest tickled her palm. He groaned when her thumb flicked his flat nipple.
Alarm bells went off in her brain. She couldn’t do this. She was in her office for heaven’s sake. What if someone walked in on them?
Sliding her fingers from beneath his shirt, she placed both hands on his chest and pushed. He went easily, stepping away from her. His blond hair was tousled and his eyes practically seared her with their heat. She was no longer cold from the walk in the chilly air. In fact, she felt as if she’d stepped into a sauna.
She licked her lips and tried to catch her breath. His gaze slid from her face and landed on her chest. Alicia didn’t need to look down to know that her nipples were visible through the silk of her blouse. She raked a hand through her hair and tried to gather her defenses. Better late than never.
“I’m sorry. As I said, that was a mistake.” She held up her hand before he could speak. “Hear me out.” He nodded, tucking in his shirt where she’d tugged it out of the waistband of his jeans. There was no mistaking the heavy erection outlined against his zipper. She forced her gaze away.
“I work in this town. You’re just passing through.” Alicia tried to figure out the best way to phrase this without sounding like a prude or a hypocrite. “The other night was wonderful, but it was just one night. This is a conservative town and I can’t risk my reputation on a fling.”
His lips tightened and his shoulders tensed. Alicia stood her ground, straightening her spine.
“Let me get this straight,” his low voice rumbled. “It’s okay to risk your reputation for a one-night stand, but not a relationship.”
“We don’t have a relationship.”
He reached out his hand and stroked the curve of her cheek with his thumb. It took all her strength not to lean into the soft caress.
“Yes, we do,” he countered. “All you have to do is admit it.”
“Gill,” she began. “I…” How could she admit to the man that she really liked him, but needed to stay away from him for that very reason? He was just passing through and she had her reputation, and her heart, to protect.
“Stop worrying.” Leaning down, he brushed a quick kiss across her lips. “Everything will work itself out.”
She couldn’t stop herself from touching her mouth with her fingers. She could still feel his warmth. Taste him on her lips.
Gill strode back to the chair and grabbed his jacket, pulling it on as he made his way to the door. “I should have a preliminary report for you by dinner time. Do you want me to pick up something to eat or will you?”
Alicia shook her head. “You can just call me.”
He stopped, one hand on the door, and pinned her with a steely gaze. “Ignoring it won’t make it go away. We need to d
iscuss it. We can either do it here, in a public restaurant, or in private.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. He was right. What could one evening hurt? It was just dinner. Right? She could handle him and the passion that flared between them. She was an adult. They were both adults.
Decision made, she gave him a crisp nod. “I’ll be home by six.”
He smiled then and her heart sped up. “I’ll bring dinner.” She watched as he left, taking most of the energy in the room with him.
She stood there staring at the door until Millie buzzed her to let her know she had a call from a client. Shaking off the sensual lethargy that surrounded her, she straightened her blouse and cleared her voice before picking up the receiver. “Good morning, Jack.
What can I do for you today?”
Chapter Five
Six o’clock sharp, the doorbell rang. Alicia straightened her cream-colored cardigan as she headed to the door. She’d changed the moment she’d come home, tugging off the blouse and sexy green bra beneath it and replacing it with plain cotton and a sweater. The slippery fabric of her blouse had been sensual torture all afternoon. Every time she moved, it slithered over her sensitive skin, reminding her of Gill and what they’d done in her office.
It had been a long day.
She took a deep breath, gathering her control before she tugged the door open. Gill filled the doorway, his masculine presence almost overwhelming her. He was still dressed in jeans and his leather coat, the wind whipping the ends of his hair around. In his hands, he clutched a brown paper bag.
Stepping back, she held the door open. He’d been here before, but this felt different.
This time they’d share a meal and talk. The passion was still there between them, simmering just beneath the surface, but tonight there was more. Much more.
“I brought Chinese food.” He held up the bag as he entered.
Alicia closed the door, shutting out the cold and the rest of the world. “Chinese is fine.”
“I wasn’t sure what you’d like so I got a selection.”
She took the bag from him and headed to the kitchen. My, how polite they both were. A far cry from the other night. Shaking off the memory, Alicia laid the bag on the table and pulled down two plates. She could hear Gill in the hallway and from the sounds of things, knew he was pulling off his boots and hanging up his coat.
Yanking open a drawer, she pulled out two forks and knives. There were probably chopsticks in the bag, but her hands were trembling so much, she’d probably drop half her food if she tried to use them.
Strong arms came around her, making her jump. He’d been so quiet she hadn’t heard him coming up behind her.
“Stop worrying.” He placed a soft kiss on her nape. She shivered. That had always been a particularly sensitive spot for her.
“Easy for you to say,” she muttered. After all, there was nothing at stake for him. He could walk away with no repercussions, while she’d be left trying to salvage her reputation if word of their affair got out. Not that she was having an affair with him. Her head dropped forward as his lips skimmed her neck. Her toes curled in her leather loafers and her fingers dug into the edge of the countertop, the cutlery falling to the floor with a clatter.
“No,” he murmured. “It’s not easy for me to say when all I want to do is strip you naked, bend you over the table and fuck you until you scream with pleasure.”
He was seducing her with words alone. Her plain cotton panties were damp and her nipples were standing at attention.
His hand flattened on her stomach and she could feel the heat through her sweater.
“I want to feel your hot pussy clamping down on my cock and squeezing it tight as you come.” His hand angled upward until it was just grazing the curve of her breast.
It was getting harder to breathe. She wanted him to touch her. Her body was humming and she was shocked to realize that she was very close to coming. Her inner muscles were tightening and relaxing in a reflexive rhythm. One touch of his hand on her breast was probably all it would take.
Gill’s arms fell away from her. She felt cold as the air rushed in to fill the void.
Alicia forced herself to release the edge of the counter and turned slowly, leaning on it for support. Her legs felt as if they were made of jelly. “Why?”
He didn’t misunderstand her. He knew she wanted to know why he stopped.
“Because, when we come together I want it to be mutual, not because you gave into passion like we did the other night.” His jaw was tight and a muscle under his right eye twitched. “This time you’ll know what you’re getting into and it will be a conscious choice.”
He’d surprised her once again. Most men would have been all too ready to take advantage of the situation and get her into bed. But Gill wanted more from her. That gave her pause. She knew that she was physically attracted to him, but she was finding a lot more to like with every moment she spent with him.
She’d called the sheriff this afternoon and asked him pointblank about Gill. Patrick had filled her in on Gill’s twenty-year career as a police officer, as well as the fact that he’d helped save Shannon from her abusive ex-husband. He also had two college degrees. The degree in criminal justice was no big surprise, but the one in counseling was. No doubt about it, Gill Baron was one of the good guys.
He bent down and retrieved the fallen cutlery, tossing it in the sink. Without saying a word, he pulled out the drawer next to her, dug out some more forks and knives and laid them on the table. He opened the bag and began to distribute white boxes on the table.
Alicia sighed and gave into the inevitable. Gill was right. Whatever happened, it would be a mutual decision. Right now, all she had to do was enjoy dinner with the man.
One step at a time.
Pulling down two glasses, she filled them with water. She thought about the bottle of cabernet sauvignon she had chilling in the refrigerator, but she needed her wits about her tonight.
She placed the water glasses on the table and Gill held out her chair as she sat down.
“Thank you,” she automatically replied, charmed by the gesture.
He joined her, taking the chair across from her, and they both helped themselves to the food. Alicia selected some of the vegetable chow mein, a helping of chicken fried rice and a small amount of the sweet and sour chicken. Gill piled honey garlic ribs and some of the chicken on his plate, along with a mound of the rice and a pile of chow mein. He unwrapped two spring rolls and placed one on the corner of her plate.
“So, did you get started on the list this afternoon?” She needed to talk about something. Anything to get her mind off the low-level arousal still thrumming through her body. Scooping up a forkful of the delicious-looking rice, she started to eat.
Gill finished chewing his mouthful of food. She watched the strong column of his throat move as he swallowed. Damn, the man even looked sexy while he ate. That just seemed wrong somehow.
He laid his fork on the corner of his plate and reached into his back pocket, pulling out a small notebook. “I talked to a few of Brown’s friends. No help there.”
Alicia nodded as she chewed. That wasn’t exactly a big surprise.
“I did locate a former employee, a woman who used to be the receptionist at Brown’s real estate firm.”
She laid her fork by the side of her plate. “Why would you want to talk to her?”
Alicia didn’t even know who the woman was. Her name wasn’t on the list she’d given Gill earlier.
He gave her a grim smile. “Because bastards like that tend to stray. I thought she might be a likely candidate as an ex-girlfriend. Even if she weren’t, she would have been in a position to see things, maybe overhear things. Plus, she doesn’t depend on him for her livelihood any longer. Kate Thomas is happily living in New York now and she had quite a bit to say about Jim Brown.”
“Tell me.” From the look in Gill’s eyes, she knew it was going to be good.
He reached out and took a s
ip of water, placing the glass back down on the table.
“Apparently, he likes his sex on the rough side.”
“Oh my God.”
“Yeah. Not only that, she overheard him many times yelling at his wife over the phone. It’s not enough, but it’s a start.”
“And a good one.” Pleased, she stabbed her fork into a chicken ball and popped it into her mouth.
Gill flipped his notebook closed, sliding it back into his pocket. “She’s more than willing to testify if it comes to that. I had Patrick take her statement over the phone this afternoon. Once it’s typed up, he’s going to mail it to her so she can sign it.” Gill shook his head. A lock of hair fell across his brow and he pushed it aside. “I got the feeling she’d love the opportunity to tell everyone just what a bastard Jim Brown is.”
Alicia chuckled.
“In the meantime, I’ve got calls out trying to connect with four people on the list, including the daughter’s teacher. It’s only a matter of time.”
“Good.” She wanted this wrapped up as soon as possible for Elizabeth’s sake.
Picking up her glass, she took a sip of water. “Will you be leaving then?” She needed to know the answer. Had to know what she was dealing with before she made any decisions about what was going to happen between them.
“I don’t know.” He forked up a piece of chicken and popped it in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “I’m at a crossroads in my life right now. I left police work because I got tired of too many bad guys getting away on technicalities.”
“That happens.” She picked up her spring roll and nibbled on a corner.
“Too much.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’m not blaming the courts or the lawyers, not exclusively anyway.”
“That’s good to know,” she retorted.
He held up his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I know some great folks who are lawyers, present company included,” he teased before his tone turned serious again. “The cops are sometimes at fault too, not following proper procedure. Then there are the lawmakers and the overcrowded prisons that let violent offenders out early.”
A Legal Affair j-5 Page 5
