Rush
Page 24
“Yes, we are.” Ellen opened the door. “George said it was released as a crime scene, right?” Danny nodded, and Ellen climbed out of the car. “Come on.”
As they started up the walk, Danny heard the sound of a car pulling up behind them. She turned and spotted a Lexus SUV parking behind Ellen’s car. “You expecting someone?”
“Actually, I am.” Ellen didn’t provide any other detail until the other woman joined them on the sidewalk. She was buxom, blond, and beautiful, dressed in a fancy suit. She was exactly the kind of woman Ellen would be friends with, and a few weeks ago, Danny would’ve felt insecure that this expensively dressed socialite was here to meet Ellen. But not now. Now she was certain that what she had with Ellen was deeper than anything money or social standing could buy. She reached out a hand to begin the introductions. “Danny Soto.”
“Aimee Howard. Sorry I’m late. Baby issues. They never want to eat when you want to feed them.” Her handshake was firm and her smile was friendly. Danny liked her instantly.
“Danny,” said Ellen, “Aimee’s the realtor I’ve hired to sell Mother’s house.”
Danny raised her eyebrows. She wanted to ask a ton of questions, but didn’t know how personal she should get in front of Aimee. Ellen read her mind. “I’ve told Aimee everything. She thinks we can get a good price and a quick sale.”
All Danny heard was the word “everything.” “Aimee, do you mind if I speak to Ellen for a moment alone?” She didn’t wait for the answer before she walked a few feet away. Ellen whispered something to Aimee and joined her.
“Everything okay?” Ellen asked.
“Are you sure you want to sell? Don’t you want to wait and see how you feel when things have settled down, when more time has passed?”
“I’ve never wanted to be here and I only moved in out of a misguided promise to my mother. My happiest memory of this place is making love to you here, and even that’s marred by the fact we were probably being watched.”
“Where will you live? Obviously, you can stay with me as long as you want.” Danny fumbled the words. She’d love for them to live together, but she knew her apartment was too small, and it definitely wasn’t what Ellen was used to.
“Well, the two dresser drawers you’ve given me are pretty roomy, but I’m thinking of somewhere different. How about you?”
“Me?”
“Darling, Aimee’s a realtor. She not only sells houses, she helps people buy them. I think it’s time we both had a fresh start. You up for buying a house with me?”
A house. Their house. Where they could live and make love and raise a family of their own. Waking up with Ellen every day, falling asleep in each other’s arms each night. Danny was up for it all and she didn’t want to wait another moment for their future. She swept Ellen into her arms and kissed her soundly. “I’m up for anything, for everything with you.”
THE END
About the Author
Carsen Taite’s goal as an author is to spin tales with plot lines as interesting as the cases she encountered in her career as a criminal defense lawyer. She is the author of nine previously released novels, truelesbianlove.com, It Should be a Crime (a Lambda Literary Award finalist), Do Not Disturb, Nothing but the Truth, The Best Defense, Slingshot, Beyond Innocence, and Battle Axe. She is currently working on her tenth novel, Switchblade, another installment in the Luca Bennett mystery series. Learn more at www.carsentaite.com.
Praise for LAMBDA Literary Award Finalist Carsen Taite
“Real Life defense attorney Carsen Taite polishes her fifth work of lesbian fiction, The Best Defense, with the realism she daily encounters in the office and in the courts. And that polish is something that makes The Best Defense shine as an excellent read.”—Out & About Newspaper
“Taite is a real-life attorney so the prose jumps off the page with authority and authenticity. [It Should be a Crime] is just Taite’s second novel…but it’s as if she has bookshelves full of bestsellers under her belt. In fact, she manages to make the courtroom more exciting than Judge Judy bursting into flames while delivering a verdict. Like this book, that’s something we’d pay to see.”—Gay List Daily
“Taite, a criminal defense attorney herself, has given her readers a behind the scenes look at what goes on during the days before a trial. Her descriptions of lawyer/client talks, investigations, police procedures, etc. are fascinating. Taite keeps the action moving, her characters clear, and never allows her story to get bogged down in paperwork. It Should be a Crime has a fast-moving plot and some extraordinarily hot sex.”—Just About Write
In Do Not Disturb…“Taite’s tale of sexual tension is entertaining in itself, but a number of secondary characters…add substantial color to romantic inevitability.”—Richard Labonté, Bookmarks
In Nothing but the Truth…“Author Taite is really a Dallas defense attorney herself, and it’s obvious her viewpoint adds considerable realism to her story, making it especially riveting as a mystery. …I give it four stars out of five.”—Bob Lind, Echo Magazine
“Taite has written an excellent courtroom drama with two interesting women leading the cast of characters. Taite herself is a practicing defense attorney, and her courtroom scenes are clearly based on real knowledge. [Nothing But the Truth] should be another winner for Taite.”—Lambda Literary
“[Battle Axe] is satisfying, substantial, and slick. Plus, it has heart and love coupled with Luca’s array of weapons and a bad-ass verbal repertoire…I cannot imagine anyone not having a great time riding shotgun through all of Luca’s escapades. I recommend hopping on Luca’s band wagon and having a blast.”—Rainbow Book Reviews
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Table of Contents
Synopsis
By the Author
Acknowledgments
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
About the Author
Praise for LAMBDA Literary Award Finalist Carsen Taite
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