“No. Del and I are on the way to a scene. How was lunch?”
“How did you know I had anything to tell you about lunch?”
“Chloe saw Miguel holding your hand and heard him asking you to have lunch with him after Baker’s sentencing. Good job, by the way. Four death sentences. Like the judge said, too bad they can’t execute him four times. Sometimes I still have nightmares about the night he followed me into my house.”
“That scenario still makes me shudder too. If Del and a uniform hadn’t had your house staked out, you could have been one of Baker’s victims.”
“So, what’s up?” In her mind’s eye, Gabby could see Kaylin’s gamine face with a suggestion of cinnamon freckles across her nose and cheeks crinkled up in a grin. The girls had been teasing her about Miguel having a “crush” on her for over a year. They knew how uncomfortable it made her, and so it was impossible for them to let it go.
“Oh, not much. Miguel wanted to know if I would mind if he asked me out to dinner soon. Oh, my God. Now I have to worry about that until he gets around to actually doing it. Oh! I almost forgot. He also said I can have the lead chair on the Toros Rojas trial. I have to keep him advised, of course, but there’s nothing new about that. He has his finger on the pulse of every trial in the office.”
“Whoo-hoo, girl! I know he makes you nervous, but the man is seriously hot. I’m surprised he let go of that plum. The Toros Rojas trial is guaranteed to provide daily news headlines, and we know how our esteemed SA likes headlines.”
“Hmm. We may have judged him a little harshly on that point. The jury is still out on that one. Anyway, he said he thought I wasn’t ready to take point on Baker but that now I am. What is that about?”
“Well, maybe you’re ready. The million dollar question is—get ready for it—are you ready to have a dinner date with Miguel Gatto? Not a business lunch. Dinner. Eating. Drinking wine. With Miguel. Alone. In a romantic restaurant.”
“Stop, stop, stop. You’re making me crazy.”
“I know. Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”
“I’m sure I’m not. Ready that is. I have to admit sometimes he makes me cream my panties by just looking at me. I think that’s the scariest part of the whole thing. It’s like an out-of-body experience. Maybe he’s an alien.”
“Maybe you should just go for it. After all, he is hot.” Kaylin giggled.
“Would you stop saying that?”
“Facts are facts. If you seriously don’t want to go out with him, just tell him it wouldn’t be a good idea because you work together.”
“I already tried that gambit. It just rolled right off him when he said we were both adult enough to handle it.”
“The man definitely has an answer for everything. And apparently he wants what he wants.” Gabby could hear the grin in Kaylin’s voice. “May I repeat, he’s hot?”
“No, you may not. I’ll talk to you later.” She hung up the phone.
* * * *
Gabby buzzed her paralegal, Mayra Rodriguez. “Mayra, please call Don Mason and Karen Green and ask them to meet with us and to bring the discovery on the Toros Rojas case.”
“Gabby, does that mean we got second chair on Rojas?”
“It certainly does not, missy. It means we got first chair!”
“You’re kidding! The boss gave up…”
“Let’s not go there. We’ve got it. Now let’s do something with it.”
When everyone was gathered in her office, Gabby said, “Well, guys, Gatto gave me the word today. I am first chair on the Toros trial. Don, you are going to be my second chair, so clear your calendar of the little stuff, and let’s get ready to rock and roll. Karen, I want you to get all of the discovery materials ready to deliver to defense counsel. Look all the evidence over again carefully, and make sure we didn’t miss anything. There isn’t a lot of forensics on this case, so we want to make the most of what we have.” She grinned at her team. My team. Wow. “Also review the ballistics report and check to see if the gun found at the scene has been used in a crime before or is in the database. I’m going to want to interview the eye witness, Mrs. Alma Garcia, to make sure she’s ready for trial and that her memory hasn’t slipped.”
Over the remainder of the week Gabby’s office became a beehive of activity with everyone coming and going to deliver information or ask questions. Under all the bustle, Gabby was anxiously waiting for Miguel to make his move. She had visited his office several times to discuss tactics for the upcoming trial or to update him on the latest information. However he had said nothing more about taking her out to dinner. As much as she dreaded the encounter, she was excited waiting for the big cat to pounce.
On Thursday afternoon her phone buzzed. She could see the call was on Gatto’s private line. “Good afternoon, Gabriella. How is your day going so far?”
“It’s fine, Miguel. And yours?”
“As well as can be expected. As I mentioned the other day, I would like to take you out to dinner. How about tomorrow night, or if you’re busy, Saturday?” OMG, here it was. Sink or swim time. She was excited. She was terrified. Her emotions were bouncing around like a loose cannonball in her stomach. Could she pull up her big girl panties and do this? The pause was getting a little long. She had to answer him or seem very rude.
“Friday night is fine, Miguel. What did you have in mind?”
“How about dinner at Morrison’s Steakhouse. I’ll pick you up at 7:30. Then we can see from there. Maybe some dancing or a comedy club. How does that sound?”
“That sounds like fun. See you tomorrow at 7:30. Or, I’m sure I’ll see you around the office before that.” Now she was babbling she was so nervous. Miguel? A comedy club? Did Miguel have a sense of humor after all? She had to get through today and all of tomorrow. It was going to be torture. “Do you need the address?”
“No, Gabriella, I know where you live.”
She was embarrassed. Of course he had her address. She worked for him. “Okay. Come through the gate on the right side of the driveway and just walk back to the dock. My houseboat is moored behind the house.”
“Ah, I did not realize that you didn’t live in the house.”
“My houseboat, Gabby’s Nest, is at the dock behind my parent’s house. Murphy, my golden retriever, will probably be sleeping on the bow so don’t be surprised if he barks at you. Just come aboard.”
* * * *
Gabby’s Nest? Miguel thought he’d like to spend some time in Gabriella’s nest, preferably between her legs. He could hear the nerves thrumming in her voice. He could see that she was nervous every time she had come into his office during the week. The sadist in him had enjoyed that very much, and that was why he had waited until Thursday to ask her out. It was a small torture, but he relished it. There were so many things he wanted to do to the beautiful, aloof Gabriella Delaveccia. He knew he had to take it slow or risk scaring her off permanently, and that would be a shame. His Dom wanted to jump right in and dominate, but his head told him to relax and just go with the flow.
* * * *
On Friday evening at 7:28, Miguel opened the iron gate at the side of the sprawling contemporary house. It was located at the end of a street off Bayview Drive in the Coral Ridge section of Fort Lauderdale and had been painted a shade of soft sage green. Not much of the paint color could be seen because the house was mostly glass. He stepped into a lushly landscaped backyard the centerpiece of which was a jewel-like infinity swimming pool and luxurious outdoor kitchen and patio. He saw the houseboat moored at the dock. The property was a coveted “point” lot with a view out over the wide Intracoastal Waterway and the park on the far shore.
Gabby’s Nest was of cedar construction with a large deck at the bow and an open rooftop lounge shaded by a dark-green and white striped awning up top. He climbed down the ramp and stepped aboard. He was greeted immediately by a tail-wagging male golden retriever that had to weigh in at a hundred pounds. The dog was wearing a bright-red bandanna around his neck. Mi
guel reached down and rubbed his head. “Hello, boy. Sorry, I didn’t think to bring a biscuit. I won’t be so careless next time.”
Gabby opened the door to the living quarters and stood back. “Come on in. I see you’ve met Murphy. I’m almost ready. Sorry, but I had a call from the office just as I was getting dressed.” She smiled nervously. He was enjoying the sight of Gabriella wearing only a white cotton robe pulled tight around her waist. She probably didn’t realize that it was faintly transparent, and he could see the Victoria’s Secret lingerie underneath. “Can I get you something to drink? A beer perhaps? I’ll only be another few minutes.”
“No, thank you. I’ll wait until we’re at Morrison’s to order a drink. No rush. Our reservation is for 8:15.”
Gabriella hurried back into what must be the master suite and closed the door, leaving him to glance around the salon, or living area, of the boat. The walls were paneled in wide cedar planks. The room was furnished with two overstuffed chairs, a small sofa, and a midsize flat-screen television. The highly polished wood deck was covered with a thick area rug. There was a glass-enclosed fireplace in one corner and a compact but efficient galley along one wall. All in all, it was very attractive and comfortable-looking. He sat in one of the chintz floral chairs and sank down. He put his head back and closed his eyes. He felt Murphy lay down over his loafers and had to smile. It had been a busy week at the office, and he was ready to kick back and relax. Too bad they had to go out to dinner. He would rather just take her to bed.
He heard the door to Gabby’s bedroom open, and when he opened his eyes she was standing there in a black cocktail dress, neither too short nor too tight, and high, black pumps that made her legs look a mile long. Nonetheless, the dress managed to hit all the high points on her body, and he felt his cock beginning to stand at full mast. He always had that reaction to her. It was a fact of nature. The woman rang his chimes. And he had every intention of ringing hers.
“You look lovely, Gabriella. Are you ready?”
She bent to pick up a small black clutch bag from the table and smiled at him. “Yes, let’s go. We wouldn’t want to be late for our reservation.”
He stood back as she locked the door, and then he took her arm to help her onto the ramp and up to the dock. “Be careful. I imagine those heels make it hard to negotiate the ramp. I’d hate to see you fall.”
“Oh, I’m used to it. I’ve been living aboard the Nest since I graduated from college. My parents haven’t come down for the season yet. I expect them after New Year’s. My step-father refuses to give up Christmas in Connecticut.”
When they were seated in his yellow Jaguar and she had strapped in, he turned to her, took her chin in his hand, and brought his lips lightly to hers. “Hello, querida. I’m glad we are finally going to spend some time together.” He kept it quick and light. That wouldn’t be the case later in the evening. He buckled his own seat belt, and the powerful car pulled out of the circular driveway with a sexy hum.
* * * *
Gabby was surprised when Miguel left the Jaguar with the valet. “If this car was mine, I’d never leave it in valet parking.”
He smiled that devastating smile, and his ice-blue eyes seemed to warm as they rested on her face. “It’s only a car. What’s important is the precious cargo.” The man could be very charming. He took her arm and guided her into the restaurant.
When they were seated at a secluded table, Miguel reached across the table and took her hand. “I’ve been looking forward to this all week, in fact for a much longer time than that.”
“I’m not sure this is a good idea, Miguel.”
“But I am sure it is a very good idea.” He squeezed her hand. “I realize I make you nervous, Gabriella, but you really have no reason to be wary of me.”
Oh, I am sure that is not the truth. If there was ever anyone to be wary of, it was this man. “We have to work together. I would hate for any hurt feelings on either side to disrupt our working relationship.”
“That won’t happen, querida, because I do not intend to hurt your feelings, and I won’t allow you to hurt mine.” Gabby thought his eyes had gotten a little bright when he made that statement.
The waiter came to their table with menus. Miguel’s expression lightened, and he said, “Do you think you’ll want beef or seafood, Gabriella?”
“I think I’ll have steak, thank you.”
“Do you like lobster and crab?” When she smiled, he turned to the waiter. “We’ll start with the Maine lobster and crabmeat cocktails, one of each, to share please, and send the sommelier to our table.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How do you like your steak prepared, Gabriella? Would you like a cocktail or wine?”
“Wine would be lovely, and I like my steak rare to medium rare. Thank you.”
When the sommelier arrived, Miguel turned his attention to the wine menu. “We’ll start with a bottle of Faustino Gran Reserva, Roja.” The sommelier hurried away, and Miguel returned his attention to Gabby. “I prefer Spanish wines. My uncle Juan has several vineyards near Jerez. As I was saying, Gabriella, I have no intention of hurting your feelings. If things go well between us, you have a lot to learn about me. I care for and protect that which is important to me, and I think you will be very important.”
His intensity was a little scary but very attractive. Gabby had noticed that Miguel’s manners were slightly old-fashioned—maybe European would be a better description. “Tell me about yourself, Miguel.”
“I grew up as an only child mainly in Puerto Rico. My family has been there for hundreds of years. I spent most summers with my uncle Juan Carlos Alba in Spain.”
“Where did you go to school? You have no accent at all.”
“I went to St. Xavier Academy in Pennsylvania from thirteen until I graduated, and then Harvard for undergrad and law school. The Jesuits provide an excellent, if somewhat stern, education.” He laughed. “In my younger years, I provided them with a lot to be stern about.”
“I just bet you did. But being in boarding school must have been lonely.”
“I missed my parents, but we had family in Philadelphia, and I spent most weekends with them. Frankly, I could get into more trouble and have more fun on the weekends I stayed at school. But they were onto my tricks, so I didn’t have that many opportunities. What about you?”
“I went to a private school in Greenwich for high school, and then UM for undergrad and law school.”
“Excellent party school.” He grinned.
Who would think the serious Miguel Gatto would ever be a party animal? “Yes, it is.” She could feel her face stretching into a full grin. “But I was much too serious for partying.”
“Why do I not believe that?”
“Probably because it isn’t true.”
The sommelier returned to the table with the bottle of Faustino, and the next few minutes were taken up with the uncorking and tasting rituals. When they each had glasses of the bright-crimson wine in front of them, he continued. “Were you in a sorority?”
“No. I had an apartment near campus with my friend, Lisa Perelli. We managed to get into enough trouble without sorority sisters to egg us on. What about you?”
“I didn’t pledge a fraternity, but I had a group of very close friends from Florida that I’m still in touch with. Hopefully, you will get to meet them after we’ve known each other for a while.” Why did she have to know him for a while before she met his friends? She knew she had a puzzled look on her face.
“All will be clear later, querida.
The waiter returned with the appetizers, and Miguel ordered their meal. “We’ll have the double porterhouse for two, rare, with grilled asparagus and baked potatoes.” He turned to Gabby. “Would you like soup or salad?”
“No, thank you. That is a lot of food.” Wow. She hadn’t been wrong about the European manners. She had never had a man order her meal for her. Of course, he had been scrupulously careful to find out what she liked first. It was a ne
w experience to be with such a dominant male. Then she remembered her conversation with Kaylin at Tap 42 in November after the Baker trial went to the jury. They had joked that Miguel might be a secret member of The Black Iris Club. Now she had to wonder. He definitely had a very dominant personality.
He turned back to the waiter. “Hold the order for fifteen minutes. Thank you.”
The food was excellent and perfectly prepared. They talked about the office, the upcoming Toros trial, and current events. He was interesting, well-informed, and listened to her opinions without being condescending. He was a very pleasant dinner companion. Still, she felt the panther-like quality of waiting and watching underneath his cosmopolitan veneer. She knew she was right. This man could be dangerous, and she had his full, concentrated attention. She had fantasized about him often. It was like a sweet but guilty secret.
“Would you like coffee and dessert?”
“Just a cappuccino. I’m absolutely stuffed. I couldn’t possibly eat dessert. Thank you.”
When he had ordered their coffees, he said, “Would you like to hit a couple of clubs or take a drive up the coast?”
“I think a drive would be nice. A noisy club would ruin this mellow mood.”
“I completely agree. A drive it is.”
While they waited for the valet to bring the car, Miguel stood with his arm protectively around her shoulders. When they were alone, he pulled her fully into his arms and gave her a hard, quick kiss, and then the car was waiting for them. Wow again. Saved by the bell—or the valet. She wondered what a full-out, no-holds-barred kiss from Miguel would be like. She was pretty sure she would be finding out tonight.
* * * *
Miguel turned the car onto Broward Boulevard and headed east into the residential Victoria Park neighborhood and wound his way to Sunrise Boulevard headed toward A1A, the coastal road. When they were traveling north along the ocean, he tuned the radio to a mellow jazz station and relaxed back into his seat.
Gabriella's Prosecution [The Black Iris Club 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 2
