"I can and I am.” There was little conviction in his voice. “Glory, I can't do this."
"Please?"
Nick stopped, as if that one word had frozen him. And as he stood, frozen in place like a male counterpart of Sleeping Beauty, Glory did what she'd been fantasizing about. She kissed him. Her hand no longer grasped his elbow. No, somehow it and its mate had twined themselves around Nick's neck, pulling him closer.
Kissing him was as addictive as it was intoxicating. She couldn't get close enough. She wanted more. Without meaning to, she tugged the back of his shirt out of his pants and began to explore his body. Her hands ran up and down his bare back, memorizing the feel of him, his every contour. And still it wasn't enough. She wanted—
Glory realized just what she wanted, and it scared the hell out of her. Slowly she withdrew, moving away from Nick and trying to put space between all the things she'd like to do to him ... with him.
"Glory.” Her name wasn't a question, but a statement of confusion. Confusion that echoed her own.
"Nick. I need you to represent the fairies. I honestly believe you're the only one to do the job. But that has nothing to do with that kiss."
"Then what was the kiss about?"
"I want you. I don't want to want you, but there it is. And as sweet as your kisses can be, that's not all I want."
"What else do you want, Glory?"
"What I'd really like to do is strip you naked and have you, here and now. I'd like to remove your clothes, one piece at a time, and lay you on that table. Then, still fully clothed, I'd like to memorize your body. I'd like to touch it and taste it until you couldn't stand another minute of it. You'd sit up and rip my clothes from me, leaving me bare and exposed and then we'd..."
"Finish it, Glory. Don't leave me hanging."
"And then we'd make love. But we can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Because if just kissing you can make me feel so alive—so wanton—what would happen to me if we made love? I'd never be the same. I'd need you, and I can't feel that way again. I needed someone once upon a time, and then he wasn't there. It hurt, Nick. It hurt so damned bad. I needed him, I trusted him, and he not only betrayed that trust, but showed me in the cruelest way that he didn't need me."
Glory realized what she'd confessed and thought she'd die of mortification. Straightening, she looked Nick in the eye. “I'm not going to open myself up to that kind of vulnerability again, especially not with a man who's made it clear he doesn't want to want me, either. I need you, but only as an attorney. Are you going to walk out on us, Nick?"
She stood there, all her wounds exposed to him as if she was daring him to hurt her again, to prove to her that all men where like the one who'd hurt her. Nick wanted to find her ex-husband and beat him bloody. He wanted it in a savage, uncivilized way. And conversely, he wanted to sweep Glory gently into his arms and comfort her. He wanted to kiss her and whisper that he would never hurt her. But never hurting her meant not getting involved with her.
The vulnerability he saw in her only proved how wrong getting involved with Glory Chambers would be. His family accused him of only dating shallow women. Maybe they were right. But he couldn't hurt a shallow woman. He could hurt Glory. And that was the one thing he didn't want to ever do.
He admired so many things about her. The way she'd rebuilt her life according to her terms and the way she defended the fairies were a large part of that attraction. She was a caring and giving woman. Her ex-husband was a fool for letting her go.
Nick was a fool as well to allow an association with her to continue. The more he was around Glory Chambers, the more he fell under her spell.
He should tell her in no uncertain terms to find someone else. He should put as much distance between them as possible. Instead, he found himself saying, “I'm in. I'll probably get disbarred for blatant stupidity, but I'm in."
"They can't disbar you for being stupid, or else half the attorneys in the US wouldn't be practicing.” For a moment Glory looked as if she was going to hug him. But then the wall was once again erected between them, and the glimpse of her innerself she'd allowed him faded. She simply shot him a social smile of thanks. A look she could have given a stranger.
It wasn't a look a woman would give a man she'd kissed. At that small social smile Nick's temper flared. “We should talk about what just happened."
"What just happened is you agreed to represent the fairies."
"No, before that. I want you too, Glory. But—"
"Nick, I'm a big girl, and I realize that despite the chemistry that we seem to have, getting involved with each other would be stupid. So, let's both admit we want each other, but there's this great big BUT there, looming like an undefeatable hurdle."
"Listen, you don't want to be hurt again. I can understand that. I don't want to be hurt ever. I look at my mom and dad, at Max and Grace, and at Joy and Gabriel. How often can those types of relationships happen? They do say three times is a charm. They've all been trying to set me up forever it seems, and I'll be honest, some of the women were tempting, but not tempting in a trip-to-the-altar sort of way, if you know what I mean. I want a relationship like the rest of my family has, and I'll be honest enough to admit I don't know that I'll ever find it. And if I can't have what they have, I don't want anything."
He paused. “Does that make sense?"
She nodded. “Unfortunately, it does. Maybe we should just acknowledge that we are attracted to each other and then move past it."
"Can we?"
"I think we're both adult enough to handle the attraction and not let it get in the way of the business at hand."
"Fairy godmothers,” he said with a resigned sigh. He obviously was stuck with fairy godmothers, and with an ever-growing attraction for Glory Chambers—an attraction he wasn't going to pursue.
"Right, three meddling, slightly crazy, but good-hearted fairy godmothers,” Glory said.
"I don't have much confidence in winning this case."
"That doesn't matter, since I have enough for both of us."
"Would it be breaking our newfound rules if I admitted that I like you, Glory Chambers? Like you a lot."
Glory smiled, and for a moment that wall she was desperately trying to cling to slipped. “No. And as long as we're both laying our hearts on the table, I'll admit I like you as well. You may be an arrogant, occasionally annoying attorney, but I like you anyway. Maybe if we'd met at some other time, maybe...” Her voice trailed off.
"Yeah, maybe."
She firmly held onto her resolve. She wasn't going to fall for Nick, no matter what the fairies said. “But we didn't meet somewhere else. We're here, and we've got fairies to take care of."
"Right, fairies.” He followed her to the office door. “And Glory?"
She turned. “Hm?"
"Part of me wishes I was looking..."
"Me too,” she admitted.
"Okay, let's get ready for the judge. It's going to take whatever magic the fairies possess to help us win this one.” He stopped and corrected himself. “It's going to take more than magic. It's going to take a miracle."
Chapter Seven
Nick watched the judge walk into the room and stared at him in surprise. He was a retired judge? Judge Bernard Fallon didn't look much older than Nick himself. Nick couldn't help wondering what kind of judge he was. The more sympathetic the better, at least from the fairies’ standpoint.
Nick had needed more than two short weeks to prepare. He'd interviewed Max, Grace, Joy and Gabriel, and he had four rather sane sounding character witnesses. But though they might sound like rational human beings, how rational could they be if they were on the stand testifying that they believed in fairies?
He glanced at Glory, sitting directly behind the fairies. She gave him an encouraging nod.
It was going to take more than encouragement to win this case. He glanced at Bill Richards and the willowy brunette he was representing. He'd interviewed Fiona as well, and he wasn't quite sure
what to make of the woman who'd cast them all into this insane situation. She seemed so sincere and didn't come off the least bit crazy. But believing three middle-aged women could bring her a happily-ever-after true-love was crazy.
"Please be seated,” the bailiff said.
Though he was young, the judge was an imposing presence. He cleared his throat. “Before we get started, I have a couple of things I need to get out of the way. First, anyone familiar with the courthouse realizes that I'm just filling in here. This is my first time sitting an Erie bench, and I have to say I am not impressed with the nature of this case. Frivolous law suits take up precious court time, and this suit is frivolous. No one, Miss,” he checked the paper in front of him, “Fayette, has the power to make you happy—no one except you yourself. And suing three old ladies—"
"I object,” Blossom hollered.
The judge shot her a glare that would have cowed a much braver man than Nick. “Pardon?” he asked, his voice full of menace.
"I said, I object to being called old, Your Honor.” She gave a little curtsy. “We all know that the three of us aren't the oldest people in this room."
"Blossom,” Nick hissed.
"Counsel, I suggest you warn your client against any further outbursts, or I will be tempted to hold you in contempt.” The expression on the Judge's face left no room for doubt that he'd follow through on his threat.
"Me?"
"Yes, you. Control those three.” He paused. “Now, where was I? Oh, happiness. As I was saying, it is up to every individual to secure his or her own happiness. The question as I see it isn't whether or not Ms. Fayette is happy, but whether the three women in question are responsible for her unhappiness because they purposely misled her.
"As I said, I don't want to waste my time or the court's time on frivolous lawsuits. I don't plan on dragging this on forever. I don't have much patience."
Fern raised her hand. “Pardon me, Your Honor, you don't have any patience."
"Counselor?” A dark eyebrow rose, and in that one word Nick could hear his cell door locking with a click.
"Would you three be quiet before I get tossed in jail for contempt,” he whispered at his clients, even as he wished he could yell at them.
"But, Nick, you really can't let him talk to you that way,” Fern said. “Next thing you know, Bernie will be—"
"Fern,” Nick warned.
"Fine, I'll shut up. But mark my word you'll be sorry if you let Judge Bernie start playing despot this early in the trial."
"Counselors, did you both try to work out some settlement between your clients?"
"Yes, Your Honor,” both Nick and Bill Richards said in unison.
"And I take it the four women couldn't find any middle ground."
"My client wouldn't settle,” Bill said. “She doesn't want money. She wants her happily-ever-after."
Judge Fallon frowned. “And as I said, the court can't grant her that. Only she can find her own happiness."
"Your Honor, may I speak?” Fiona asked softly.
"That's what you have counsel for, Ms. Fayette. To speak for you.” He paused. “But I tend to be less formal than most judges you'll meet. I run my court to suit myself—"
"He runs everything to suit himself,” Myrtle mumbled.
The judge shot her a nasty glare that indicated he'd heard her, but continued speaking. “—and it would suit me to hear what you have to say for yourself."
The tall, slender woman stood. “I know this case seems frivolous to everyone. If Mr. Richards hadn't known my father, there's no way he would have taken my case."
Bill Richards started to object, but Fiona held up her hand, silencing him, and continued, “You know it's true, Bill, and I can't really blame you. I know this entire case seems silly. It appears that I'm just a lonely woman who believed in fairy tales, and is amusing herself at the court's expense. That's how it might look, Your Honor, but that's not it at all."
"So, tell us, Ms. Fayette, how is it?"
"All my life I've had everything anyone should want. I had parents who adored me, who would have laid the world at my feet if they could have. And don't get me wrong, I loved them, too. But I didn't fit in. I excelled at school, but I always felt there was more to know, some big secret that no one was letting me in on. There's this hole in the center of my being, and it's growing bigger every day. I'm afraid it will totally engulf me some day.
"And then these three women came to me. They said they knew how I felt. They understood that having everything didn't mean anything if you didn't feel complete. They said they understood and could make it better. They promised me a happily-ever-after, and I want that."
She paused a moment, as if gathering her thoughts. “That hole? I think it's the other piece of me that's been missing since birth. I think it's the man I'm destined to love. They swore they knew who he was and that they would bring him to me. That's what I want. I don't want money, and I don't want them punished. I just want my happily-ever-after. I know it sounds crazy, but I think they know where that piece of me is. I want him. I want to belong to someone.
"So, I realize this lawsuit seems frivolous to you, but it's everything to me.” She sat, and the entire courtroom was silent.
After several minutes, the judge straightened his collar and cleared his throat. “Thank you, Ms. Fayette for clearing that up. The court still maintains your happiness is your own responsibility, but it will hear your case.
"Now, Counselors, both of you have requested a closed court and no jury due to the ... sensitive nature of this case. I was going to refuse, but after listening to Ms. Fayette, I agree that we should avoid exposing her personal affairs to the public. This will be a closed court. I don't want anyone involved with this case talking to the press. I will not have my courtroom turned into a media circus, and I guarantee fairies and happily-ever-afters would be a three-ring circus. I will hear this case and make the decision based on the facts as they are presented to me.
"Mr. Richards, you will begin tomorrow at eight o'clock. This court is adjourned.” The judge banged his gavel.
"All rise,” said the bailiff.
Judge Bernard Fallon stalked out of the room.
"So what does that all mean?” Fern asked.
"Tomorrow we start.” Nick glanced at the woman suing the fairies. She was leaving the courtroom with Bill. He felt a stab of sympathy for her but quickly buried it. He couldn't afford to sympathize with Fiona Fayette. He had her fairy godmothers to look out for.
If anyone deserved some sympathy, he did.
* * * *
"I want to call my first witness. Fiona Fayette,” Bill Richards said bright and early the next morning.
The slender woman made her way to the witness stand and was sworn in.
Bill lounged against the prosecution table. “Ms. Fayette, yesterday you touched briefly on the circumstances that have brought us here. Let's start at the beginning. Could you please tell us how you met the defendants?"
"I was at work when they approached me.” Nick noted that Fiona's pale skin was all but translucent today, and the stab of pity he felt yesterday reasserted itself. “Later I saw them at Bloomingdales, on a plane, and in my apartment. But I was the only one who could see them, even when I wasn't alone. They said that only their godchildren could see them, but now everyone can. I don't understand that."
"For the record, where do you work? Bill asked.
"The Herb House.” Fiona's voice was little more than a whisper. “We provide natural health and beauty products."
"And tell us about that first meeting with the defendants.” Bill's voice echoed the concern Nick felt. This woman appeared to be close to the edge of her ability to cope.
"I was alone in the store when suddenly Myrtle, Fern and Blossom were there. They startled me."
"Do customers usually startle you?"
"No.” She shook her head. “But I was in the back room working on some paperwork because there were no customers in the store. We
have a buzzer on the door to let us know when someone comes in, but it didn't buzz, and they were just there, standing in front of me and grinning."
"Do you see these women in the courtroom?” Bill asked.
"There.” She pointed a trembling finger at the fairies, naming each. “Myrtle, Fern and Blossom."
"What did you do then?” Bill asked.
She tore her eyes away from the fairies and looked at Bill. “I just assumed I hadn't heard the buzzer, and I asked them if I could help them. They said no, but they could help me."
"And did they tell you how they planned to help you?"
"They told me they were fairies and had come to help me find my own happily-ever-after.” Fiona's voice grew even softer.
Gently, the judge said, “Ms. Fayette, you'll have to speak up."
"I'm sorry.” Louder this time, she said, “I said, they promised me my own happily-ever-after."
"And you wanted that happily-ever-after?” Bill asked.
"Doesn't everyone?"
"Let me ask you, Ms. Fayette. Are you happy?"
There was a pregnant pause, as if Fiona was weighing the texture of her emotions. “No, sir, I'm not."
"The prosecution rests."
Nick eyed the witness. She looked as if she could drop at a moment's notice. Quickly he glanced at the judge, trying to gauge his reaction to the testimony. Yes, he was sympathetic, despite his proclamation yesterday about not caring for frivolous lawsuits. Nick would have to tread carefully. He didn't want to seem as if he was attacking the obviously fragile witness and thereby alienate the judge.
Slowly, he approached the witness stand. “Ms. Fayette, are you going to tell the court that you believe my clients are fairy godmothers?"
"That's what they said,” she affirmed.
"That's not what I asked,” he pressed, his voice as soft and soothing as he could make it. “I asked if you believed them when they said they were fairies."
"No,” she answered slowly. “Not at first."
"So what convinced you?"
Here was a question Nick really wanted answered. His entire family believed in the fairies, even Gabriel and Max, who claimed to have never seen the fairies until they met them at Glory's place. What could convince four rational adults, and now Fiona, to believe in fairies? Nick hoped she could do a better job of explaining than Max, Grace, Nick and Joy had done.
Miracles for Nick Page 10
