by Ines Saint
Gracie went back to picking at her meal. Not much to go on there, not if everyone liked Hank.
When talk had inevitably turned to the unknown person or persons trying to set Josh up, Alex’s grandmother had knowingly nodded. “The thief who stole an altyn was hanged while the one who stole a poltinnik was praised. Remember this, Alexander.”
Alex explained to them that an altyn was less than a poltinnik, which meant that the bigger culprit not only often gets away but that they come out on top, too.
Then Alex’s great-aunt commented on Gracie’s lack of appetite. Gracie tried to explain that she was leaving room for dessert, but the great-aunt harrumphed and said, “Neither ‘baaah,’ nor ‘maaah,’ not even ‘cock-a-doodle-do,’” in a disapproving manner.
Gracie turned to Alex, who shrugged and said, “I’d say that one’s pretty self-explanatory.”
Right.
Finally, after the dishes were loaded in the dishwasher and she felt she had done her share, she began her good-byes. “Wait, no, you can’t go home alone!” Paige exclaimed.
“Yeah, the creep might be there. I’ll go with you,” Hope offered.
“No, it’s okay. Josh said he’d be there. But can I go up to your room to borrow something first?”
Paige shrugged. Gracie raced up the stairs, riffled through her sister’s night table, found what she needed, raced back down, and left.
Josh’s car was right out front, and the moment she pulled up, he was out the door and walking toward her. “Can we talk now?” he asked. “I, uh, already checked and no one’s watching,” he added. She nodded and led him to her apartment.
The moment they were inside, he looked into her eyes. “Were you jealous today, Gracie?”
She stared back. Out of all the arrogant, cocky questions in the world, this one had to take top honors . . . “No,” she scoffed.
“I’m only asking because I was jealous the day Alex came running out of here with no shirt and you came out wearing a matching pajama top. I felt like breaking something. Over his head. And I’ve been jealous every single time you mentioned this George dude you work with. Not even telling me he had a husband reassured me. I kept looking for him in the building, to see what he looked like. Running into you two in front of the building yesterday was no accident.”
Gracie clamped down on a smile and he took a step toward her, put one arm around her waist, and pulled her near, still wearing his cocky smile. “And I’m only asking if you were jealous because I don’t want to make a fool of myself by overexplaining things you might not be interested in.”
She raised an eyebrow, not ready to admit to anything. He was being sweet, but he was joking, too. “I’m interested. Explain.”
Josh gave her an exasperated look. Last night he’d told her that he was crazy about her, that afternoon he’d said he hadn’t thought of anyone but her since he’d first seen her sweet smile, and now he was admitting to jealousy, but still she wasn’t giving him an inch. But Kim had said someone had to open up, and it seemed like it was going to have to be him. “Look—I get lonely sometimes and bored and I have a couple of friends—women friends—who get bored and lonely, too, and we get together sometimes. But I’ve only had eyes for you since the day I came here to talk to you for the first time. I saw something in you that mirrored something in me. A need.” He took her hands and wrapped them around his waist, feeling a little wary but mostly good about everything he was revealing. “And then I noticed that everything about you was beautiful. Your smiles, your sketches, and your willingness to open up to me and tell me why you do what you do . . .” He lifted her chin and kissed her.
“Josh?”
“Mmm?” He lowered his mouth again.
“Take me,” she whispered, shyly, on his lips.
Fire shot from his lips to every nerve in his body and he felt as if he would explode, just from hearing her say those words. “Gracie . . .” He could barely breathe from want, but he didn’t know what to say and he couldn’t move.
“Do you trust me, Josh?” she asked, her big eyes looking into his. He nodded. “Then trust me to know what I want. I’m even prepared.” He paused because he respected her enough to believe that, and he nodded again. “And I know I want my first time to be with you.”
Her first time. Not her every time. His heart knew anguish, then, and it pressed down on his chest until it became difficult to breathe without pain. But she was standing there, still looking at him, in all her vulnerability, and he wouldn’t have her hurt. With effort, he asked what he thought was most important for her to know. “Because you trusted me nine years ago or because you trust me now?”
She put her head on his chest. “Because I trust you now, Josh. More than I’ve ever trusted any man.”
He kissed the top of her head, then, breathed in the citrusy scent of her shampoo, and threaded his hands through her pink and blond locks, reminding himself to commit the scent of it, the look of it, and the feel of it to memory. Because he understood what opening up really meant now and he couldn’t do it. If this was all she really wanted, he didn’t want to know, not yet, and he couldn’t bring himself to let her know he wanted more. Not if her own wishes would be painful to listen to. Why ruin a lovely moment and memory? Already she was tensing up in his arms.
So with one swoop he picked her up, smiled into her eyes, and began whispering smug promises in her ear, to make her laugh and relax....
* * *
Gracie’s entire body was a live wire of delicious feelings. One moment Josh had her laughing and anticipating and the next he had her feeling hot and crazy in his arms, writhing and moaning and wanting more and more. Every kiss, every touch, every swoop of his hands started off gently, and when he was sure she was with him and feeling safe, he’d whisper pretty words while moving his hands and legs and body in clever ways that built a sweet pressure inside her, until she started climbing higher and higher, reaching for something, until something burst and she fell in a heady bliss, a gazillion stars exploding behind her eyes. The aftershocks lasted for a good long while and she was amazed.
Later, when their hearts and breathing had steadied, he took both her hands into his and kissed them. “Are you sore?” he asked. “Can I get you anything or do anything for you?”
“No. It hurt a little at first, but then it didn’t.” She shifted to look up at him. “Then it was amazing.”
He touched his index finger to the tip of her nose as his eyes roamed over her face, his expression serious. “You’re so wonderful. Truly.” He kissed her once, and she was surprised to feel tingles rise and swirl again when she was so spent. She kissed him back, and what started off as a dusting of soft kisses turned into a leisurely, drawn-out, drugging exchange.
Soon he was atop her once more.
* * *
Early the next morning Josh was fully dressed, tie and all, and trying to sneak out the door without having to meet Hope or Alex outside, but Gracie kept holding him back and he couldn’t resist her. “Thank you for being my first,” she murmured between kisses, “and my second and my—”
“I’ll never leave at his rate.” Josh groaned and kissed her back but stepped away when he was tempted to walk her back inside. Instead, he decided to go over their plans for the day. “So—you’ve got Judge Marsh and a few others to meet at the diner so you can interview them about their workspace needs and catch up on work, and then you’re heading to my kickoff?”
Gracie hesitated. “Hope, Paige, and I wanted to go to show that we really do support you, but after what you told me about Mrs. Wolf’s nonprofit making the news, I’m thinking I might just be a distraction. The story will be out today, won’t it?”
Josh nodded and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I’m not worried about it being a distraction from the campaign, if that’s what you mean. But definitely don’t come if you’ll feel uncomfortable, okay? Because you’ll probably attract some attention. Just promise me you’ll make sure that whatever you do, you won’t b
e alone.”
“You really are worried there’s a psycho out there, aren’t you?” she asked, looking highly amused. “How about this? Paige, Hope, and I will arrive at your kickoff at eight, two hours after it starts. That way we show support, but I won’t be a constant distraction.”
“Whatever you’re comfortable with.” He leaned down to soften her up for his next request with a kiss. “Do you mind if I call you once in a while during the day?” he asked, giving her his most persuasive look.
“I do. I’ll be working, Josh. And so will you.” She pushed him out the door, saying, “Okay, enough. This is good-bye.” With a chuckle, she shut the door.
This is good-bye. What did that mean? Was last night it? She’d satisfied her curiosity and was now dismissing him for good? Or did she mean good-bye for now? Just ask, Kim had said. Yeah right.
He left and tried not to overthink it. Today was a big day, and to keep campaign expenses down, he and the volunteers were putting in a lot of the prep work themselves.
He was opening the front door when his throwaway phone rang. He dug out the wrong phone out of his pocket so quickly he nearly dropped it, and then he was almost too late in answering the right one. Carrying two phones was getting annoying. “Linda?”
“Yes. It’s me.” In his mind’s eye, he saw the still-familiar sullen face that accompanied the voice, and he wondered if she was out there, watching the house. Was it too much of a coincidence that she was calling just as he was opening the door? “William let something slip, something I thought you’d want to know, but I need to know something, too.” She paused. “Can you forgive me for what I did?”
Josh held his breath. He wanted to hear what she had to say, but she wanted to hear him absolve her before she gave anything up. “The past is in the past, Linda. I’ve moved on.” It was all he could say truthfully.
It must’ve been good enough because she sighed and began, “Well, William said a couple of odd things after he watched Gracie Piper’s press conference. He was angry, and he said he couldn’t believe ‘that slut’ would defend you after you tried to get her fired—but I’ve been following the story and I’d never heard that, so I thought it was strange. Then he threw the remote control down on the bed and said that only you and Helen would think of charging an influential person based solely on circumstantial evidence and that that was the real problem. He said that last part under his breath and he looked stressed out. I don’t think he even remembered I was there at that point because he grabbed his briefcase and left. It seemed like an odd thing to say, though, right after the press conference. And that’s it. That’s all I have for you. Unless you want to meet . . .”
Josh sighed. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought that he, of all people, would consider giving Linda, of all people, marriage advice. Or unmarriage advice. But she was married to a real asshole. “Look, I appreciate you getting back to me with this, Linda. I really do. But no, I don’t want to meet. I may not know much, but I know that’s not the answer you’re looking for either. I do want you to be happy, though. I told you so. But if you’re this unhappy in your marriage, and if you really feel you need someone who helps you be a better person, you have a lot to think about.”
They were quiet for a moment, and though he was dying to hang up, he was unwilling to do that to her. “I know,” she said on a sigh. “I know.” Finally, she hung up.
It took him a few moments to gather his thoughts. Hearing that William knew someone had tried to get Gracie fired was the breakthrough he needed, but he wanted to piece everything together before he figured out the next step.
William had asked Linda to spread rumors about him and Gracie; then, someone who occasionally worked for William’s firm had gone to great lengths to record a video that brought those rumors back with a vengeance, but the moment Gracie debunked the rumors, William revealed information he could only have known if he were involved. And he said that the real problem was that Helen and Josh had charged an influential person with a serious crime based solely on circumstantial evidence.
Josh’s only case where an influential person and solely circumstantial evidence met was the Max Parker case . . . and it made sense. If Josh lost, it was doubtful Rachel or Bosco would pursue the charges, and if they did, they might bargain. Then he remembered Rachel’s dirty look. Could she be in on it? It was far-fetched. He didn’t even know if there was a link between Max and William, let alone Max, William, and Rachel. Max Parker had used the same law firm for the last five years and it wasn’t William Konitz’s. But Josh hadn’t been able to find anything farther back.
Josh shook his head. If Max Parker was behind any of this, then who knew how far he’d be willing to go? He’d used his own son, after all, and then turned him in. At least it no longer seemed like Gracie was in trouble. The plan involving her hadn’t worked. Most likely they were already looking for new ways to discredit or defame Josh. Still . . .
He went back and knocked on Gracie’s door. She answered with a smile and an eye roll, but her smile disappeared when she saw his face. “Listen, I just got a phone call, and whoever is behind the rumors and the video might have a strong motive to go even further than I thought. I need you to know that so you’re careful. It’s not just me being overly suspicious and protective because I’m jaded. Promise me you’ll be careful and that you won’t ever be alone, please?”
“I promise. I’ll even get Deputy Prosecutor Hernandez to walk me to the car when we’re done with our interview. Will that make you feel better?” she asked.
“He’s a good friend. It does.”
“And after I leave the diner, I’ll go directly to Paige’s house, where Hope will pick us up. Happy?”
“Happy.” He kissed her mocking smile and left, eager to call both Jamar and Alex.
When he stepped out, ready to call Jamar, he saw Hope was already dressed, too, and she leaning against the portico, holding a newspaper. Obviously, she’d been waiting for him. “The polls are out,” she said. “Your numbers are way up. Rachel Foster is a distant second, but Kurt Bosco is far behind. I’m glad because I do like you, Josh. So far.” She met his eyes. “Just don’t do anything that could land you six feet under instead of six points ahead and you should be fine, capiche?” She cut a glance over to Gracie’s apartment, thrust the newspaper into his chest, and left, her meaning clear. If he hurt Gracie, she’d kill him.
He was going to tease her about the wisdom of threatening a prosecutor, but he couldn’t find it in him to joke about anything, so he said, “Capiche” and went on his way instead.
Chapter 19
“Thank you for coming down, Judge Marsh. And thank your wife for sending me the cupcake.” Gracie smiled. “You’ve been so helpful.” They stood and shook hands. “I’m only sorry you had to come all the way down here on your day off.”
Judge Marsh smiled back. “I’m only sorry I had to meet you so late, but my daughter and grandchildren drove over from Michigan and they weren’t leaving until five. But it was my pleasure to meet with you. I hope you don’t mind me saying so, but I seldom get to catch up with youths I first met in my courtroom. Seeing you as a successful adult and a consummate professional is good for my heart.”
Gracie was happy to see that she didn’t mind his words at all. Quite the opposite. It felt good to be there as herself: the youth he’d met in his courtroom all grown up.
“Oh, and before I forget,” he said, digging into his pocket and taking out a flash drive. “Here’s a broadcast of the last case that was open to the public in my courtroom. It’s from three years ago, but nothing has changed inside, and you said you needed to observe our workday settings in use.”
Gracie took the flash drive, surprised and grateful he’d remembered. “Thank you. I really appreciate it. In fact, I’m going to sit here and watch it right now. I still have twenty minutes before my next interview. It’s so great of you to have remembered.”
Judge Marsh took his leave, looking gratified that h
is efforts truly had been helpful.
* * *
Gracie popped the flash drive Judge Marsh had given her into her computer and looked around to make sure the volume wouldn’t bother anyone in the diner, but she was the only one there. Downtown Dayton was mostly on vacation from what she’d seen. She brought out the U.S. Courts Design Guide she was carrying in her briefcase, hit Play on her computer, and began taking notes.
Two minutes in she heard words that sent a chill down her spine. Hardly able to believe it, she hit Rewind before hitting Play again. “The defense will have you believe that this is only a smattering of their client’s past, but in truth it is a pattern . . .”
Her heart beating fast, she tried to tell herself it didn’t mean anything. It was just two words, smattering and past, in the same sentence. And everyone thought that pastsmatter was pasts matter. Gracie had been the only one who’d thought it could be past smatter. At the time she’d agreed it didn’t make much sense. But she’d just heard a version of those two words come out of Rachel Foster’s mouth. Rachel, who was Josh’s opponent, and who had given her that ugly look . . .
But Rachel was usually friendly and charming. Everyone said so. Her eyes fell on the cupcake Judge Marsh had brought and she thought of Clyde Cupcake and Hank Taylor—the man who had bought the bakery and turned it into a general store. He had been charming, too, and yet Clyde Cupcake had died and Hank had walked off with the prize. Years later no one even knew Clyde might have been murdered.
Gracie decided it couldn’t hurt to tell Josh her thoughts. When her call went straight to voice mail, she left a message. Feeling better, she continued to watch the video and take notes, wishing time would either speed up or Deputy Prosecutor Hernandez would arrive early.
A minute later her phone rang, and she dug it out, hoping it was Josh. She didn’t know the number on the screen, but it was local, so she picked up. “Hello, may I speak to Gracie Piper?” a female voice asked.
“This is she,” she replied.
