Seducing the Defendant

by Chantal Fernando

  “Yes,” I tell him. “I like Demon. And Valentina said next time I can bring you along if I like. She said you’re welcome, as long as you aren’t trying to put any more of them behind bars.”

  He makes a sound of amusement. “You had to go and make friends with a bunch of criminals on wheels, didn’t you?”

  “They aren’t all criminals,” I say, yawning.

  “Just some of them,” he says in a dry tone, then changes the subject. “I have to drop into work later, I have a few thing I need to finish up for this case.”

  “The Sharon Beetle case?” I ask, and he makes a sound of agreement.

  “Yeah. I’ll be so happy once it’s done. But for now,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. He rolls me off him gently, and then pins my arms up with him on top of me. “I have some business to take care of.”

  He kisses me and I forget everything except his name on my lips and his taste in my mouth.

  “HEY, AREN’T YOU THE chick who was on the news for killing her cop husband?” the woman asks me, not sounding angry or judgmental, just curious.

  I stop stacking books and turn to her. “I suppose so. I guess now though, I’m just a librarian.”

  “Cool,” she murmurs, chewing on some gum. “I thought you looked familiar, and the news is the only TV I really watch anymore, so I knew it had to be from that.”

  “Okaaay,” I reply, not sure what to make of this woman. She’s dressed in all black, with a choker around her neck and red lipstick. She has a chest tattoo that peaks up her neck toward her throat. She’s beautiful, but not in the traditional meaning of the word. She clearly has quite a perky personality too. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

  “Yeah, I’m looking for these books,” she says, handing me a list. I take it from her and scan it, then approach the closest computer to do a quick search.

  “I’m Gwen, by the way,” she says, standing next to me. “And I’m sorry I had to ask you, I forgot to bring my glasses and I can’t see the screen.”

  “It’s no problem,” I say, smiling. “That’s what I’m here for, Gwen. I’m Scarlett.”

  Or the chick who didn’t kill her cop husband, but that’s okay. I go and get all the books for her, and hand them to her in a pile. “There’s only one missing; someone has borrowed it, but it’ll be back on Wednesday.”

  “That’s okay, thank you,” she says, smiling, then walks with the books to a table. She pulls out a notebook and starts to take some notes. I wonder if she’s in college, even though she looks to be in her late twenties. It’s never too late to pursue a dream. I smile to myself and continue stacking books, then go back to the counter to finish up the office work I have there. With fifteen minutes left until close, I’m full of pleasure and surprise when Jaxon walks into the library. He’s dressed to kill in his business attire, like he always is, today in a black suit with a white shirt.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask, smiling ear to ear. I move away from the counter and step toward him with my arms open.

  “I finished work early so I thought I’d take you to dinner,” he says, pulling me into him and wrapping me in his warmth. “Unless you’re feeling too tired?”

  I shake my head. “No, I’d love to go to dinner. Just let me finish closing up. I have to wait about ten more minutes before I can shut the doors.”

  “No problem, take your time,” he murmurs, glancing around. When he brings his eyes back to me, there’s a glint in there that I recognize instantly.

  “Oh no you don’t,” I chastise, arching my brow. “I’m at work.”

  He licks his bottom lip and lowers his gaze over my body, which is dressed in a long, floral dress and a cardigan. “You look beautiful.”

  “You say that every day,” I backtrack, smirking as I get back behind the computer and shut it down.

  “I can’t help that you look beautiful every day,” he states, stalking toward me, intent in his gaze. He leans over my desk with his knuckles planted on the table. “Perhaps you shouldn’t have sent me that picture this morning so I know what you’re wearing underneath that dress.”

  My lip twitches at that. I was at my house getting ready this morning when I sent him a saucy picture of me in my red silk bra and panties. “Hey, if you can’t control yourself, that’s on you. I sent you a sexy picture, so you think you can stalk your way over to my workplace? Who do you think you are Jaxon Bentley?”

  He smirks, his eyes turning heavy, and reaches over to cup my chin. When he brings his lips to mine, I don’t stop him, instead I lean forward, falling into the kiss. Apparently I can’t even pretend to put up much of a fight. The kiss soon turns heated, and I pull away and hold my finger up to tell him to stop for a second. Rushing to the door, I lock it and turn the sign to CLOSED, then return to him, this time walking over to his side of the desk.

  “You’re trouble, you know that?” I croon, shaking my head at him. “Only you would do something like this.”

  “Only you would let me,” he replies, lifting me up and walking with me in his arms to the back corner of the library. When he rests my back against a shelf, I moan and press my breasts against him, wanting more friction. “Be patient,” he whispers, kissing the sensitive part where my neck meets my shoulder.

  I narrow my eyes at him, but they shutter close as he starts to kiss me again and slides his hand up under my dress, his finger into my panties. As he starts to stroke me, rubbing my clit just how I like it, I start making sounds I hope no one else ever gets to hear, desperate for the release he’s about to give me. We didn’t see each other last night, and apparently one night without him has made me act like I haven’t had sex in months. He’s spoiling me. I’m getting used to this, and now when it’s taken away, I need it. I crave his touch, his body, everything that he is.

  If this isn’t love, I don’t know what is.

  chapter 29

  Jaxon

  I NEEDED TO SEE HER.

  After dealing with Sharon all evening, who seems to care more about trying to fuck me than her actual case, I couldn’t wait to see Scarlett. I left the office and drove straight to the library. I didn’t plan for what happened there to happen, but now I’m sitting at dinner feeling happy, sated, and much more relaxed.

  “Can you stop smiling?” Scarlett asks, laughing. “You should see your face.”

  “Can’t help it if I’m happy,” I say, picking up my chopsticks. “And less stressed.”

  “Always happy to help you de-stress,” she says, licking a drop of sauce off her lips. “Is the case not going well then?”

  I haven’t told Scarlett about Sharon and how unprincipled she is because I don’t want her to worry, but maybe now might be the time to open up a little and let her know what’s been going on.

  “Sharon is a diva. She thinks because she’s a television personality and she’s famous that no rules apply to her,” I start, sighing, feeling a migraine coming on at just the mere thought of the woman.

  “So she’s difficult? You think she wouldn’t be when it’s her case, and her money and life that you’re dealing with.”

  “She’s . . . unprofessional,” I say slowly, then clear my throat. “It’s making my life harder, especially when I’m not . . . interested.”

  Scarlett places her glass of ginger beer down and studies me. “Are you trying to tell me gently that your client is hitting on you?”

  I cringe as the words leave her lips. “To put it mildly. And she’s been accused of sexual assault. You’d think the woman would learn.”

  She purses her lips, then does something I never thought she’d do in this moment.

  She laughs.

  “So you have to go to work, try to win the case, but in the meantime you also have to fight her off?” she asks, smirking now. “I must say, I can’t blame the woman. You in those suits . . . Mmmmm.”

&n
bsp; My jaw tightens. “Seriously? That’s how you’re going to react to another woman making it her mission to bed me? By objectifying me?”

  “Women get objectified every day; it’s only fair,” she returns, sticking her tongue out at me. “Come on, Jaxon, you’re a good-looking man. You should be used to such attention by now.”

  “I’d expect a little . . . I don’t know . . . jealousy?” I admit, lifting my chin. “She runs her hands over me whenever she gets the chance, you know? My shoulder, my hand. Nothing is off-limits.”

  “Is that right?” she says, laughing even harder now. “Nothing is off-limits? So has she touched . . . anything farther down south?”

  “No,” I say, dragging the word out. “Why? Would that get a reaction out of you?”

  I sound grumpy, and I don’t even bother trying to hide it. Inside though, I love how secure Scarlett feels. Knowing her past, I’d have thought that she might be a little insecure, which is why I didn’t tell her about it. Apparently, I was wrong. In fact she’s finding the whole thing entertaining, at my expense might I add.

  Scarlett tries to school her expression but fails because there’s still amusement written there. “Well, it’s not like you’re tempted in any way, are you? I trust you, Jaxon. I know you’d never do anything to hurt me.”

  I soften instantly at her words. “Of course I wouldn’t, and hell no, I’m not even tempted, but that’s not the point. It’s like no one has ever told the woman no, and now I have to deal with it. She’s unbelievable. Rejection doesn’t do anything to her ego no matter how many times I say no, it’s like she thinks I’m playing hard to get.”

  “Want me to take her down?” she asks with a straight face.

  “Yes, actually I do,” I grumble, taking a bite out of a dumpling.

  “Seriously though,” Scarlett says, clearing her throat. “All jokes aside. Is there anything you can do about this? Maybe have telephone or video-call meetings? She can’t touch you if all communication is via technology.”

  “That’s actually a good idea,” I say, nodding. “I don’t know how long I could claim to be too busy to meet with her in person though. She’s my main case right now and my priority client.”

  “Might lessen the personal meetings though,” she says, sitting back in her chair and tucking her hair behind her ear. “I don’t know. I’ll try to think of other ideas for you without having to file a sexual harassment claim and getting shit from Hunter and Tristan for the rest of your life.”

  They really would give me a heap of shit, too. I wonder if I could get Kat in on a plan, maybe get her to say something to Sharon from a legal perspective. I’m this close to telling her to find a new lawyer. I’ve never given up on a case though, and I’d hate to have to do that. I’m sure I’d be given shit for that in the office, too.

  “Maybe you should be a lawyer,” I tell her, smiling at how she tries to fix the problem for me with a level head.

  “I’m happy being a librarian for now,” she says, winking. “Especially when my man decides to drop in unannounced and have his way with me against a stack of books.” She pauses, cringing. “Yeah, let’s hope I don’t get fired over that one.”

  “Are there cameras in there?” I ask, really hoping there ­aren’t. I’d feel like shit if Scarlett lost her new job that she already loves.

  “Just around the building,” she explains. “Not inside. I wouldn’t have even kissed you if there were. Making a porno is not on my bucket list.”

  “What if it’s on mine?” I tease, laughing when she rolls her eyes at me.

  “Then it’s something you won’t be ticking off, buddy.”

  “We’ll see,” I mutter, watching her closely. She just arches her brow, like Yes, we will. She’s so different from when I first met her now that she feels comfortable and free to be herself. It’s been such an amazing thing watching her grow.

  “Have you ever played beer pong?” she randomly asks. She must be thinking of her night with Valentina and Demon.

  “A few times in college,” I reply, playing it down. I partied a lot in college. I was one of those typical frat boys, and when I wasn’t studying my ass off, I was drinking my ass off. I never even cared about getting into any shit because I’d just call Demon and he’d have my back. What nobody probably knows, even the Wind Dragons MC, is that I’m the one who gave him the nickname Demon back when we were in high school. He broke so many girls’ hearts, I used to tell him he was like the devil. He replied by saying he wasn’t that bad, he didn’t even mean to hurt any of them. Which was true. He’s a good-looking man, and women have always swarmed to him. My reply to him was Fine, maybe you’re not the devil, more like a demon, and the name stuck.

  “I want to practice so next time I can beat everyone,” she says, a scheming look passing over her face.

  “Okay, we can play,” I tell her. “Why don’t we mix things up a little and play strip beer pong?”

  “You have a one-track mind, Jaxon,” she chastises, her tone giving away her lack of annoyance. “Are you going to eat that?” she asks, pointing to the last dumpling.

  “No, baby. You eat it,” I tell her gently, then watch as she does so. It hits me then, as I consider her, just how crazy I am about the woman sitting opposite me.

  How crazy in love I am with her.

  Fuck.

  I don’t know when it happened, but I fell in love with her.

  She swallows her bite, then glances up at me through her long lashes and smiles. “Do you want dessert?”

  I shake my head, mind still blown by the revelation.

  “Me either,” she says, rubbing her stomach. “I’m paying.”

  That snaps me out of it. “No, you are not.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. What’s my money meant for then?” she asks, scowling at me. “To sit in the bank and collect dust? I like to spoil you sometimes too, you know.”

  “Buy something for yourself,” I suggest. “I don’t know. Buy another house, a car, a vacation. Do whatever you want, but when you’re with me I’m not letting you pay for anything. I don’t know why you bother to continue to fight me on this.”

  “Because it’s not fair. Gender equality, Jaxon, get with the program. Everything should be fifty-fifty in this relationship. We both hustle, we both spoil each other, we both clean.”

  “Did you see that on a meme? Because I’m pretty sure I did,” I reply, brow furrowing. “And you don’t let me cook or clean. So you’re being a little hypocritical right now.”

  “Fine,” she says, lifting her chin. “I’ll pay for dinner, and tomorrow night you can cook.”

  I cringe inwardly, both because I don’t want her to pay and I don’t want to cook, but I can’t back down now. “Fine.”

  Fuck.

  I make decent money, and if it’s not to spoil and take care of the people I . . . love, then what the hell is it for? When she reaches for her purse, I can’t take it.

  “Nope, I can’t do it. I’m paying. And I’ll cook dinner tomorrow night. I’ll make a scene.”

  She slides her wallet back in and expels a deep sigh. “You are something else, Jaxon Bentley.”

  “I’m yours,” I state simply.

  That’s the bottom line.

  She has to deal with me, and I have to deal with her.

  And I’m more than okay with that.

  chapter 30

  Scarlett

  I’M DRIVING TO JAXON’S when I see a policeman on a motorbike coming up in my rearview mirror. He signals for me to stop, so I turn onto the side of the road and wait for him to approach. I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong: I was driving the speed limit and I can’t think of any other reason he’d have to pull me over. He climbs off his motorcycle and approaches my window, which I quickly wind down.

  “License and registration, please,” he demands, glancing at
me and then over the car.

  I grab my purse and take out my driver’s license and the papers from the glove box and hand them to him.

  “Scarlett Reyes,” he murmurs, and I pick up a hint of distaste in his tone. Instantly, I’m on alert. I don’t always trust police, because I’m more than aware that there are good ones and bad ones. If this man has it out for me for no reason, there could be a chance he was friends with Darren. Did he recognize my license plate? Maybe he ran it and saw who the car belonged to. Either way, I start to feel uneasy about the situation. It’s dark outside. I’m driving straight from work to Jaxon’s house, and although the road isn’t completely deserted there aren’t that many cars driving up and down.

  “Yes,” I reply, keeping my tone soft and even. “Is something wrong, Officer?”

  “Many things are wrong,” he replies, handing me back my license and papers. “Sometimes justice doesn’t always prevail, does it, Ms. Reyes?”

  I don’t know what he expects me to say to that, because justice did prevail. Darren got what he deserved, and I’m now free to live a happy life without him. I decide to stay silent because no matter what I reply, there’ll be no right words. Who knows what Darren said about me to his fellow officers? If this man was friends with Darren though, he’s probably just as dirty as Darren was. Filth sticks together. I make sure to remember the officer’s name.

  Gilmore.

  He taps on my hood and tells me I’m free to go.

  I continue on my way feeling confused, scared, and angry.

  This whole thing was meant to be over for me, and sure, he didn’t actually do anything, but I still shouldn’t have to deal with this type of behavior from an officer of the law. I’ve done no wrong, I’m guilty of nothing, and I should be treated like any other civilian. I shouldn’t have to deal with some passive aggressive shit from a cop because of who my ex-husband was. I don’t want to be dealing with the past anymore. Darren crosses my mind less and less these days, and everything in my life is finally at a place I never thought it would be. I wake up and go to bed happy, and I have a love that I never thought I’d find. I never knew men like Jaxon even existed outside of movies and books, but here I am.