by Aimee Carson
“If those were your innocent ways—” he buried his head in her neck, inhaling the scent of strawberry shampoo before shifting until his mouth hovered over hers expectantly “—God help me if you grow bolder.”
And the sex that followed only confirmed that Blake was indeed in serious trouble.
* * *
The next day Jax leaned back and shifted uncomfortably against the wooden bench in the courthouse hallway. This morning she’d opened her eyes to a rising sun, alone in bed with nothing but her pajama top on, a sheet covering her bare bottom and a note from Blake reminding her of her court appearance.
She puffed out a breath, running a hand down her new black-and-white cotton dress with a gathered tube top, dread tightening in her belly, cutting off any hope of a casual demeanor. A woman’s first morning-after should not take place on the day she’s scheduled to go before a judge, but Jax had decided that anything worth experiencing was worth experiencing in style.
So far, the decision wasn’t making her feel better.
As people streamed by, Jax tried hard not to constantly search for Blake. If he didn’t show, she was screwed. If he did show, she was screwed. She needed his reassuring presence while standing before a judge. Yet she dreaded having an audience while navigating the awkwardness of their new relationship, courtesy of one incredibly delicious night.
But was the one night all she was going to get?
When Blake turned into the hallway, her body did a double take, his obligatory suit clinging to a hard body that she now knew more intimately than she knew her own. And it was unnerving to realize her lips, teeth and tongue had blazed trails across the tanned skin stretched against hard muscle and sinew. There wasn’t a spot she hadn’t adored, and there were probably several where she’d left marks. The memory burned, heating her face. And when Blake’s gaze finally caught hers, his steps slowing, Jax’s heart did a wobbly somersault.
As he came closer, his brow crumpled in surprise. “You’re wearing a dress.”
And those were not the first words she’d expected from of his mouth.
Summoning her patience, she stood and folded her arms across her chest, the feminine black blazer adding a touch of class over her casual dress, the black leggings and funky high heels appealing to her sense of fun. The fact her black-and-white leather platform shoes flirted with a 1930s mobster attitude seemed to fit the occasion.
She hiked a single brow. “After bolting from my bed this morning, is that all you have to say?”
For a brief moment, his mouth grew tight, but before the tension had time to settle, he let out a sigh of resignation. But his low voice didn’t detract from the firm tone. “This is neither the time nor the place for this discussion.”
“Discussing it over breakfast would have been nice.”
He lifted a brow drily. “I had to be at a meeting at seven.”
Jax winced. “Okay, so maybe six a.m. was a little early for a discussion.” She tipped her head. “But you could have at least woken me up to say goodbye.”
His eyebrow hiked a fraction. “I tried,” he said, obviously amused. “But you were out cold.”
Probably because she’d gone and died from pleasure.
“My exhausted state was as much your fault as mine,” she said.
Blake’s eyes flashed with an intriguing combination of heat and caution, leaving Jax both aroused and frustrated. Because it was clear from his behavior that he hadn’t become her lover; he was simply a man who had spent hours teaching her how much more pleasurable an orgasm was when it involved two people instead of one. To be fair, he had laid out his conditions from the start. And as they studied each other, his expression didn’t budge, and she let go of her last bit of hope for more.
“I really am only getting one night, aren’t I?” she said.
He shifted on his feet, having the decency to at least look as if he regretted his upcoming words. “Not only do I have your legal battle to contend with, but I’m also in the midst of the biggest case of my career,” he said. “So I need to...” He paused, as if determined to get this right. “I need to focus.”
She stared at his face, lingering briefly on the lips that not only looked sensual, but were also exceptionally skilled at making her cry out, amazed by the variety of embarrassing sounds that could come from her mouth.
“Blake,” a male voice said from down the hallway.
Pushing the stimulating thoughts aside, Jax watched the gray-headed man approach. Another Suit with a lawyerly air.
The older man stopped and clapped Blake on the back. “Good to see you, son.”
Blake made a quick introduction, and then the two chatted briefly about a case.
And before the man moved on, he leaned in close, as if sharing exciting news. “By all reports the Menendez case is a slam dunk,” the man said. “Word has it your name tops the list for promotion to chief of your division. Sounds like a move up the career ladder is in your near future.” Jax tried not to let her surprise show as the gentleman went on, his face softening with affection. “Your father would have been proud.”
An emotion flickered across Blake’s face, too quick for Jax to recognize.
Pride? Determination?
Or was it something else?
“Thank you,” Blake said, returning the man’s handshake before the gentleman headed off.
Jax turned to Blake, her curiosity now bursting at the seams. “What did your father do?”
He took her elbow and led her down the hallway, and her rebellious heart rejoiced at the return of his touch, even if only for a moment. “He was the U.S. attorney for the southern district of Florida, nominated by the president.”
Jax gave a low whistle. “That’s an awfully big suit to fill.” She frowned slightly. “Are you sure it fits?”
That sensual mouth twitched into an almost smile, but his tone was carefully even. “It fits,” he said, obviously sticking with the literal interpretation. He ushered her toward the courtroom door. “I’ve asked around, and Judge Conner is known for being tough, but fair,” he went on, apparently not interested in discussing his father any further.
The familiar smell of his cologne teased her nose, and she was bombarded with images of his naked body, making it difficult to focus.
“This is only an appearance to officially hear the charges and enter your plea of not guilty,” he said. “I’ll take care of everything, but if he asks you a direct question, answer it honestly. Otherwise...” He halted just outside the courtroom door, as if rethinking his advice. “Just let me do all the talking.” He looked at her with a guarded expression. “Do you think you can handle that?”
She stepped closer, thrilled with the flash of heat in his gaze, and she sent him an overly sweet smile. “Of course I can.”
If he thought he could ignore their sizzling chemistry, it was time for her to teach him a thing or two. Because she had the advantage of living in his home. And if she spent enough time in her bathing suit by the pool, sooner or later, the man was sure to cave.
At least, that was her plan....
* * *
An hour later Blake escorted Jax back out through the lobby of the courthouse, his hand enjoying the feel of her back and the seductive swing of her unruly, tawny hair against his skin. Her hips swayed in that lissome, loose-limbed way of hers, and his fingers ached to dip lower as he worked diligently to ignore the memories of their night together.
He’d renounced his one-night-stand days long ago, and making Jax an exception to that rule had seemed a reasonable decision. But clearly that had been his libido calling the shots, manipulating his good sense. Given their interactions to date, if he’d been thinking logically he would have realized that before he’d slept with her. Being the first to fully taste Jax had certainly never entered his mind as a possibility.
>
And her unvirgin-like behavior had continued, demanding that he not hold back on any fronts. As if suddenly in a hurry to make up for lost time. And what she’d lacked in experience, she’d more than made up for in enthusiasm, setting his body on fire with her insatiable curiosity.
As the sun had taken its first glimpse over the Atlantic this morning, he’d reluctantly left her bed, spent. Yet invigorated. Still reeling from the night of discovery. Now, six hours later, he still had no idea how to wrap his head around the blistering turn of events.
And his concentration was shot to holy hell.
His gut churned at the disturbing emotions, because he wanted her again, but he willed himself to think logically. To remain rational. Because, despite their night together, he still had a job to do and Jax’s legal problem to address. It hadn’t been his choice to be in charge of her case, but he’d made a promise and he intended to see it through. Which meant he needed to clarify a few things with the woman. Most notably, that her devil-may-care attitude and smart mouth might prove her undoing.
Because, if ever there was proof that Jacqueline Lee lived by her own rules, today had to be it.
“Just for the record,” Blake said with a droll tone, “since it was the judge that brought up the picture of the Ramones on your dress...” He opened the glass door of the lobby and ushered her into the warm sunshine. How could he have missed the full, standing image of the punk-rock band beneath the blazer? “It was perfectly acceptable to acknowledge your agreement with his comment about their impact on rock and roll.” The door closed behind them, and he shot Jax a meaningful look. “But engaging in a debate about which band had the most impact on punk rock was not the wisest course of action.”
Jax gazed up at him as if she had no idea why the disagreement was a problem. “Judge Conner asked for my opinion and I gave it to him.”
He fought the urge to let out an impatient sigh, clearing his throat instead, and shot her the most level look he could manage. “I believe his comment was meant to be a rhetorical question.”
Jax simply shrugged. “Well, if he didn’t want to hear my views, then he shouldn’t have formed it in the phrase of a question at all.”
As they descended the courthouse steps, Blake took a moment to regain his composure before addressing her again.
Narrowing his eyes in mock confusion, he said, “Do you get up every morning looking for ways to make life harder on yourself? Or does that just come naturally?”
Her lips quirked as she slipped off her blazer, draping it over her arm and baring the most beautiful expanse of shoulders Blake had ever had the pleasure of viewing. Desire fisted in his gut, but he ignored the feeling.
“Is this another one of those rhetorical questions that I’m not supposed to answer?” she said lightly.
“Yes,” he said, his tone firm. “Absolutely.”
She shot him a look from the corner of her eye, tossing back the wild hair that the breeze had plastered to her cheek. Her sweetly innocent smiles, like the one she was sending him now, were not to be trusted.
“You told me to be honest,” she said.
Blake bit back a smile at the courtroom memory, refusing to let her see his amusement. “Well, Judge Conner appeared to be enjoying the sixty seconds that it took for you to lay out your arguments in favor of the Ramones, even though he ultimately disagreed with your assessment.”
She came to a halt, grinning up at him and sending a disturbing thrill of pleasure along his veins. And the need to keep her out of further trouble made his expression turn serious again.
“You asked me to represent you in court,” he said. “In future, I need you to think about your actions and their consequences.” He focused on not looking down at her sun-kissed skin above the Ramones sundress.
The frown on her face lacked any real heat. “Is this your way of telling me to keep my fat mouth shut?”
He pursed his lips, trying to come up with a diplomatic response. “It’s my way of telling you that the world doesn’t need to know your every thought.” Against his will, his eyes drifted down to the bared shoulders. “Where did you find that dress, anyway?”
She grinned. “Your mother found it online and gave it to me as a good-luck gift.”
Blake suppressed the sigh. “Did she give you the mobster heels, too?” Blake said wryly.
“Nope, that was Nikki.” Her eyes lit with humor. “I plan on wearing them to the trial.”
Instead of groaning, Blake swiped a hand down his face. Ten years of being the sole responsible Bennington adult had trained him how to remain calm in a crisis, how to retain his cool when either Nikki or his mother had gotten into trouble, as they invariably did.
Now he had Jacqueline Lee to contend with as well, and she was more than a match.
Because this was the woman who’d slayed him with her confident air, charmed him with her endearing vulnerability and brought him to his sexual knees. The only way he was going to be able to keep his hands to himself was if he avoided her altogether.
And he hoped that wouldn’t be harder than he thought.
* * *
Two weeks later, Jax leaned against the center island in Blake’s kitchen, rechecking the spreadsheet on her laptop. The phone fundraiser for the club had ended, and, as she entered the last bit of data, the results were looking abysmal. So, it would seem, did her chances of ever touching Blake again.
How could she have thought living in his house would be an advantage?
Nikki balanced her crutches under her arms. “Have a tally yet?”
Jax struggled to push the thoughts of Blake aside. “Nope.” At Nikki’s concerned face, a wave of gratitude hit. “No matter what happens,” she said, “thanks for helping.”
“Are you kidding?” Nikki hobbled to the counter. “Boy, you have no idea how glad I am you’re here,” the pretty brunette stated with feeling, her clear gray eyes so like her brother’s that it was impossible not to think of Blake. Nikki reached across the marble counter for one of her mother’s peppermint scones. “Despite the fact that he never misses a chance to remind me of my most recent screwup, at least he’s usually good for a laugh. But lately my uptight big brother has been avoiding me more than usual,” she said and then nibbled on her scone with a furrow of concern between her eyebrows.
Jax wasn’t sure if the concern was in response to the taste of the scone or her worries about Blake.
And, with every mention of the man, Jax struggled with the heat that threatened to overtake her cheeks. Since it was hopeless, she dipped her head, letting her hair curtain her face as she pretended to check the dismal fundraiser total to date. Steering the discussion away from Nikki’s brother was critical. Blake had already taken over her dreams...commandeered her every fantasy. No sense in suffering his virtual presence during the daytime, as well.
Of course, after two weeks of living on pins and needles and various other sharp objects, hoping for a glimpse of the Suit who dominated her thoughts, she’d finally resigned herself to the fact that her previous plan was hopeless.
Seducing an absent man was impossible.
Jax entered a few more figures into her laptop. “I doubt he’s avoiding you, Nikki. It’s probably just your imagination,” she said in an even tone, hoping that would be the end of Blake as the topic of conversation.
“I don’t think so,” Nikki said, her eyes hinting at the misery beneath, and Jax’s heart twisted in sympathy. “Even though his case is at the crazy stage, he used to at least try to make it home for dinner. These days, unless you’re up at the crack of dawn to see him walk out the door, you wouldn’t even know he lived here.”
“I’m sure it’s not a reflection on you.”
More of a reflection on my presence.
Nikki tossed her leftover scone onto her plate. “No. He’s still angry at m
e over the whole zip-line incident,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “You should have seen his expression when he showed up at the hospital.”
Nikki pulled a face and propped her elbows on the counter, chin on her hands, and Jax’s compassion for the siblings swelled, their relationship more deeply troubled than she’d originally thought. At the hospital Blake had probably hid his fear behind his fury. And Nikki, no doubt, had gone all snarky in defense. Despite hoping for a change in topic, Jax felt obligated to point out the obvious.
“But he came for you,” Jax said softly.
A shadow flitted across Nikki’s face. “Yeah,” she said slowly, turning her gaze to the window and the shimmering pool beyond, looking almost...lost. “Mom was off on a month-long cruise with her cronies. Unavailable, as usual.” Her voice then shifted lower, almost self-critical. “With me being the typical pain in Blake’s ass.”
Guilt roiled in Jax’s gut, because she knew Blake’s absenteeism had more to do with her than his sister. “As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure the pain-in-Blake’s-ass title is reserved for me.”
“How so?” Nikki asked, and Jax froze.
Nice way to steer the conversation in uncomfortable directions, Jax.
She cleared her throat. “Oh, you know,” Jax said with a vague tone as she concentrated on entering the last set of figures into the computer. “He was never thrilled about handling my case.”
The final tally popped on-screen, and Jax let out a groan. Glad for the change in topic, but sorry about the news, she pivoted her computer to show Nikki, her lips twisting wryly. “Have any other friends who need help with a broken leg?” Jax said, trying to sound light when her heart was heavy.
Nikki looked at the number and winced. “Don’t give up hope yet,” she said. “We’ll figure something out.”
Staring at the computer as if searching for the answer, the brunette nibbled cautiously on a peanut-butter muffin. After confirming it was edible, she took a tentative bite before making a face of regret. Jax leaned a hip against the counter, trying hard not to feel regret herself.
