Accidental Love

by Lydia Rose

  “You can’t see Patty anymore.”

  “Done.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I could never feel about her the way I did for you, Marnie. Never.”

  “So she never got you into bed?” Marnie asked and watched Leslie shake her head side to side. “Thank god.”

  Leslie laughed before she asked, “You will come live with me, right?”

  “No, honey. I’ve got an apartment in Joelle to be near the courthouse for the trial, but that isn’t the only reason.” Marnie cupped Leslie’s chin. “I want to do this right. I want to date you. Take you on a picnic. Do all the things a couple should do while they are dating. Things we haven’t done.”

  “Aren’t we way past that?” Leslie asked with a tilt of her head.

  “No, baby. You deserve to be courted.”

  “Courted?” she grumbled. “What is this, the 19th century?”

  “Down here it feels like it sometimes.” Marnie pulled her close again. “Believe me when I say, I want you in my life forever.”

  “Good because that is what I want too.” She looked up at Marnie. “Can we go to my house now?”

  Marnie smiled. “Absolutely.”

  The moment Leslie and Marnie stepped into the house, Marnie’s lips went to the back of Leslie’s neck. Her lips were teasing and sucking her earlobe into her mouth. Leslie’s body slumped against Marnie’s body and her hands went to her thighs.

  The ringing of Leslie’s cellphone brought her out of her trance. “Hello, Rachel.”

  “Someone told me that Marnie is back,” Rachel said excited.

  “She is, Rachel.” Marnie’s hands reached around Leslie’s body and began to unbutton her shirt.

  “Then both of you come to dinner tonight.”

  “Dinner? How about tomorrow night, Rachel?” Marnie’s hands were now on her full breasts and Leslie was having a hard time concentrating on the phone call.

  “Are you listening to me?” Rachel asked.

  “Rachel, can we talk about this tomorrow?”

  Rachel chuckled. “I understand. Go have fun.”

  Leslie dropped her phone on the floor and turned into Marnie’s body. She took Marnie’s face in her hands and kissed her deeply. Marnie’s hand was now opening the front of her jeans and her hand moved to her core. The hitch in Leslie’s voice told her that she was giving Leslie just what she needed. Her fingers mixed with the wetness as she moved to her opening. Marnie’s other hand lifted Leslie as she began to pump her fingers in and out while Leslie’s moans tickled Marnie’s ear.

  “Don’t stop,” Leslie begged as Marnie continued her thrusts but added her thumb to her enlarged nub. They were both breathing heavily as Marnie felt Leslie begin to tense with her impending orgasms. “Don’t stop,” she mumbled again.

  “Never, love. Never.”

  *

  “Are you working tomorrow?” Leslie asked in the darkness of her bedroom.

  “No. I don’t start until Monday, but I’m going in Friday to meet everyone.” Her arm around Leslie pulled her to her naked body. “I guess you have to go in?”

  “I sent Dot a text when I went to the bathroom earlier and told her I wouldn’t be in until ten,” she answered, running her fingers over Marnie’s nipple. “I’m not through with you yet,” she said with a chuckle.

  Marnie lifted her head. “I hope you are never through with me. I’m in this for the long run.”

  “I love you, Marnie. I hope I have a lifetime to show you how much.”

  “Suppose I said I want more than a lifetime?” Marnie asked now drawing circles on Leslie’s back.

  “I will do my best to give you whatever you want.” Her promise was completed with a kiss which led them to another round of making love.

  CHAPTER 27

  Leslie and Marnie walked into the café at ten the following morning. Dot called from across the restaurant. “Hey, beautiful. I heard you were back to stay.”

  “I am, Dot. It’s good to see you again,” she said as she took a seat at Leslie’s table. “How did you hear?”

  “Oh, honey, news travels fast in this town. Heard you’re the new prosecutor too.” Dot put a cup of coffee in front of both women. “Do you want the breakfast special?”

  “Please,” Marnie answered. She sat there eating her eggs and biscuit while Leslie ate a bowl of cereal. “Eating light today?”

  “I always do,” Leslie answered with a smile at her lover.

  “You own a café and you eat cold cereal?” Leslie shrugged her answer. “I guess I’ll have to cut down too or start jogging.”

  Leslie leaned forward across the table. “Your body is perfect,” she said wearing a grin.

  “So is yours and now I know why.” Marnie finished off her meal and asked, “Can you put Rachel off until the weekend for dinner?”

  “Sure. I’ll tell her you have some things you have to prepare for your case.”

  “I do, but I’d rather be doing something else during our evenings.”

  “What are you going to do today?” Leslie asked pushing her cereal bowl away.

  “I’m going to see Buddy and then I have something important to take care of.” Leslie raised an eyebrow. “Don’t worry, you’ll know soon enough.”

  “Is it a secret?” Leslie asked smiling.

  “For now it is.” Again Leslie’s eyebrow came up. “What’s the matter? Don’t you trust me?”

  “Of course, I do.”

  Marnie pushed out her chair and kissed Leslie’s cheek. “I’ll pick you up at three.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you later.”

  “Thanks for the breakfast,” she said with a wink. Marnie walked into the antique store. “How are you, Buddy?”

  “Marnie. I’m glad you’re back.”

  “I wanted to thank you for all your help and helping me with that little project.”

  “It was fun, Marnie. Are you going to sign the papers today?” Buddy asked grinning.

  “You bet.”

  “She doesn’t know, does she?” Buddy asked with a grin.

  “No and I know this town likes to know everything, but I want to be the one to tell her,” Marnie said huffing out her statement.

  Marnie returned to the café at three o’clock and found Leslie waiting for her. “Hi,” she said getting into the car.

  Marnie leaned over and kissed her mouth. “Hi,” she said when she put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb.

  “By the way, I put Rachel off until Sunday afternoon.” Leslie looked at the window. “Where are we going?”

  “Joelle. I thought you might want to see my apartment,” she answered without looking at Leslie.

  “Oh you did, did you,” she said laughing. “Does your apartment have furniture?”

  “Yeah, it came furnished.” Marnie knew where this was going, but kept the grin off her face.

  “I suppose you have a bed there?” Leslie asked and Marnie nodded. “Will I see anything in that apartment of yours besides the bed?”

  “Maybe,” she said now unable to stop herself laughing.

  “Oh, slow down, Marnie. I want you to see the house I told you about.”

  Marnie slowed down at the big white house with black shutters. She stopped in front of the house. “Nice,” she said looking out the window.

  “I told you.” Leslie now saw the sign. “Oh, it’s sold.”

  “I’m sorry,” Marnie said softly.

  “Like I was ever going to win the lottery,” she grumbled. “I don’t even play the lottery.”

  “Let’s take a look,” Marnie said already opening her car door.

  “We can’t, Marnie.”

  “Why not? The house looks empty.” Marnie now opened Leslie’s door. “Come on.” They both walked up the front walk and Marnie went onto the front porch. “Look, they left the rocking chairs.” Marnie sat in one and began rocking while Leslie peeked into one of the windows.

  “It still looks in good shape,” she said before s
he took a seat in the other chair.

  “Why don’t we have our picnic here?”

  “Marnie, someone might see us,” Leslie said shaking her head.

  “So we will have it in the backyard.” Marnie got up and walked over to her car. She took out a blanket and a bag that held their food. Walking into the backyard, Marnie laid out the blanket and food. Leslie kept looking around. “Honey, the yard is very private. No one is going to see us,” she said giggling. “Relax.”

  “Easy for you to say.”

  “Hey, I’m an attorney. I can get us off trespassing charges very easily.”

  “Yes, I feel sooo much better now.” Her eyes rolled with Marnie’s statement.

  Leslie finally did relax and they nibbled on the food Marnie had brought. She now sat with her glass of wine and looked around. “It is very peaceful back here, isn’t it?”

  Marnie nodded. “It is.” She now looked up at the house. “So how’s our date going?” she asked with a grin.

  “Good. Very good, Marnie,” Leslie answered taking Marnie’s hand. “I never would have pegged you as a romantic.”

  “Huh. Fooled you didn’t I?”

  Leslie nodded and leaned over kissing Marnie’s mouth. “I love you, you know?”

  “Yeah, I do. I love you too.” She took Leslie’s hand in her own. “So what would you like to do on our next date?”

  “Marnie, you don’t have to try so hard. You’ve already got the girl,” she said chuckling.

  “I know, but I want to make sure I can keep the girl.”

  “Have no doubt that this girl doesn’t want anyone else but you.” Marnie pushed the food out of the way and took Leslie into her arms. “What are you doing?”

  “Nothing,” Marnie mumbled as her lips captured Leslie’s neck. She now pulled Leslie onto her body and tried to unbutton her blouse.

  Leslie sat up laughing. “Now you are trying to get us arrested for having sex in public.”

  “Obviously not too well because you are buttoning your clothes,” she said with a pout.

  “How about we go to your apartment and you can do whatever you want to me there?”

  Marnie quickly gathered up their things and held out her hand to Leslie. “Let’s go.”

  Leslie paused by the car. “Goodbye house.”

  Marnie snickered as she got back into the car.

  *

  The two women were standing outside Leslie’s parents’ house after dinner Sunday night. “You know if you moved in with me, you wouldn’t have to leave me,” Leslie said mournfully, not wanting to leave Marnie.

  “I need to be there right now. This is an important trial and I want to make sure they don’t get away with this,” she said squeezing Leslie to her body. Her finger now came down and lifted Leslie’s chin so she could kiss her lips. “Do you know how much I love you?”

  Leslie nodded. “You moving here was all the proof I needed,” she said with a smile. “How am I supposed to sleep tonight?”

  “By knowing how much this woman loves you,” she answered, stealing another kiss.

  They each got into their own cars and drove in opposite directions.

  CHAPTER 28

  Today the trial was to begin. The preliminary had begun two weeks ago with jury selection. Steve and Rodney’s attorney sat to the left and Marnie noticed how nervous he was. He continually pulled on his necktie and shirt collar. The moment he knew that Marnie Winters, the famous attorney from New York was the prosecutor, he tried to get out of the trial. Jace Davis tried in vain to plea out the case before this day came. Marnie would have been happy to accept a plea, but the offers the defense attorney made amounted to nothing more than a slap on the wrist of the two defendants. So here they were ready to begin. Marnie heard the court doors open and a hush of voices. She turned and was shocked to see a large group entering the courtroom. Among the town’s people were Leslie and Rachel. Leslie gave her a small wink as they took their seats behind her. The judge walked in and everyone stood.

  He looked at Marnie. “Welcome Ms. Winters. Are you ready for your opening arguments?”

  “Yes. Thank you, Judge Harkins, it’s good to be here.” Marnie walked over to the podium and began her opening arguments. Her dark blue business suit made her foreboding in the courtroom which was exactly what she was going for. She laid out the State’s case and the evidence that had been collected by the prosecutor’s office. As she ended her arguments, she picked up her pad and retook her seat.

  “Mr. Davis,” the judge said to the defense attorney. He walked to the podium and dropped his pad. As he reached down to pick it up, his glasses fell off his face. A slight chuckle sounded in the room and the judge banged his gavel. “Good morning,” he began, facing the jury. “The prosecutor has told you what evidence the State has, but they haven’t told you that they arrested someone else for the murder of Jess Cannon. I will show you how the police had it correctly when Thomas Reynolds was arrested.” Jace Davis took his seat.

  Marnie wanted to laugh. If he thought he could get those two murderers off by placing the blame on Tom, this was going to be a very short trial.

  “Ms. Winters, will you call your first witness.”

  She stood up. “The State calls Christy Albertson.” Marnie watched as Jace Davis swallowed loudly.

  “Good morning, Ms. Albertson,” Marnie said smiling at the young woman to calm her.

  “Good morning,” Christy replied.

  “Would you please tell the court where you were the night Ms. Cannon was murdered?”

  Christy explained how she was in the park the night in question and how she noticed Tom parked near their car. Marnie asked what time Tom left the park and Christy gladly gave the time. Jace Davis tried to rattle Christy with his questions, but she was better than he was and he took his seat after a few questions.

  The judge called for an hour lunch and everyone stood. Once the jury had left, Marnie turned to Leslie. “Who’s minding the store?” she asked with a grin.

  “I closed early so everyone could attend that wanted to,” Leslie answered returning the smile that Marnie wore.

  Sandra Marks turned and faced Leslie and Rachel. “Hello,” she said smiling.

  “Sandra, this is Tom Reynolds’s mom Rachel, and this is Leslie Reynolds.” Marnie quickly made the introductions.

  Sandra shook Rachel’s hand and then turned to Leslie. She took her hand with both of hers. “I guess I have you to thank for getting us the best prosecutor in the state,” she said smiling at Leslie.

  “I don’t think I have that kind of power that you are talking about,” Leslie said looking at Marnie.

  “Yes, she does Sandra.” Marnie took Leslie’s hand. “Can I buy you two ladies lunch?”

  *

  On Wednesday, the prosecution rested. Marnie could tell that Davis was sweating because his weak defense was already resolved on the first day by her witnesses. He sat in his chair wiping his brow when the judge called out.

  “Since it’s already three-thirty, we will reconvene tomorrow morning.”

  Marnie could hear the loud sigh of relief from the defense attorney. As the judge left the courtroom, he approached her. “Can we discuss a suitable plea?” He asked glancing at his defendants as they left the courtroom in handcuffs.

  “Yes,” she said looking at Sandra and wondered if the judge thought this might happen. “What did you have in mind?”

  *

  As Marnie left her office, she took out her phone. “Hi, sweetie,” the voice said as she answered the phone.

  “Are you home?” Marnie asked hoping she could see Leslie tonight.

  “I’m at my parents’ home.”

  Marnie could hear another voice in the background trying to get Leslie’s attention. “What is Rachel saying?” she asked recognizing the voice.

  “She wants you to come to dinner. Are you available?” Leslie asked softly.

  “On my way.” Marnie could hear Leslie laughing as she disconnected the call. M
arnie walked into the Reynolds house twenty minutes later. She was met at the door by Rachel Reynolds.

  “Marnie,” she said wrapping her arms around the surprised woman. “I’m glad you could make it.”

  “Thanks for asking me, Rachel.” Marnie looked over her shoulder looking for the woman she had longed to see for the last few days.

  Rachel was still holding onto Marnie when Leslie appeared. “Uh, Rachel. You do know that you have a husband?”

  Rachel laughed like a school girl. “Aw, Leslie, Marnie knows how much I love her.” She patted Marnie’s arm before walking away.

  “Hi,” Leslie said moving in for a quick kiss. “She has such a crush on you.” Leslie watched as Marnie’s eyes opened wide and she couldn’t help but laugh. “Not that kind of crush. Rachel knows how happy you make me and that makes her happy.”

  Marnie kissed her again. “You make me happy too.” She couldn’t believe that it had been several weeks and she wasn’t sorry that she left New York behind. While the two women continued to kiss, Rachel called out, “Dinner is ready.”

  Leslie moved away from Marnie. “Don’t worry, we won’t stay all evening.” She looked up at Marnie. “Can you spend the night?”

  “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” She stole one more kiss.

  As they ate their dinner, Marnie told them what happened in court. “So the defendants accepted a thirty-year sentence and will not be up for parole for twenty years,” Marnie explained to the family.

  “Did they tell you what happened?” Tom Reynolds asked.

  “Their attorney told me and they will have to admit that in court tomorrow.” Marnie continued. “They didn’t start out by wanting to kill Jess, but when she said she was going to have them arrested for rape, it got out of hand.”

  “Who killed her?” Tom asked lowering his eyes.

  “Steve hit her with the rock, but Rodney was just as guilty because he allowed Steve to touch her.” Everyone nodded their head in agreement. “I’m just glad that the right people are behind bars,” she said looking at Tom.

  “I don’t know what we would have done if you weren’t here, Marnie,” Rachel said wiping her eyes. “Tom would have been behind bars and no one would care.”