"Let's begin," said Ms. Klein.
Aiden and I jumped in, beginning by combing through the evidence, laying out a pattern depending on how certain items related to one another providing a brief time line of the events.
The two senior partners seemed pleased with our momentum and excused themselves after a while. Mahoney stated that they would return in an hour to check our progress.
The evidence set before us was varied, consisting of transcripts of depositions with eye witnesses, grisly photographs of the crime scene, and lab results of DNA matches and codes.
When we had been told that we would be working on a murder trial, I had steeled myself for having to face bloody images, but the collection of information turned out to be much gorier and stranger than anything I had ever worked before. All of the evidence confirmed that Shaw was present at the scene or had arrived shortly after the murder. The transcripts of his deposition indicated that he maintained his innocence regardless of the evidence. The murder weapon, a kitchen knife from Mrs. Shaw's home, had our client's fingerprints on the handle, but he had claimed that he grabbed the weapon in a moment of panic upon arriving to find her bloody body.
"Look at this," I said pointing to a page.
"What did you find?" Aiden asked leaning over the table.
"It says here that the anonymous call came at 9:07pm. According to the transcript, Mr. Shaw arrived around 9:15, just before the police arrived at 9:17."
"What are you getting at, Blair?" Aiden asked but I could see the wheels turning behind his eyes. He was seeing the same thing I had seen.
"Shaw didn’t have his cell phone on him at the time of his arrest,” I said. "There is no way he could have made that call. Also his fingerprints didn’t show up on the phone itself at the Shaw residence."
"Blair, that's true,” he said, scribbling down some notes and grinning up at me. "We can use that. That's brilliant."
Aiden and I fell into a natural comfortable rhythm as we worked. Despite the surreal nature of the case, I almost felt a reminiscence of when we worked together back in high school. We shared class projects sometimes if not simply helping each other with an assignment.
This felt very much like that only, this time with more adult subject matter and the fate of a man's life in the balance.
The only read difference aside from that was Aiden himself.
He had changed so drastically that I sometimes had to remind myself I was dealing with the same person. Though the change was largely physical, his easy demeanor reminded me of how we used to be.
I couldn’t help but notice, when he took off his jacket half way through the morning. He left his sleeves buttoned, which didn’t surprise me, but it did lead me to realize that he was competing too and wanted to maintain a professional image by keeping his tattoos covered.
Well played.
He hadn’t changed all that much personality-wise. I would have to keep on my toes.
That much was certain.
By the end of the day I felt as if my eyes were bulging out of my head from staring at so much evidence so closely. We had gathered a few more inconsistencies between the accusations and the client statements by the end of the day.
Mahoney and Klein had checked in after our first hour but after that they never did. They finally returned towards the end of the day for our debrief. Aiden showed them the details that we had found.
"This is excellent work," Ms. Klein said peering over the outline.
"I can only take credit for some of it,” Aiden insisted. "Blair is the one who found the discrepancy in the phone call time line."
Ms. Klein turned towards me and smiled. "Good job,” she said in her curt tone.
I felt as if I had won the lottery.
But why hell would he just tell them I found the cell phone discrepancy?
Shit.
Maybe I was overthinking it.
"I think that's it for today," Mr. Mahoney said. "You’re both doing quite well. Why don't we call it a day?"
Stepping out into the cool evening air and seeing the sky light up with a glorious orange and pink sunset helped diminish the stress that had built up in my shoulders.
I stopped, closed my eyes and took a deep breath, catching a hint of the salty air wafting in from the coast.
The sound of my mother's voice echoed in my mind. Take time to play, she had said.
How was that possible?
Play was for when the work was done, and it seemed that the work was never done.
"It's gorgeous isn't it?” Aiden's voice interrupted my thoughts.
When I opened my eyes I saw him watching me.
"Yes, it is,” I said turning my gaze back to the sunset setting the sky on fire in swirls of orange, pink and lavender. "Too bad it is because of the severe pollution in the area."
"That's one way of looking at it," he said with a small smile. "I've lived here for nearly eight years and I don't think I will ever get used to the weather here. I love living this close to the beach."
"Yeah?" I said, amused by the way his face lit up as he spoke about it.
Maybe I did need to find a way to appreciate the local scenery.
"Yeah," he echoed turning to face me again. "Have dinner with me,” he said suddenly.
"Aiden," I began. "I would like to. Honestly I would, but I'm not sure it is a good idea for us to see each other outside of work. We are competing with each other, remember?"
"A little competition can be invigorating, if you know what I mean,” he said with his crooked grin.
Jesus.
He took off his jacket and threw it over his shoulder holding onto the loop with one finger. One lock of blond hair had fallen over his eyes making his look more casual and undeniably sexy.
I tried to suppress the thought.
"I just don't think it's a good idea,” I said, my heart beat picking up. "I don't want to endanger the case."
"Oh, I don't either,” he said as we both began to slowly walk towards our cars on the other side of the lot.
Ahead of us just over the freeway, I could see the lights of the restaurants flicking on as dusk fell.
"How about this. Hypothetically speaking, if we were not competing for the same job, and if we were not partners on this case, then would you then like to have dinner with me?"
"Okay," I laughed. "If you put it that way, speaking purely hypothetically, and if none of the things that are happening were happening, then yes I would consider having dinner with you."
"But as things stand you only want to see me on a professional level. Is that correct?"
"That is correct."
I felt at odds with myself even as I said the words. I knew I had to quickly get some boundaries in place before this went much further.
He hung his head in mock sadness. "I suppose then that there is only one thing left to do."
"What's that," I asked.
"That would be to make this strictly a business dinner,” he said as he offered his arm out to me.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I took his arm unable to resist his charms any longer.
Tan.
Muscles.
Tattoos.
And funny.
Shit.
I was tempted.
I had to get the strength deep inside of me to deny his charm until the job was mine.
Just business.
"Okay fine," I said. "Strictly business."
We headed away from the parking lot and towards the strip just a few blocks away. The easy playfulness that we had established throughout the day, carried over as we found a fun looking seafood restaurant.
We had both decided to leave our suit jackets back in our cars. I changed out of my pumps and into a pair of casual sandals. With his sleeves rolled up and collar open, we both blended with the crowd a little more. I felt more relaxed as we found a table and we began to look over the menu.
"The mussels are supposed to be good here,” he suggested.
"I hav
en't even had a chance to try any seafood since I've arrived,” I said.
"We're just going to have to change that," he said, signaling the waiter. "We'll have a plate of your freshest mussels to start with," he instructed. "And a bottle of chardonnay for the table, please."
"Yes sir," the server said jotting down the appetizers and heading off to do his task.
Aiden turned back to me, resting his elbows on the table and crossing his forearms across his chest.
"Just like old times, right?" he said.
"Right," I laughed. "Except completely different." He chuckled. "I almost feel like we are getting to know each other all over again. You just seem so different."
"Different how?" he asked.
"Well," I gestured feebly at him. "You're.... taller, for example."
"Taller? That's what you're going with?"
"Okay, granted,” I said. "I just mean... that obviously you, um... work out."
He raised an eyebrow at what he thought I was suggesting. I kept a casual smile, while my eyes dared him to reply. He had a smooth confidence that hadn’t yet veered into cockiness. He did like to step right up to the edge of it though.
I scrambled to change the subject. "And this job. I mean you must have been top of your class to land this opportunity, and since this is a business dinner we should talk about that at least once. Business I mean."
"Of course," he agreed with a grin.
The waiter offered a reprieve in our banter by presenting the wine at that moment. He pulled the cork and poured a dash in Aiden's glass. After receiving the nod he filled both glasses and placed the bottle in a small ice bucket next to the table. The first sip flooded me with a relaxing warmth allowing me to let myself enjoy the evening even more.
"You've come a long way, Aiden,” I said. "That's all I'm saying."
"Thanks," he said while a wistful look drifted across his face. "And you,"
"Me?" I said with pretend shock. "What about me?"
"You have blossomed into a beautiful woman. But then again you always were."
"Oh please," I said. "With the braces and the glasses and the body of a bean pole?"
"Yes," he said. I pretended as if I didn’t notice the shift in his tone.
The server placed in the middle of the table a huge platter of steamed mussels with a small carafe of sauces on the side just in time to stop him from saying much more to me. The steam poured off the plate and filled my nostrils with the tantalizing scent making my mouth water.
We jumped in, both of us starving from the full day’s work, pausing only to place our order with the waiter for our entree. I went with the Caribbean chicken and he ordered a steak. I had another glass of wine, but I wanted to hold off. Regardless, I was feeling more relaxed as the night and the laughter continued.
"So do you have a boyfriend?" he asked.
I considered telling him about the guy I had dated for a while in college, but decided to skip that for now.
"No," I said. "I sort of stayed with the whole career woman thing. I never dated much."
"That doesn't surprise me,” he said, taking a swig of wine.
"Oh really. And why not?"
"Well, you never did in high school,” he said.
"I never got asked out in high school. There is a difference,” I clarified.
"I find that hard to imagine,” he said. "You never did know the effect you had on people."
I rolled my eyes.
"What about you?" I said, eager to change the subject. "Anyone special?"
"No," he said swirling around the last contents of his glass.
"That doesn't surprise me either,” I said.
"And why is that?" he said.
"You always had too many girlfriends in high school,” I chided him.
"Too many?" he said. "I’m hurt. Hurt, that you would say so."
I returned his grin behind his words. "You know," I said. "Some of us used to say that your reputation lived up to your name."
"Oh?"
"Your name is 'Player' after all,” I said. "Players gotta play, right?"
"Touché, my lady,” he said with a nod. "Touché."
"This meal has been amazing," I said dabbing my mouth with my napkin. "Thank you for talking me into it."
"We had to complete our very important business meeting after all."
"Right," I said. "Very important."
We stood and walked outside, heading back towards the parking lot, neither of us in any particular hurry it seemed. Night had fully fallen and the city sky line lit up the area with bright lights.
Despite my misgivings I almost felt like I was on a date.
I felt certain that Aiden had wanted me to feel that way, to put my guard down. This might be a strategic play on his part, a means of throwing me off. I found myself torn between wanting the night to continue, wishing almost that we didn’t have the ever present reality hanging over us of being in competition.
I couldn’t, would not let my guard down, despite how much I may have wanted to.
I had told him the truth about not dating very much in college. My focus had been singularly driven to find the right career path as was my passion. If I so chose, I worry about dating once I had secured a long term secure job. I needed to keep my guard up and not forget my true goals, no matter how much fun we were having.
"Do you remember," he said "When we played that joke on my brother?"
"Which one?" I asked. There had been many and just as many returned.
"The one where we made him eat shaving cream."
"Oh, I had almost forgotten that!" I burst into laughter. "We had made several bowls up to look like ice cream. Yes, I remember that."
"He was the only one that fell for it too."
"Everyone else saw right through it,” I said. "I remember Logan asking with suspicion why the dessert smelled like menthol."
"And then Channing comes in and dives into it."
We had laughed for ages over that incident. He had sputtered for half an hour trying to get the taste out of his mouth. I recalled some sort of retaliation had come from that.
Aiden's mother had her hands full with all the boys that most of the time she just let them hash it out with each other rather than get involved. She said it was good for their people skills, but I think she just had her hands full. I looked out over the city, letting the memory reignite my mind.
"Blair," Aiden said.
His tone had changed. I should have noticed, but I felt so relaxed that it all seemed natural. I turned to answer him, but my voice caught in my throat by the way he was looking at me.
He placed his hand on my neck in a gentle but firm grasp and pulled me to him. I knew what was coming instantly, but the contact of his lips set me on fire, awakening something that had long been forgotten. Losing myself in the moment I wrapped my arms around his neck, succumbing to his seductive kiss.
All at once I felt like the young girl back in high school walking down the road to our houses the day before I was to leave for college. I felt the same butterflies and desire for him to kiss me then just as he was now.
My mind traveled back even further to when the two of us had hidden in the tree house behind his home, me with my thick rimmed glasses, an awkward preteen. Even then I had wondered what it would have been like if he had kissed me. Yet here I stood with his lips on mine, teasing at me with the tip of his tongue, his arm wrapped firmly around my waist and the other caressing my neck and cheek.
I had become lost in the moment, completely forgetting any reservation that I may have had. On one level I was aware that my body betrayed me by returning the kiss. I had wrapped my arms around his neck, falling against him with our bodies pressed against each other, as my will weakened further.
I had no cares in the world that in that moment I had opened up the flood gates, exposing myself to the risk of losing any professional distance that i had worked so hard to maintain. We hadn’t even been together a week and already my resolve had
cracked. The stars above us begin to wink on in the darkness competing with the bright city lights around us.
Chapter Three
I pulled away from him as an inkling of reason sneaked back into my thinking. Kissing him had to be the absolute worst thing that could have happened.
I felt a rush of embarrassment and confusion take over me as the adrenaline faded.
I didn’t know what had come over me, but I clung to the notion that I could still rectify the situation. Stepping back to gain some space between us, I pressed the back of my hand against my lips which still burned at the contact of him.
Did I dare to think about the last time I had been kissed like that?
Had I ever been kissed like that?
I couldn’t recall and the lingering weakness in my knees reminded me so.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"What do mean, what am I doing?" he said with a playful yet suspicious glare.
"Why did you do that?" I asked again.
I felt completely perplexed as to why I had reacted so easily after deciding not to pursue the thought. Since the first moment I had seen him I did everything I could to keep him at arm’s length.
I couldn’t afford to have feelings for him.
And I didn’t intend to start doing so now.
He relaxed his stance and smiled at me. I could see that he was trying to keep things light between us, but the strength of my emotions were taking over.
I felt angry, mainly at myself for having responded to him like I had.
There was no denying that, but as my anger bubbled over I had to find some place to aim it. Therefore the tone I took with him sounded accusatory.
That was fine with me.
He wasn’t playing fair.
I wanted to feel mad at him, as that was easier to handle than anything else I might feel in that moment.
"Blair," he began with a small smile. "I don't really know what to say. How do you want me to respond to that question?"
His reply left me more confused than ever.
"Aiden," I said trying not very hard to keep my voice calm. "Why did you suddenly try to make out with me just now? I thought… I thought this was just business."
"I didn't think..." He emitted a small laugh and ran his hand over the back of his neck. "I didn't think it would be that big of a deal."
Tempted (A Player Brother Romance Book) (A Standalone Novel) (Player Brothers Book 1) Page 4