He turned down the road that would lead to my block. His words had struck a chord with me, and I didn’t want to discuss it any further. I crossed my arms and turned away from him looking out the window. I watched the trees glide by as we approached my neighborhood.
“Job over boys,” I mumbled to myself.
Once I got home I would only have about an hour to shower and get dressed for court before I would have to get out the door to make it on time. Aiden's lackadaisical response offended me to no end, but I couldn’t decide if it was because it clashed with my thinking or because his words held a little bit of truth. Though my headache had largely subsided, I didn’t feel as if I had my game face ready, and this wasn’t just about my pride.
I was mad at myself.
Remembering the faces of the family of the murder victim, and questioning the fate of the accused, I knew that if I screwed up today we could be sending an innocent man to jail for a long time.
"Blair," Aiden began but he had just pulled into a parking space in front of my building. I pulled away from him opening the car door. I had nothing more to say because I had to get ready.
"I'll see you at court,” I said and slammed the door shut.
I trotted up the stairs hearing him calling after me, having rolled the window down. I ignored him, keeping up my rushed pace until I stepped into the safety of my apartment. I heard Kelsey moving around in the kitchen already up. Great. Hearing the door she stepped out of the kitchen to greet me.
"I guess the date went well?" she said, making a show of looking at her wrist, pretending to check the time.
"I'm sorry Kelsey,” I said. "I can't talk now, I have to be at the court house in an hour and a half."
"Wow," she said. "This gives new meaning to the phrase, 'walk of shame'." I brushed past her to get to my room. "Oh, your mom called about an hour ago."
"I'll have to call her later,” I insisted as I grabbed a fresh suit from my closet and headed for the bathroom. "I really am running late."
"Blair," Kelsey said. "She's at the airport. She needs you to pick her up."
"Shit," I said stopping in my tracks.
I had completely forgotten that my mother had said she was coming for a visit. When the court date got moved I had been so consumed with Aiden's attention that it hadn’t even occurred to me that the new dates would interfere. I certainly didn’t have time to go and pick her up at the airport, but I didn't want to leave her stranded either.
I looked desperately at Kelsey, who looked the picture of calm in her plush bathrobe, towel wrapped around her head and sipping on a freshly brewed cup of coffee. I must have looked the polar opposite, still wearing my disheveled black dress from the night before, my hair looped in a throw away pony tail with ends sticking out every direction.
"Um, Kelsey..." I began.
She laughed and held up her hand with her palm towards me.
"Don't worry, Blair," she said. "I'll go pick up your mom. I'll explain everything,”
I exhaled in relief. Just before I stepped into the bathroom I called after Kelsey who had headed to her room to change.
"Don't explain too much!" I said.
I was met with the sound of her laughter. I shut the door and started the water, letting it warm up as I undressed. My mind began to wander over the events of the last twenty four hours. There was a point somewhere in which I could have changed the course of things.
I could have said, let's call it a night.
Maybe after dinner, instead of agreeing to a walk on the beach.
Maybe when I stumbled and almost twisted my ankle.
Maybe even after we had had our drink at his place.
I imaged that happening, exactly as it should have.
I would have set my glass down on the table and said. "We have an early morning. We should really call it a night."
Then he would have nodded, perhaps with a glimmer of regret on his face. But then he would have taken me home. Maybe, worst case scenario he would have kissed me good night, before I exited the car. I would have gotten a good night’s sleep. He and I would still be friends, (and only friends!), and most of all I would be fully prepared for this case.
And my mother, what did it say about me that I had forgotten about my very own mother. She would understand of course. I should have called her when the dates were rescheduled. I should have postponed our visit.
I stepped into the shower and let the warm water wash over me. I wish more than anything that I could turn back the clock and erase the events of last night.
Why had I not stepped away, I wondered.
Why had I agreed to a night cap?
I knew the answer.
I knew the truth.
Aiden had been right. I was attracted to him, despite myself.
It had been me who had kissed him. It had been me who had instigated the whole scene. I never stopped him. Even now thinking back over the events I realized that underneath my anger, underneath the fury and confusion ran a vein of a much more powerful emotion.
I wanted him.
I had only had one other boyfriend in my life, back in college, Alex Marsden. He and I had dated through college and into law school. There had been some fleeting talk about marriage even. Eventually he had broken up with me because he said that I was too consumed with my studies, and he suspected that nothing would change once I graduated. Until last night he had been the only man I had ever slept with.
In retrospect, I realized that Aiden was much more talented in this arena. Alex had been right. When he had broken up with me I thought I should have felt more upset than I did, but the truth was I had been mostly relieved. The nuances of trying to fit in a romantic relationship between classes and internships, made for a stressful dynamic. I had canceled more dinners with him than I had gone to. He had been right that I wasn’t in the right mindset for a serious relationship. I had tried to part ways amicably but he was too offended and we lost touch.
I thought for sure that I had answered the question of whether or not I would date, anyone ever. Yet here I was, years later having slept with my best friend from childhood, who had never so much as expressed a curious interest in me.
Where would I go from here?
At least the sex was better with Aiden than it had been with Alex, I thought as I stepped out of the shower, reaching for the towel. When faced with a situation such as this in the past, I would have normally talked it over with Aiden, but then again, back when Aiden was in my life I would not have been faced with such a situation.
I had been the quintessential book worm, not interested in dating and not many interested in dating me, either. I turned on the hair dryer and ran the brush angrily though my wet tangled hair. Regardless of everything falling into shambles there wasn’t denying that I had to be in court soon. I needed to clear my mind for now and focus on getting ready.
Chapter Six
The atmosphere at the courthouse contained a strange electric energy. Aiden had already arrived, and we waited with the senior partners in the small room for the bailiff to come and fetch us. A whole new jury pool had been summoned and we had to wait while they all went through intake in the main hall.
Our team included myself, Aiden, Mr. Mahoney and Ms. Klein and we sat in the small chamber off of the courtroom. We had gathered in the lobby, and I had hoped desperately that the hangover I felt didn’t appear so readily on my face as I felt that it did.
I didn’t speak to Aiden except the usual pleasantries so as to not arouse suspicion from the partners of unprofessional behavior. We waited without much discussion. I pulled out some papers from my case and reviewed them while we waited, more for the sake of having something to do, rather than needing the actual review. I also knew that once we went to the courtroom for jury selection, Mr. Shaw would join us and the trial would start later that day depending on time. For now we just had to wait.
"Are you both feeling good about the opening statements?" Ms. Klein asked after a moment probabl
y speaking to fill the silence.
"I do,” Aiden replied. "I’m definitely ready to get started. What do you think, Blair?"
I had largely ignored the discussion trying not to have to talk to him unless necessary. I glared at him before I placed a pleasant smile on my face turning towards Ms. Klein.
"Um, yes. Fine," I said, glancing up from my document. I realized I may have seemed stand offish, so I raised my eyes more fully. "I feel quite confident in our case. I too am anxious to get underway."
I returned to my review, forcing myself to focus on the words in front of me, refreshing myself on what I had prepared. In my periphery I could sense Aiden's eyes on me. I tried to ignore him, but I couldn’t help but think about the competition between us.
In our efforts to outdo each other we had somehow managed to play off of each other’s strengths, each of us trying to outdo the other. We had built a very strong case in the end. I tried not to let my mind wander to the events of last night, but being in such close proximity with Aiden, seeing his hands and his eyes, the scent of his beachy cologne didn’t help matters.
I felt my face grow flush even as an errant thought of the feel of his mouth against my skin drifted across my thoughts.
Shit.
I had to get him out of my head.
On reflex I glanced over at him, and found him sitting in a relaxed pose one arm resting across the back of the empty chair next to him. He cut his eyes over to me and grinned when I lifted my head, prompting me to immediately look back down.
We looked up when the bailiff came to the door. We all expected him to summon us, but he had a different message for us this time.
"We have time for a bit of a break. The jury pool is about ready. Once the pool is assigned they get a small break. If you guys take half an hour now you should all arrive back at the same time."
"That's one thing you two will have to get used to,” Mr. Mahoney said as he stood. "The ongoing grind of due process. There's very little excitement to any of it. Most of it involves hurry up and wait."
He smiled a bit at his own amusement, and if I hadn’t thought myself mistaken I could have sworn that Ms. Klein nearly rolled her eyes as they walked out the door together.
I decided just to head down to the break room in the basement and grab a sandwich from the machine. I wasn’t in the mood to go anywhere, but I hadn’t eaten yet either.
I headed to the elevator. Just before the doors closed Ms. Klein stepped in beside me.
"Hi," she said with a small smile. "Heading to the break room?"
"Yes," I said.
We had only ever spoken on a professional level so far. I fiddled with the zipper on my bag, nervous to try and think of some way to endear myself to her.
"How are you holding up?" she asked.
"Holding up?" I asked.
"The first big case can be hard on a new lawyer,” she said, giving me a kind look. "I remember how it was. You must be under immense pressure."
I had a hard time imagining her ever feeling anything but the cool confidence that she exuded at all times.
"Yes, it is a lot to take in," I said. "But I feel pretty confident."
"As well you should. The two of you have done an amazing job."
The elevator door opened and we stepped into the basement following the Formica floor to the small break room. I pulled out my money, slid it into the slot and punched in the number which produced the chicken salad on white bread that would become my lunch.
I didn’t want anything too heavy considering how I felt.
She opened her lunch bag and sat down at one of the tables. I picked up my sandwich and walked over to her, feeling quite like the girl in high school approaching the popular table.
"Mind if I join you?" I asked.
"Please,” she said.
I pulled up a chair and began to unwrap the white paper around my sandwich. She carefully set out her meal, a small plastic bowl of udon noodles and a small bag of crisp greens. With precision she broke the lettuce leaves over the noodles and produced a pair of plain bamboo chopsticks. I watched with fascination, while trying not to be too obvious, as she set out the elements of her meal.
When she had finished, the place before her had the appearance comparable to any restaurant setting. I tried to think of some way to break the ice.
"So," I began. "Do you have any advice on the business, from a woman's perspective? I've been curious to pick your brain."
"Hmm,” she said thoughtfully placing her chopsticks over the bowl. "That is a good question. I would venture to say that you have figured part of it out already."
"I'm sorry?" I asked, nibbling at the edge of my sandwich.
My mind raced at the idea that she might be insinuating what I thought she was. I looked at her with a quizzical expression trying to pretend that I didn’t understand.
She laughed in a lighthearted way.
"Please don't take what I say the wrong way," she said. "But I have been in this business a long time, my dear. This is a high pressure job. There is no doubt about that. The key is to find the balance. We have noticed that you have an undeniable sense of drive."
"Thank you, Ms. Klein,” I said sincerely. "It means a lot that you have noticed. I have put everything I have into my career."
"I’m sure that you have,” she continued. "But you must be careful. The key is to find that balance."
"What do you mean?"
"You mustn’t forget who you’re,” she said. "And why you got into the business in the first place. It is important not to forget that."
"I see."
I turned my gaze down to my untouched food, knowing I needed to eat but having no appetite whatsoever. My head still hurt a little from this morning's hang over. The bite I forced myself to take barely had any flavor, like sawdust in my mouth.
"Come on then." Ms. Klein reached out and touched my arm. "Don't take it the wrong way. You’re doing a wonderful job. Plus you’re being very professional about your extracurricular activities."
I felt as if the floor had dropped out from under me.
"I'm sorry... my what?"
"Don't worry,” she insisted. "We've all thought about dipping our pen in the company ink. As long as you keep it mostly under wraps and don't let it affect your judgment, no one cares honestly."
It took me several horrified minutes to admit to myself what she was saying.
She knew about me and Aiden somehow.
My face burned and I began to feel nauseous.
Shit.
Despite everything, I sat in stunned silence while she finished her lunch, eating small delicate bites without paying much more attention to me.
She finished her food, wrapping her empty bowl carefully into the same bag that she had brought it with and tucked it into her purse. She stood to go, pausing at the door of the break room.
Turning back to me, she said, "Between you and me, the race is nose to nose right now, if that's what you want to know. If we had to make the decision right now it would be impossible. It' would be an even draw."
"Thank you Ms. Klein," I said.
With a conspiratorial smile she disappeared down the hall to the elevator. I forced myself to finish my sandwich just to have something on my stomach before heading back upstairs. The last thing I wanted to do was to pass out during opening statements.
I arrived back at the chamber just at eleven. When Aiden and Mr. Mahoney arrived I kept my eyes forward or down, not willing to have even a passing glance between us.
The bailiff came and collected us and we filed into the court room. The audience area was filled with people of all walks of life and ages. From the grandmother holding her bejeweled purse, to the biker with the spiked collar and the long beard. I glanced over them as we took our place at the defendants table, trying to figure out who our team might lean towards selecting.
Across the way the prosecution took their place, lining up next to their table. Just like last time we were instructed to w
atch and take notes on how the senior partners handled the jury selection. Despite everything else, I remained curious how the process would play out.
I had my intentions on keeping my mind focused on the happenings within the court, and I noticed the bailiff bringing a piece of paper to the judge. The two men conferred quietly before the judge called both teams up to the bench. The lawyers stopped what they were doing and the other team walked up to the judge.
'You two stay here,” Ms. Klein said to me and Aiden. "We expected this."
Aiden and I waited while the senior lawyers spoke briefly at the bench, Mr. Mahoney become animated pointing to one of the prosecuting lawyers and speaking with vehement body language. Ms. Klein calmed him by placing one hand upon his arm.
"Can you make out what they are saying?" Aiden asked.
"No," I answered. "I wonder what it's about."
That exchange had been the most we had spoken all day. Our curiosity was soon answered when Mahoney and Klein returned to us. The judge announced that the jury pool was free to go. Mr. Mahoney addressed me and Aiden.
"The prosecution asked for a continuance,” he explained. "The approval just arrived on the judge’s desk."
"What?" I asked.
"The court date has been pushed back for another three weeks,” he explained.
"What about Mr. Shaw?" I asked. "He is still awaiting trial in jail. This is not fair to him at all. What about his family?"
Mr. Mahoney raised his hands with his palms towards me.
"All of that will be taken into account. His bond will be adjusted according to the time he has already spent."
I had to admit I felt a rush of relief upon hearing about the continuance. I recalled my mother sitting back at the apartment waiting for me. Plus I knew I needed to refocus. Today had been less than ideal to begin the trial.
"What happens next?" I asked.
"We wait," Ms. Klein said. "Then in two and a half weeks we rally the troops once more and prepare for opening. There is really nothing more. The two of you are free to go."
I stood letting the sense of relief rush over me. The day was still early, not even noon yet. I had to get back to my mother and wanted nothing more than to get away from the situation I found myself in.
Tempted (A Player Brother Romance Book) (A Standalone Novel) (Player Brothers Book 1) Page 9