*
Tam was right. Daniel Mays knew how to kiss. His lips were a study in contrast. Soft and firm. Tender and voracious. Cool and hot. She moaned as his tongue entered her mouth, teasing her own. Her entire being was suddenly awash in sensation.
Her heart beat faster.
Her skin grew hotter.
Her lips clung to his.
Her nipples hardened, and she could feel herself getting wet.
She felt disoriented. And scared. She broke away from him in panic, struggling to catch her breath. “What are you doing here?” she finally asked, embarrassed by the husky alto of her voice.
Daniel’s own voice was raspy. “I offered to take you to your sister’s engagement dinner. Didn’t Tam tell you?”
Uh, no. Embarrassment and anger washed through her. “She didn’t tell me she’d set me up with you. If I’d known…” She shook her head. “I mean…”
Daniel nodded. “You mean you never would have opened the door.” He cocked his head. “Why is that?”
“We work together.”
“So let’s date together.”
“No!” She almost yelled it, startling both of them. She trembled with panic, wanting to accept his invitation yet knowing how weak and pathetic that made her.
He frowned. “Bryn, there’s something between us. That kiss was amazing. I knew it would be. I knew you would be.” He stepped toward her, but she held up her hands.
“Daniel, stop. It’s not going to happen between us. Nothing is going to happen.”
He growled in frustration, shoving his hand through his hair. “Why?”
“You’re a defense—”
“Defense attorney. Yes, Bryn, I know. I’m a defense attorney. Not a pervert. Not a criminal. I just make sure people accused of crimes are afforded their constitutional rights.”
“Criminals like Kyle Winsor, you mean?”
“The jury acquitted him, Justice.”
“I found the police report and the victim’s statement more than sufficient to prove his guilt.”
He let out a short, harsh laugh. “Great. So, what? I should have thrown the trial? Just to get you to go out with me?”
He didn’t look happy, and the lump of regret that formed inside her stomach echoed the sentiment. To fight it, she forced herself to be logical. Analytical. “Why do you want to go out with me, anyway?”
“What?” He looked completely befuddled.
“A week ago you didn’t even know who I was.”
“That is not true.” His statement was emphatic. Even so, she sensed his discomfort with this particular subject.
“Well, you certainly weren’t attracted to me. You probably didn’t even recognize me as a woman, did you?” When he continued to say nothing, she said, “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” She hoped her face didn’t convey the tremor of hurt that ran through her.
“Look, I admit, I was a little slow on the uptake. That has nothing to do with whether I’m attracted to you. I am. Incredibly attracted.” He put his hands on her waist. “And I know you’re attracted to me, too. Right?”
“I…I…” His hands almost spanned her waist. They were strong hands, equally capable of caressing a woman’s soft skin as they were of beating any man who threatened her.
“Right?” he whispered, before lowering his lips to hers once more.
She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t let him kiss her. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop again. Not now that she knew what he tasted like. And she had to remember who he was.
Who she’d worked so hard to become.
How those two people could never mix. Not in her world.
She backed away before their lips could connect. “Yes, I’m attracted to you, but I’ve been attracted to a lot of men.” Not true, but he didn’t need to know that. “I don’t always act on it. And I’m not acting on it with you.”
“That’s—”
“Final. Goodbye, Daniel. Again, thank you for offering to help me out, but I’ll just go to the dinner alone.”
Daniel dropped his hands from her waist, spun on his heel and paced to the door, then startled her by coming back again. He looked like a big cat prowling around her small living room. And not a fat house cat like her Tikka. No, Daniel Mays was a big, sleek panther, circling his mate, ready to make her his. In turn, she felt not like his prey, but his willing victim. “God, Justice, you are working my last nerve.”
His Southern drawl was slightly more prominent, making her shiver. Down, girl. “Well, hey, that’s the way to win me over,” she drawled sarcastically.
Daniel closed his eyes, as if calling upon a higher power for strength. “All right,” he said after a moment. “What is the way to win you over?”
“Leave,” she said.
Daniel slowly walked toward Bryn, who backed up despite herself. He kept pace with her until she bumped into a wall. He then planted both of his palms above her head and leaned down, staring her in the eyes. He was so close she could see that a gold band encircled his dark pupils. “I’ll go, but this isn’t over yet. Not by a long shot. We’ve tasted each other, Bryn. Just that one taste, and you got me harder than any other woman ever has. Think about how good it was. And how good it’s going to be. Because we’re just getting started.”
Daniel dropped his heated gaze to her lips. She held her breath. Waiting, secretly praying, for him to kiss her. Instead, he pushed himself away from her, walked backward toward the front door, then turned and left the house.
Bryn slowly slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. With her heart thumping heavily in her chest, she touched her lips with her fingers, closed her eyes, and, just as he’d commanded, thought of how good it had been.
Just one kiss and her body had ignited. Wanted more. Wanted him. Her starved senses had come alive. She’d felt the heat emanating from his body. Had smelled him, clean and spicy. Soap mixed with the heady strength of his cologne. She’d opened her mouth to him, but she’d wanted to do more. She’d wanted to touch him. Press her body into him. The wanting hadn’t surprised her, or particularly scared her.
What had scared her had been the wildness of her response. If she’d thought she could lie under Daniel and let him have her while she moaned softly, she might have given in to her body’s desire for more. But the minute he’d kissed her, she’d known she could never maintain that level of control. Daniel brought out her wild side. Made her want to push him down and tear off his clothes. Made her want to throw caution to the wind, forget decorum and respectability, and squirm and writhe and howl and scream until she forgot everything, her past, her present, her future, and simply lost herself in him.
Just one kiss, and she’d been ready to throw away her better judgment.
That’s what had scared her.
And had given her strength to back away when he’d tried to kiss her again.
And what would give her strength the next time.
Because she couldn’t forget what mattered to her. Justice was everything to her, and Daniel’s job was all about impeding it. She couldn’t afford to lose control, and with Daniel, there’d be no other result.
Wild for Mr. Wrong: Chapter Five
“So, what are we going to do about Bryn?”
Daniel looked up from his dinner and frowned at Tam. She and Vance had met him at The Boat House, Tam’s favorite restaurant, and Tam wasn’t even letting him get his first beer down before cutting to the chase. “What do you mean?”
“It’s been two days, Daniel. Are you really going to let a little thing like her turning you away stop you from going after what you want?”
“Has she said anything to you about me?” he asked, then winced at how he sounded like a seventh-grader.
Tam gave him a “get real” look as she rubbed her stomach. “Are you kidding me? She read me the riot act. I thought my being knocked up would make her go easy, but boy was I wrong. She must scare anyone on the witness stand to pieces. I was impressed.”
“Pro
ves my point,” Vance said, handing Daniel one of the beers he’d just brought from the bar. He leaned over Tam, laid his hand on top of hers, and kissed the top of her head. “She’s ruthless. And I thought we’d agreed you’d stop pushing Daniel toward Bryn.”
“She’s ruthless only when she needs to be, and I deserved her censure. We’ve only just begun our friendship and she confided in me about her insecurities, asking for my help. Instead, I sent you.”
“Hey—” Daniel began.
Tam waved him off. “Oh, you know what I mean. She wanted someone easy to solve a problem. Uncomplicated. You are not easy. Not the way she wanted.”
“Okay, are you going to insult me all night? Because I can go see my clients for that.”
“Hush. I’m making a point. I knew she’d run, but I wanted to give it a chance. I love you, and I know any woman would be lucky to have you. And I really care about Bryn…”
“You’re too kind-hearted—” Vance began.
Tam patted his hand then looked at Daniel. “I just don’t understand why you’ve let her scare you off. It’s not like you, Daniel.”
“She’s not interested, Tam.”
Tam snorted. “She’s interested, Daniel, believe me. She’s just scared!”
“Scared?” The thought bothered Daniel. Prejudiced against him, sure. But scared? “Of me? Why?”
Tam frowned. “I’m not sure. She never talks about her experiences with men. She doesn’t really talk about anyone. She’s only recently loosened up enough to talk about her sister and mother.”
“Why do you keep trying, if it’s so hard to get her to open up to you?”
“Because she’s special. She cares about people. Truly cares. If I needed her, she’d be there for me.”
Tam sounded so sure of herself. As if she had a secret window into the inner workings of Bryn Donovon. He wished he could see inside Bryn with the same clarity Tam had.
Tam continued. “I think someone in her past hurt her, and hurt her bad. She’s only dated a couple of guys over the years. Never seriously.”
It was Daniel’s turn to frown, both at the thought of some faceless man hurting her and at the thought of her dating. Either way, he wanted to hurt someone. “What guys?”
“I don’t know. Usually guys her mother has thrown at her.”
Ahh. That’s right. Her mother. He shifted in his seat. “So how’d the engagement dinner go?”
“Well, after she verbally flayed me for my admittedly sneaky setup and you showing up at her door, she said it was exactly what she’d expected. Which means it wasn’t fun. But she loves her sister to pieces, and so long as Carin’s happy, Bryn’s happy.”
He nodded, but given what little he knew about Bryn, he couldn’t see her living life vicariously through anyone. She was too opinionated. Too passionate. She just needed to learn how to apply that passion to something other than work. Only Daniel wasn’t sure he was the right guy to teach her that.
Fun and warm, he reminded himself. He had a good life. Why complicate it with someone he suspected was special but seemed unwilling to show him that side of herself? Time to let go. “Sorry, Tam. I know you care about her, but she’s got a personal bias against defense attorneys. I think pursuing Bryn would be useless.”
Tam sighed. “She does seem to be more…intense about your choice of career than even I thought she’d be. Maybe you should ask her why.”
Unbidden, a memory of their searing kiss flashed through his mind. He’d thought about that kiss. A lot. At night. During the day. When he was alone, and when it was damn inconvenient.
Tam rose, putting her hands on her hips and arching her back. “My back is killing me, guys. I’m sorry to cut this night short, but I need to go potty and then I need to go home. Vance, hon, would you mind paying the bill and meeting me at the door?”
Vance said, “Of course, Tam.”
Tam waddled around the table and kissed Daniel, who’d risen to his feet when she did. “Goodnight, sweetie. Remember what I said about Bryn, okay? She’s got a softer side most people don’t see. A side she doesn’t want people to see. But underneath…”
When Tam headed toward the restroom, Daniel sat back down, took a long swallow of beer, and turned to Vance, who was looking at the doorway where Tam had disappeared. “You’re a lucky man, Vance. A lucky man.”
Vance grinned. “Believe me, I’m well aware of that.” Suddenly, his face turned serious. “Look, I’ve been thinking about this obsession you have with Bryn Donovon.”
Daniel wasn’t sure he liked hearing his interest in Bryn characterized as an obsession, but if not obsession, then what? He said nothing.
“I have to tell you, I don’t like her. Tam’s put a lot of effort into trying to befriend her, and she hasn’t been very receptive.”
“They seemed pretty engaged to me.” Daniel had told Vance about overhearing their conversation that day but had sworn Vance to secrecy.
“Sure, if it’s on her turf. She’ll talk to Tam at work, but it’s like she can’t associate with her outside of it. It’s hurt Tam. I think the woman’s a cold fish. Maybe you should pass on this one.”
Daniel didn’t jump to defend Bryn. What could he say? That because he got a hard-on around her, it proved she was a warm human being? He knew there was more to her, depths unexplored, but even he had a hard time putting it into words.
On Daniel’s drive home, he thought about what Vance had said. Had his initial thoughts about Bryn Donovon been accurate? Was he fooling himself that there was more to her than what was on the surface? That kiss had been hot, but was sexual heat enough? Especially when she wouldn’t acknowledge it? Maybe their opposing careers and natures were too different to reconcile.
Maybe he would be better off leaving Bryn to do what she did best—stand up for principles and stand up for the victims of crimes, but do it standing alone.
Wild for Mr. Wrong: Chapter Six
When Bryn opened her front door, she was fully dressed and ready to leave for work. She stepped out of the house, locked her door, and turned to see Daniel walking up to her. Her stomach churned with conflicting emotions, and heat suffused her cheeks.
God, he looked good. She glanced at the cup of coffee in his hand. Probably fresh and hot, which she didn’t need given that he was heating her up before her day had even gotten started.
“You know, you really need to try something new. Even if that’s for me, coffee is not going to keep me from reporting you if you keep showing up unannounced at my door.”
“Just hear me out. Please.” He handed her the cup, and she automatically took it, touched in spite of herself.
Curious, Bryn leaned back on the front door, took a sip of the deliciously warm coffee, and merely looked at him. Internally, her insides constricted. What was he going to say? And how was she going to resist him if he pushed her for a date again?
“I need a favor,” he said.
Bryn raised her eyebrow at him and laughed. “A favor? From me?”
“Sure, why not?”
Hurt pride, for one. But he didn’t seem all that crushed that she’d rejected his romantic advances. She wasn’t quite sure how she felt about that. Bryn said nothing, but motioned for him to continue.
“The Biltmore Mediation Clinic in Fresno. Have you heard of it?”
Bryn nodded. “Sure. It works with criminals and their victims in an attempt to provide emotional closure in cases.”
Daniel cleared his throat. “Well, Vance and I have been working toward starting one up in Sacramento. Purely on a pro bono basis right now. We’re set up as a non-profit organization and will be working out of our law office.”
His words surprised Bryn, though she worked to hide her surprise. That was a pretty ambitious task. Was it an honorable one? Did he care about both parties, the victims just as much as the criminals? Or was this simply a way to assuage his guilt for representing the clients he did?
“And what can I do for you?”
“Obvi
ously, to be perceived as legitimate, we need to have the support of the prosecution. We could use either your endorsement or volunteer time. We want to start the program working with juveniles, and I know you did a juvenile stint a few months back.”
“Yes, I did.” It had been one of her most challenging assignments. She’d had a hard time holding back her sympathy for many of the young offenders she’d seen. While the intended purpose of the whole juvenile system was rehabilitation, not punishment, it was hard to buy when you were recommending a sixteen-year-old kid be committed to the Youth Authority.
She’d found herself wanting to reach out to some of the defendants, and that had made her feel like a hypocrite. As if she were betraying her sister all over again. Logically, her compassion for troubled youths was a good thing, but whenever she found herself softening toward any of the men and women charged with any type of violent crime, Bryn couldn’t help envisioning the fear on her sister’s face the night she’d been attacked. Black and blue and crying. Because Bryn had left her alone in a nightclub to go make out with some guy and smoke pot in his car.
Every time she stood up for a victim, Bryn felt she was standing up for her sister, too. And getting a little closer to forgiving herself.
Dating a defense attorney would taint that. Wouldn’t the same be true if she granted Daniel the favor he was asking?
She shook her head, both to dispel her thoughts and in response to Daniel’s request.
“I don’t know, Daniel. Personally, I don’t see the point of making victims face people who’ve hurt them. Hopefully, if I’ve done my job right, they get justice when the criminal is convicted. Sounds like you just want to help alleviate your clients’ guilt.”
Instead of countering her insult with good-natured humor, Daniel sighed and looked down at the ground. For a minute he looked defeated. “Do you really believe that? That throwing criminals in jail solves the entire problem? What about atonement? Rehabilitation? Understanding?”
Bryn stared at him. Why did he keep harping on that theme? Why was he even talking to her about this? Her sister had suffered tremendously at the hands of a young man who’d gotten off scot–free, and now Daniel was giving her a hard time because she questioned the motives of criminals wanting to meet with their victims? She straightened and forced herself to sound brusque.
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