Courting Justice

by Brenda Jackson

  She drew in a deep breath. Okay, she understood all the physical stuff, that strong sexual chemistry that had her moaning in her sleep when she dreamed of him. But what was going on with her wanting to pick up the cell phone and call him just to say hello and to tell him she was thinking about him? Why, yesterday, when she’d sat beside a woman holding a little boy, did she imagine a little boy with hers and Angelo’s features?

  She moved away from the window, hoping and praying that what she thought was happening to her really wasn’t. There was no way she could be falling for Angelo. No way. She needed to get her mind together, and her being here in Chicago and him back in New York was the perfect thing. He told her he would be returning to Oklahoma a week after she got back from Chicago and that was fine with her. By then she should have her priorities back in order and be more focused on what could and could not be.

  There was a knock at the bedroom door just seconds before Ms. Lora stuck her head in. “You ready for lunch? I made your favorite sandwich and iced tea.”

  Peyton didn’t need a mirror to know her face lit up. Ms. Lora knew her special chicken salad sandwich and a huge cold glass of iced tea would do it every time. Besides, it was time she brought Ms. Lora up to speed on everything that had been going on since she last visited more than a year ago. Of course, she wouldn’t tell her everything. There was no way she would let her know she had the hots for Sam’s brother. And definitely not about all the time they’d spent together at that resort in the Bahamas.

  “Yes, I’m starving.” Peyton laughed. “You didn’t have to go to all that trouble, but my stomach is so glad you did.”

  * * *

  “Well, I’m glad you won that case. I’m so proud of you.”

  Peyton smiled. “Thanks, Ms. Lora, and I’m proud of you as well.”

  The woman waved away her words. “What on earth for?”

  Peyton knew Ms. Lora had always been very modest and never patted herself on the back for anything, especially for everything she’d done in the community. And all it had taken was a few conversations with some of her old neighbors to learn that Ms. Lora had achieved a lot of progress lately.

  When the school district’s budget was cut, Ms. Lora had started an after-school program to help working mothers. And she had been instrumental in getting a number of well-known entertainers from Chicago to put together a benefit concert to help raise money to repair and replace playground equipment. She had worked closely with the mayor to turn one of the high schools into a place for people in the community to take vocational and educational classes at night. Thanks to her, three high school graduating seniors had received full scholarships to attend the Florida Memorial University’s Aviation program.

  And she was not just concerned with the way of life in the South Side. Peyton knew Ms. Lora was involved in several advocacy groups, and other community groups routinely went to her for advice when problems arose in their neighborhoods.

  There was talk of nominating her for one of CNN’s “Heroes,” and Peyton couldn’t think of a more deserving person. She knew if Serena had lived, she would be so proud of her mother. It would have been so easy for Ms. Lora to give up after losing her daughter and then her husband a couple of years later to cancer. But she hadn’t. Instead she had used her love for people to make life better for others by setting up programs for families of victims of violent crimes, support services and crisis intervention for those in need. She did it all.

  “Everything is well,” Ms. Lora said as she took a sip of tea. “Now if we can just get those people at Gallant to take us seriously things would be better.”

  Peyton lifted a brow. “Take you seriously about what?”

  Taking another sip of coffee, Ms. Lora said, “Around Christmastime last year, a couple of people living in this particular community on the outskirts of Chicago, not far from a chemical plant, became ill from the drinking water. When they reported it to the water company, they got the brush-off—until someone in that community brought the problem to my attention. Of course, I made such a fuss that the chemical company had no choice but to check things out, especially when I showed up at the plant one day unannounced with the media.”

  Ms. Lora took another sip. “They were nice, but I knew they weren’t happy I just dropped by like that with those reporters and all. A few days later I got a letter from their company attorney, who told me in so many words to mind my own business, and that if I kept it up they would sue me for slandering their company’s reputation.”

  Peyton frowned. “Has the water been tested by the Department of Environmental Protection?”

  “They claim they have and nothing was found. That was two years ago. Another test isn’t required for another two more years.”

  Peyton pushed her cup of coffee aside. “Do you have a copy of the letter you received from Gallant’s attorney?”

  “Sure do.”

  Moments later, when Ms. Lora returned with the document, she handed it to Peyton. Peyton’s gaze first went to the letterhead. Brody and Brody, LLC. She’d heard of them and knew they were a well-established law firm in Philadelphia.

  She read the contents of the letter and frowned. The letter claimed the company had done a chemical analysis of the drinking water a year ago, and concluded that there were no contaminants. The letter stated that no further tests would be done for another two years.

  Peyton put the letter down. “Some of the home-owners are still getting sick?”

  “Yes, more so now than ever. Unfortunately, none of the people living in the community of Pembrook Pines can afford an attorney to fight their battles since they’re living on fixed incomes. That’s why we’ve called this special hearing before a judge on Thursday to try and persuade Gallant to do another test. Judge Carter will be there to hear both sides, and we hope that we can convince him that another test is warranted. We all figure Gallant will haul one of those big-time attorneys from that law firm there,” she said, pointing to the letter. “Our group can’t afford an attorney, but we’re going to stick to our guns and make sure Gallant’s attorney doesn’t try to snow us.”

  Peyton took a sip of her coffee when an idea came to her. She glanced over at Ms. Lora. “I think I’m going to make sure I’m there just in case they do.”

  Ms. Lora lifted a brow. “What are you saying?”

  Peyton smiled. “I don’t have any plans for Thursday, so I’m going to be at that meeting to represent the home-owners group. So now you can rest assured that you won’t get snowed.”

  * * *

  Later that night, after sliding into bed, Peyton’s cell phone went off, and she smiled when she saw it was Angelo on her caller ID. “Hello.”

  “Hello, yourself. How are you doing?”

  “Fine. There’s nothing like coming home,” she said. For years it had been hard for her with her grandmother gone, but Ms. Lora always tried making things special.

  “I’ll bet. Look, I’m going to be in your area Thursday and Friday and I want to see you.”

  She knew there was no reason for him to just be in the area and couldn’t help wondering if he was deliberately seeking her out. Why was she feeling a bit giddy about it rather than annoyed? Probably because she wanted to see him, too. She missed him.

  Instead of pretending that she didn’t, she said, “That can be arranged.”

  “Great. I have an appointment Thursday afternoon, so what about dinner later?”

  So, he really was in town on business. “I’d like that.”

  “Good. I’ll stop by your hotel after my appointment and—”

  “I’m not staying at a hotel. I’m staying with Ms. Lora, the mother of my best friend growing up. But if you give me the name of your hotel I can stop by later Thursday evening.”

  “Okay.” He gave her the name of the hotel and his room number. She wasn’t surprised
it was one of Chicago’s finest.

  “I should be back at the hotel by five, but just in case my appointment runs longer, I’m leaving a key for you at the front desk. Just go to my room and make yourself comfortable.”

  Peyton couldn’t help but grin. “Thanks. And I intend to do that.”

  He didn’t say anything for a minute. “I miss you, Peyton. At night I miss sleeping with your body next to mine, miss inhaling your scent, miss being inside of you, miss waking up beside you, miss—”

  “Angelo,” she interrupted, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. His words were stirring emotions inside of her that she’d thought were long dead.

  “Yes?”

  “I miss you, too.” There, she’d said it. She’d been completely honest with him. She had missed him.

  “I miss you more,” was his comeback.

  She gave him a soft seductive chuckle. “I intend to prove just how wrong you are about that Thursday night, Mr. Di Meglio. Good night.”

  She was about to click off the phone. “Wait!” he said, and then paused. “I love you.”

  She parted her lips, about to say the same back to him but caught herself. It was true because she did love him. She knew that now. But he shouldn’t have to hear something so profound as a declaration of love over the phone. She wanted to be staring into those dark, intense eyes of his when she said it to him. She needed to see and feel the impact her admission had on him.

  “Good night, Angelo.”

  “Good night, Peyton. And I’m looking forward to Thursday.”

  Chapter 24

  Angelo paused at the door to the courtroom to glance at his watch. He hoped the hearing wouldn’t last more than a few minutes. That would be all the time it’d take to hear what the opposing side—the community group—had to say. Then he would provide them with the new report absolving Gallant of any responsibility for water contamination. And if there was a problem, it wasn’t caused by Gallant.

  The last test results that were conducted were good for another two years. So no one could force Gallant to perform additional tests any sooner, unless it could be proven that there was a direct link between those getting sick and Gallant. So far no one had done that.

  He had reviewed the documentation on every single test that had recently been conducted, and the hearing today was to reiterate the findings and Gallant’s position on the matter and to advise the group that their only legal recourse was to sue. He doubted they would want to pursue that option. Hell, they didn’t even have an attorney, only some spokesperson for the group.

  Deciding he had a few minutes to kill before the meeting actually started, he moved to a quiet area to call Peyton. He had tried calling her twice today, but hadn’t been able to reach her.

  He was looking forward to tonight and that was the main reason he hoped the meeting wouldn’t last more than an hour. He had instructed the hotel concierge to make sure Peyton got a key to his room, and he’d hoped she would be there waiting for him when he got there.

  Just thinking about seeing her again sent chills down his body. He couldn’t wait and hoped like hell he’d be able to concentrate on the proceedings, especially when he’d rather be someplace else.

  His family had celebrated when Gallant had decided to leave Brody and Brody, hiring the Di Meglio law firm, so he knew he had to deliver, which shouldn’t be hard to do. He had to get in there and make sure that a representative from the mayor’s office found no reason for the water to be retested. It would be a waste of both Gallant’s and taxpayers’ time.

  He turned off his cell phone when he still couldn’t reach Peyton, and moved toward the door to enter the hearing room where the meeting was about to start.

  * * *

  “You don’t know how much it means not only to me but to those home-owners to have you stand up for us, Peyton. Especially since you’re here in Chicago to rest and relax, not to take up one of my causes.”

  Peyton smiled at the older woman. “No problem. I’m licensed to practice law in this state.”

  “I’m glad, too.”

  Peyton could tell Ms. Lora was nervous about the upcoming proceedings and gave her a breakdown of how things would probably go. They had agreed to let her do the talking, to plead their case and request updated tests from Gallant.

  “Now isn’t he a handsome devil?” Ms. Lora said, smiling.

  “Who?” Peyton asked.

  “The man who just walked in the door. He’s with that man who works for Gallant, so I wonder if he’s a new attorney at Brody and Brody. He definitely isn’t the same one that represented them the last time.” Ms. Lora chuckled. “If he is an attorney, he probably could win the case just on his looks alone.”

  Peyton chuckled, tempted to look but decided she didn’t need to do so since she had a handsome devil of her own, one she planned on spending the night with. She had dropped by the hotel before arriving to leave her overnight bag. Just the thought that she would be with Angelo later sent shivers through her body.

  “I can see the women in here beginning to drool over that guy. At this moment, I wish I was about thirty years younger.”

  Curiosity made Peyton glance over her shoulder to see who all the fuss was about. She sucked in a quick breath when she looked directly into Angelo’s eyes at the exact moment he looked into hers. What was he doing here?

  “Excuse me, Ms. Lora, I need to speak with him.”

  Ms. Lora looked at her in surprise. “You know him?”

  She nodded. “Yes, that’s Sam’s brother.” And without saying anything else she moved in Angelo’s direction.

  * * *

  Excusing himself from the man he was talking to, Angelo automatically moved in her direction as well. What was Peyton doing here? Had she found out he was here and decided to come to the hearing room instead of going straight to the hotel?

  He watched her stride purposefully toward him as he walked toward her. He was so glad to see her that he knew he would have to compose himself and not pull her into his arms and give her the kiss he wanted to. She looked good, was dressed nicely and walked with an air of confidence that some women lacked. But she had it, and something inside of him felt proud she was his. And she was his. He had to continue to court her, let her know she was the woman he wanted. Not just in his bed, but in his life.

  “Angelo,” she said, coming to a stop in front of him.

  Before she could say anything else, he reached for her hand, tugged on it gently and said softly, “Let’s step outside.”

  As soon as they were out of the courtroom doors and standing in the corridor, he smiled down at her. “How did you know where to find me?”

  She looked up at him. “I didn’t. I’m surprised to see you.”

  Confusion settled in his features and he raised a brow. “I don’t understand. Then why are you here?”

  “I’m here with Ms. Lora. Why are you here?”

  “I’m here representing Gallant.”

  Now it was confusion that settled in her features. “But why? They’re represented by Brody and Brody.”

  He shook his head. “Not anymore. Brody and Brody was replaced by Di Meglio.”

  She sucked in a deep breath when the impact of what he’d said became clear to her, but she could tell it wasn’t quite clear to him yet, so she said. “That’s unfortunate.”

  He frowned. “Why?”

  “Because I’m the opposing counsel.” And without saying anything else, she turned and went back inside.

  * * *

  Opposing counsel? Angelo felt as if he’d been sucker punched in the gut. What was she doing representing anyone when she was supposed to be in Chicago on vacation? And why had she walked off from him with an attitude? So what if they were on opposing sides? That had nothing to do with them personally. They w
ere professionals and could handle being on opposite sides. Besides, it wasn’t as if they were involved in some ugly feud. It was a matter of the judge listening to both sides and then deciding whether her client had grounds to force his to do more tests on the drinking water for the residents of Pembrook Pines.

  He checked his watch, knowing it was time to go back in since the judge would be arriving in less than a couple of minutes. Reentering the courtroom, he moved toward the front to take a seat beside Rodney Gallant, one of the owners of the company.

  The man raised a concerned brow and leaned closer to ask, “Is everything okay?”

  “Everything is fine” was Angelo’s response. He was lying through his teeth. All it took was the sideward glance Peyton had just given him to know things weren’t okay.

  He would be the first to admit that he’d never imagined in a million years them working against each other in the courtroom. Trying to take his mind off Peyton, he noticed just how full the courtroom was, and it was filling up even more. The place was noisy, and it was evident those there anticipated what was to come. He rolled his eyes and wanted to scream: People, it’s not that kind of party. This is just a hearing, not a retrial of OJ Simpson.

  A part of him was glad that so many people had shown up to support something they felt was important to them, even if they wrongly believed Gallant was to blame.

  “All rise,” the bailiff said, grabbing Angelo’s attention. Like everyone else, he stood. “The Honorable Effie Carter, presiding.” Everyone watched as the middle-aged woman took the bench.

  Angelo shifted his gaze over to Peyton at the same time she shifted her gaze over to him. He felt it and knew she did to, a connection that wasn’t just sexual, it was as emotional as anything he’d ever felt before.