by Linda Verji
“Hmm.” Spencer stared at the floor, mulling over Russell’s words.
Kelly couldn’t help wondering what he was thinking. She itched to ask him why he was interested in George’s medical problems, but she was also so angry at him for not getting on the ‘Tess is innocent’ wagon with her that she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
When Spencer finally looked up, it was to ask, “Do we have an autopsy report on George’s cause of death?”
“Isn’t the cause of death clear? Murder by stabbing,” Russell said. When Spencer didn’t respond, he sighed. “They’ve only done a preliminary examination. George’s mother doesn’t want a full autopsy so she’s been on the medical examiner’s case. He’s been mulling it over.”
“Well, tell him to stop mulling and just do it,” Spencer instructed. “And make it a rush autopsy.”
Why was he asking for a rush autopsy? George had clearly been stabbed. Or did he want more proof that George had been stabbed by someone taller than Dee and thus forcing Dee to acknowledge that she wasn’t the murderer? That would be so like Spencer. And here Kelly was feeling sorry for him just because his godfather had strummed her heartstrings with a sob story.
What a gullible fool she was!
Yeah, maybe a bad guy had killed his parents, but that didn’t give him license to step on everyone just because of his past. Bastard!
* * * * *
AS IT TURNED out, the autopsy Spencer ordered was the key to proving that Kelly was right; Dee wasn’t the murderer, and neither was Tessa.
Actually, no one was.
George’s autopsy revealed that his cause of death was a stroke caused by a brain aneurism. That’s when the real story came out. Yes, Tessa had arrived at the house hours before her mother, and yes, she and her father had had a fight. But it was George who’d hit her, not the other way round. The trophy he’d hit her with, had left a nasty gash at her temple, hence the bandage. Tessa had stormed out of the house right after that, and she could prove it. There’s was CCTV footage proving that at around eight-thirty, she’d visited a doctor-friend of hers to get the wound treated.
Meanwhile at home, George had collapsed because of the stroke sometime between Tessa leaving and her mother coming back home. Dee knew that Tessa had visited their house earlier in the evening. When she entered the living room and saw her dead husband with a bloody trophy beside him and her daughter missing, she’d assumed the worst; that Tessa had finally snapped. She’d wiped down the trophy, hidden it then ran for a kitchen knife. She’d stabbed George’s corpse several times to get blood on her own hands then called the police on herself.
“Thank you so much.” Dee’s grateful gaze switched between Spencer and Angelina, as she and her daughter held on to each other. There were several other people milling around the courtroom, most of them infected by the celebratory mood that accompanied Dee’s release, but Dee only had eyes for her attorneys. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank us.” Angelina smiled. “We just did our job.”
“But I made it so much harder for you.” Dee apologized, “I’m sorry.”
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Spencer said. “The D.A’s office might have dropped the murder charge but they’ll probably try charging you with desecration of a corpse.”
“Still, that’s much better than being charged for murder.” Dee smiled. “Thank you.”
Kelly, who was standing in the gallery just a foot or so behind the defense’s table, couldn’t help smiling. It was great that her instincts had been vindicated, but greater still was the fact that someone innocent wasn’t going to jail. It was a good day to be a defense attorney.
But even as she smiled, her eyes kept wandering to Spencer. If she’d been the one handling this case, Dee would likely still be locked up. But because of Spencer and his keen observational skills, someone else had been freed. While she’d been boiling with fury and cursing him for not agreeing with her, he’d been looking for evidence to help their client. Now she felt guilty for judging him so harshly.
Should she apologize? Should she not apologize? She wondered as she, Spencer and Angelina walked down the courthouse stairs. She snuck a glance at Spencer but he was fully engrossed in his conversation with Angelina.
“I have to drop by County,” Angelina said. “Hattie Witcher is in there again.”
“What did she do this time?” Spencer asked.
“Threw feces at a Senator because he said something rude about lesbians.” Angelina rolled her eyes.
Spencer burst into laughter. “No, she didn’t.”
Even as she joined her two colleagues in laughter, Kelly couldn’t help watching Spencer. Her heart bumped in her chest. How come she’d never noticed the laugh-lines at the edges of his eyes? Or how his eyes danced when he was amused?
Oh! What the hell was she doing? Was she just admiring him again? Bloody hell! She really needed to stop doing that. She shook her head to clear it of all ‘Spencer is hot’ thoughts.
After Angelina left, Kelly and Spencer headed back to the office. Since Chambers & Quinn was just a few blocks away, they decided to walk.
Is now a good time to apologize for being a bitch yesterday? Kelly wondered as she matched his steps. What if he rubs it in my face? Still, it’s the right thing to do. Stop being so proud.
“Spencer,” she called out just as they stopped at a red-light.
“Yeah?” He turned his head to face her.
“I just-” Her fingers tightened over the strip of her purse. What was it so hard to apologize? She pulled in a deep breath. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”
He frowned. “For what?”
“For yesterday.” Embarrassed, she looked down at her shoes. “I shouldn’t have come at you like that just because you didn’t agree with me.”
Spencer paused for a long moment then offered her a smile. “It’s okay.”
No, it wasn’t okay. If it was someone else, they probably would’ve called her out for saying such cruel things. But Spencer probably thought he deserved anything she dished out because of their history. And she’d dished out – over and over again, getting meaner and meaner with each new day. Fresh guilt raced through her. Had they changed roles? Was she now the villain in their story?
She didn’t get the chance to answer the question because right then shouts of ‘Stop’ drew her attention, and she turned her head. Before she could even figure out where those shouts were coming from, a man came running towards them. Chasing the man were two uniformed cops.
There was no time to move out of the man’s way. One second she was staring at the running man, and the next he’d bumped into her. The bump was hard enough that Kelly stumbled forward, right into oncoming traffic.
The next moments were a blur. Loud hooting. A car rushing towards her.
Kelly closed her eyes and waited to get hit.
CHAPTER 8
As soon as Spencer saw Kelly stumble into oncoming traffic, his heart dived to the pit of his stomach. Acting on pure instinct, he moved forward to grab her upper arm then yanked her backwards. His forceful movements sent her crushing straight into his arms. Unfortunately, he hadn’t calculated for her weight, and the strength of her body smashing against his was more than he’d anticipated. Before he knew it, he was falling backwards with Kelly in his arms.
Pain! Excruciating pain as his back hit the pavement. That pain only worsened when Kelly fell on top of him. Jesus Christ. He closed his eyes tightly as bolt after bolt of pain seared through his whole body. It was so bad, the onlookers’ gasps and shouts were like mere bees buzzing in his ears. Only Kelly’s voice could get through his pain.
“Spencer!” she called out as she got off him quickly. “Spencer, are you okay?”
He opened his eyes to find her kneeling beside his supine body, real concern in her brown eyes.
“I – I am,” he murmured. When he tried to sit up a sharp pain shot through his right shoulder and down his right arm. With a groa
n, he clutched his arm. “Shit!”
“You’re hurt,” Kelly said as she cupped her palm over his hand.
Despite his own pain, instinctive worry pulsed through him. His eyes met hers. “What about you? Are you okay?”
“I am. You kept me from getting hurt.”
“That’s a relief.” He tried to smile but ended up wincing because of the fresh pain that rushed through his arm.
The next minutes were spent trying to get him on his feet. Though he tried to get Kelly and the other onlookers to let him be, he found himself in the back of someone’s car, headed to hospital with Kelly hovering over him.
“It’s not far,” she soothed as she stroked his uninjured arm. “We’ll be there soon.”
His eyes closed, Spencer let her touch distract him from his pain.
Gotta say, having Kelly worried and taking care of him wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Within moments, they were in the hospital. Luckily, there weren’t too many emergency patients, and Spencer got to see a doctor almost as soon as he got there.
“It’s just a partial dislocation,” the doctor pronounced as he examined Spencer.
“Are you sure?” Spencer winced when the doctor gingerly pressed his hurt shoulder. “It hurts like hell.”
“I’m sure it does,” the doctor agreed. “But you’re lucky it wasn’t a full dislocation.”
TV had lied to Spencer. He expected to get the Arnold Schwarzenegger treatment a.k.a ‘pop-my-shoulder-and-I’m-as-good-as-new’ treatment, but this was nothing like that. Getting his shoulder back in place was more painful than he imagined. Yes, the pain lessened afterwards, but not enough for him to go around shaking people’s hands let alone throwing punches. In fact, he ended up with his arm in a sling and painkillers to get him through the night.
“You don’t have to go home with me,” he said as Kelly hailed a cab. “I’m okay.”
“Why do you keep saying you’re okay when you’re obviously not,” she scolded him even as she hailed a cab. When the cab came to a halt in front of them, she bundled him in. “People who are okay don’t end up with their arm in a sling. Besides, the doctor said you should avoid using your arm tonight. How are you going to cook for yourself?”
“I have my left arm,” Spencer reasoned. “And I can always order in.”
“Not while I’m around.” Kelly settled beside him in the back of cab. “It’s my fault that you ended up in a sling.”
“It’s not your fault.” After giving the driver the directions to his place, Spencer continued, “The only person at the fault here is the guy who ran into you.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Kelly grudgingly admitted.
For some reason the warmth of the cab had Spencer feeling drowsy. Or maybe it was the painkillers. His eyes closed, he asked, “What happened to him anyway?”
“Who?”
“The guy who knocked you over.”
“The cops took him away.” Kelly chuckled. “Wouldn’t it be funny if he ends up at Chambers & Quinn asking us to represent him?”
Spencer’s chuckle was as sluggish as his nod. “Mm. It would be.”
Kelly said something else, but he wasn’t listening. Slumber’s call was too loud, and before he knew it, he was a goner. The next time he woke up, it was because a female someone was calling his name. “Spencer. Spencer.”
“Mm.” He groaned without opening his eyes.
“Spencer,” she called again, her warm breath whispering against his hair. “We’re here.”
Where was here? He opened his eyes to find himself still seated in the back of the cab with his head propped on Kelly’s shoulder. With a start, he sat up straighter. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” A soft smile playing on her lips, she repeated. “We’re here.”
He looked outside the window only to realize that they were outside the high-rise that hosted his condo. He assumed that this was where he and Kelly’s day together ended, but, despite his repeated protests that he was okay, she insisted on coming up to his condo.
“Wow.” Kelly exclaimed once they were inside his home. “This place is amazing.”
“Is it?” Spencer followed her gaze. Beside them was his open kitchen with granite counter-tops and stainless-steel, state-of-the-art appliances. The kitchen and spacious hallway opened out into the living room; a large and beautifully furnished, beige-and-green room. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined the north wall. Beyond those windows, New York City lay spread out like a majestic field of bright lights and concrete.
Spencer smiled. “It’s small but it’s mine.”
“This is small?” Kelly laughed as she followed him deeper into the apartment.
Her laughter drew his own smile. “Why don’t you have a seat? I’ll-”
“I’m the one supposed to be taking care of you.” Kelly ordered, “Why don’t you have a seat?”
Spencer couldn’t help the smile that instinctively lifted his lips. Who knew stubbornness could be sexy? After getting rid of his suit-jacket, he settled on the couch. From his position, it was easy to give Kelly instructions as she bustled around his kitchen preparing dinner. Soon, his house was filled with the delicious scent of cooking food. He didn’t realize how hungry he was until Kelly set his plate before him. Unfortunately, wolfing down a meal is almost impossible when you have to do it with your left hand.
“Ugh!” He groaned as he tried to spin spaghetti around his fork with his left hand. “This is so annoying.”
“I’m sorry.” Kelly wrinkled her nose as she watched him. “I should’ve made something easier to eat.”
“It’s not that hard to eat,” he quickly reassured her even as his struggling belied his words.
Her expression concerned, she scooted closer to him on the couch. “Should I help you?”
The moment Kelly’s body brushed against his, Spencer’s senses came alive. For the first time in his life, he forgot to breathe. He paused with the fork still stuck in his food as his gaze swung to her face. Without conscious thought, he lowered his gaze to her lips. Lush, thick, moist… he’d bet his life that she’d taste amazing. His gut tightened considerably and his cock rose to the occasion.
Those lips parted, moved, and emitted some kind of sound that he couldn’t hear because of the sudden, odd humming in his ear. Perhaps it was his lack of response that made Kelly aware that he wasn’t even listening to her. She reached out to touch his arm. Instinctively, he edged away from her touch. If her being close was enough to stop his breathing, who knew what her touch would do.
She frowned. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah.” He nodded quickly.
“You seemed lost for a moment.”
“Did I?” He forced a smile, but even as he did, he couldn’t help watching her and looking for signs that she was as affected by their closeness as he was. There were no signs, which was to be expected. Given their history, it would’ve been stranger for her to be attracted to him. Yet, for some reason, her lack of reaction to him sent immediate disappointment charging through him.
“Do you want me to help you?” she offered as she pointed to his forgotten meal.
“No. No. I can do it myself.” Shifting further away from her, he added, “It’s good practice anyway.”
Even though the TV was on, the room was uncomfortably quiet as the two ate. Still, Spencer couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips. He was glad to have her here, no matter how quiet she was being. This was the first time that she’d voluntarily chosen to be alone with him in a room, the first time they were eating together. A year ago – heck, a month ago, he never would’ve thought that this scene was even possible.
“What’s so funny?” Kelly broke the silence.
He arched an eyebrow. “Hmm?”
“You’re smiling,” she pointed out.
“Am I?” He shrugged. “Just thinking.”
“About what?” she asked.
“About how nice it is to have you here.” Watching her keenly to g
auge her reaction, he added, “We should eat together more often.”
Kelly’s gaze met his and their eyes locked for a long moment before she lowered her gaze. “Maybe.”
Maybe? That was better than ‘hell no’, right? He smiled.
Her gaze still lowered, Kelly said, “I didn’t get to thank you.”
“Oh? For what?”
She lifted her gaze to his as a soft smile lifted her lips. “If it wasn’t for you, I’d probably be a blob on the road right now.”
Even now, the thought of her getting hit by the car was enough to make his muscles tighten in protest. He dragged in a deep breath. “Don’t mention it.”
“Still, thank you.” Avoiding his eyes, she said, “Lately all I seem to do is say thank you or sorry to you.”
He studied her. “Are you complaining?”
“No.” She sighed. “I’m just thinking.”
What did that mean? Though he watched her face to see if she liked or disliked the changing dynamics in their relationship, her expression left no clues about what she was thinking. Were all women this complicated or was it just Kelly? One moment she was sneering at him like he was the world’s worst devil, and the next moment she was forcing her way into his house and taking care of him like he was her best-friend. Figuring her out was a head-spinning endeavor that most rational men would walk away from. Unfortunately for Spencer, when it came to Kelly, rational wasn’t a word he could apply to himself. Whenever he was near her, all he wanted to do was peel back the layers that hid her from him.
In a bid to break the heavy silence between them and get to know her better, he asked, “What do your friends think of you and I working in the same firm?”
Kelly looked up from her plate. “My friends?”
“Amara and Tamsin.”
“A.J. and Sin?” Kelly’s eyes widened. “You know them?”
“Of course, I know about them.” Spencer laughed. “Don’t you remember? The day I came to visit you, they were at the next table with a visitor of their own and almost jumped me.”