She met the sheriff’s gaze. “Tell me Jack has come up with something on Billy Bob Adams. I don’t care if it’s spitting on the sidewalk in Kalamazoo. All we have to do is show he’s not the kind of person who should have custody of a pet rock, let alone children.”
Grady’s expression was unreadable. He had his cop face on, not a good sign. “Jack checked every law enforcement database from FBI to CIA. And some he couldn’t even tell me about.”
“He ran the fingerprints?
“Yeah.”
“And?” she asked hopefully.
“And…” He shrugged.
“Damn. I’d bet everything I own the man is an opportunist who doesn’t give a rat’s backside whether that opportunity is on the right or wrong side of the law. I can’t believe there’s nothing to pin on him.”
“Yeah.”
She sighed, then rested her forearms on her desk and put her head on them. For so many reasons she wanted to win this case. First and foremost, the kids. Then there was the whole moral issue of making the past as right as it could be. How could she ever look Grady in the eye again if things went badly? This was probably why it wasn’t a good idea to become emotionally involved with a client.
She’d tried so hard to resist him.
She’d hardly finished thinking that thought when strong arms slid beneath her knees and across her back. She was lifted out of her chair and snuggled against Grady’s solid chest. Then he sat down in her very own chair with her on his very own lap.
Resisting him would be a lot easier if he would cooperate by not touching her and being too sweet for words.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“At the risk of stating the obvious, I’m sitting in your chair.”
“And why would you be doing that?” she asked, nestling just a little closer.
“Because I’m tired, too.” He sighed.
She couldn’t help it. She gave in to the overwhelming urge to rest her head on his shoulder and thanked the good Lord she’d had the excellent sense to purchase a really big chair.
“You should go home and get some rest,” she suggested, although every part of her cried out against it.
She didn’t want to be alone. No. It wasn’t that. She’d been by herself for a long time now and had made peace with loneliness. It all had to do with wanting to be with Grady.
“That’s the pot calling the kettle black. When do you plan to quit burning the midnight oil?” His voice dripped with irony and amusement.
“It’s not midnight,” she scoffed.
“You’re splitting hairs.”
“That’s what a good attorney does.” She’d always thought she was good. Until this case. Or was it just that there was so much riding on the verdict in this one?
“In another hour it will be midnight, and I’m running you out of town before that.”
“Says who?”
“I’m the sheriff. Running people out of town is what I do.” But instead of letting her go, he tightened his hold and the large, strong hand at her waist squeezed reassuringly. “Jen, you need to go home and get some rest. Things have a way of working out.”
“But, Grady…”
He touched a finger to her lips. “In all those years of school, didn’t anyone ever tell you there’s a time to study? Then there’s a time to put away the books and rest. Everything you need is right up here,” he said, tapping his index finger gently against her temple. “You just need distance to see it.”
She sighed. “I could hike all the way to San Antonio and still not see a way out of this.”
“Okay. So tell me. What can we expect in court tomorrow?”
“The judge should have read all the briefs and depositions detailing why Kasey and Stacey should stay with you. I’ve cited your character and the fact that you’re the sheriff. You’ve had custody of the girls since birth. They’ve never known another caregiver and always believed you to be their father.”
“Do you think the fact that I didn’t tell them the truth until recently will hurt my chances?”
“I thought of that. The issue is addressed in the brief. Everything from the way they were conceived to fulfilling their dying mother’s wish by keeping it from their grandfather. After his death the most important thing was the twins’ emotional stability. You provided that without a hitch.”
“You make me sound good.”
“An understatement.” She smiled, tilting her head back to meet his gaze. “It was the easiest brief I ever prepared.”
Because he was a good man. Making him sound like a knight in shining armor had been a piece of cake.
“What else did you say about me?” One eyebrow lifted in a self-satisfied expression.
“I’m finished feeding your inflated ego, Sheriff. I pointed out to the judge that it would be traumatic and disruptive to the girls’ emotional development to be yanked out of the nurturing environment you’ve provided for them since birth.”
“Anything else?”
“I took depositions from their teachers, principal, counselors and director at the summer camp where they’re in day care. I’ve been all over Destiny interviewing anyone and everyone. If there’s someone out there with a grudge against you, I couldn’t track them down.”
“No wonder you’re tired.” He snuggled her closer. “So why are you worried?”
“The damn DNA evidence. The court has an annoying habit of linking parental rights to biology. I don’t know how heavily that family link will weigh with the judge.”
“If there are outstanding warrants for his arrest, not very much,” he pointed out.
“Who said he’s a fugitive from the law?”
“No one.”
She lifted her head to look at him. His voice sounded funny and lacked conviction. Because she was so close to him, she could feel something like expectation humming through him. She thought that was odd, but chalked it up to the fact that he had to be even more worried than she was.
She rested her cheek against his shoulder again. “Since we couldn’t find anything showing he’s not fit, I’m going to hammer home the fact that he hasn’t made an effort to contact them. Ever. Even if I can’t convince the judge his goal is to get his hands on easy money, she’ll have to see he doesn’t care about the kids.”
“I’m sure she will.”
“I need to get him to tell the truth. He’s so cold and calculating. Step by step I have to lead him into saying he doesn’t really want the girls.”
“It’s going to be fine, Jen. You have to trust.”
Trust? An emotional response. Then there was a trust—set up to safeguard financial holdings. Grady had told her he’d put everything in trust for the twins and he was the executor. She sat up, out of the circle of his arms.
“What?” he asked. “You’ve got a look on your face like you’re locked and loaded and ready to kick some major butt.”
“I’ve got an idea.” She met his gaze. “It’s risky, but it just might do the trick.”
“I trust you.”
There was that word again.
“Do you want to hear my idea?”
“If you want to tell me.”
She frowned. Since when was he so indifferent? Or did he really believe in her that much? He was a good man, but was he that good? Could he actually have so much faith in her?
“You’re my client. You have the most to gain—or lose. I’d like your take on this.”
“Okay.” But he tried to tug her back against his chest.
Heat coursed through her and she stood up. It was hard to think about torts and depositions and briefs of the legal kind when he was so close that she could feel the warmth of his body and smell the scent of his skin. When she was wishing with every fiber of her being he would kiss her senseless.
She went around her desk and sat in one of the visitor chairs. “I need to get him to admit he doesn’t really want the girls. That it’s about the money he can get from the ranch.”
“Right.”
“The one you have in trust for them. The trust that you handle.”
“What are you getting at?”
“What if I propose a compromise arrangement? He gets physical custody. You maintain your position as executor of the trust.”
His eyes narrowed and the long, lean lines of his body tensed. “Why would he agree to that?”
“He wouldn’t. I’m guessing it will catch him off guard and maybe he’ll let something slip. Like he’d rather eat glass than be responsible for two nine-year-old girls.”
Grady nodded and the tension disappeared. “Sounds good to me.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
He shrugged. “You’re the lawyer. If you think it’s our best shot, count me in.”
“I think it could backfire and blow up in our face.”
“That’s not going to happen,” he reassured her.
“How can you know that?” she asked.
“Because I know you.”
The intensity in his eyes took her breath away and cranked up her heart rate by a lot. He stood and came around the desk and sat in the chair beside hers. Taking her hands in his, he said, “Remember what I said about needing distance to figure out what you know?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Have you ever needed distance—about anything?”
“Sure.”
“Want to tell me what?”
“Yeah. You.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Ten years ago I had a crush on you, but Zach was the guy you picked. I figured you were self-absorbed, like him. It took time and distance to show me I was wrong. You’re so much more than I ever knew.” He squeezed her hands. “You’re going to grind Billy Bob Adams into the dust tomorrow.”
“Grady, listen to me. This is a long shot. If Billy doesn’t take the bait and the judge thinks it’s a good idea, he’ll get the girls.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“If it does, you’ll never forgive me.”
“If you’re wrong, you’ll never forgive yourself. And I’m not talking about this custody thing. You married the wrong man. That’s all. You were young. You had no idea what he was capable of. It’s in the past. You have to let it go. The girls are my problem. But you’ve taken them on. I appreciate everything you’ve done. More than I can say.”
Tears filled her eyes and she tried to tell herself she was just tired. But that was so not the truth.
She was in love with Grady O’Connor.
Of all the lamebrained, stupid things to do, she’d gone and fallen for a client. And, as always, her timing for this realization couldn’t have been worse. Why now? Tomorrow, he was facing losing his children. To keep it from happening, he’d placed all his faith in her—the woman who’d had the bad judgment to run away with Zach Adams. Grady O’Connor was either as dumb as she was or the bravest, most wonderful man she’d ever met.
And this was the worst possible time to discover he was the only man in the world who could make her happy. Because in less than twenty-four hours there was a very real possibility he would never speak to her again.
For so many years she’d mourned Zach, and he wasn’t half the man Grady was. How in the world could he trust her with the future of his children?
“I have every faith in you, Jen,” he said again, as if he could read her mind.
“That makes one of us,” she said shakily. “But I promise you this, Grady. I will go into court tomorrow as prepared as I can possibly be. I will do the very best I can for you.”
“There’s not a doubt in my mind.”
He leaned toward her and she was sure he was going to kiss her. And he did. A sweet, chaste kiss on the forehead. So much for passion.
But he had faith in her. That meant there was a chance. What if they fell in love? A classic case of jumping the gun. First she had to get through tomorrow.
Grady walked up the courthouse steps and spotted Jen by the door, several feet away. She had notes in her hand, and all her concentration was focused there. It gave him an opportunity to study her without hiding his absolute, unbridled, male appreciation.
The counselor had dressed to kill. Three-inch navy pumps made her legs look as if they went on forever—not easy to do for a woman hardly bigger than a minute. Her pin-striped navy suit had a short skirt and fitted jacket that made her look trim, professional and guaranteed to make the town sheriff ready to rock and roll.
And how stupid was he? Letting feelings for her get to him. He should have seen this coming when he agreed to accept her legal counsel. His only excuse was he hadn’t ever expected to fall for anyone. She’d zoomed in under his radar and now there would be hell to pay.
He wasn’t sure what that hell was and couldn’t think too far ahead. He sensed a lot was riding on this case and had finally figured out why. She needed to win—to make up for what she thought she’d done in the past. It had taken all his “cop face” skill to keep her from seeing his excitement last night. And he felt guilty for not sharing with her what Jack had found. But he’d had to chance it. For their future.
All he could do was give her this day in court. He walked closer and stood beside her, breathing in the scent of her perfume.
She glanced up, then did a double take. “Hi. I almost didn’t recognize you. Not bad, Sheriff.”
He’d worn a dark gray suit and red tie, just like the last time. He didn’t want to give Billy Bob Adams any reason to be suspicious. It was touch and go, but he’d planned everything step by step. There was no reason to believe it wouldn’t go off without a hitch.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” he said. “If the judge was a man, you could convince him of anything.”
“I’m going to believe that was meant as a sincere compliment and not take you to task for the sexist remark I heard.”
“Good. Because I meant it in the nicest possible way.”
Her gaze narrowed. “How can you look so calm? In a few minutes we’ll find out if everything we’ve worked for will convince a female judge to let you retain custody of those children. You couldn’t possibly look more cool and collected.”
“Who says I’m cool?” He smiled, hoping to disarm her.
When this hearing was over, would she understand what he’d done? More important—why he’d done it?
“Then you deserve an Academy Award.” Eyes narrowed suspiciously, she met his gaze. “Clark Livingston isn’t going to be here.”
“I know. He’s officially retired, thanks to you.”
“Me?”
He nodded. “Now that there’s a competent attorney in town he’s putting his shingle out to pasture.”
“Backup would have been nice,” she muttered.
“Chin up, Counselor. Everything’s going to be fine.”
He hoped.
“It’s now or never,” she answered, letting out a long breath.
“Right.” He opened the door and she preceded him into the building.
Side by side they walked down the aisle and through the swinging doors to the tables set up in front of the bench. Along with his attorney, who looked like an ad from GQ, Billy Bob was there. When Jen passed, the weasel glanced at her legs, and Grady didn’t like it one bit. The look in his eyes made Grady’s hands itch. He wanted to put them around the guy’s neck and squeeze. Not an especially professional reaction. But he couldn’t help it. He was only human. Particularly where Jensen Stevens was concerned. With an effort, he put on what she called his “cop face.”
Before they could sit, the bailiff announced Judge Kellerman. She swept into the courtroom and sat behind the bench as the session came to order.
Judge Kellerman settled granny glasses on the end of her nose. “I’ve read all the material in the case and—”
Jen stood. “Your Honor, I have a proposal for the court’s consideration.”
“Is this something that wasn’t in the brief?”
“Yes, Your Honor. But I think it will be a fair compro
mise in this case. The last thing Grady O’Connor wants is to deprive the children he loves from knowing their biological family.”
That was a bald-faced lie, Grady thought. But he knew she was playing the game. He hoped she would understand why he had to do the same.
“Go on, Counselor.” The judge took off her glasses and gave Jen her full attention.
“I propose to give Mr. Adams custody of the girls—Kasey and Stacey O’Connor.” She paused dramatically.
Grady glanced at the worthless man across the aisle. He smirked, shooting back a self-satisfied expression. Just wait, you low-life—
“That’s a surprise, Counselor,” the judge was saying.
“Yes. But we think it’s a fair and equitable solution. The only thing we ask is that Sheriff O’Connor remain executor of the estate now in trust for the twins.”
Grady glanced across the aisle again and nodded slightly at the shocked look on the other man’s face. Not to mention the attorney’s expression. The lawyer jumped to his feet. “Objection, Your Honor.”
“You’ll get your turn, Counselor. Let’s hear Miss Stevens out.”
Jen nodded her thanks. “Your Honor, the sheriff has taken excellent care of the girls’ birthright. It’s a thriving property. I’ve provided you with records showing that all profits have been funneled back into the operation of the ranch. Since he’s doing such an outstanding job of protecting the assets, I submit there’s no good reason to change the arrangement.”
The judge nodded as she glanced through the papers in front of her. “Yes. It’s all here.”
“With that stipulation, Sheriff O’Connor withdraws his opposition to Mr. Adams’s request for physical custody of the children.”
Grady looked over and watched with growing satisfaction as Billy Bob conferred with his attorney. Jen had been cool and concise. Her argument was well thought out and beautifully delivered and she had the opposition scrambling. She’d been great. Every nerve ending in his body urged him to pull her into his arms and kiss her with all he had. And this was where his law enforcement training came in handy. He cautioned himself to patience. The trap hadn’t been sprung yet.
What If We Fall in Love? Page 13