by Marie Force
“I’m already involved with Michael,” Juliana admitted.
She hugged Juliana close to her. “Then be true to your own heart, Juliana. Only your own.”
Juliana nodded and rested for another moment in the warm comfort of Mrs. Romanello’s embrace.
Chapter Fifteen
It took eight tedious, painful, endless days to empanel the jury. In the end, Michael got exactly what he expected—six jurors perfectly suited to the prosecution, six perfectly suited to the defense, and two alternates who could go either way. He worried about the Italian grandmother the defense managed to secure. If she saw one of her own precious grandsons in either of the Benedettis, she could be enough to hang the jury.
But whenever he felt the need to worry, Michael reminded himself of how strong their case was. Regardless of their ages, races, occupations, or built-in biases, the jurors were most likely rational people who, when presented with the facts of the case and Rachelle’s eyewitness testimony, would have no choice but to convict. At least he hoped so.
He always experienced these jitters on the eve of a trial, but this one was different and had been from the beginning. It wasn’t just that it had received national media attention. No, it was that the hopes of a lot of people were resting on his shoulders. Three devastated families and the larger community were looking to him for closure. He wanted that for the families and for Rachelle, who lost her childhood on that fateful night. But Michael admitted he wanted it for himself, too. He wanted to win every case he tried and for the most part he had, but he wanted this one badly. At times, he felt like everything in his life had led him to this moment, and he hoped he was up to the awesome task.
The Sunday afternoon before he was due to deliver his opening, Michael and Juliana went to meet with Rachelle and her mother. Rachelle had been moved to a hotel in Annapolis to put her in closer proximity to the courthouse. This visit was business, and Juliana had been uncomfortable about joining him until he told her Rachelle had asked for her.
“Guess who called me today?” Michael said as they traveled south on Interstate 97 to Annapolis. The fall foliage was at its peak in the late afternoon sunlight.
“Larry King? Nancy Grace?”
“Yes to both, but that’s not who I mean. Derek Gantley, the Florida attorney general.”
“Oh, he’s the one who offered you the job, right?”
“Uh huh.”
“What did he want?”
“Just to wish me luck with the trial and to remind me of his offer. Imagine his surprise when I mentioned I was no longer engaged to Paige.”
“He didn’t know?”
“Nope. He surprised me, though, when he said the offer’s still on the table.”
“That must’ve made you feel good.”
Michael shrugged. “I guess. I told him I’m hardly thinking about my career right now, but thanks for calling, blah, blah, blah.” As he took the Annapolis exit, Michael was hit with a slew of memories of all the time he spent there with Paige. It must have shown on his face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
She reached for his hand. “Tell me.”
“I spent a lot of time here with Paige when her father was at the Naval Academy.”
Juliana put her other hand on top of his.
He appreciated that she knew when to say nothing.
“You know, I’ve been thinking,” Michael said, wanting to change the subject. “I don’t have court next Friday because Judge Stein has to deal with some procedural stuff in the trial he has after this one. Barring any unforeseen crises, I may have three whole days off. I was thinking about a quick trip home to Rhode Island.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
“Will you come with me?”
Startled, Juliana looked over at him. “I don’t know, Michael…”
“Please? I won’t go if you don’t come with me.”
“That’s crazy! Why not?”
“I’m not leaving you alone at my house for three days during this trial. No way.”
“I thought you weren’t worried about any trouble.”
“I’m not leaving you there, Juliana. Come with me. Come on.”
She smiled at the face he made as he pleaded with her. “I am not saying yes, but I will tell you I’m off next Friday and Saturday because Jeremy was supposed to be home.”
“Yes! You’re coming.”
“I didn’t say yes!” she said, laughing.
He pulled the car off the road.
“What are you doing?”
“This.” He reached for her and kissed her with the frustration that came from ten days of doing his best to keep his distance from her. Weaving his fingers into her hair to keep her still, he sent his tongue to find hers.
Her arms closed around him.
“I tried, Juliana,” he whispered. “But I can’t resist you. I think about you all the time. I dream about you.”
“Michael.” This time she reached for him.
After several long, hot minutes, he pulled away from her with great regret. “I’ve never wished for a backseat in this car as much as I do right at this moment.”
“And what do you think would be happening by the side of the road in broad daylight if you had a backseat?”
He gave her a meaningful look as he kissed her hand and then her mouth. “You make my heart pound,” he said against her lips. “And you’ve succeeded in changing my memories of Annapolis.”
With a chuckle, she pushed him back into the driver’s seat. “You have a meeting. Drive.”
He exhaled a long, frustrated deep breath and eased the car onto the highway.
Juliana sat next to Rachelle as Michael spelled out a change in their trial strategy. “We’re putting the victims’ friends who saw the fight in the arcade on first, followed by the detectives, and then the ballistics guys. We’ve decided to put you on last, Rachelle.”
“I thought you said she’d be first,” said Rachelle’s mother, Monique, her stunning black face tight with aggravation.
“We’ve given this a lot of thought,” Michael explained. “We think the case is stronger if Rachelle’s testimony is the last thing the jurors hear before the prosecution rests.”
Knowing Monique’s histrionics got on his nerves, Juliana gave him credit for being so patient with her. When Monique stood up to pace the room, Juliana squeezed Rachelle’s hand. She had noticed in previous visits that Rachelle lost some of her sparkle when her overwrought mother was around.
“I haven’t seen my husband and sons in seven weeks,” Monique complained. “It’s been even longer for Rachelle. You’re sure we have to do it this way? You could call her first and we’d be out of here tomorrow.”
Michael stood up to face her. “I wouldn’t ask it of you—either of you—if I wasn’t sure it was the best way to proceed.” He moved over to squat down in front of Rachelle, taking both of her hands in his. “Sweetheart, I know this has been so hard, and you’ve been incredibly brave. I’m asking for just a little while longer—one more week, maybe two. Can you do that for me?”
Watching him handle the teenager with such infinite gentleness, Juliana felt all her defenses slip away and the door to her heart open to him. She loved him. It was suddenly as clear to her as anything she had ever known in her life.
Rachelle’s big brown eyes were bright with tears, but she nodded. “I can do it for you.”
“That’s my girl.”
They visited with Rachelle for another half hour before Michael said they had to go. He hugged Rachelle and told her the next time he saw her would be in court. “Just remember what we’ve talked about. Answer only the questions you’re asked, don’t offer anything extra, and don’t look at them except for when I ask you to identify them, okay?”
She nodded.
He kissed her cheek. “You’re going to be just fine. You’re my slam dunk, and don’t you forget it.”
“I won’t,” she said with a smil
e. “Michael?”
“Yeah?”
“Get ’em,” she said softly. “Just make sure you get ’em.”
“I will.”
Juliana hugged the girl. “I’m so glad I got to know you, Rachelle.”
“Thank you,” Rachelle said. “Thank you so much for being my friend.”
“I’m proud to call you my friend.” Juliana folded the girl into one more hug before Michael took her hand to lead her from the room.
Monique followed them into the hallway, closing the door to Rachelle’s room behind her. “Michael?”
He dropped Juliana’s hand and turned to Monique.
“Promise me nothing’s going to happen to my baby,” Monique said, blinking back tears.
Michael put his hand on her arm. “The Baltimore Police chief has made the full resources of the department available to us during the trial. You have my word that nothing’s going to happen to her.”
Monique squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry for what your family’s been through. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure it was worth it.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“It’ll be over soon. Stay strong for her, Monique.”
“I’m doing my best.”
When they got back to his car, Michael surprised Juliana when he said, “Let’s go out to dinner.”
“Do you have time?”
“I need to get my mind off it for a while. Help me?”
“Of course. But before we change the subject, I have to tell you that you handled them beautifully. Both of them.”
“Do you think so?”
The insecurity on his face touched her. “I do.”
“Thanks.”
“No trial talk for…” she checked her watch, “three hours. Deal?”
He leaned over to kiss her. “Deal.”
They went to the Chart House on the Annapolis waterfront and talked about everything but the trial and even managed to avoid talking about Jeremy and Paige. Michael was putting his credit card back in his wallet when an elderly couple approached their table.
“Mr. Maguire?” the woman asked.
“Yes.” He stood up to shake their outstretched hands.
“We just wanted to wish you well with the trial,” the man said. “All of Maryland is pulling for you, young man.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Enjoy your dinner and your pretty young lady,” the woman added.
Michael smiled. “I will, thank you.” After they walked away, he extended his hand to Juliana to help her up.
“I’m dining with a celebrity,” Juliana teased.
He put his arm around her. “Shut up.”
They were still laughing as they walked the dock that led to the parking lot.
“Juliana?”
Juliana looked away from Michael and came face-to-face with Pam and David Newman, close friends of hers and Jeremy’s who were stunned to see her with another man’s arm around her.
“Pam, David.” She tried to hide her shock. Oh God. They’ll tell Jeremy they saw me with Michael.
They both kissed her cheek while trying not to stare at Michael.
“This is my friend, Michael.” She made a huge effort to keep her voice normal as she introduced them. “This is Pam and David Newman, friends from high school.”
With what appeared to be great reluctance, David shook Michael’s hand.
“What brings you guys to Annapolis?” Juliana asked a little too brightly.
“It’s our anniversary,” Pam said, looking Michael over with interest. “Three years.”
“Already? That seems hard to believe.”
“How’s Jeremy?” David made no attempt to hide his annoyance at seeing her with Michael.
“He’s doing great. Working hard in Florida. I was down there a few weeks ago.”
“Be sure to tell him we said hello,” David said. “We’ll have to get together when he gets home.”
“Do I know you from somewhere?” Pam asked Michael.
“No, I don’t think so. We need to get going, Juliana.”
“Well, it was nice to see you guys.” She hugged and kissed them both. “Happy anniversary.”
“Thanks,” Pam said, studying Michael again before David led her away.
“Oh my God,” Juliana whispered, trying to catch her breath. “Oh God.”
Michael put his arm around her and led her to the parking lot. “Hey,” he said once they were in the car. “You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“David will go right home and call Jeremy. He might not even wait that long. Jeremy was David’s best man. I was a bridesmaid. This is really bad.”
“Juliana, look at me.” When she turned her eyes to him, he said, “You aren’t doing anything that he’s not doing, too. Surely if David calls him, Jeremy will tell him that.”
“No,” she whispered. “Jeremy will just freak out. He won’t tell David we’re not seeing each other. He’d never tell him that. They’re going to think I’m cheating on him while he’s out of town.”
“But you’re not. Come on. Don’t do this to yourself. You know the truth.”
She dissolved into tears.
He brought her into his arms. “Oh, Juliana, don’t. You’re breaking my heart here.”
“I’m sorry,” she sniffed. “It’s not that I’m ashamed to be seen with you, Michael. I’m so proud to be with you.”
“You are?”
“Of course I am. I just don’t want them to think I’m cheating on him. I couldn’t bear that.”
“Then maybe you need to tell them what’s going on.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “I’ll have to.” She looked up at him. “I’m sorry to ruin our evening. Thank you for dinner.”
He kissed her cheek. “Thank you for taking my mind off the trial.”
“Can we go home? Please?”
“Absolutely.”
They were quiet on the ride, but he kept his hand wrapped around hers. At home, he asked for her opinion on which suit and tie he should wear to court the next day. He laid the two options on his bed. “What do you think? The navy suit and red tie or the gray suit with the blue tie?”
Juliana studied the choices. “Blue suit, red tie,” she said. “Definitely.”
“How come?”
“You’re representing the government, right?”
“Right.”
“Red and blue is patriotic.”
“Good point. Thanks.”
“I’m going to bed.”
He put his arms around her. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
With her hands on his chest, she nodded. “Good luck with everything tomorrow. I’ll be thinking of you.”
“I’ll be thinking of you, too,” he said, kissing her lightly.
“Think about your work. Don’t think about me.”
“Impossible.”
“Good night.”
“Night.”
Hours later Juliana lay awake, her mind racing with unpleasant scenarios. Running into Pam and David had thrown her. She wasn’t prepared to explain her relationship with Michael to them or anyone else. Hell, she couldn’t even explain it to herself.
When the ceiling above her bed creaked a couple of times, she realized he was pacing. She got up, pulled on her robe, and tied it around her waist on the way upstairs.
Moving back and forth across his big bedroom lost in thought, he wore only a pair of loose-fitting pajama bottoms that hung low on his narrow hips.
Juliana tried not to stare at his muscular chest and washboard stomach. “Michael?”
“Hey,” he said, surprised. “What are you doing up?”
“Couldn’t sleep. What about you?”
“I can’t.” He tapped his head. “Can’t turn it off.”
She went over to him and took his hand. A perplexed look crossed his face when she tugged him toward his bed. “Lie down.” He did what she asked, and she could tell she shocked
him again when she lay down next to him.
He groaned. “Is this supposed to be helping?”
“Turn over.”
Keeping his eyes trained on her, he shifted onto his side.
“All the way.”
Face down on the bed, he turned his head so he could see her.
She reached over to massage his back, her mouth going dry as her hand made contact with his warm skin.
He sighed.
“Close your eyes.” She moved to her knees so she could massage him with both hands. “Feel good?”
“Mmm.”
“Go to sleep.”
He snorted. “Yeah, right. I’ve got the most beautiful girl in the whole world in my bed, and you expect me to sleep through it?”
His words shot straight to her heart—and a few other places. When she leaned over to kiss his cheek, his eyes flew open. “Sleep,” she said, brushing a hand over his eyes to close them again. She kneaded the tension out of his shoulders before she worked her way down his back. As his breathing became slow and steady, she applied less and less pressure until she was certain he was almost asleep. She started to move off the bed, but his arm encircled her hips to draw her down next to him. Since it was either fight him and wake him up or stay with him, she chose to stay.
Chapter Sixteen
Michael woke up thirty minutes ahead of the three alarms he had set. Turning to find Juliana in bed with him, he thought he was dreaming. Then he remembered the way she had cared for him the night before and was filled with a whole new surge of love for her. Her silky dark hair was spread out on the pillow and one arm was tossed over her head. Michael studied her exquisite face, realizing he wanted to wake up with her forever. He knew it with a certainty he had never felt with Paige and didn’t have a single doubt he could spend his life with Juliana and be completely content.
After he watched her sleep for at least ten minutes, he remembered the trial was starting today and he needed to get moving. Amused to acknowledge that only waking up to Juliana in his bed could have pushed the trial from his mind on this of all days, he leaned over to kiss her cheek before he got up to shut off the alarms and take a shower.