Page 135 of Winning Bid

He nods at her, then looks at Anderson. “Given the jury is deadlocked, I have no choice but to declare a mistrial.”

I’m shaking. What does that mean? My law degree is failing me right now.

“The prosecution retains the option to retry this case, Mr. West. But for the time being, you are free to go.” He pops the gavel one last time, and all hell breaks loose in my head.

Elliot, Kitty, and Cole head for us, but I hardly notice them. Anderson hugs me tight, murmuring, “I can’t believe it.”

But I need answers and shrug him off. “Dana, what?—"

“It’s too tight between now and election season for Tanner to use you for his campaign, so if he wants you, he’ll have to win his election, and given he doesn’t have this case to run on … ” She smirks, then nods toward the door.

I look through the crowd and see him barging into the hall like a raging bull. A laugh escapes me, and then I’m swept up in a hug from Kitty. She clasps my shoulders in her hands and looks me in the eyes. “Thank you, June.”

“What? Why are you thanking me?”

“It takes a strong woman to handle this nightmare. Thank you for standing by my son.”

“It’s my honor.”

Next, Elliot comes at me with a handshake, but he pulls me into a hug. It’s robotic, but he manages. “You’ve done well.”

High praise from him. “Thank you, Elliot.”

“Let’s celebrate,” he says. “We’ll go to the club, have some drinks?—"

“Dad, if you don’t mind, I’d rather not,” Anderson says. “I appreciate the gesture of it, but after this circus, all I want is some quiet time with my wife. Maybe we can do the club this weekend.”

To my surprise, Elliot smiles and nods. “Splendid. We’ll get in a round of golf, then meet the ladies for drinks.”

But my head is going to explode. “They said Tanner could come after Anderson later. Why aren’t we focusing on that right now?”

Kitty sighs. “Sometimes, June, right now is all we have. You can’t stop Tanner from doing what he’s going to do. But you can enjoy today. You two, go on. I need a big, stiff drink and a year’s worth of sleep.”

When we part ways, things feel unfinished. But Kitty’s right. I’m not going to snatch future problems from current victories. I’m going to enjoy my husband.

As a treat, I take him to the Ritz. Once we’re in our suite—the same one we were in last time—he asks, “So, why here?”

“Our apartment building has been swarmed by reporters for weeks now, and I’m just done dealing with them for today. They’re all going to want some of your time, and well … ” I step forward and kiss him. “I want all of your time. Consider it a sort of honeymoon.”

He loosens his tie. “I owe you one of those, don’t I?”

“Mm, hmm.”

He smirks, looking me up and down in my earth-tone suit. “Not exactly the honeymoon clothes I was expecting for my wife.”

I snort a laugh. “Nor is this the destination honeymoon I’ve always dreamed of, but I’ll take what I can get.”

“I thought you said you didn’t dream of a wedding when you were a little girl.”

Chuckling, I admit, “I didn’t. But the honeymoon always sounded like way more fun. In my mind, a wedding was a big, stuffy affair with uncomfortable clothes. But a vacation without my parents? That sounded magical.”

He laughs and takes my hand, leading me from the foyer. “This way, Mrs. West.”

“Where are we going, Mr. West?”

“To the bedroom, where we will order far too much room service, some clothes to be delivered, and have some peace and quiet.”

“Oooh, I’ll race you there.”

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