Page 39 of Trial Run

“Hi, Ben.” Reggie looked directly at her and cocked her head as if she thought the invitation might be revoked. When Brooke didn’t respond, she said, “Not sure about dinner yet, but if not tonight, maybe some other time.”

Brooke turned his words over in her head while he regaled Reggie with stories about his day. Despite not knowing about the threat on his own life, he’d connected the trial with danger and why shouldn’t he? She should be the one protecting him, not some random cop that didn’t even know him. Yet, here she was, standing in the kitchen kissing Reggie like she didn’t have a carein the world. She needed to get her head straight and that meant no more distractions. And Reggie Knoll was a huge distraction.

“Ben, go clean up for dinner and let me talk to Reggie for a minute.”

He groaned at the words “clean up,” but scampered out of the room, telling Reggie he’d be right back. She stared after him for a moment before turning back to Reggie.

“I should go.”

Despite the declaration, Reggie stayed in place and this was the perfect opportunity to tell her no, she should stay, but as much as she wanted to be back in Reggie’s arms, giving in to her own desires felt like a betrayal of her parental duties. “I’m sorry.”

Reggie placed a finger under her chin and tilted it up toward her. “You have to stop staying that. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“It’s bad timing.”

“I get it.”

“I wish it weren’t, if that makes it any easier.”

Reggie glanced away. “Easy is overrated.” She turned to go, but paused with her hand on the door. “You deserve all the things, Brooke. I hope that someday you realize that and give yourself permission to have them.”

She watched as Reggie walked away, wishing she had the courage to call her back. But her life was already full of things she could barely handle and a woman who could turn her to Jell-O with one kiss would only divert her focus. She was doing the right thing. She was sure.

Mostly.

Chapter Fifteen

Reggie walked out of the jury room, thankful they’d adjourned early for the day and determined to get as far away from the other jurors as possible. She’d managed to avoid Brooke all day, which was hard to do in the small jury room with only eleven other people—a mission made easier by Brooke’s apparent desire to steer clear of her as well. What she really wanted was for this trial to be over, but Judge Hunt had made his decision—they were going to press on as if nothing had happened.

Mark Landon had sidled up to her at one point to ask if everything was okay between her and Brooke, and she barely resisted the desire to punch him in the face. Apparently, she’d used up all of her cool last night at Brooke’s place when she’d pretended she didn’t care about the out-of-the-blue brush-off right on the heels of the amazing kiss they’d shared.

She tried to tell herself she shouldn’t care. A week ago, she’d been single and happy about it, content to focus on her new career and determined not to let anything get in the way of her new path. But meeting Brooke had changed all that, and now she could hardly focus on anything else. She’d wound up ditching her damn flash cards for a couple of beers after she’d left Brooke’s place, which only made things worse.

She walked down the hall to the courtroom where Harry Benton’s trial was still in full swing, but she was only halfway there when Skye Keaton called out to her.

“Hey,” Skye said. “Lennox is looking for you.”

“It’s not like I’m hard to find. I’m stuck on a jury, pretending that this process means something.”

Skye frowned. “Not following.”

Reggie glanced around to make sure no one was listening to their conversation. “I’m sure you heard about the break-in at Shirley Mitchell’s house last night.”

“I did. She lives down the street from us.”

Reggie narrowed her eyes. “You must do really well in the private eye game.”

Skye laughed. “I do okay, but my wife’s the one who makes the big bucks. We live in Highland Park because that’s where most of her real estate clients are, not because I’m footing the bill.”

“Well, we’re in trial acting like nothing’s wrong, but meanwhile, I’m certain Harry Benton has threatened Mitchell and that’s what the break-in was about,” Reggie said. “I don’t get it. Why this trial is still happening since any good attorney will be able to figure out how to get it tossed on appeal.”

Skye rolled her eyes. “Come with me.”

Reggie followed her, silently grousing as they rode the elevator to the tenth floor. She was being shut out on so many levels, first with Brooke and now with her pals at the courthouse. Whatever this was about, it better involve some answers.

When they turned left out of the elevators toward the public defender’s office, she hung back for a moment. “What’s up?”

“Your presence has been requested. I hope you like coffee.” Skye nodded to the receptionist and led the way behind the counter to the suite of offices used by the PD. She stopped a few feet in and rapped on one of the doors. Two quick knocks followed by two slower ones.

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