Page 17 of Merrick

It amazed her that women dressed like this several times a week. Slipping on an old robe, she went into her office to sit at her desk. Bringing up his information, she read that he had been seeing the judge off and on for several months. Which meant it was not a serious relationship.

All she wanted was information and she had been holding men off for years, doing so with Merrick Pendergast, was not going to be too difficult. Ignoring the foreboding that had settled inside her chest, she continued to make notes.

*****

Selecting a cigar from the slim gold case in his desk drawer, he searched for a lighter and took it along with a snifter of brandy out on the terrace. Lowering himself into the comfortable chaise, he stretched out and flicked the lighter open.

Squinting his eyes against the flavored smoke, he dragged it into his lungs and leaned his head back to stare at the star-studded sky. The rain had passed, washing everything clean. He could still smell the moisture as it clung to the leaves of the trees surrounding his own private patch of land.

His townhouse was situated on a slight incline, offering a spectacular view of the city, while giving him complete privacy. Jennifer had protested and made her disappointment clear when he declined her offer to go back to her place.

He was going to have to break things off with her. Plucking the cigar from between his teeth, he studied the smoldering tip with a frown. He would like to think that meeting Margo Sullivan had extraordinarily little to do with his decision to part ways with the judge, but it did. He wanted to see her again.

Only, he did not have a number for her. All he had was her name. And her acerbic sense of humor. She had fascinated him as no other woman had before. Stubbing out the cigar, he sat forward and wrapped his hands around his knees. And allowed the memories to invade his mind.

He had met her at a function she was catering. He could picture her now, calm and collected even when it had turned out that the hostess had invited more people than was catered for. She had simply picked up her phone and have her staff bring more food.

He had watched in fascination as she handled several men who thought she was easy prey. She had been polite and firm, and in the end had them slinking away. He had been caught not only by her beauty, but her composure and found himself walking over to meet her.

She had turned him down the first three times, but he had kept coming back and before long, they ended up in his bed.

Their love affair had lasted three years and during that time, she never once asked him if he was every going to propose. Then she became pregnant, and it was all they could think about. It was at that point; he knew he wanted her in his life.

Reaching for the glass, he took a healthy sip and relished the burning sensation in his throat. Leaning back, he closed his eyes and found himself going back to earlier. Margo Sullivan. A smile played around his lips, and he felt the pressure around his chest easing off.

She had flawless skin, he mused and found himself wondering how old she was. Forty? Late thirties? Her body was long and lean, and he had seen the muscles in her forearms. Her lips had made him hungry for a taste and that had surprised him.

Not since Laura had he felt such an intensely powerful hunger and even with her, it had been a pleasant buzz.

“Oh Christ!” He whispered, running a hand at the back of his neck. What the hell was wrong with him?

Perhaps he was never going to see her again. It was just a quick punch of lust and nothing more. Yes, he had enjoyed having a conversation with her. She had certainly livened things up. Maurice had asked who she was when he returned, and he had made some offhanded comment.

Putting her out of his mind, he rose and went to get ready for bed. He had an early flight in the morning and many things to go over before his meeting.

*****

The nightmare came that night and had her springing off the pillows, her body drenched in sweat. It had been a long time since she had them, and the familiar headache came along in the aftermath.

Scrubbing her hands over her face, she switched on the lamp and pulled her knees up to her chin defensively. It was nothing, she decided fiercely. She was okay, she was fine. She had dealt with being abandoned and had learned to live with it.

She was stronger for it – the drug aspect of the case had brought it all back, but she was going to do the job. Her mother had been a junkie and had ended up giving her away, but she was not going to allow that to hinder her from doing her job.

Swinging her legs off the bed, she sat there for a minute to get herself together before rising to go to the bathroom to get a glass of water. Downing it thirstily, she filled the glass again and drank some more, until the awful thirst was contained.

Putting the glass down, she peered at herself in the mirror and wondered what Merrick Pendergast saw when he looked at her. She had hoped to make an impression, and it appeared that she had. Somehow, she had gotten him to notice her.

Frowning at her image, she smoothed a hand down her throat and up again. She was not vain, had never taken the time to study herself. She was not into enhancements and would simplyslap soap on her face and rinse with warm water and consider it done.

Her hair took a hell of a long time and every few months, she would sacrifice her hard-earned money to sit in a beauty shop to get it trimmed and conditioned. Easing away from the mirror, she went back into her bedroom and tried to get some sleep.

Chapter 5

He felt the prickling at the back of his neck and turned slowly around in anticipation. And then he did, the jolt was electrifying. He had spent the entire week wondering how to get in touch with her.

His weekend trip had lasted more than the two days he had planned. He had come back home two days ago and was overwhelmed with meetings and the usual family drama.

He had not planned on coming to the annual medical gala but had changed his mind because it was an event that was put on by his own company. It would have been glaringly obvious if the CEO was not in attendance.

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