Page 10 of His Temptation
Why did he have to look so good in a suit? It fit him like a glove, accentuating his broad shoulders and lean torso. I knew it wasn’t all show either. His body looked even better with nothing on it but mine.
“Probably not the best idea,” I responded, having to squint because of the blinding sun. “Drinks always lead to more.” I glanced at his lips. “Much more.”
“Would that be so bad?” he asked, practically purring.
The man exuded sex appeal. It wasn’t too long ago when I’d fallen victim to his charms. Over and over again. Yet, I was no victim. I had seen the opportunity and taken it gladly.
“It’s not good to mix work and personal relationships.”
“You didn’t care about that before,” he answered with a lopsided grin.
For some reason, I thought of Cason. He was young. Innocent. I felt wrong for wanting him, not only because of the nineteen-year age gap but because he was Ryan’s friend. I was beyond fucked-up.
And so, I caved to the one thing Icouldallow myself.
“I’ll be at your house at ten tonight,” I said to Jay.
He smiled. “Can’t wait.”
I left the courthouse and went to my office. When I walked through the door, the receptionist waved to get my attention and held the phone between her cheek and shoulder as she scribbled a note on the pad beside her and held it up to the glass.
Jerry Jenkins is in your office for his apt.
I nodded my thanks to her and continued that way. Mr. Jenkins was a seventy-year-old man who had hired me to represent him in his divorce.
“Married for fifty years and I can’t stand the old bag any longer,” he had said when I’d first met him.
“Afternoon, Mr. Jenkins,” I greeted him as I entered my office.
He instantly started telling me about his soon-to-be ex-wife and how crazy he thought she was. I listened and jotted down notes. They were in disagreement over who would get the house, the land, and the cattle.
After he left, I grabbed a cup of coffee from the break room and returned to my desk to look over the files for the ongoing murder trial. My client, Jeff Ritter, had been charged with the murder of his wife. The case had blown up in the media.
Evette Parks had been found in an alleged suicide, but after the detectives assigned to the case did some digging, they’d believed it to be foul play. All pointing to her husband. Jeff had hired me on the spot, saying I was the best defense attorney around.
Whether he’d been guilty or innocent, I hadn’t known for sure, but it wasn’t my job to prove he was innocent. It was my job to defend him to the best of my ability. The prosecution held the burden to prove guilt.
Defending criminalshad been one of the things Amber had constantly argued with me over. Among other things. If not my work, she’d accused me of cheating or something else ridiculous. She’d said I didn’t pay enough attention to her. She’d complained about our sex life. She disagreed with my political views, as I was liberal and she was super conservative. It all eventually led to her wanting a divorce.
Jay had been my anchor during that time in my life, whether he realized it or not. It had all started the morning Amber told me she wanted a divorce. I’d been at the courthouse for a custody hearing, and Jay had approached.
“Jay Foley,” he said, holding out his hand. “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced.”
“Emery Cross,” I answered, taking his hand. He was the current hot topic in the legal department. All the single women wanted him and even some of the men. “You’re the new prosecutor, correct?”
“Yeah, that’s me.” Jay regarded me curiously, letting his hand linger in mine a moment too long. His green eyes lingered on me too.
I felt like he was staring directly into me. It was unsettling… but also made my heart beat faster.
What did he see? The slight quickening of my breath, the hard swallow in my throat? I wondered if he saw what I had kept hidden for so many years—things I had often fantasized about but never once acted on.
“Being the new guy is hard,” Jay said, finally dropping his hand from mine. “Spare me the misery and let me buy you a drink tonight? I could use a friend.”
Ishouldhave gone home to talk to my wife. But I knew her decision for a divorce had been made. There was no changing her mind. And after a rough day in court, the last thing I wanted was to go home and argue with her, especially in front of our son.
“Well, if you’re buying…” I grabbed my briefcase and motioned to the exit with my head. “After you.”
That’s how it’d started. The sneaking around. The secrets. And then the huge blowup.
