“I’ll be fine, Ruth, once I eat something.”
“You’ve ordered in?”
“No, Michelle is bringing me something in.”
Ruth nodded. “I guess like everyone else she’ll be at the circus today.”
Dominique couldn’t help but smile. That was exactly what the proceedings today would be like – a circus. Danah Fairchild had been charged with the murder of her husband, billionaire Lee Fairchild. Mrs. Fairchild’s attorneys claimed that she was innocent of the charges. Today both the prosecution and the defense would be presenting opening arguments.
“Yes, she’ll be there,” Dominique finally answered. “I expect we’ll be tied up with this case for several months.”
Ruth nodded. “This may not be a good time to tell you, but you got a call this morning.”
Dominique raised a brow. “A call from who?”
“Kenneth Reynolds.”
Dominique didn’t say anything for the longest while; then she said quietly, “I wonder why he’s calling me.”
“Probably because he’s heard that you’re still pining over him.”
“I don’t know why he would believe that.”
“I do. You haven’t dated anyone since the two of you split. So quite naturally, with that big ego of his, he figures that he’s the reason. He probably also figures that you’ve forgiven him for his sin and will take him back.”
“Not while there’s still breath in my body.”
Ruth chuckled. “That’s what I figured, but I didn’t think I should be the one to tell him that.”
Dominique inhaled deeply. If the truth were known, the only man she was pining over was Jordan. She had been thinking about him constantly, and although she felt she’d made the right decision by not showing up yesterday morning at the park, she’d discovered a part of her wasn’t completely happy about it.
“You should have a special man in your life, Dominique.”
Dominique raised a brow. “You’re beginning to sound like Michelle, Ruth.”
“Constance is worried about you, too.”
Dominique shook her head. Her grandmother and Ruth had become bosom buddies since Ruth became her secretary three years ago. “Gramma worries about everyone, Ruth. Last night she called me concerned that the President was giving a press conference on the front lawn of the White House and wasn’t wearing a jacket. Since it was in the fifties in D.C., she thought he was all but asking for pneumonia.”
“That isn’t funny, Dominique.”
“What isn’t? The President catching pneumonia or everyone thinking I need a man.”
“We don’t think you
need
a man; we just think you should start dating again.”
“And I will, sooner or later.”
Ruth frowned. “We’re hoping it will be sooner than later. Constance and I would like some little ones to spoil while we still can.”
Dominique couldn’t help but grin as she shook her head. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll keep that in mind.”
T
he first thing Jordan noticed when he entered the courtroom was that the place was packed. It seemed everyone wanted to be present at what some labeled the trial of the year.
An atmosphere of anticipation hung in the air. There was also an ambience of doubt, Jordan thought. Royce and the other members of the firm’s defense team were going to have a hard time convincing the jury of Danah Fairchild’s innocence when the media had already painted her as the manipulating, greedy, and conniving wife.
Taking one of the few available seats in the back, Jordan settled into a comfortable position. He planned to remain only long enough to hear Royce present his opening arguments.
Moments later, the bailiff’s strong voice started the proceedings. “All rise. The Honorable D. Kincaid’s court is now in session. . . .”
Jordan, like everyone else in the courtroom, stood and focused his attention toward the front when the judge entered. He blinked when recognition hit – right below the gut – and his breath got lodged deep in his throat.
He blinked again, thinking he must be seeing things, but when the judge took her place behind the bench he knew he was seeing clearly. The Honorable D. Kincaid was Dominique. Even wearing a black robe and with her hair twisted into a knot on top of her head, he recognized her.
“Everyone may be seated.”
As the bailiff instructed, he took his seat and watched spellbound as Judge Kincaid began speaking with all the authority she possessed, holding everyone’s rapt attention.
Everyone’s but his.
His entire body was tinged with awareness as his mind drifted to the first time he had seen her jogging. He continued to stare, mesmerized, unable to pull his gaze away. He then remembered the morning they jogged together in companionable silence for three solid miles, and how he had wanted to ask her out but hadn’t gotten the chance before she’d taken off. His hands curled into fists and he wondered what fast fix he could use to keep his body under control when it was getting hard already. He shifted positions in the seat, not wanting to make his predicament obvious to those around him. Placing his briefcase in his lap seemed to be a pretty good solution.
Settling back in his seat, he wondered what her reaction would be when she saw him. Would she immediately recognize him as he had recognized her? Her attention was on the occupants at the defense and prosecution tables, as well as on those individuals sitting in the jury box. He couldn’t wait for the moment when he could capture her gaze with his.
He didn’t have to wait long. Wayne Martin, a member of the prosecution, stood to address the jurors in opening remarks. It was then that Judge Kincaid allowed her gaze to scan the scope of her courtroom.
Jordan slowly inhaled a deep breath the moment their gazes met. Her eyes glittered in surprise. Then it happened. Across the span of the courtroom he felt the connection, an electrifying sexual charge. It galvanized a solid link between them with a force that nearly took his breath away.
He knew that he wasn’t alone in this dilemma when he noticed a shudder touch Dominique that was so lightning fast, if he hadn’t been watching her so intently he would have missed it.
When Royce stood to present the opening argument for the defense, Jordan shifted the briefcase in his lap, feeling his body getting harder. He couldn’t help but wonder what Her Honor was thinking at this very moment.
Dominique released a shuddering breath and forced her gaze to move on, away from Jordan. But that didn’t stop a feeling of unrestrained warmth from flooding her insides. She mentally shook herself and returned her attention to the attorney who was speaking to the jurors, and not the man sitting in the audience. But still, she couldn’t help but search her mind for answers. Was he a member of the press? A curious spectator? A family member of the accused or the victim?
She forced her attention back to the proceedings. A while later, opening arguments for both sides had been completed and the first witness was being called and sworn in.
Moments later Dominique found herself looking back in the audience at Jordan. He was still staring at her. She wondered if perhaps his being here was no coincidence. Had he intentionally sought her out?
“I object, Your Honor!”
Dominique’s attention was drawn back to the front of the courtroom. The defense attorney had stood, not agreeing with something the prosecutor had asked the witness. She racked her brain, wondering just what the defense attorney was objecting to, and felt annoyed for letting Jordan be a distraction. Everyone in the courtroom was looking at her, waiting for her to respond. Since Wayne Martin was known for using underhanded tactics at times, she decided to play it safe and asked, “On what grounds, Counselor?”
“The prosecution is arguing facts not entered into evidence, Your Honor.”
She nodded, then said, “Objection sustained.”
Martin looked agitated. The defense attorney, Royce Parker, looked downright relieved. Dominique felt frustrated. She didn’t need to be distracted and decided to keep her mind on what was going on in her courtroom and not on the man making her entire body feel heated. And from the way he was looking at her, she had a feeling he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
She shuddered and drew in a deep breath. That was not a comforting thought.
***
After banging her gavel Dominique said, “Court is adjourned until nine-thirty in the morning.” She stood and exited the courtroom, quickly heading for her chambers. Just as she had assumed he would, Jordan had remained through the entire court session. It had been close to impossible to ignore him. And whenever she did happen to glance his way, he was always staring at her. Had her complexion been lighter than nut brown, it would have been obvious to everyone that she had literally been in a heated flush throughout the entire proceedings.
Holding her head down as she walked, she wondered what in the world she was going to do. She made a sound of agitated disgust when she reached the area where her chambers were located. What on earth would she do if he decided to show up in her courtroom again tomorrow?
“How did things go today?”
Dominique didn’t look up as she responded to Ruth, “Not so good,” and kept walking in deep thought toward the door to her chambers.
“Judge Kincaid, please wait up!”
Dominique’s head lifted in surprise and she quickly whirled around, trying to ignore the way her heart was pounding fast and furious in her chest.
“What are you doing here, Jordan?” Dominique asked softly as her eyes lit on his face.
Jordan’s brow lifted at the not-so-simple question that was asked in a somewhat shaky voice. It was all he could do to keep from reaching out and touching her when he came to a full stop in front of her. Since she had come directly from the courtroom, she hadn’t taken the time to take her robe off. An image of how she had looked that last morning he had seen her filled his mind. She’d been hot, sweaty, and delectable, as well as sexy as hell. Even now, with a robe covering her, she still was. It didn’t take much to dredge up the basic primal appetite he seemed to have around her. Which was the main reason he was holding his briefcase in front of him.
“Jordan?”
The lips that said his name looked soft and sweet, and he couldn’t help but wonder how they would feel pressed against his.
“You didn’t show up yesterday morning, Dominique.”
Very slowly Dominique forced her gaze away from his, and then she noticed Ruth sitting at her desk watching them intently. She groaned softly. Her entire family would definitely hear about this, starting with her grandmother. Swallowing hard, she returned her gaze to Jordan.
“I would rather that we talked privately in my chambers.”
Jordan nodded. “Yeah, that’s not a bad idea.”
Dominique’s head tilted as she looked up at him. She then wondered whether inviting him into her chambers had been a smart move on her part. They would be alone and she barely knew him. All she knew about him was that his name was Jordan, he liked to jog, and he got turned on easily, since she was definitely not the type of woman to cause any man to come down with an immediate case of lust. That was Michelle’s forte.
She inwardly sighed. Now that she had suggested that they talk privately in her chambers, she couldn’t back out. Instead of saying anything she turned and began walking the last few feet to her door, knowing Jordan was following. She heard him take the time to speak to Ruth.
“Do you want me to hold your calls, Your Honor?”
With a sigh Dominique turned around, slightly annoyed with Ruth. She could read her like a book. “No, don’t hold my calls, and when Michelle arrives please send her in.”
“I’m sure you’ll want me to announce her first,” Ruth said in an amused voice, as though she were sharing some joke with herself.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
“All right,” Ruth said, sounding as if she wasn’t convinced that would be a good idea.
Dominique narrowed her gaze at Ruth. What did she expect her and Jordan to do behind closed doors? Get naked? She opened her mouth to say something, but snapped it shut when she realized it would be useless to say anything. Jordan was a man, and according to her family, she needed one.
She was so drawn into those thoughts that she didn’t notice that Jordan was reaching around her until he opened the door. He had leaned in close and she breathed in his scent. The manly warmth of it was stimulating. She looked up at him and cleared her throat. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
As soon as Dominique walked into her chambers she immediately felt the walls closing in around her. And when she heard Jordan pull the door shut behind them, she suddenly felt heat rush through her body. She whirled around, determined to get this over with. “The reason I didn’t come to the park yesterday morning was because I thought it was best that I didn’t.”
“Why? Because there’s a raw, primal sexuality that flows between us? Are you going to deny feeling it?”
Dominique nodded her head. She would deny it because she had to. “I’m not the type of woman to incite uncontrollable passion in a man.”
“I’ve got some pretty
hard
evidence that indicates otherwise,” he said, frowning. His eyes bored into hers.