LITMIR.BIZ

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mirrored wall behind the bar as he dislodged the cork and he hid a smile as her eyes tracked down his back and lower. She was checking out his ass. He had no problem with that. In fact, he’d be willing to give her a closer, unencumbered look if she asked.

      After pouring the wine into the glass, he turned and her gaze zipped up to his face as he offered it to her. “Enjoy.”

      She took the wine and a sip. “This is good. Aren’t you going to have some?”

      “I don’t drink alcohol. I’ve seen what it can do to people who can’t control their impulses.” He’d lived with the sorry results for most of his childhood and faced them daily during adulthood in the context of his job.

      She held up the glass. “That’s why I’m only having this one. I still have to drive home tonight.”

      He’d prefer she stay until morning, but that was probably asking too much. “You’ve only been here a few minutes and already you’re talking about leaving.”

      “I’m just being realistic, Counselor.”

      “It’s Daniel. Tonight we’re not attorneys, we’re friends.” He gestured toward the couch. “Have a seat and make yourself comfortable.”

      He followed her to the couch, keeping a fair distance just so he could watch the sway of her hips as she walked. Nothing wrong with a little mutual ass-checking.

      Alisha settled against the corner of the sofa and he sat on the opposite end, trying not to crowd her even if he did want to be closer.

      “If you don’t drink, then why do you keep alcohol around?” she asked.

      He stretched his legs out before him and rested his joined hands on his abdomen. “Strictly for socializing.”

      “I see. Have custom wet bar, will entertain. I’m sure it impresses your friends.”

      “I don’t entertain too often. Hard to find the time. And as I’ve said before, friends are few and far between these days.” A reminder of why she was here, nothing more than simple companionship.

      She kicked off her shoes and curled her legs beneath her. “So are the rumors true?”

      With her dress now riding high on her thighs, he had one helluva time concentrating on conversation. “What rumors?”

      “That you’re going to run for D.A.?”

      “That depends on party politics. They could decide someone else would make a more appropriate candidate.”

      “They would be crazy not to consider you.”

      “I don’t have a wife and kids, so that could be a determining factor.”

      She toyed with the hem of her skirt, drawing Daniel’s attention. “Oh, I don’t know about that. As a bachelor, I’m sure you would garner the female vote.”

      “Would I get your vote?”

      “That depends. I have yet to see you in action.”

      “Do you mean in a courtroom?”

      She sent him a sly, sexy smile. “Of course that’s what I meant.”

      Damn. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to move off the topic of work.”

      “Fine by me,” she said. “Tell me about your family.”

      That was one conversation he preferred to avoid, but out of courtesy he offered, “I have a brother and two sisters.”

      She took another drink of the wine and then set it down on a coaster on the end table. “What about your parents?

      He figured she’d ask that next and he planned to keep it simple. “Both dead.”

      She gave him a sincere, sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, Daniel. I didn’t know that. What happened?”

      “A car accident about seven years ago.” Enough said. He shifted toward her and draped an arm over the back of the sofa. “What about your family?”

      “I’m an only child. My mom and dad live in a small town in West Texas.”

      When he noted the hint of sadness in her voice, he asked, “Why aren’t you with them?”

      “Well, because the drive takes me nearly a day and I would have had to turn around and come right back home. I did spend Christmas with them, though.”

      “Sounds like you’re a close family.” Something Daniel had a hard time fathoming in light of his bitter past.

      “Very. They’re absolutely the best. We didn’t have a lot of money while I was growing up, but it didn’t matter. I had everything I needed and a lot of love.”

      Something he couldn’t even begin to relate to. He’d had the material objects because of his banker father, but the man had been bankrupt when it came to love. Daniel opted to keep the conversation focused on her. “I bet you were a cheerleader in high school.”

      She let go a terse laugh. “Hardly. I didn’t have adequate pom-poms.”

      Don’t do it, Fortune. But he couldn’t prevent his gaze from drifting to her breasts before he went back to her blue eyes. “I don’t see anything wrong with your pom-poms.”

      A slight blush stained her cheeks. “Thanks, but I wasn’t the cheerleader type. I was the studious type. I concentrated on making the grade instead of the usual high school stuff like sports and dating, that kind of thing.”

      “You didn’t date?”

      “Not really. Not until college, and even then not that much. I was bound and determined to be the best law student ever. I graduated with honors.”

      “Then you went to work for Gailey and Breedlove.”

      “Yes. They recruited me.”

      Daniel prepared to ask something he’d wanted to know for a while now. He’d heard some speculation about her departure, none that he’d been able to verify. “That’s a pretty prestigious firm. Why did you leave?”

      “It’s a long story, but basically I found that the justice scales were tipped toward those who had the money and means to pay for a good defense. That’s why I decided to strike out on my own and try to do my part to make things more balanced.”

      Not the version he’d heard, but he’d settle for her explanation without pressuring her for more. “That’s why you signed on to serve as a public defender?”

      “Yes, but I want to eventually concentrate on general law instead of criminal law, providing good counsel to those who have the need but not necessarily the money.”

      “How do you expect to make a living at that?”

      “Actually I have a few cases that could prove to be lucrative—provided I win. Just nothing up-front until they’re settled. But I’m getting by.”

      “And I suspect you’re working your ass off.”

      She patted her hip and smiled. “Believe me, it’s still there.”

      “I’ve noticed. And I’m glad.”

      She looked somewhat self-conscious as she twitched on the cushions. “By the way, how is Jim Krauss in court?”

      For a moment he wondered if she had a thing for his colleague. Nah. The guy was about as boring as they come. And married. “He’s fairly good. Why?”

      “I’m wondering what I’ll be facing during the Massey trial, if it goes to trial.”

      “I thought we weren’t going to discuss that,” he reminded her.

      “Just curious.”

      “Krauss better be at his best since you’re damn good.”

      “How would

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