Defensive Heart: The Donnolleys, Book 2 (4 page)

Chapter Five

Jimmy stepped into his apartment in Greenwich Village after an exhausting flight from Los Angeles. Actually, the flight wasn’t too bad, but the last week in L.A. had been tiring. He’d ended up being in Los Angeles just over four weeks.

He’d stayed an additional week to take care of his nephew, Jacob, while Ryan ran out to Vegas to help his girl—at least she was supposed to be his girl. Jimmy wasn’t sure if his brother was going to figure out the mess Ryan called a relationship or not.

Since his brother had finally let go of his fear of getting involved with someone again, he seemed to know what and who he wanted. Now Ryan’s chickie, Maiya, needed to figure her side out. Hopefully they’d get it all together and shit would work out for them. Sure would be nice to see his brother happy and settled after so many years of madness. Ryan deserved it.

Jimmy climbed the spiral metal stairs leading to his loft bedroom, dropped his bag in front of his dresser and flopped on his bed, intent on closing his eyes for only a minute. He’d taken a red-eye home and it was barely ten in the morning. Shit, he didn’t even get up this early after getting a full night’s sleep.

Norton, his cat, jumped up next to him and started mewling with requests for attention, and probably food. His neighbor, Mrs. Lansky, had been taking care of the cat while he’d been away. Stroking Norton’s black fur from his head to tail, he then scratched under his chin. The cat rewarded him with a resounding purr and kneaded Jimmy’s belly. After a few minutes, Norton finally settled, curling up in the crook of Jimmy’s arm.

The next thing Jimmy heard was the sound of his cell ringing. Rubbing his eyes, he peered at the clock on his bedside table. Two p.m. He snorted.
Damn, long minute.
Rolling to his side, he reached for the phone, which had stopped ringing. He swiped his thumb across the screen and Norton jumped off the bed. Jimmy pulled up the missed calls and saw it was his brother. Hitting the
Send
button, he rose from the bed and walked downstairs.

“Thanks for letting me know you got home okay.”

Jimmy chuckled. “Sorry,
Dad
. I fell asleep when I got home.”

“Whatever. You’re lucky I didn’t call Mom and let her know I hadn’t heard from you.”

“You’re right. Totally lucky.” He stifled a yawn behind his palm. “Seriously though, I did fall asleep and it was too early to call you anyway.”

“I figured.”

Jimmy knew the resigned tone he heard in his brother’s voice had more to do with his chickie than it did him. It worried him. “You hear from her yet?”

His brother sighed. “Nope.”

“Sorry, man. That sucks.” Jimmy picked at the pile of mail on his countertop.

“Is what it is.”

“Yeah, I guess so. All right, let me go. I got a pile of mail I need to sort. Hungry too. Give Jacob a hug from me?”

“Will do.”

“Hey, Ry?”

“Hmm?”

“Keep your head up.”

“Thanks.”

Jimmy disconnected the call and set the phone down. He scooped up the pile of mail and moved to the small dining table. Pulling his wallet from his back pocket, he tossed it on the table. The end of a white business card sticking out of his billfold caught his eye. He slid the card from its hiding place.

Bergman and Bergman. Sonja Martin, Esq. Criminal Defense.

He’d thought about Sonja-the-lawyer several times over the last four weeks, but he hadn’t called her. Not that he’d forgotten about it, just that whole out of sight, out of mind thing. Maybe she’d be up for dinner. Hell, it was worth a shot, right? Scooping up his phone, Jimmy stared at the card in his hand. He hesitated a moment—
chicken shit—
and dialed the office line, rather than her cell.

“Bergman and Bergman. How may I direct your call?”

“Ah, yeah. Sonja Martin, please?” Jimmy rose from his seat.

“I’m sorry; she’s in court. Would you like to leave a message?”

“Which court?”

“Are you one of her clients?”

“No, ma’am.” He cleared his throat. “My name is James Donnelly. She was interested in commissioning a piece of art from me.”
What’s a little white lie, right?

“Why don’t I take your number and I’ll let her know you called?”

Jimmy pinched the bridge of his nose.
Think. Think.
“Sure, that’d be fine. I just figured… Wait, it’s public record isn’t it? I mean…the court cases and stuff. I want to—you know what? I’ll just call her cell. Thanks.”

“As you wish, Mr. Donnelly. Anything else I can—”

Jimmy disconnected the call before the receptionist finished speaking. Not that he wanted to be rude, but he needed to mentally prep for his next move. Pacing the entryway hall, he wiped his sweating palm on his thigh and dialed her cell.

The phone rang in his ear and nervous tension raced through his blood. What the hell was his problem? What was with this sudden case of the nerves? Blowing out a breath, he realized exactly what his problem was. He wasn’t worried she wouldn’t answer because she was busy; more that Sonja
would
answer only to hang up on him as soon as she heard his voice, that’s what.

Third ring. Fourth. Voicemail. And then…her voice.

Hello, you’ve reached the voicemail of Sonja Martin, with the law office of Bergman and Bergman. Today is Wednesday, September nineteenth, and I will be at the Midtown Community Court until five p.m. Please leave a message, and I’ll return your call as soon as I’m available. Thank you.

Jimmy disconnected the call before the beep. “Bingo.”

He glanced at the clock. Two thirty. Plenty of time to grab a shower and head to the courthouse. The prospect of seeing her again set his stomach into a fit of knots. Damn, he never got nervous like this over women.
Get a friggin’ grip, dude.
He felt like a teenager for fuck’s sake.

Within an hour, Jimmy stood outside the six-story nineteenth-century building. The place looked carved out of the Renaissance era, complete with tan columns framing the second- and third-story windows and a limestone face on the main level. Running his fingers through his hair to ensure it still held its messy fell-out-of-bed quality, he took a deep breath and walked through the main entrance. How hard could it be to find one very tall, very beautiful blonde attorney?

After emptying his pockets and walking through the necessary metal detectors and security screenings, Jimmy found it wasn’t hard at all. The court had one, and only one courtroom.
Score.
He stepped to the entryway closing off the courtroom from the main hall and listened. Hearing faint voices, he gently opened the door and peered inside.

There she was, standing at the front, addressing the judge. Jimmy sucked in a breath at the sight of the back of her blonde head and moved quietly inside. Careful to not let the door slam behind him, he stood still, bracing it with his hands until it slid closed. Then he moved to his right and took a seat in the back row.

Sonja’s spoke with a calculated, direct tone to the judge and her voice spread over Jimmy’s skin like a warm blanket. She sounded different than her voicemail message and also from how he remembered when they met, but then again, they had been in a loud bar. Plus, he’d been a tad intoxicated.

Jimmy grinned, recalling what a bitch she’d been when they first met. She had the same air about her now—stunning, with a hint of the attitude he found so intriguing.

Fire and ice.

She wore a black pencil skirt, fitted to her knees, and a black blazer with a pale peach blouse beneath it. Her hair was pulled tight in the same twist on the back of her head she’d had in Vegas. And stiletto heels.

Jimmy ran his palm over his chin, smoothing his goatee and smothering a groan. The heels were his downfall. Hell, who was he kidding? Everything about this woman was his downfall, but looking at her long, shapely legs perched on five-inch, black, spiked heels made his blood boil at temperatures that couldn’t possibly be safe.

He stretched his legs out in front of him and watched Sonja-the-lawyer argue the next three cases. The first was a possession of marijuana charge, the next harassment and the final, prostitution. She debated her points with the judge on every case and got what she wanted for each client. Astounding.

The woman had talent, and you couldn’t say it was her looks, because the judge didn’t seem to notice. The guy barely looked up from the stack of papers in front of him. She had a presence about her, an air of dominance, and strangely, a softness that commanded attention. Considering these were small-time cases, she argued with a skill rivaling his father’s. She’d be a force to be reckoned with on something bigger. Did she handle anything bigger? Jimmy wanted to know so much more about her. He wanted to know everything about her…if he could. If she’d let him.

“Court adjourned.”

Jimmy looked up at the judge in time to see him slam the gavel on its little wooden disk with a resounding
crack
and rise from his seat. The many onlookers stood and started milling out of the room, some deep in conversation, a few already making calls on their cell phones. Jimmy stayed where he was, catching glimpses of her through the people crossing in front of him in the other rows of seats and the center walkway.

Sonja slung the strap of a large black leather soft-sided case over her shoulder and turned to exit down the center aisle, her focus on the screen of her cell phone. When she got next to him, Jimmy clasped her upper arm.

She stopped, glanced down at her arm and then up at him. Her baby blues widened in recognition. “Well, Mr. Donnelly. I have to say, I didn’t think I’d be seeing you again.”

Jimmy stepped closer to her. The nervous tension was back and his mouth was dry.
Chill. You got this.
He had to play his cards right. She’d bolt the first chance she got, and he wasn’t going to let that happen. Tilting his head to the side, he took in her prominent cheekbones and her full lips before returning his gaze to her eyes. “Sure you did.”

Sonja set her heavy leather bag on the bench. It was a good diversion tactic. She’d take any opportunity to catch her breath and gather her scattering thoughts. James Donnelly was in front of her, and as a result, every part of her body was on fire.

What was it about this young guy that made her feel like she was standing too close to a fireplace? Yes, he was good looking.
Really good looking
. Yes, he had a nice body.
Really nice body
. But it wasn’t like she didn’t see attractive men on a regular basis in the City. She did. She saw them often and didn’t have this sort of reaction to them.

Sonja pressed her palm to her forehead, looked at him and felt…annoyed.

James had that devilish smile on his face, bringing his dimples front and center. The ones she couldn’t quite wipe from her memory. He was wrong. Sonja truly hadn’t thought she’d be seeing him again. Hoped, sure. But she wasn’t going to admit it to him. That information was between her and her showerhead. Sonja crossed her arms and leaned a hip against the bench next to her. “Presumptuous as ever.”

“It’s nice to see you again too.”

Keeping this exchange formal and professional was paramount. The last thing she wanted was to continue what’d started between them in Las Vegas weeks ago. “What are you doing here?”

“I told you I wanted to see you again. So, here I am.” James put his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “Coffee or something, remember?”

“That was four weeks ago.” She grabbed her bag and settled the strap on her shoulder. “I think we’re past that now.” Sonja turned to walk away and made it as far as the doors.

He cupped her elbow, urged her backward a bit and pushed the door open for her. “Hey, now. You missed me. I get it.”

She ignored the rush of heat from his touch, cut him a sideways glance and walked through the exit. James followed and then moved beside her and placed his hand on the small of her back. Sonja stepped to the side to evade his touch. He needed to stop touching her. She was already burning up—maybe she was having a hot flash? Pre-menopause? She could only hope, because the idea that it was his touch making her smolder had her even more agitated than she already was. She simply didn’t respond to
any
man like this. “I assure you, Mr. Donnelly, I most certainly did not miss you.”

“Liar.” He bumped her shoulder with his and pressed the
Down
button for the elevator.

Sonja groaned and shook her head. “I told you in Vegas. I’m too old for you. Don’t you have women closer to your age you can bother?”

The elevator doors opened and James cleared his throat. “As matter of fact, I do. But I’m thinking you’ll be more fun.” He held his hand out, motioning for her to step inside the empty car.

She gasped and stepped in. The brushed steel doors closed and she pressed her lips together. Did he really just say that? Fine. He could be a smart ass all he wanted. It would make this all the easier. “Look, Mr. Donnelly. It’s obvious to me our little exchange in Las Vegas meant more to you than it did me. I’m flattered, really. But I think it’s best you go play with those other girls
.
This
woman
has no time for your fun.”

The bell announcing the ground floor dinged.
Perfect timing.
Shifting her bag on her hip, she exited the elevator. Sonja didn’t look back this time and assumed he wasn’t following. Her retort had to have stung. Good.
Damn.

She didn’t care.

Really, she didn’t.
Crap.
Did she?

Sonja stepped on to the busy rush-hour-clogged sidewalk and fanned herself. The evening air was chilly, but it wasn’t doing a damn thing to cool her off. Setting her bag down, she removed her suit jacket.

“Let me carry this for you.” Jimmy bent and picked up her briefcase. “I think we should have dinner tonight. You look hungry.”

“Can’t you take a hint?”

James wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her tight against his chest. Her breath gushed out when their bodies collided. Hard lean muscles pressed to her chest, stomach and hips. Good God, she was going to burn alive.