Justify My Love: An Interracial Romance (BWWM) (3 page)

“You really seem to have a handle on things and look impressive in front of the judge, whose eyes appear to be glued to you. Your choice in wearing that suit was a good one. It fits like a glove.”

“I didn’t wear it for that reason, but if I have his attention, then he’ll be listening to what I have to say.”

“Maybe.”

His remark caught her off guard, but she wasn’t going to go there. She was uneasily reminded of the ADA’s sexist remark. On the other hand she found herself surprisingly pleased that Scott was noticing her.

Marnie’s napkin slid off her lap and fell to the floor. Both she and Scott bent to retrieve it, their hands colliding. A brief shiver rippled through her.

Scott felt his hand tingle as if hit by a spark of electricity. Disconcerted, he kept his face and voice expressionless as he retrieved the napkin. “Here you go,” he said handing it to her. “How long before we have to go back?”

“Oh, we have time.” Despite herself, Marnie sounded breathless.

Back in court after the long break, Marnie won a few more vital points. If things continued as well as they were going, the case would be over in a matter of days. She felt wonderful and decided not to let anything spoil her euphoria, which included further verbal jousting with Scott.

On the ride back to the office Scott surprised her once again by saying, “You were sensational in there. You had the judge hanging on to your every word, believing the father was self-destructive and abusive.”

“You think?”

“Every word.”

“Why, thank you, Scott.”

“I can see why Frank feels the way he does about you.”

Marnie was now becoming uncomfortable. Such praise coming from him seemed so uncharacteristic of her first impression of him and began to set off warning bells in her head making her wary. She began to wonder if the man she encountered the other night in the Laundromat had been his evil twin brother. After all, hadn’t Scott been pleasant and charming at lunch, as well?

She thanked him and together they walked back into the fifteen-floor glass-encased building that housed the law firm of Conway, Jones and Freed. Frank had gone for the day, so a few minutes later Scott found himself knocking on Marnie’s door. Poking his head in, he asked, “Want some company? I’ll go away if you’re busy.”

“No. It’s okay,” she replied smiling. “Come on in. I was merely preparing the documents I might need for court tomorrow. Want some coffee?”

“Only if Debbie makes it.”

“Are you insinuating that I can’t make coffee?” she teased.

“No, not at all. I’d rather spend what little time there’s left of the day to talk.”

“You’re a charmer, Langley.”

“I certainly hope so.”

“Scott, can I ask you a personal question?”

“Yes, I’m single and very available. Or have I mentioned that already?”

“Thanks for the info, but that wasn’t the question.”

“Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

“You’re
trying
, all right.”

“Seriously, what would you like to know?” He said, removing a trace of lint from his pants.

“How Frank came to be your godfather?”

Scott smiled warmly. “Now that’s an easy question. My dad met Frank in the rice paddies of Vietnam. They bonded coming from the same state. During a skirmish, my dad saved Frank’s life and they remained friends after the war.”

“So your father is the man standing next to Frank holding the rifle in the picture hanging in his office?”

“Uh-huh. When the war was over, Dad tried to get Frank to join him in the construction business he was going to start. Unfortunately, Frank hated working with his hands and chose to go to law school instead. Even so, the two managed to stay in touch. The next ten years saw them both marrying and starting families. Dad’s business blossomed and Frank was hired by Conway, Jones and Freed. The rest, as they say, is history.”

She nodded. “Is your dad still alive?”

Scott shook his head. “When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, everything went south quickly. Watching her suffer was the worst thing I’d ever experienced. The disease spread rapidly and the doctors were unable to contain it.”

“How old were you?”

Scott shifted in his seat. “Twelve.”

“Must have been really tough for you being so young.”

“You could never imagine how tough. When Mom died, Dad wanted to follow her into her grave. If it hadn’t been for Frank and his wife, Louise, I would have been an orphan. Dad began to look for answers at the bottom of whiskey bottles. Frank and Louise took care of me while Dad got himself straightened out.”

Marnie nodded and sipped her coffee.

“After Dad stopped drinking, he met a younger woman and married her. Unfortunately, she split on him and left him a very bitter man.” Glancing down at his watch, Scott ended the conversation by saying, “I’ve probably bored you to death already.”

“No, not at all. Learning about my family—now
that
would be classified as boring.”

“Not so. What might be uninteresting to you could be very interesting to someone like me.”

“Doubt it.”

“Try me.”

“I have a brother, who’s a computer tech, and a sister, who lives with my parents. My dad’s a fire protection engineer.”

“What’s that?”

“He designs sprinkler heads to be installed in buildings.”

“Oh, in case of fire…gotcha.”

“Told you it was thrilling information.”

He held up his hands. “Okay, you win that round. I’ll get going and let you finish your work.”

“When do you officially start?”

“Here or as an ADA?”

Marnie put down her mug. “You’re not joining our law firm? I automatically assumed you were—being Frank’s godson.”

“I’m only going to be here for a few months until I officially join the District Attorney’s staff.”

“But, I would think you’d be happier here, not to mention the pay would be better.”

“I’d rather put away the bad guys.”

“How did Frank take the news?”

“He wasn’t thrilled with my decision, but he respects it. He left the door open, though, figuring that when the system eventually wore me down, I would abandon the public sector and join the private sector with him.”

“Sounds like Frank.”

“So for now, I’ll be helping out wherever I’m needed.”

“When do you start?”

“I already did.”

“So, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“ Yeah, but before I go, I want to apologize. I owe you an apology for the other night,” Scott said.

That statement captured Marnie’s complete attention just as effectively as if he stood up in a crowded room and shouted, “Fire!” From what she’d gleaned of this man she hadn’t thought,
apology
was a word normally used in his daily vocabulary.

“I came into the Laundromat angry having just had a nasty encounter with some guy. I guess I took it out on you. I’m sorry.”

“I understand,” Marnie replied, suddenly recalling how Jason had stood her up. The memory still riled her. “Apology accepted.”

“Phew! That was much easier than I thought,” he said, grinning.

“What did you think I was? Some kind of a man-eating shrew?”

“Uh…No, of course not!” he replied.

“Really? If I believe that, you’d soon be offering to sell me some bridge.”

“Not so. I think you are the sweetest, most genial type of woman who would love to go out to dinner with a kind-hearted soul like me,” Scott said, his grey eyes twinkling in amusement.

“
Now
you’re pushing it,” Marnie said, trying to suppress her laughter.

“But will you?”

“Will I what?”

“Have dinner with me?” Scott suddenly realized that he was anxious about what her answer would be.

“You want
me
to have dinner with
you
?”

“In the
woist
way,” he said, hands clutching his heart, as he tried ineffectually to put on a beseeching puppy-dog look.

Marnie chuckled at the hopeless acting job and the terrible Jersey accent. “I’d like very much to have dinner with you,” surprising herself.

“Saturday, then?” he said with a grin and left.

Marnie stared at the door long after he’d left. Scott’s decision to become an ADA had caught her by surprise. She wondered what Frank
really
felt about Scott’s decision.

* * *

Scott was surprised at his attraction toward Marnie. He’d always preferred blondes or redheads. What was it about this fetching woman with the soft molasses skin that he so wanted to taste? When he saw her standing there in his godfather’s office like a vision in that suit showing off those outrageous curves, he could hardly believe his eyes. He’d never expected to see her again. He took her all in slowly. Her short, black hair framed her delicate oval face and those large, dark brown eyes. They were slightly up-tilted at the corners and surrounded by long, black eyelashes that swept down over her high cheekbones. Her full, rounded plum-colored lips looked so kissable…He stopped himself. The last time he daydreamed about a woman like this he was in high school. And this woman was not one to be easily toyed with. She was sharp and had steel in her backbone. However, he liked a good challenge and she seemed up to the task. He’d like to tame the tigress, but nothing more. After his previous debacle with Connie, he wasn’t looking for a new relationship—especially one that led to a ring.

Chapter Three

Marnie saw Scott only briefly the next day. He was busy readying his office on the first floor. No favors there. Like everyone else, he had to earn an office on the higher floor.

Preparing for court, Frank Conway stopped by for a chat.

“You’re really clobbering the other side in the Reynolds case. I never imagined it would go so well.”

“Neither did I, but we’ve been lucky. Every time Ralph Reynolds opens his mouth, he switches feet. I’m surprised his lawyer doesn’t put a muzzle on him.”

Frank chuckled before adding, “Duct tape works better.”

Marnie laughed with him.

“You and Scott have worked out your differences, I hear.”

“Yes, we have,” she replied, and smiled.

“I’m glad. We sometimes forget that first impressions are often misleading.”

Marnie knew exactly what Frank was referring to. One of her first cases involved a young girl accused of fatally shooting her brother. On the surface, it looked like an easy one to defend. He had repeatedly abused her and she had finally snapped. The girl herself came off as a sweet, innocent victim. It wasn’t until she was halfway through the trial that Marnie discovered that the sex was consensual and when the brother wanted to end it, she shot him out of anger. So much for first impressions.

“I’m hoping to wrap it up today.”

“Good. There’s another important case I’d like you to take over. As soon as this one is cleared from your plate, I’ll brief you.”

“Thanks, Frank,” Marnie said, as she grabbed her briefcase and left.

* * *

Approaching the courthouse, Marnie noticed the news trucks. She knew it was to be expected with any high profile trials. It was simply grotesque how people flocked to the most gruesome trials. The media with their inflammatory coverage were partly to blame, yet they were merely tapping into and exploiting the public’s desire for sensationalism. Sex and gore sold newspapers. The more sensational the news, the better; William Randolph Hearst’s lasting legacy to journalism.

Compared to most custody battles, the one she was fighting was complicated and far from straightforward, though even so, it was still relatively low key. Up until now, there had been no real outbursts from either side, though, Ralph Reynolds, the less-than-happy husband of her client, reached his simmering point on a few occasions. Thus far, his lawyer had been able to keep his lid on and prevent the man from exploding. However, she realized as the hearing was nearing its conclusion, Reynolds was becoming increasingly agitated and Marnie wanted to exploit this.

Marnie continued this strategy and it finally paid off when she started to present evidence that he’d physically abused Marie. “Only a coward would hit a defenseless woman—” Marnie sneered.

Reynolds exploded. “Hit her? That woman deserved whatever she got. She’s nothing more than an incompetent fool!” Reynolds spat, his eyes flashing. Pointing at Marie, he stabbed the air with his finger. “Just look at her sitting there shaking like a leaf. What kind of parent do you think she actually is? I wouldn’t entrust a puppy in her care!”

Suppressing a smile, Marnie patted her client’s hand to calm and reassure her as she watched as Jake Piperno, Ralph Reynold’s lawyer, tried in vain to silence him. The damage was done, though.

Now it all depended on the judge who had to decide what was best for the twins and who made the better parent. It was great, though, when the other side helped her cause.

During a short recess requested by the other side, Marnie and Marie Reynolds went outside for a breath of air. They left stealthily by way of a back door to avoid newspaper reporters. There was no way Marnie wanted the case harmed by the media’s distorting something she or Marie said in the name of selling news.

Listening to Marie go on about Ralph, Marnie’s thoughts drifted to Jason, whom she hadn’t given much thought to since her encounters with Scott. She wasn’t exactly certain how she felt about Jason any longer. They did have such good times together and he could always manage to make her laugh. Whenever they had an argument, Jason would always make up by doing something special. He had his good points, but more and more, she wasn’t sure she could live with his bad points. She was still waiting for that explanation for canceling the dinner date the other night. Her thoughts were interrupted by Marie who had asked a question.

“I’m sorry, Marie, what did you say?”

“What will I do, if the judge doesn’t find in my favor?”

Marnie gently squeezed Marie’s hand and said, “Let’s think more positively. We did the best we could. Have faith that the judge will do the right thing.”

“Thank you for everything,” she said grabbing Marnie’s hands and gently squeezing them.

Marnie smiled. “You’re welcome. We’ve got to go back. Recess is over.”

Both sides were immediately called to the bench. Ralph Reynolds’ lawyer looked as if he spent the last half-hour in battle with his client. He informed the court that he was ready for closing arguments. Judge Nesbitt nodded. He looked at his watch and decided to recess court for the day.

The next day would be a full day. Marnie was becoming weary of the case. She hoped the judge would reach his decision quickly. Running the damn media gauntlet every time she entered or left the courthouse was wearing her down.