Winning Appeal (5 page)

Beth

Sunday 7:00 PM

My friends and I had a Sunday night tradition. The guys got together to watch sports, and the women got together for wine, cheese, and conversation.

“So, you’re okay?” Gabrielle asked, taking a sip of chardonnay.

“Yeah, other than my pride. By the way, never laugh with a mint I your mouth.”

“You’re lucky you two didn’t get killed on the Parkway, honey,” Jess said sympathetically while spreading some cheese on a cracker.

“That Louis guy is pretty amazing,” Lily noted. “He did the Heimlich, saved Mark from becoming road kill, and then drove you to a party. Now that’s an employee.”

“Braden and I were very impressed by how well you and Mark pulled it together,” Gab said, supportively. “You both managed to maintain your dignity. Even when you were on the ground with your dress hiked up like that.” She smiled and I winced.

“Don’t worry honey, you’re undies were only showing in one of the pictures,” Jess added. “And nobody reads that paper anyway.”

“Braden noticed what a good job Mark did?” I asked. “His eye was all red and he got scraped up when Louis jumped on him, but you would have thought that nothing had happened.” I realized that I was sounding rather protective, and not just a little smitten, and my friends shared some surreptitious smiles.

“Yes, he did notice,” Gab assured me. “He said that he owed him a beer for this one, and then he said he owed him a whole case of beer.”

“Now, who was this trollop you ran into?” Jess asked, cutting in.

“Caitlin Reynolds. She’s a party girl but she’s not really a bad person. She’s just such an airhead and so self-absorbed, that it never occurs to her how offensive and annoying she may be to others.”

“She said it was at Thanksgiving that she hooked up with Mark?” Lily asked. “I remember him saying something to Adam about it.”

“You do? She was that memorable?” I put down my cracker. Suddenly, I felt ill.

“Not in a good way,” Lily replied. “He told Adam that she was so annoying he left right afterward.”

“Yeah, that sounds like Caitlin.” I picked my cracker back up.

“Oh, right, I remember now,” Gab chimed in. “The one who kept talking about Facebook and yelled out Mike when they had sex.”

“That’s definitely Caitlin.” I put the cracker down again. The image of Caitlin calling out his name depressed me, even if she got it wrong.

“That was the night we told him you two would make a good couple,” Lily said with a smile. “And he’s been infatuated with you ever since.”

“I think he’s always crushed on her,” Gab said. “Remember that weekend last summer when we were all talking about Lily’s books? Mark found it very interesting that Beth was a fan of erotic romance novels.”

“I do remember that,” Lily said. “Everyone was paying attention to you and Braden getting engaged though.”

“And you and Adam denying your obvious desire for each other,” Jess teased.

“And Cameron struggling with how he should ask you out,” Gab informed Jess.

“Wow, we’re one big lusty group of people aren’t we?” Lily laughed. “Speaking of lust, what happened after the fundraiser?”

“Uh uh,” Gab broke in, wagging her finger. “I think we should ask no detailed questions about that for now. They both need to build up their confidence.”

“Did he kiss you, honey?” Jess asked, ignoring Gabrielle. She and Mark were good friends from their public defender days.

“Oh my God, did he kiss me,” I said with a huge grin and they all broke out with cheers and catcalls. Even Gabrielle. There may have been some applause.

“Did you have sex?” Lily asked, sitting forward eagerly.

“No. But if there was one good thing about running into Caitlin, it was that it gave him an opening to tell me he had never gone the serious relationship route, but it wasn’t because he had baggage, but just because he hadn’t wanted to in the past.”

“He said ‘in the past’?” Jess asked excitedly.

“Yes.” I beamed and another cacophony of squeals erupted. “Anyway, he brought me home and we had this amazing conversation that lasted for hours. Then he asked me if it was date and he kissed me goodnight. He’s going to go with me to the fundraiser next weekend.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Gab broke in. “No pressure. And let’s talk about something besides men.” I loved my friends so much.

Monday 10:00 AM

I was sitting at my desk going over a grant proposal and trying to concentrate, but unfortunately, we had thin walls. The office noises didn’t bother me, but I would occasionally hear Mark’s voice coming from the hallway and I would get distracted. The figures in front of me would disappear into memories of how good Mark tasted. I was about ready to give up and take a break anyway when April, our receptionist, buzzed me.

“Hey Beth, there’s somebody here to see you, but she doesn’t have an appointment. She says you’ll see her though. Caitlin Reynolds?” I rolled my eyes. What in the hell did Caitlin want, and how did she know I wasn’t busy? I was tempted to make her wait, but I told myself to take the high road and have more class than that.

“Send her back please,” I answered, putting away my work. A moment later there was a knock on my door and Caitlin breezed in, without waiting for an invitation.

Knowing that she had hooked up with Mark made me look at her more critically. She was very attractive, I admitted, tall and blonde like me, but her hair color wasn’t natural. She also had style, and she was always dressed to the nines, but her skirts were just a little too tight.

I sighed, annoyed with myself for being jealous and catty. It probably wouldn’t be the last time I ran into someone who Mark had sex with. Between the three of them, my brother, Adam and Mark had probably hooked up with half the single women in Philadelphia.

“Hey Beth. I didn’t know you were a lawyer.”

“I’m not a lawyer. I’m the Director of Development. I’m in charge of fundraising, grant writing and public relations.”

“Oh, but you work for a law firm, so you must know a lot about the law.” She sat down and stared at me blankly. Caitlin wasn’t exactly an intellectual.

“No, actually, I know a lot about fundraising, grant writing and public relations. Did you just stop in to say hi?” I asked with a smile.

“No. Why would I do that?” She looked confused.

“So, why
are
you here?” I willed myself to be patient.

“I need to talk to you about something. But it has to be a secret, like attorney/ client privilege.”

“Caitlin, I just told you, I’m not an attorney.”

“But you work for a legal practice. Doesn’t that count?” I wanted to slam my head against my desk. On second thought, I wanted to slam Caitlin’s head against my desk.

“No, sorry, Caitlin, but attorney/client privilege is only between attorneys and clients. Hence the name.”

“That sucks,” she said, looking depressed. “Well, can’t you just put it in the vault, and like, promise not to tell?”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea Caitlin…”

“I know where my grandfather’s missing painting is,” she broke in and my mouth almost popped open. It was rumored that Caitlin’s grandfather had completed one last painting, one that he claimed was his best work. Before it had been exhibited anywhere, though, he died and it disappeared.

“Why don’t you tell the police?” I sat forward eagerly. This case was famous.

“I can’t.” She bit her cheek and fidgeted in her chair.

“Why not?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Uh huh.” I sat back again. “Well, that’s kind of vague, Caitlin. I don’t know what you want me to do. Have a fundraiser?”

“I need someone to help me get it back privately, without the cops getting involved. You know all about art at least.”

“Caitlin, although I know something about art, I don’t think…”

“Beth, he left it to me, and it would be the only thing I would have of my own that would be of any real value.” Her words made me grimace with disdain.

“So, what, you just want to
sell
it?”

“No! I swear. I would let them hang it in a museum or something. But it’s mine and it’s all I have. And I
liked
my grandfather.” She sat forward, and grabbed onto the edge of my desk. Why did I suddenly feel a little pang of sympathy?

“Even if I were a lawyer, we don’t handle those kinds of cases here,” I explained in a softer tone. “We defend people wrongly accused and convicted of crimes.” She looked so earnest that I almost wished I could help her, but what could I do?

“That’s it? That’s
all
you do here?”

“Some people consider that important,” I said, my skin prickling with indignation.

“Hey, is that Mike a lawyer?”
Breathe, Beth.

“He is, but he works here with us. Helping innocent people seek justice. Sorry,” I said, glancing at my watch.

“Okay, whatever. I guess you can’t help it if that’s all you do.” She got up and walked to the door. “Will you be at Paul’s party next Saturday?”

“Yes, he’s raising money for the Gerard Foundation, and so I think I should be there to show support from our organization. You’re going?”

“Yeah, I usually go to his parties. He was a friend of my grandfather’s,” she said as she opened the door to leave. “Oh by the way, that Mike’s really got some mad sexy skills doesn’t he?” she asked in a conspiratorial tone, wiggling her eyebrows at me. “Hey, does he have any friends he could fix me up with for a night?”

“His closest friends are married,” I said smiling through gritted teeth.

“Oh well, it’s okay. Not like it’s hard to find a player.” She snorted and left.

The only thing that prevented me from leaping over my desk and slamming the door behind her, was the knowledge that she was just an idiot, rather than intentionally cruel. Well, that, and the fact that I don’t think I could actually leap over my desk. I took a deep cleansing breath, and pictured my happy place, a peaceful deserted beach on a tropical island. And look, there was Mark in a bathing suit…

Wednesday 2:00 PM

I was getting coffee in the break room when Mark strolled in and my pulse immediately sped up. I had never met anyone who could affect my physiology so much just by entering a room. He was looking quite yummy in his navy suit and red tie. I could always tell when he had just gotten out of court. His stride was more forceful and his eyes had a certain shine to them. It was almost like he radiated adrenaline.

“Hey there,” he said with a smile. He paused and his gaze went to the steaming mug in my hand. I couldn’t say that I blamed him for being concerned. I put it down on the counter and he approached tentatively. Oh, and there it was, Armani Code. That stuff was becoming like heroine to me. I resisted the temptation to breathe it in deeply.

“Hey,” I said, returning his smile.

“So, how are you?” he asked with a slightly husky tone to his voice, staring at my body for a second and dragging his eyes back up to mine. I had on one of my favorite outfits, a lilac paisley dress that hugged my curves
without
being too tight. Just sayin’.

“Great, thanks. How are you?” If he sounded husky, I sounded like I had been drinking bourbon and smoking for fifty years. I started twisting my fingers together but I caught myself quickly and stopped. He twisted his head and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Great. Oh, hey, apparently, the Third Circuit judge who I chatted with the other night is going to appoint us to a big case. Braden was thrilled.”

“That’s wonderful. I have some good news too. First of all, I did get all of us into the mystery weekend. And secondly, my parents are going to be traveling a lot soon, and my mom has offered us use of the house in Bryn Mawr. I thought we could have a Justice Project pool party to really kick of summer.”

“A pool party…” He was starting to look a little flushed.

“Is something wrong?” Oh man, was I being too pushy?

“No, I was just remembering seeing you out by the pool at your parents’ place once, wearing this little white bikini. You had your belly button pierced, and I noticed what kind of looked like it might be a tattoo right about…” he reached out and gently touched my hip.

“You’re very observant. That was a tattoo,” I said, grinning. “I remember that you have one of Lady Justice in the middle of your back.”

“You remember that?”

“Yeah, it fascinated me.” I was starting to breathe more heavily.

“What do you have there on your hip?” He sounded really husky at that point.

“You’ll just have to find out for yourself someday,” I said and gave him a flirtatious look. His expression, in turn, took on a distinctly predatory quality. Steady, Beth. Don’t. Injure. Him.

“I’m going to be in my office for a while,” he said abruptly and left. Damn, I probably scared him away.

6:00 PM

It was six o’clock and I was about to head home. As I walked to my office door, I almost ran into Mark, who was coming down the hall. He stepped back just in time.