Appealed (The Legal Briefs, #3)(43)
“You say that a lot. You seem confused, so I’m going to make it real easy for you. Four—I’m coming to your house tonight. I’m bringing food. We’ll hang out. If we happen to spend a good portion of that time without any clothes on—we’ll roll with that too. Say yes.”
She’s silent for several heartbeats, making me hold my breath.
Then she relents. “Yes.”
“Good girl.”
Her eyes narrow at me. But because I’m so pleased—because I’ve wanted to all damn day—I eat my own words, lean in, and kiss the f*ck out of her. It’s hard, demanding—and infused with every ounce of possessiveness I feel for her. A teeth-clashing, tongue-lashing kiss that leaves her trembling.
I’m a big believer in a well-timed exit. During final summations, the last image you give to the jury, the final words you leave ringing in their ears, are the most powerful. They can make a difference between an acquittal or a life sentence.
And that kiss was one hell of a closing.
So I stand up, turn, and stroll out of Kennedy’s office.
? ? ?
Just before sunset, I stand on the rickety porch of her Victorian house and knock on her front door. It swings open almost immediately, like she was waiting for me. Kennedy stands in the glow of the fading sunlight wearing worn, light blue jeans that hug her hips and show off her sweet ass in a fantastic f*cking way. Her top is loose and thin strapped, a layer of white lace over a layer of chiffon, the neckline dipping to a low V that puts her pert, braless tits on perfect display.
With my mouth watering, and my imagination raging, I mutter, “I’m sending Justice Bradshaw a thank-you note.”
She giggles and I feel her eyes trail up my own faded jeans, over my black T-shirt, pausing right where the short sleeves wrap tight around my biceps. “You look very nice too.”
Meow.
Peeking out from behind Kennedy’s calf are two big black eyes attached to a puffball of gray fur. Cats aren’t my favorite animals—they come in behind dogs, pot-bellied pigs, and the cutest creature God ever created: the hedgehog. But, unlike my possible-future-serial-killer freshman-year college roommate—who tried to run over every stray cat that crossed his path—I don’t hate them either.
“Who’s this?”
“That’s Jasper.”
Meow.
I crouch down and reach out my hand. “Hey, Jasper . . .”
“Brent, wait—”
But before I can heed her warning, Jasper’s eyes transform into sharp slits and his paw slashes at my hand like Wolverine on a bad day. One claw nicks my middle finger.
“Bastard!”
“So sorry,” Kennedy coos.
I shake my hand, then stick the tip in my mouth, tasting blood.
“I hate to be the one to break it to you, but your cat’s a dick.”
She takes my hand, inspecting my injury. “He’s just wary of people he doesn’t know. Like a guard cat.” She glances behind her. “Jacob and Edward are a lot friendlier.”
“How many do you have?”
She shrugs. “Just the three.”
I nod slowly. “I came back into your life just in time. Old house, multiple feline companions, an inappropriate interest in vampire books that were meant to be enjoyed by teenage virgin girls.” I pinch my thumb and forefinger together. “You realize you’re this close to becoming a full-fledged Cat Lady.”
Kennedy sticks her tongue out at me.
I smirk. “Do that again later; I’ll demonstrate much better uses for that tongue.”
She laughs, shaking her head as if she thinks I’m kidding.
“All right, let’s get going,” I tell her. “We’ve got a walk ahead of us.”
Her brows crinkle. “I thought you said you were bringing food?”
“I did. But I didn’t say we were eating it here.”
I hold out my hand, and she puts hers in mine. It’s warm and soft and a perfect fit.
“Where are we going?”
I lean down and whisper in her ear, raising goose bumps along her collarbone. “It’s a surprise.”
? ? ?
We walk through the city beneath the pink-orange dusk sky, hands entwined. We pass the World War II Memorial and the Reflecting Pool across from the glowing warmth of the Lincoln Memorial, weaving between the picture-snapping, map-studying tourists that are a permanent fixture. And then we reach the Tidal Basin, its calm, still waters reflecting the soft orbs of the lampposts that illuminate the circling path around it. In the spring, the trees here are laden with cherry blossoms, making a thick light-pink wreath around the water, but by this time of year, the blossoms have all fallen, leaving only healthy greenery on their branches—the promise of next year’s bloom.
I lead Kennedy off the path closer to the water’s edge, where a flannel blanket awaits us on the grass, lit lanterns stationed at each of the four corners. In the center are a bottle of white wine and two picnic baskets—one with cutlery, plates, and napkins, the other insulated to keep the containers of Chinese takeout inside it warm. I wasn’t sure what kind of Chinese food she liked, so I ordered a variety. The surrounding shrubbery sequesters the spot from the path—it feels like from the entire city—creating our own personal oasis. Our own little world for just her and me.