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“I’m sorry, hon.” It was obvious that Bormann saw the despair shadowing Paula’s honey-toned face. She pushed to her feet. “I believe we could use that coffee now. You’re gonna have to bring more of that soon if it tastes as good as it smells!”
While Bormann returned to her kitchen, Paula’s attention remained fixed on the folder. She sat there trying to figure out which was worse—talking to Linus about their past or about this present upset? Everything in her said he’d done all completely on the up-and-up.
Almost everything in her said that. There was a time she’d have leaped to his defense at the slightest hint of someone questioning his integrity. But now...it was as she’d told him on that beach in Mexico—the girl who would’ve killed for him if he’d asked her to was gone.
“It’s got such a fabulous color and the fragrance is so rich!” Bormann called as she poured out the coffee.
Paula was searching her phone contacts. Linus wasn’t among them, but Joss Construction had been programmed in when she and Santigo Rodriguez were finalizing the many surprises he had in store for his wife during their honeymoon.
The line was answered. “Joss Construction. How may I direct your call?”
Paula debated half a second longer and then sighed. “Linus Brooks, please.”
Chapter 3 (#u853af398-eb9e-599a-af79-55bdb4a74208)
“So you’re in?” Linus faked impatience while waiting on the man seated across from him to make a final decision on what he had just proposed.
Barker Grant sat with his chair pushed back from the table while he hunched forward. Elbows resting on his knees, his manner confirmed that he was in deep debate with himself.
“How long?” he asked.
Linus grimaced, taking pleasure in the man’s torment. “Two, two and a half weeks tops.”
Barker leaned back in the chair, giving a long, low whistle that had his dark rugged features relaxing with anticipation. “I could sure use some time like that.”
“It’s the age of technology, you know?” Linus said. “We’re all taking work with us, so there’s no reason you can’t too.”
The intensity that so often held Barker’s attractive face returned. “Work’s the last thing I’d want to take along with me to The Bahamas.”
“Seriously?” Linus whistled. “Never thought I’d ever...”
There was no need to finish the statement. Barker Grant was a die-hard workaholic if there ever was one. The award-winning hard-news journalist had a face made for the cameras, but his trademark scowl threw a wrench in those plans. The scowl’s effect often ran more toward intimidation than invitation. Barker didn’t mind; he was most fulfilled when he was digging up what others would prefer remain hidden.
“I’m not getting anywhere with the story I’m trying to put together,” he said.
“Can I get a preview?” Linus asked.
Barker rolled his eyes and smiled. “Nothin’ to preview. Preview means I’d need to have copy written. And folks would have to talk to me before I can write anything.”
“Got it. So as far as the trip goes, all that’s needed now is for you to say yes.”
“So why is it a guys-only trip?” Barker seemed skeptical.
“We’re working.”
Something in Linus’s answer seemed to trigger Barker’s reporter’s instincts, for he watched his old friend at length for several seconds.
“You can go on and say it,” Linus urged in a dry manner.
“Nothin’.” Barker gave a half shrug. “I’m just surprised Eli, Tig and Rook would want to go so far without taking their girls.”
“Yeah, well.” Linus waved to the waiter, indicating refills for himself and Barker. The two had gotten together for lunch at a pub just down the street from the courthouse. “That’s the way they wanted it,” he finished.
“They wanted it that way, huh?” Amusement joined Barker’s knowing expression.
Linus didn’t bother with a response. He merely waited on his old friend to get to the point he intended to make.
“You’re no hermit, Line. I’d think you’d have more than a few lucky ladies you’d want to bring along on a trip like this.”
“A business trip?”
“A Bahamas trip.”
“There’s no one, B.”
“I get it.” Barker’s expression cleared of its suspicion as realization wedged in. “You’re not bringing anyone. My love life’s nonexistent. They’re making it a guys’ trip so we won’t feel like complete losers, huh?”
“That’s not it.” Linus swore even as he burst into laughter. “We’re welcome to bring someone. She doesn’t have to be the one.”
“So why aren’t you—” Barker clipped his question when Linus suddenly bolted to his feet as if at attention. He didn’t have long to wait to discover what had elicited such an alert response.
“Paula.” Linus’s liquid brown eyes were unwavering as DA Paula Starker approached the table.
“Hey, Linus.” Paula’s smile was there, but it was weak. Her efforts increased when she looked at who accompanied him. “Hey, Barker.”
“Well, well, well!” Barker grinned broadly.
The gesture had Paula laughing within seconds. “No comment,” she added and summoned a playfully wicked grin. It was customary for her to greet the reporter in such a manner. Customary but harmless. Paula had nothing but the highest regard for the way Barker did his job. The two of them shared a hug before she turned back to Linus.
“Sorry for interrupting you guys.”
“No problem at all, Madam DA,” Barker insisted as he reclaimed his seat. “Join us.”
“Oh no thanks, Barker. I, um, can’t stay. But please, please,” she urged when Barker changed his mind about sitting.
Barker sat, but noticed his friend still stood at attention. The move spoke volumes.
“I tried to reach you yesterday,” Paula was saying to Linus.
“Really?” Linus’s stance lost some of its rigidness. “No one told me.”
“It’s fine. I—” she gave a quick shake of her head “—I didn’t leave a message or my name when I called. They told me you were in a meeting so... We, um, I need to talk to you.”
“Right.” Linus gave a curt nod and looked to Barker. “B, I’ll catch you later—”
“No, no, it’s fine,” Paula said. “I’m here for another meeting actually. I saw you when I got here and just thought I’d ask.” She cleared her throat to quell the stab of need his fixed gaze had the power to induce.
“If you have time tomorrow—”
“Anytime,” Linus interrupted her to accept. “I, um, I’m usually in the office by seven,” he added.
“Seven.” Paula seemed a little taken aback by the time. “Could we make it eight?”
“Yeah.” Linus sighed as though he’d been holding his breath. “Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Thanks.” She smiled and then squeezed Barker’s shoulder before taking her leave.
The waiter was returning with drink refills when Linus finally reclaimed his seat. Barker enjoyed a few swigs of his beer before dissolving into a round of laughter.
“Jeez, Line, she was only in Mexico for a night.”
It took a moment before Linus tuned into Barker’s words. “What are you talking about?”
“Well hell, you’ve either slept with her or you want to—can’t say I blame you for that.” Barker glanced in the direction Paula had gone. “She’s gonna leave the next DA with some damn big shoes to fill, but as for looks, I doubt her successor could even hope to compete in that department.”
“It’s not like that, B.”
“Oh? So you don’t want to sleep with her? Good to know...maybe I will bring someone along to The Bahamas.” The idea carried no weight for Barker, but he felt it was worth it to see the slice of temper flash in Linus’s eyes.
“Apologies, man,” Barker quickly stated, knowing better than to upset his friend. “So what’s up? Why so tense around her when she’s obviously got a thing for you?”
His last words had the temper easing out of Linus’s eyes to make way for curiosity.
“Really?” Barker grinned in disbelief. “You of all people—the ladies’ man—and you didn’t catch that?”
Linus shook off whatever flutters of hope were beginning to take root in his stomach. “You’re off base here, B. We’ve got a history and it’s not a good one.”
“But she’s the one, isn’t she? The one you’d like to bring on this trip.”
“I’ve got plenty of someones to choose from, remember?”
“True. But somehow I’m guessing that loses its shine when your best friends are bringing their special ladies.”
“I’ll never get her back, B. Eli and Tig think talking will do the trick. I think that too, but what happened between us...she’s still hurting over it.”
“Have you guys talked about it at all?”
“Not since it happened.”
“Well hell, Line, don’t be so quick to say you won’t get her back then.”
“You don’t know what I did and said.”
“I know she came to see you just now—she wants to talk. Who’s to say things aren’t about to change?” Barker let his pep talk rest, seeing that the words were having a positive effect on the other man. Given that, he decided to move on to a different topic. “So...no women on this trip, huh? Exactly what else besides the weather are we supposed to look forward to?”
* * *
“Linus only stepped away for a moment, DA Starker, but he asked that I show you right in when you arrived.”
“Thanks so much,” Paula said to the woman who’d greeted her with enviable brightness just minutes before the 8:00 a.m. hour. “And please, call me Paula.”
Estella Mays appeared both honored and horrified by the offer. “Oh, I couldn’t—”
“Anyone who can convince every man in her family to vote a woman into the DA’s office has surely earned the right to call me by my first name,” Paula insisted.
Estella beamed. “The men in my family recognize intelligence and integrity when they see it. You weren’t a hard sell.”
“Thanks, Estella.”
“Anytime...Paula. Now—” Estella headed into the office and waved for Paula to join her. She’d stopped next to a square serving cart that waited in the office living area. “Given the hour, Linus thought you might want a little breakfast.”
Paula removed her coat. “That was sweet of him.”
“I can’t say how filling a breakfast it’ll be,” Estella cautioned. “These things don’t look big enough to fill a gnat’s stomach.”
Paula was smiling as she joined the woman near the cart. She’d already recognized the invigorating aroma of her morning tea and didn’t plan on turning down a cup. Her steps faltered a bit though when she saw what else had been provided in addition to the tea.
“He said they were your favorites.” Estella’s round, dark face still held signs of uncertainty.
Paula gave a jerky nod followed by a smile that hinted of remembrance as she reached out to brush her fingers along the damask cloth covering the cart. A round glass platter carried a generous supply of what had once been her favorite pastries.
“I hope it’s not inappropriate to say I’m envious of your appetite.”
“Oh, don’t be fooled.” Paula laughed over Estella’s comment. “These little pastries don’t allow for stopping at just one, but they’re murder on the hips. Please.” She waved toward the platter. “Come on,” she encouraged when Estella looked ready to refuse. “It’s the least I can do for such a valuable constituent.” She smiled when the woman treated herself to one of the creations.
Sure enough, Estella appeared in ecstasy the moment the tiny pastry disappeared in her mouth.
Paula laughed, tickled by the woman’s delight. “More,” she offered, smiling. “If I have to finish this entire platter myself, I will, no questions asked.”
“If you insist.” Estella took a few more pastries and then firmly stepped back from the cart. “I couldn’t take another. Linus made such a big deal about making sure we had a fresh batch on hand when you got here.”
“He did?” Paula’s hand hovered near the handle of the teapot. She listened while Estella relayed stories of how her boss had her calling all over town the day before, trying to find someone who could make the pastries.
“Seems the bakery that used to make them went out of business years ago.”
“Yeah,” Paula recalled, shaking off the memory of how weepy she’d gotten over the fact.
“Well, thank you for the samples.” Estella clutched the napkin full of the treats close to her chest. “I think I’ve found a new friend to torture my waistline with. Call me if you need anything. Linus should be here soon.”
Estella left, and Paula went about preparing a steaming cup of the tea. All the while, she forbade herself to even look at the pastries. Her willpower held less than fifteen minutes. She took a scant sip of her tea before setting aside the cup to zero in on one of the pastries.
“Damn you, Linus,” she muttered when one of the tarts settled on her tongue.
The treats were about more than making sure she had something she’d enjoy for breakfast. He had to know she’d only be thinking of the nights she’d been up late either drafting or editing a motion for her boss, and Linus would arrive with a box containing several dozen of the decadent fruit-topped vices.
The bakery was a twenty-four-hour establishment in those days. The nights had passed with work forgotten and them in bed, with Linus feeding her from the box. Paula didn’t need to ask herself what he was doing or what he was up to now. She knew very well. He’d been very straightforward about that in Mexico, hadn’t he? He wanted to explain, but more than that, he wanted her back.
She washed down the last of the tart with a dose of the delicious tea. Once more, she forbade herself another taste of the pastry. They’d been her favorites since forever, something she had only allowed herself following an all-nighter that earned her an A on a paper. Her favorite delights hadn’t come cheap back then, especially not for her pockets with the debt of law school on her plate. It had often been a struggle to keep a good supply of pantyhose. Satisfying cravings for something fresh, baked and decadent hadn’t been a good idea for her budget.
