“This matter is adjourned,” he said firmly, and stood up. It gave him great satisfaction to use the gavel.
“All rise,” Tony said, still laughing.
Jack came around from his side of the bench to where Elise was standing. “You couldn’t just make an appointment to talk like a normal person,” he asked her before taking her into his arms.
“You weren’t home yesterday,” she accused. “I ran there, arrived sopping wet with sweat, and rang the doorbell. Nothing.”
Jack didn’t bother explaining that he’d been working. His house had become intolerable, every room filled with her spirit. He’d been using it as a place to sleep, and hardly even that.
Elise continued, “Anyway, it seemed more fitting this way. If you were brave enough to declare your love in a public hearing, the least I could do was propose marriage the same way.”
“That’s my moonlight girl.” He proceeded to kiss her. Very judiciously.
The End
As usual, I invoke the standard boilerplate:
Many people helped me with this book, but all the mistakes are my own.
Blackjack & Moonlight
started with an idea I had over fifteen years ago—back when I was a law clerk in the real life Courtroom 10A. Even though Kate Welsh, then a chapter-mate at Valley Forge Romance Writers, told me I couldn’t have a heroine with prematurely gray hair, I never let go of that one image: A handsome judge walks into court, falls for a lawyer standing there, and has to recuse himself. I didn’t know their names, I didn’t know what would happen next, I just knew they’d fall in love.
Well, it took them long enough! And, honestly, they hadn’t a chance of a happy ending if it weren’t for the following people:
My editor, Deborah Nemeth, who’s had multiple opportunities to think how this story might work best. Trust me, I took all her suggestions. (Well, almost all…) Deb has invested in me, in my writing, and particularly in this book. She may even have a tiny crush on Blackjack himself. Acknowledging her help is like saying I need oxygen. Luckily, I don’t mind stating the obvious.
My critique partner, Zara Keane, who read a very, very early version and liked it even back when my writing wasn’t so likable. Her belief in my ability to improve has lit many, many dark hours of self-doubt.
Megan Mulry and Janet Webb, who cheered on Blackjack from nearly the beginning. They’re both such intelligent readers that I knew I must be doing something right.
My Stonecoast MFA mentors, Elizabeth Searle and Michael Kimball, who worked with me on vital aspects of characterization. Bluntly, without their help Elise might be both boring and a bitch. (My words, not theirs.)
The Firebirds aka the Golden Heart® finalists of 2012. All that time I was quiet on the loop, I was working to polish the story that made me a Firebird, burnishing it until it was as good as all the things they’ve already published. They inspire me to do my best.
Finally and most importantly, Ross, my husband and publisher. Thank you, sweetheart, for trusting that a book I wrote in 2010, revised in 2011, worked on at school in 2012, revised in 2013 and finalized in 2014 would actually get published. Thank you for being patient, understanding, and eagle-eyed when it comes to typos and infelicitous writing. Thank you most of all for crying at the ending.