Harlow: A Military Bad Boy Romance: The Bradford Brothers (36 page)

We don’t even get out of the courthouse before Riley’s cell phone goes off.

“What is it?”

I’m on pins and needles. I trust Riley and I saw with my own eyes that she did a kick- ass job with my case. But anything can happen.

“The jury’s back already,” she says breathlessly.

“What does that mean?”

“I means we’re about to get really good news,” she says, embracing me in the lobby, obviously not caring who sees us. “It would definitely have taken longer than this to resolve any question of reasonable doubt one way or the other.”

I can’t help but look around. “I hope that hotshot douchebag ex- boyfriend of yours has a court appearance today, so he can see us now.”

She laughs. “He’s never in this court. It’s only for lawyers slumming it with low- stakes criminal cases, like me. But don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll hear through the grapevine.”

I can’t help but give her ass a little squeeze before we turn around to go back up the elevator.

“It would have taken a lot longer than that if the jury had any doubt as to your innocence,” Riley says proudly, as we walk back into the courtroom.

“Has the jury reached a verdict?” asks the judge, once he’s called the courtroom back to order.

“We have, Your Honor,” says the foreman, looking directly at me with a kind smile.

“In the matter of the State of New Mexico versus Jensen Bradford, for the charge of assault and battery, do you find the Defendant guilty or not guilty?”

“Not guilty,” says the foreman resolutely, and applause erupts from the gallery.

“That’s my boy,” my mom shouts, as if we’re at my high school wrestling tournament instead of my trial for a crime I was just acquitted of.

And yet, her pride and enthusiasm tugs at my heart. My mom and I haven’t ever been close, but it was amazing of her to show up to support me. And I have Riley to thank for that. I look over at her with love and tenderness as the judge bangs his gavel and says, “Quiet in the courtroom! Mr. Bradford, you are free to leave. Members of the jury, the State of New Mexico thanks you for your service. You are free to leave as well.”

Free to leave. Free to leave this mess behind me and figure out what I want to do with my future. Looking over once again at Riley, I know I want it to involve her.

An hour later, we’re at Cecilia’s Café: Mom, Ramsey, Harlow, Riley and me. If you had asked me just a month ago if I ever thought this would happen, I would have said no fuckin’ way. And yet here we are: a big happy family, although still dysfunctional of course, because we’re the Bradfords.

“So Ma, you done seeing that Bill Warner guy for good now?” asks Harlow.

“Well maybe every now and then, whenever I’m lonely or need a little company…” Mom starts, but Ramsey cuts her off as the rest of us groan our disapproval.

“Mom, you have to stop going around dating losers,” Ramsey chides.

I can’t believe that everything has turned out so well, both with my case and with my personal life. I squeeze Riley’s leg under the table, which is a variation of pinching myself to be sure I’m not dreaming. To my delight, she squeezes my hand, and then moves it a bit closer to her inner thigh, seductively.

“How about we get the check?” I ask everyone at the table. To Riley, I wink, signaling that this is my cue for us to get out of here and start the one- on- one celebration we deserve.

Ramsey reaches for his wallet but I shake my head. “I’ve got it,” I boast. “I didn’t have to pay a cent for my lawyer here, so she’s worth at least a lunch.” Everyone laughs. “No one can accuse me of buying witness testimony
after
the fact.” I nod at my mother. “And I really do appreciate your support,” I say to my brothers. “You’ve earned yourselves a free meal as well.”

“Hell, I should have ordered the filet mignon,” Harlow jokes.

“So now that you’ve been officially acquitted, do you think you’ll be coming back to the Air Force?” asks Ramsey, switching the conversation to serious mode, with a curious look on his face. “Joining us again in Special Ops?”

“Actually, I think this is a case of getting all that you wanted, and then realizing it’s not really what you wanted,” I say, and sneak a glance at Riley. She holds onto my fingers tight underneath the table.

“I like the contracting gig, and I like that I don’t have to be deployed.” I kiss Riley on the cheek. “I want to stay put with my former lawyer and new girlfriend for a while.”

“Oooooh, Jensen has a
girlfriend
,” Harlow chides. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

“That’s enough syrupy sweet stuff,” my mom breaks in, looking annoyed.

I glance at her, afraid she’ll get upset out of jealousy and ruin the lunch like she has ruined so much before in my life, but she doesn’t say anything further.

Ramsey saves me by changing the subject slightly.

“I might take a look at joining you in the private sector,” he says.

I look at him, aghast. “That would be great!”

I want to explore the idea with him further, but the check arrives and I’m anxious to explore something else first.
 

Outside, I give Riley a gift I bought for her prior to today’s trial— a motorcycle helmet.

“It’s perfect,” she says, as she runs her hands along the pink edges.

“I don’t know about that, but it’s
safe
,” I tell her. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

I pull her close and kiss her.

“Thank you for always protecting me,” she says. “I guess I’m officially a biker’s girlfriend. Can’t say I ever really thought that would be the case.”

“Don’t worry,” I joke back, rubbing my nose against hers. “I never thought I’d have a lawyer girlfriend.”

I give her a ride on my bike to my place. It’s a small, sparsely decorated apartment that prompts the expected jokes about it being my “bachelor pad.”

“Are you saying you want to leave?” I ask her, with a wink, as we’re standing in my living room looking at my framed poster of Walter White from Breaking Bad as a
Dia de Los Muertos
skull.

“Not at all,” she says, and kneels down in front of me, just like that, on the carpet on my living room floor.

“Woah!” I say, surprised but impressed. I knew she was a good catch, but this is beyond my wildest expectations.

“Shhhhh,” she says, as she takes my belt off and begins unzippering my fly.

“But you just got
me
out of a big jam,” I tell her. “I should be the one thanking… and spoiling you…”