It Should Be a Crime

Forbidden romance coupled with high-stakes courtroom drama. Two women meet in an alley and fulfill their mutual desire with a night of passion, neither expecting more than the few lusty hours they shared. Weeks later Morgan Bradley and Parker Casey meet again, but this time one is a law professor and the other her student. A series of events lands them in the middle of a high-profile murder trial, but the twists and turns of the case are no match for the spiral of increasing attraction as they work side by side in the defense of justice.

It Should Be A Crime

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It Should Be A Crime

© 2009 By Carsen Taite. All Rights Reserved.

ISBN 13: 978-1-60282-343-3

This Electronic book is published by

Bold Strokes Books, Inc.,

New York, USA

First Edition: August 2009

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

Credits

Editors: Cindy Cresap Stacia Seaman

Production Design: Stacia Seaman

Cover Design By Sheri ([email protected])

truelesbianlove.com

It Should be a Crime

Do Not Disturb

Many people contributed to the success of this book whether they know it or not. Special thanks to my fellow classmates and the professors and staff at the University of New Mexico for the excellent adventure called law school. Thanks also to my law partners, Tom Mills and Christie Williams, for introducing me to the exciting and dynamic world of criminal law. I had a blast writing the story of these two formidable women and their legal and romantic adventures. That I was able to use my day job as a research tool was a huge bonus. Extra special thanks to Christie for always being available when I needed to brainstorm creative story lines.

Brenda Adcock, Rachel Spangler, and Christie—thanks to all of you for reading the rough version and adding polish where needed.

Cindy Cresap—your guidance, strong and gentle, made this a much better book.

Stacia Seaman—your eye for detail provided the perfect polish. Sheri—your cover designs are always amazing and this one is no exception.

Rad and Jennifer—I will always be grateful that you decided to take a chance on me. I can’t imagine a more nurturing family than BSB.

Lainey—Thanks for your willingness to always stop what you’re doing to accommodate my need to ask, “Does this sound right?” or “Can you help me figure out…?” I love you for always believing I can do anything and for all the sacrifices you’ve made so that I can realize my dreams.

Since the release of my first book, less than a year ago, I have enjoyed meeting, in person and online, many of the readers who have taken the time to give their feedback. To all of you out there, please know that your voracious appetite for more fuels the fire that keeps me writing.

For Lainey and our happily ever after.

A foul odor and complete darkness were clear signs the door Morgan had walked through didn’t lead to the patio. She was in the alley, and she didn’t think the night could get any worse. She was wrong. As she tugged on the handle of the large metal door, she realized it was locked and she was stuck outside.

Morgan looked around, realizing she was completely alone. Empty delivery crates and broken-down cardboard boxes were stacked next to a small Dumpster. The opposite side of the narrow drive was fenced off with a short wire fence designed to discourage, but not prevent, foot traffic. She assessed her choices: walk down the long path and circle back to the front entrance of the bar, or scale the fence and scout out a cab on one of the adjacent streets. The latter option, though messier, was more appealing. Morgan glanced down at her outfit and sighed at the destruction she was about to cause. She’d dressed to impress, for all the good it had done. Her now inappropriate attire couldn’t be helped. She had no desire to reenter the bar or risk being seen. She was determined the inevitable confrontation was not going to take place tonight. Not while she was in the weaker position. Absolutely not.

Morgan faced the fence with resolve. With a last look at her new shoes, she wedged her brand-new sling-back, peep-toe sandal into an opening in the wire structure. As she started to pull herself up and over she heard faint strains of disco music growing louder and louder. Glancing back over her shoulder, she saw her sworn enemy—the door—was now an inviting friend, propped wide open, and beckoning her back to the bar. She jumped off her perch and rushed back across the alley.

“Hey! Where did you come from?”

Morgan jumped at the unexpected voice. Warily, she turned toward its source. Less than two feet away, with a surprised expression on her face, was a tall, beautiful woman. Relief at rescue didn’t preclude Morgan from taking a moment to appraise the alabaster skin, messily coiffed jet-black hair, and piercing blue eyes of the handsome woman standing before her. Her savior-slash-inquisitor stood almost six feet tall, her height accentuated by her lithe frame. She sported well-worn Levi’s 501s and a plain black T-shirt, tight on her well-toned chest.

“Did you hear me?”

Morgan realized she was probably staring with her mouth wide open. She chided herself for thinking illicit thoughts about another woman after what she had been through that evening. Finding her voice, she replied, “Yes, I heard you. I’m sorry for staring.” Thinking she shouldn’t have acknowledged that last, she resolved to say only what was necessary. “I was in search of the patio, but apparently walked out the wrong door.”

“Good thing I came out when I did. You ready to go back in?” The beauty took her turn appraising Morgan, and the heat of the woman’s glance seared her. Morgan knew the rakish grin on the stranger’s face meant her own mouth was probably hanging open again. The woman spoke. “You look ready for something, but you don’t look like you’re ready to go.”

“Actually, I’m outside because I needed some air. This may not be the patio, but it provided what I was looking for.” Suddenly Morgan wondered what this woman was doing out here. “And what are you doing out here?”

“I work here,” the woman said simply. Seeing Morgan’s expression, she explained. “I mean I work in the bar. I’m putting out the trash before I leave for the night.”

“Oh.”

“Look, I know you said you want to enjoy the fresh night air and all, but I’m about to go back in and, as I’m sure you know by now, this door is going to lock behind me. Sure you don’t want to go back inside with me?” The woman smiled the invitation.

Morgan stared, lost in thought. She had no desire to reenter this place, not this night. Tina and her “friend” were probably huddled somewhere inside. Though they weren’t likely to notice her, considering their complete and total rapture with each other, she wasn’t going to put herself through the torment.

“Uh, I hate to rush you, but I need to get back in.”

Morgan shook herself and focused on finding another way out of this mess. “I don’t want to go back inside.” She fought to hold back tears of frustration threatening to break through.

The woman walked closer until she was standing mere inches from Morgan. “My name is Parker. What’s yours?”

“Morgan,” she whispered. Parker’s proximity robbed her breath.

“Nice to meet you, Morgan. You look like you’re having a bad night.” Parker gently slid an arm around Morgan’s waist. She purred the next question. “What can I do to make it better?”

Morgan’s thoughts raced.
Well, this is rich. Here I am stuck in an alley and a total stranger is flirting with me. Meanwhile, my partner of ten years is doing God knows what with a Barbie wannabe inside.
Morgan wiped her eyes and turned toward Parker, who had moved closer during the silence. She appraised her.
This woman is no Barbie, thank God. She’s real-life, drop-dead-gorgeous and knows it.
Feelings replaced rational thought and Morgan settled on a plan of action designed to make the impact of the evening’s events fade fast.

“I’d like you to take me somewhere. Anywhere.” Morgan stared directly into Parker’s eyes, willing her to understand the wide-ranging implication of the control she surrendered with her request.

Parker didn’t betray an ounce of surprise. Instead she leaned in and kissed Morgan lightly on the cheek. “Wait for me here. I’ll only be a moment.” Heading toward the door, she glanced back only once to deliver a reassuring smile.

*

Parker held a finger across her lips, signaling Morgan to quietly enter the house. The expansive porch was well lit, but the foyer inside was pitch black. Parker stepped carefully, leading Morgan upstairs to her room, careful not to wake any of the other occupants of the house. After crossing the threshold of her room, she flicked a switch to illuminate her destination. She guided Morgan to the love seat near her bed and then she walked to her nightstand and rummaged through the drawer until she found a pack of matches. She lit three candles grouped on the nightstand and cut the overhead light. The flames from the candles flickered shadows on the walls and, against the dancing images, Parker finally stopped to observe the beautiful woman in front of her.

Now seated, Parker realized Morgan wasn’t as tall as she first appeared. Looking down at her feet, she saw delicious painted toes sheathed in spiked sandals. Morgan wore snug dark blue jeans and a cool white draped jersey halter top. Her auburn hair fell in soft waves against the creamy skin of her bare shoulders. Parker wanted nothing more than to run her hands through those tresses. Parker had met a fair share of beautiful women during her tenure at the bar, but Morgan topped the list. As she appraised her, she was tickled by a vague sense of recognition and she wondered why, if she had seen Morgan at the bar before, she hadn’t made her acquaintance earlier. Determined to remedy past neglect with present intentions, she strode across the room, knelt, grasped Morgan’s hands, and kissed her palms slowly, one at a time. Morgan melted into the light touches. She inched to the edge of her seat, pressing her body into Parker’s advances. Encouraged by the response, Parker tucked herself between Morgan’s legs and reached up to kiss the warm and welcoming lips hazily smiling down at her.