Love, Lies & The D.A. (21 page)

“Why?
Are you used to people always kissing your ass?”

“Honestly.
Yes. That is, until you came along.”

“You’re
kind of arrogant, aren’t you?” I laugh.

“I don’t
think I’m that way… maybe I’m misunderstood.”

“Why?
You’re not that intimidating.”

“I don’t
know. I leave those details for others to decide.”

I hand
him the menus then place the order. Forty minutes later, we enjoy our Lebanese
cuisine out on the patio.

“Can I
ask you a personal question?” I ask.

“Sure…
it’s not like anything’s stopped you all night.”

I wink
at him. “This is serious, though. What happens with the firm now that your dad’s
gone?”

“I’ve
been thinking about that. My dad’s will was read this afternoon. He left it to
Megan and me. I think there might be a decline in clientele with him gone.
Megan is fresh out of law school. She doesn’t have nearly enough experience to
run things.”

“You
don’t think the rest of his team can move things forward?”

“I’m
not sure. I think it’s something we’ll have to monitor as time goes by.”

“I was
really scared today when he wasn’t the one standing by my side. I suppose I don’t
know Joshua well enough, so that’s normal.”

“I
think I want someone else working on your case.”

“Why?”

“He’s
not the best. Not many in the office meet that criteria, compared to my father,
but I know there are others better than him.”

“He
did his job today. I’m not sure I want to fire him.”

“No.
That’s not what I mean. He’ll stay on. I’m just going to make sure that someone
else who is more experienced and better qualified leads the team.”

“Are
you going to get involved?”

“If I
could take the case over, I would. But despite the fact I’ve recused myself
from this case, if I am involved on either side, it will be seen as me
interfering—trying to influence the outcome. I’m still the DA. I think ensuring
you have the best team is as far as I can go.”

“So
that means you haven’t read my file?”

“No.”

“On
either side?”

“I
haven’t. I have no clue what evidence there is, one way or another.”

“Do
you want to know?”

“I
think it’s only natural that I do. But I’ll be playing a dangerous game if I
delve into the details in any of those files.”

“I’ll
be keeping my mouth shut about the case then,” I reply, sipping a bit of my
wine. “So next question. Does the fact that you’re here at my home mean we get
to see each other openly?”

“Well,
it’s public knowledge now. I don’t think it matters one way or another.”

“Did
the media ask you what type of relationship we had?”

“Yes.”

“Well?”

“I
told them it’s none of their business—I don’t kiss and tell. It’s not something
a gentleman would do.”

I can’t
help but laugh.

“It’s
funny you should say that. I told Bobby you had absolutely no manners.”

He laughs.
“You two are really close?”

“He’s
my best friend. He’s always been there for me. I think I would have lost it
after I found out Ri—” I stop myself.

“I get
the picture. Do you miss him?”

“Bobby?”

“Richard.”

“I did
for a little while… at least the man I thought he was. Now I question
everything. Once the trust is gone, everything else is tarnished. I have no
idea if anything was real. I’ve found out since that so much was a lie. So many
lies, I don’t know who either of them were. It’s as if they were figments of my
imagination. What about you… your ex-fiancée?”

“I
couldn’t give her what she wanted. I couldn’t make her happy. She wanted
marriage and kids, all within months of me becoming DA.”

“How
long did you go out for?”

“A
little over two years.”

“Like
Richard and me… how do you spend that length of time with someone and have no
clue who they really are?”

“Some
people live double lives.”

“I don’t
understand why it was necessary for him to have me in it. Let’s not talk about
it. Ready for that tour?” I ask, rising to my feet.

We
walk around from room to room. I tell him about the décor changes. In the back
of my mind, I am aware that this will most probably end our night, although I
don’t want it to end. I enjoy having him around. Anyway, I should let him go. I’m
sure he’ll be going to work in the morning, even though he could use a break. I
look at the clock on my bedroom wall. I’m shocked to see it’s after one in the
morning.

When
did the time go by?

“I
feel like I’m in a luxury hotel.”

“Zoë
knows me well.”

“Your
interior designer?”

“Yep,
for my hotels and here.”

“She’s
done a great job.”

I’m
nervous, and it’s because he’s in my bedroom and I so badly want him to kiss
me. At this point, nothing is holding us back
—
no ethical
issues, no moral issues. We are free to do as we wish. We walk through my room
and onto my bedroom verandah. It’s a chilly night outside. He stands behind me
and rubs my shoulders. I feel like I’m going to melt in his arms.

“You
have a beautiful place. You’ve managed to strike a nice balance. Most women are
all frills, florals, and pastels.”

“Not
my style.”

“Please
don’t go off on your own this weekend,” he pleads suddenly. “Reconsider coming
to Lake Tahoe with me. You can have your own room if you like. No pressure.”

I turn
to him and smile. “I’ll think about it.”

“I’ll
be leaving tomorrow evening. Can I call you before then?”

“My
phones might be tapped. You’d have to watch what you say. I don’t feel like I
have privacy anymore.”

“I’m
sorry. I know having personal and painful details about your life being
discussed by everyone like it’s a movie can’t be easy.”

I
wonder if I can trust him with the number for my
Bobbyphone
.
I’m apprehensive. For now, I decide not.

“You
can call. Just know I won’t be at liberty to speak freely. Or I may not feel
that way, anyway.”

“I’m
going to miss you if you don’t come with me. Over the last few days, you’ve
made a huge difference in my life… and in my family’s life.”

“I’ll
miss you too,” I reply, gazing into his piercing grey eyes. “Has anyone ever
told you that you have extraordinarily beautiful eyes?”

“Has
anyone ever told you you’re simply extraordinarily beautiful?”

He
leans into me, slips his hands around my hips, and pulls me into a kiss. I part
my lips and tilt my head, encouraging him to deepen it. His kiss electrifies my
body. I tiptoe and fold my arms around his neck. He raises my frame off the
floor, completely enveloping me in his arms. This powerful energy emanates from
my chest and extends outward to the rest of my body. What has this man done to
me? What is that incredible pull that I feel?

I am
suddenly frightened, frightened by what I feel, and I shyly turn away. I never
felt this way with Richard, and he was the one I was about to marry. I don’t
understand what’s happening to me. I’ve barely know Jonathan for three months,
and the knowing part has really only happened in the last few weeks. I am
completely torn and confused.

“What’s
wrong?”

“Nothing,”
I whisper, looking away from him.

He
sets me gently to my feet, tenderly pushes my hair away from my face, and
kisses me softly again.

“Please.
Think about Tahoe. I’m going to the office for a short while in the morning
then I’ll head there in the evening.”

“I
promise. I will.”

Then
just like that, he disappears, and I hear the ping of the elevator.

I lie
in bed after, dazed and confused. What was that energy? Did he feel it too? I
think about the night that we shared—our conversations, our laughter, our
sorrow, and then that kiss. The way I felt after that kiss bothered me. Not
because anything was wrong—but because I don’t comprehend what I feel. How
could I share something so powerful with a man I’m getting to know? I never
felt anything remotely close with the man I was about to marry.

I am
unable to settle down. I pack then search the internet for a house. I
eventually settle on a small but luxurious two-bedroom villa. It is surrounded
by wonderful patios, and I know I’ll spend much time there. It would be a photographer’s
paradise, and I am eager to get there so I can get my camera out and go
trekking.

It’s
7:30AM. I still haven’t slept. I lie in bed…

My ringing
Bobbyphone
wakes me. I glance at my watch. It’s
after one in the afternoon.

“Hey,”
I answer.

“So I
have to find out he recused himself from the case on the news.”

“Please
don’t tell me you mean the news in Miami?”

“No. I
check the San Francisco news online every day, twice a day.”

“My
ever protective brother. How are you?”

“Great.
So you two an item yet?”

“I
wouldn’t call it that. I’m not sure I’m ready.”

“Is
something wrong?”

“I don’t
know. I’m confused… afraid. I don’t know what I feel.”

“Stop
overanalyzing.”

“I’m
not. I have feelings for him I never had with Richard. We just met… frankly, it’s
a little scary.”

“It
will work itself out, Sis. I’m sure you two will spend lots of time together,
and you’ll figure it out.”

“I’m
not so sure. I don’t think I’ll be returning to Lake Tahoe.”

“Why?”

“I
haven’t told you this, but after I dropped you off at the airport the last
time, I was followed home. I also found a tracking device in my car. And the
night Jonathan stayed over, someone tried to break into the house.”

“Why
didn’t you tell me about this sooner?”

“Charles
died and things spiraled out of control from there. Yesterday, my condo and car
were swept by the investigators, and they found a second tracking device on my
car.”

“God.
Are you at home?”

“For
now, yes. I found a house in Big Sur. It’s two-and-a-half hours away from San
Francisco.”

“Does
anyone know you want to go there?”

“Just
you. I told Jonathan I was thinking about going to either Big Sur or Carmel. He
wants me to stay the weekend with him at his house in Tahoe.”

“Jada.
I don’t like the sound of any of this. I don’t want you being anywhere alone
with no one to look out for you.”

“I can
take care of myself.”

“Do I
need to remind you of what happened a few months ago? Have you forgotten how
brutally Richard was killed?”

My
skin grows cold at the thought, and I suddenly start second guessing myself.

“What
do you suggest I do?”

“Go
with Jonathan or have him come with you. I don’t want you alone. If I didn’t
have an active case, I’d come over there myself.”

“Do
you trust him?”

“I
have a whole new level of respect for him since he recused himself from your
case. He has integrity. And I’ve done a background check on him. He’s fine. I
see no red flags.”

“I can’t
believe you did that.”

“Trust
me, the fuck-up that happened with Richard will never happen again.”

“Thanks
for looking out for me. Do you think I can trust him with my
Bobbyphone
?
Right now, our communications are limited.”

“I
would have said yes, but since everyone knows you two are friends now, it
wouldn’t surprise me if the police tap his phone. Get creative. Use cash and
get yourself a pair of
Johnnyphones
.”

I
giggle at his response.

I
know exactly how to handle this. I’ll make use of my concierge. Within an hour,
I have one of the phones, and forty minutes later, I get my first call on my
Johnnyphone
.

“That
was smart. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“It
was my brother’s bright idea.”

“And
he told you to do this on the phone that might be tapped?”

“No.
As you and I now share a
Johnnyphone
,
he and I have our
Bobbyphone
.”