The Defender. Cara Summers

set his wineglass down on the dock beside him. His curiosity had been piqued when Kit had mentioned that Sadie was also doing some pro bono work for the public defender’s office and he’d been intrigued enough to sit in on one of her trials. She was very good. His mouth curved slightly. Her style was more conservative than his, but she had a logical mind and a cool, unflappable manner that played well with a jury. An aloof, controlled ice princess was the way he’d summed her up in his mind. Not his type. Then he’d seen her address the jury and for the first time he caught a hint of the passion that lay beneath the cool exterior. The next time he’d seen her name on the docket, he’d gone back to watch her again. It was only natural that when his stalker was arrested, he’d thought of Sadie.

      Theo frowned as he picked up his glass and sipped his wine again. Something had happened when he’d talked to her after that trial. Actually, a few things had happened and they’d given him pause. As the bottom edge of the sun disappeared into the Pacific, he let his mind drift back to that meeting…

      When he’d approached her, the courtroom had already emptied and Sadie was packing papers quickly and efficiently into her briefcase. He’d had plenty of time during the trial to take in the details of her appearance. She was taller than average and she always wore a conservatively tailored suit and plain black pumps. Her long, dark hair was pulled back into a neat braid that fell below her shoulders.

      There was nothing in her appearance to hint at the passion he sensed when she was pleading a client’s case. For some reason, the contrast appealed to him.

      He was about to speak to her when his gaze came to rest on her hands and he felt that first inexplicable tug of attraction. Her fingers were long and slender, the nails short and painted with a clear polish. They moved competently. Theo could imagine them pouring tea into delicate china cups. He could also imagine them moving over his skin. With no more warning than that, desire had snaked up his spine and settled in his gut. Where in hell had it come from?

      Her cell phone rang and as she took the call, Theo took the opportunity to gather his thoughts.

      “Yes?”

      Even though he could only see her face in profile, he noted the frown and the way her grip tightened on the phone.

      “Michael, I told you I had a trial today.” She glanced at the watch on her wrist. “I’ll be back in half an hour and I plan on working late. You’ll have my report on your desk first thing in the morning.”

      Her shoulders had tensed and one of her feet had begun to tap. Whoever this Michael was, she wasn’t happy with him. Still, she kept her tone cool. He wondered what it would take to chip through her control. What would he find beneath the surface? There was definitely passion there. He could see it in that tapping foot. A man couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like when it was released.

      “I’m sure that you and Daddy and Roman can mingle at the mayor’s fundraiser without me. The Olivers will be well represented.” Then she snapped the phone shut and stuffed it into her purse. Sadie was reaching for her briefcase when he said, “Ms. Oliver.”

      She jumped and turned to face him.

      Theo looked into her eyes and for a moment his mind went totally blank. All he thought of was her. He took in the fact that her skin was a golden shade, her scent something floral. But it was those almond-shaped eyes in a deep shade of chocolate brown that he felt he was sinking into.

      “Mr. Angelis, I’m…surprised to see you here.” She secured her purse on her shoulder and reached for her briefcase.

      Theo reined in his wandering thoughts and took a step to the side so that he blocked the aisle that led to the door. “You know me?”

      “I’ve seen your picture.”

      Theo thought with embarrassment of the most-eligible-bachelor article. Was he never going to be free of that? “The one in the paper?”

      “Well, yes, I did see that one. But I was thinking of the one Roman has in his office. In it, he’s just beaten you at tennis.”

      Theo winced. “He’s the best I’ve ever been up against. So far he hasn’t agreed to a rematch.”

      “When he does, take advantage of his backhand. That’s what I do. It’s his Achilles’ heel.”

      Fascinated, Theo eased his hip onto the edge of the railing that separated the lawyer’s tables from the rest of the courtroom and studied her for a moment. “You’ve beaten him then?”

      She smiled at him. “Once. Just a few weeks ago. And I intend to do it again.”

      It was the first time he’d seen her smile. In the slanted light pouring in through the narrow courtroom windows, Theo realized she was beautiful. Desire struck again like a punch low in his gut.

      He had to put some effort into speaking. “Aren’t you betraying family secrets by telling me something like that?”

      “Perhaps, but I figure I owe you one.”

      “Why?”

      She met his eyes very steadily. “I know that you recommended me for this case. But you can’t be pleased about the way it’s ended.”

      “Because you got the woman who was stalking me psychiatric treatment instead of jail time? I was hoping that you would do just that.”

      It was Sadie’s turn to study him. “She shot you.”

      Theo shrugged. “It wasn’t a fatal wound and she’s a very sick woman.” If he’d sensed the problem in time, he might have prevented it. “Jail time won’t help her. Mind if I ask a question?”

      “Go ahead.”

      “Why are you doing pro bono work for the public defender’s office? Don’t they keep you busy enough at Oliver Enterprises?” He thought he saw a shadow flicker into those brown eyes and he recalled the conversation she’d just had with this Michael.

      “I want the trial experience.” Then she extended her hand. “I have to go, but I want to thank you for the recommendation.”

      He took her hand in his. In that first instant of contact, they both went perfectly still. Theo was glad that he was still half-sitting on the railing because his knees went weak. It was at that moment he knew—the way he knew a lot of things—his path and Sadie’s were going to cross again.

      Theo drained the last of his glass and watched the sun disappear into the ocean. He’d been very careful not to go back and watch her in court again, but he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. Was it Sadie Oliver who was interfering with his ability to make a decision about the Los Angeles job? he wondered. Was she the cause of the restlessness that had been plaguing him lately?

      It was a long time before he got up from the dock and went back into the cabin.

      2

      GUNSHOTS? In a church? Could she have been mistaken? In the dim light of the vestibule, Sadie swallowed hard, reminded herself to breathe and took a cautious step toward the double doors leading into the church. She’d nearly reached them when she heard footsteps pounding in her direction.

      A man built like a linebacker exploded into the room. Her heart leaped to her throat and blocked her scream. He was wearing a black T-shirt and jeans; she made out the gun in his hand as he pounded up the circular wrought-iron staircase to the choir loft above. An instant later, another man burst through the doors. She recognized this one.

      “Roman?”

      When her brother whirled to face her, she saw that he was carrying a gun, too. “What’s going—”

      He grabbed her by the arm and shoved her into the shadows beneath the staircase. “Stay out of sight. Don’t let anyone know you’re here.”

      She’d barely processed the words when more shots sounded from inside the church. Even as terror streamed through her, another gunshot exploded overhead. Her ears were ringing