Лиза Джонс - Secrets Exposed

Her eyes narrowed, and her response came quickly. “If that’s the case, then you resemble him as well.”

Mark couldn’t hold back his laughter. “You are more interesting than your father ever was.”

She took him off guard by offering a desperate plea. “Will you help me, Mark?”

He hesitated. For some crazy reason, he wanted to help her. He didn’t have the time nor did he have the inclination to be involved with Paxton, but to be involved with Lindsey had appeal. He shoved aside the irrational thought. “I have commitments.”

She reached out and touched his arm. He felt the desperation in her action. “Mark, I can’t take this case. I can’t. I know you don’t know me and have no obligation to help me, but I really, desperately need you.”

He couldn’t help it. He liked the way that sounded. How many men had she ever said she needed? He would bet none. It fired up the wholly male part of him, and made him want to rise to the challenge. He tried to keep the heat raging inside in check. But his finger moved lightly down her cheek, as if on its own accord. She shut her eyes, and he knew she absorbed his touch, rather than fought it.

He leaned forward, near her ear. “You need me, do you?” he teased.

Lindsey opened her eyes. They stared at each other for long, intense moments packed with a potent undertone. Moments that had nothing to do with business and everything to do with attraction. “Yes, I do,” she whispered. “I need you.”

A seductive half-smile filled his face. Her lashes fluttered to her cheeks as if she was trying to hide whatever she felt. “I must admit, you’re tempting me,” he murmured, and his words had nothing to do with Paxton. He wanted to kiss her so damn bad it was killing him. But he couldn’t, and he knew it. She was Edward’s daughter. And she wanted something from him he couldn’t give. With regret, he added, “But I can’t go back to the firm.”

Lindsey flushed red, taking a step backwards in a swift, jerky motion. “Damn it, my father is in a hospital bed. Do you not have a heart?” she demanded.

Well, hell, things sure went downhill fast. One minute he was near kissing her, the next he was being cursed. And try as he might, he couldn’t fight the irritation her words evoked. “According to my reputation, apparently not.”

Her cheeks flushed with anger. “You don’t feel any responsibly to the firm after so many years?” she demanded.

If only she would be reasonable. He felt the flare of impatience. “My responsibility ended when I left the firm.”

Her expression was murderous. “Damn you, Mark Reeves!”

“Yelling isn’t going to get you anywhere,” he told her, angry that she expected so much, and pissed that he was so damn attracted to her. He should have stopped this in the hallway. “Good thing you didn’t use this tactic in the courtroom.”

“I’m surprised you have won so many cases, Mark.” Her tongue was taking on the sharp quality he had heard so much about at Paxton. She hated to lose a battle. Or so he had heard. “Seems you quit when things get tough.”

Mark didn’t immediately respond. This was getting them nowhere fast. He saw no point in being dragged into the heat of the moment. Two people who loved to win engaging in hotheaded verbal sparring would only prove fruitless. No doubt, she would regret her explosion later. It was time to put an end to this.

“I don’t believe I am the one who quit.” Spoken in a low voice, his words held no anger, just truth. The impact was ten times more forceful.

Lindsey all but physically flinched at the remark. He watched the play of emotions on her face, and knew his comment had hit close to home. Her fists were balled so tightly in her hands that her nails were digging into her skin. “I never wanted to be an attorney in the first place. I only did it for my father.” She was being defensive.

He shook his head from side to side, rejecting her words. Denial was killing her. If ever a person needed to face their past, it was Lindsey. Why he wanted to make her see the light, he didn’t know. She wasn’t his responsibility. Hell, he’d only just met her.

“Wrong,” he said firmly. “You were too good to have only done it for your father.”

She closed her arms in front of her body, assuming a defensive stance to match her attitude. “You wouldn’t know. You weren’t even around then, and you don’t know me.”

He let out a loud sigh. “Wrong again. I’ve seen your case files. I do know how good you are. And, like it or not, I see the love for battle in your eyes. You like winning, and that’s what spooked you. You were afraid your desire to win killed that girl. You got scared, and you simply quit.” He wasn’t taunting her. He couldn’t, even if he wanted to. Somebody needed to make her see the light.

Emotions flashed across her face. As her expression mimicked her pain, he wished he could pull his words back. Anger flooded her features⎯another defense mechanism. She shot him a scowling look and exhaled as she clearly reached for control. “You’re an ass, Mark Reeves. Daddy was right.” Her words were soft; no longer was she yelling, but there was no mistaking the disdain etching her voice.

She turned on her heels, and stomped towards the door. Halfway there, she stopped. He lifted a brow, a silent question. “My briefcase.”

Mark went to the couch and grabbed it, holding it up in the air, telling her she had to come get it. He couldn’t help teasing her. She had stormed off so indignantly and now she had to face him again. Shoulders back, head held high, she stomped back towards him, and reached for her bag. He moved it just out of her reach. She all but growled at him.

“You give up easily Lindsey. I’m disappointed.” He meant to challenge her with his words. He loved the fire in her eyes.

“I don’t give up easily,” she spat angrily. “I analyze and choose worthwhile battles. My analysis is that this is not one of them.”

Mark’s head fell back as his rumble turned into a roar of laughter. “That stung. Very good, Counselor.”

“Don’t call me that. Give me my bag,” she demanded.

He was laughing so hard she managed to take him off guard and snatch the bag from his grip. The minute she had it in her hand, she turned back towards the stairs. As she reached the door, he said, “Maybe you can stay longer next time.”

She didn’t turn and look at Mark. Instead she opened the door and exited, slamming it shut behind her with a loud bang. He loved her softness, her anger, her spunk, and, yes, her intelligence. The combination was alluring and way too appealing.

He regretted that he would probably never see her again. If things were different, he wouldn’t hesitate to explore what was between them.

But they weren’t. She was Edward’s daughter. Case closed. The problem was, he didn’t want it to be. He cursed under his breath, running his index finger across the stubble on his chin. Lindsey had been compelling in her pleas for help, too compelling. Mark remembered reading through the Hudson case when he first joined Paxton. Lindsey had done an exceptional job of handling the case, yet today he’d seen the pain the outcome had caused her.

She felt like she was a killer.

He had several consulting jobs he was committed to. But he wasn’t as busy as he had led Lindsey to believe. Consulting was a lot less demanding than hands-on case management. Unable to help himself⎯his curiosity was piqued⎯he started walking towards his office. He flipped on the light switch and made a beeline for the computer.

A little research on Hudson, and this new Williams case, couldn’t hurt.

Refreshing his memory, he skimmed through some materials about Hudson. He’d maintained his innocence over the years, never faltering in his insistence that he was framed. Even now, serving a life sentence⎯barely escaping the death penalty—he held true to his story.