Mary Baxter - Without You

“Absolutely. Nathan’s not making any demands that I wouldn’t make.”

“But you know me personally.”

Jackson suddenly gave her the look that melted her bones. She swallowed before saying lamely, “Lots can change in two years, Jackson.”

“Dammit, Hallie, you know better than that.”

“No, I don’t,” she shot back.

Nathan raised his hand, the look on his face an annoyed one that Hallie dreaded. The criminal attorney was losing patience, and she didn’t blame him. Jackson could be the kindest and most considerate person on earth, only to turn cold and withdrawn in a heartbeat if something didn’t suit him. Obviously this interview was not suiting him.

Too bad. Jackson had gotten himself in this mess. Consequently, he didn’t have any choice but to cooperate.

“All right,” Jackson said, his features cast in granite, “take your best shot. Both of you.”

Again ignoring his festering temper, Nathan asked, “How are your finances?”

“Solid.”

“That’s a plus. Are you involved with a woman?”

For a long moment, a poisonous tension fell over the room. No one said a word. Hallie felt her breath catch in anticipation of Jackson’s answer. His only physical response was to narrow his eyes and hold his features and posture in check. Still, Hallie sensed his temper had gone up yet another notch.

“No,” he finally said in a more terse tone, a muscle jerking in his jaw.

Hallie kept her face averted while giving in to the unwanted feeling of relief that filtered through her.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Jackson demanded, his eyes hooded.

“Look,” Nathan said, “I’m not the heavy here, despite what you think. Gomez is going to dig a whole lot deeper than we are. Count on that. So you might as well get used to having your privacy invaded.”

“He’s right,” Hallie said in a soft tone. “Things are going to get worse before they get better.”

Jackson lunged out of his chair, then peered down at Hallie. “How ’bout if I take a lie detector test? Won’t that prove I didn’t do it?”

“Nope,” Nathan said. “It won’t hold up in court.”

“But surely it would count for something.” Jackson’s tone was low and harsh. “At least shake Gomez enough to look at someone else.”

“We don’t know that he doesn’t have other suspects,” Hallie pointed out. “But until I’m convinced you’re no longer his numero uno, I’m going to proceed as if you are.”

Jackson muttered a curse, while Nathan looked at his watch and stood.

“I’m due at another meeting.” He turned his attention to Hallie. “Let me know when and if I can be of more help. But for now, I have every confidence you can handle it.”

Hallie gave him a lame smile. “Thanks, Nathan. We’ll talk later.”

Once he was gone, silence permeated the room. Both Jackson and Hallie seemed reluctant to break it, even though Hallie felt the attraction crackle between them like strong bolts of lightning.

“Hallie.” The gruffness in his voice brought her eyes back to his.

“Don’t, Jackson.”

“Don’t what?”

“You know.” A tremor that she couldn’t control shook her voice.

“Suppose you tell me, anyway.”

She raised her head defiantly, determined to nip this conversation in the bud. “Okay, don’t look at me like that.”

“And how am I looking at you?”

His question didn’t even warrant a response. He damn well knew the answer.

Weak-kneed, Hallie leaned against the desk. This was a dangerous game they were playing, especially if she was going to represent him effectively against a murder charge. Yet the heady feeling his smoldering gaze and husky voice incited in her seemed worth the risk. For the moment.

Then, thankfully, her sanity returned, and she forced strength into her voice. “Stop it, Jackson. Your seduction tactics won’t work.”

He shrugged, then said, “Can’t blame a fellow for trying.”

“You don’t mean that,” she snapped, again disconcerted by his effect on her.

“Oh, but I do,” he said, after a calculated pause. “It never occurred to me that I’d ever lose you, Hallie.”

“Well, you did,” she countered flatly, turning and making her way behind her desk, determined to create distance between them. If she’d known he still had the power to turn her world upside down, she wouldn’t have let him persuade her to help him.

But nothing was carved in stone, she reminded herself, feeling her heart rate recede. “Back off, Jackson. If not…” She let her words trail off, but she knew he got the message.

Although his features tightened, he changed the subject. “So where do we go from here?” He added hurriedly, “Concerning the case.”

Hallie relaxed, feeling on safe ground for the first time since she’d seen him. “The ball’s in Gomez’s court.”

“Do you think he’ll bug me?”

“He’ll try, but whatever you do, don’t take the bait.”

“I don’t want him around me.”

“I can’t promise you anything. However, if he becomes too much of a nuisance, there are ways of dealing with him.”

“I wish you could make this all go away, Hallie.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t.” Her tone was low and sober.

“I probably shouldn’t have involved you.”

“No, you probably shouldn’t have, but you did. And I probably should’ve sent you out the door, but I didn’t.”

He smiled. “I owe you, big time.”

She returned his smile, and it felt good. “Believe me, you’ll pay.”

“Through the pocketbook, right?”

“Right.”

“If it keeps me out of court, it’ll be worth it.”

“I’ll do my best.”

He didn’t say anything for a minute, then he asked, “How about dinner tonight?” He paused. “For old time’s sake.”

She stiffened, and he raised his hands in an innocent gesture. “I promise, no hanky-panky. I just don’t want to be alone.”

“You’re never alone. You’re surrounded by people at Elan.”

“It’s not the same—” He cleared his throat. “But if you’d feel more comfortable, we could dine at the club.”

“Jackson—”

“Please.”

She had hesitated, trying to decide what to do, when her cell phone rang. Without looking at him, she reached for it. Darcy’s name was registered in the caller ID box, and she answered immediately.

“I’m glad to hear from you.”

Silence.

“Darcy, are you there?” The dial tone buzzed in her ear. Frowning she pushed the off button and met Jackson’s inquisitive eyes.

“What was that all about?”

“I wish I knew.”

“You seem upset. Is Darcy all right?”

“I don’t know that, either. Nothing there has changed in two years.” Hallie tried to keep the fear and frustration out of her voice, but she knew she’d failed.

“All the more reason to have dinner with me.”

Jackson had seized the opportunity and persuaded her to join him. Still, she’d insisted on meeting for an early dinner after work. During the afternoon, she’d tried to reach her sister but to no avail, which had convinced her that maybe Jackson’s company wouldn’t be a bad thing provided she kept things on an impersonal level.

“So did you ever talk to your sister?” he asked after they were seated.

Hallie sighed. “No, unfortunately I didn’t.”

“I had hoped she’d stopped giving you so much grief.”

“Surely you weren’t thinking she’d grown up.”

Jackson gave her a crooked smile. “Yeah, that’s sort of what I had in mind.”

“No such miracle,” Hallie responded, “but I haven’t given up on her. Yet it’s an uphill battle, I’ll admit.”