less sure of the rules. There was one thing he was sure of, though. If Jordan invited him in, he’d accept.
She unfastened her seatbelt and leaned across the center console, her proximity causing his heart to beat faster.
“I had a really great time tonight.” She brushed her lips gently across his, and he took in her scent. “We should do it again sometime.”
Sometime soon, please. “I’d like that,” Jake said once he found his voice.
“Next time I’ll cook for you.”
“You cook?” He heard the surprise reflected in his voice and wanted to take it back, hoping he hadn’t offended her.
Instead, Jordan chuckled. “I occasionally prepare meals in my kitchen and so far haven’t started any fires.” She kissed him again. “I’ll call you. Goodnight, Jake.”
***
Jordan closed the front door behind her and leaned back against it, slightly breathless and hoping for balance. It took every ounce of restraint she had not to invite him in.
Cujo looked up at her with a stern expression, as if she disapproved of Jordan’s decision, or at least didn’t believe it.
“What?” Jordan asked the cat. “I had to do that, okay? I hope you understand why.”
Chapter 12
Jordan walked out of the courtroom with Beth after the plea and sentencing in the Becker case. Her client would be going to prison for five years, but she had no regrets about this one. The plea offer was fair and he chose to take it, wisely realizing that the evidence against him was substantial and he risked far more time if he took the case to trial and was convicted. She was pleased to have the case closed, and even more pleased it was her last scheduled hearing of the day. There were more important things on her mind.
“I think Judge Benson’s happy to have that one done, too,” Beth said.
“Anything to avoid a high-profile trial that would polarize the public in an election year, right?” Jordan hadn’t been working in Grande Valley during the previous election cycle, so she didn’t know for sure if it really changed anything, but others in the criminal defense bar insisted it did, and she was starting to think they were right.
Beth’s eyes widened in mock horror. “How can you even say something like that about an esteemed member of the judiciary, especially when one of our best friends is a judge?”
Jordan laughed. “Our friend is a different kind of judge in a different state. I doubt she’d be offended at my opinion of Judge Benson.” They stepped out of the courthouse into the mid-afternoon sun.
“True. And Benson’s as political as they come.” Beth lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Don’t tell anyone where you heard this, but his poll numbers are tanking.”
The news came as no surprise to Jordan. Great. I traded Hollywood politics for Texas justice politics. She wasn’t sure her new home came out ahead on that particular aspect, but overall her practice and her life in Texas suited her much better than California had. “If you’re done sharing political gossip,” she said, “do you want to walk with me to the Mexican grocery store?”
“Sure.” Beth fell into step beside her. “You can tell me what you’re cooking for Jake.”
“Who said anything about cooking for Jake?” Jordan tried to sound nonchalant but suspected she failed.
“Sarah, who called me this morning to tell me that you called Kelsey last night wanting advice on a recipe for a romantic dinner,” Beth explained. “This, of course, came as quite a shock to Sarah, given your past position on all things hearts and flowers, so she wanted to know what was up. Naturally, I felt obliged to fill her in.”
“Naturally.” Jordan groaned, wishing she’d simply looked at a cookbook, or gone on the internet and googled ‘romantic recipes.’ It wasn’t hard to imagine how their conversation had gone. “Have you settled on bridesmaid’s dresses yet?”
“Not quite,” Beth said with total seriousness. “But
She unfastened her seatbelt and leaned across the center console, her proximity causing his heart to beat faster.
“I had a really great time tonight.” She brushed her lips gently across his, and he took in her scent. “We should do it again sometime.”
Sometime soon, please. “I’d like that,” Jake said once he found his voice.
“Next time I’ll cook for you.”
“You cook?” He heard the surprise reflected in his voice and wanted to take it back, hoping he hadn’t offended her.
Instead, Jordan chuckled. “I occasionally prepare meals in my kitchen and so far haven’t started any fires.” She kissed him again. “I’ll call you. Goodnight, Jake.”
***
Jordan closed the front door behind her and leaned back against it, slightly breathless and hoping for balance. It took every ounce of restraint she had not to invite him in.
Cujo looked up at her with a stern expression, as if she disapproved of Jordan’s decision, or at least didn’t believe it.
“What?” Jordan asked the cat. “I had to do that, okay? I hope you understand why.”
Chapter 12
Jordan walked out of the courtroom with Beth after the plea and sentencing in the Becker case. Her client would be going to prison for five years, but she had no regrets about this one. The plea offer was fair and he chose to take it, wisely realizing that the evidence against him was substantial and he risked far more time if he took the case to trial and was convicted. She was pleased to have the case closed, and even more pleased it was her last scheduled hearing of the day. There were more important things on her mind.
“I think Judge Benson’s happy to have that one done, too,” Beth said.
“Anything to avoid a high-profile trial that would polarize the public in an election year, right?” Jordan hadn’t been working in Grande Valley during the previous election cycle, so she didn’t know for sure if it really changed anything, but others in the criminal defense bar insisted it did, and she was starting to think they were right.
Beth’s eyes widened in mock horror. “How can you even say something like that about an esteemed member of the judiciary, especially when one of our best friends is a judge?”
Jordan laughed. “Our friend is a different kind of judge in a different state. I doubt she’d be offended at my opinion of Judge Benson.” They stepped out of the courthouse into the mid-afternoon sun.
“True. And Benson’s as political as they come.” Beth lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Don’t tell anyone where you heard this, but his poll numbers are tanking.”
The news came as no surprise to Jordan. Great. I traded Hollywood politics for Texas justice politics. She wasn’t sure her new home came out ahead on that particular aspect, but overall her practice and her life in Texas suited her much better than California had. “If you’re done sharing political gossip,” she said, “do you want to walk with me to the Mexican grocery store?”
“Sure.” Beth fell into step beside her. “You can tell me what you’re cooking for Jake.”
“Who said anything about cooking for Jake?” Jordan tried to sound nonchalant but suspected she failed.
“Sarah, who called me this morning to tell me that you called Kelsey last night wanting advice on a recipe for a romantic dinner,” Beth explained. “This, of course, came as quite a shock to Sarah, given your past position on all things hearts and flowers, so she wanted to know what was up. Naturally, I felt obliged to fill her in.”
“Naturally.” Jordan groaned, wishing she’d simply looked at a cookbook, or gone on the internet and googled ‘romantic recipes.’ It wasn’t hard to imagine how their conversation had gone. “Have you settled on bridesmaid’s dresses yet?”
“Not quite,” Beth said with total seriousness. “But
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