Notorious by Michele Martinez Page B

she remembered.
    â€œMr. Diamond?”
    He glanced up at her and did a double take.
    â€œHey, Dixie. Look at you all grown up, with a big girl’s job.”
    Jennifer blushed, worrying that the guard had heard, but he was on the phone.
    â€œIt’s Jennifer,” she said.
    â€œI know. But I always dug that cute accent.”
    She smiled. “Come on, this way.”
    Diamond fell into step beside her.
    â€œYou remember me,” Jennifer said.
    â€œOf course I do. You were the best thing about Charlie Fox’s courtroom. I’m just surprised that he let you leave.”
    â€œMy year was up,” she said.
    â€œAnd you landed here? I had you figured for one of us.”
    â€œMaybe someday. I need trial experience first.”
    â€œOh. A résumé maximizer. I like that.”
    â€œRésumé maximizer?” she asked.
    â€œI have this theory that AUSAs can be divided into two categories. Résumé maximizers, who’re looking to check off the trial experience box and move on. And true believers, who think they’re on a mission from God. True believers are a pain in a defense lawyer’s ass. Glad you’re on board, Dixie. You can save me from Charlton and Vargas on this one.”
    Jennifer giggled. “Yeah, they’re definitely in the true believer category.”
    â€œTalk about humorless. I like to have a good time at trial. Now that you’re here, I can have some fun.”
    They passed the vending machine.
    â€œHold on a second,” Diamond said. “I need a soda or something. I just drank some champagne with my client and it gave me the worst headache. Can I get you one?”
    â€œYes. I’d love a Diet Coke.”
    He fed a bill into the machine, and a can plunked out. He opened it and handed it to her, his fingers brushing hers.
    â€œThank you,” she said, looking at him, remembering how she’d study his face during the trial, his voice and his gestures. Had he noticed her watching? Jennifer didn’t take her hand away, and she held his gaze a few beats too long. There was no mistaking the hunger in her big green eyes. Surprise registered on Diamond’s face, then curiosity.
    He turned away and got himself a soda. Neither one of them spoke again until they were seated across from each other at the conference table, but by then the air between them was thick.
    â€œSo,” she said, her voice husky and breathless, “I have the discovery binders all ready for you. The only thing you have to do is sign—”
    He reached across the table and placed his hand on top of hers. His fingers were cold from the soda can. The words froze on her lips.
    â€œSlow down,” he said.
    â€œSlow—slow down?” Her heart was hammering.
    â€œIt’s been a crazy day, and I’m under a lot of pressure. Let me sit here and enjoy drinking this soda with you.”
    â€œOkay,” she said. With great effort, she took her hand away, glancing at the closed door. She had no reason to think anybody would walk in. But if they did, she’d better not be seen holding hands with the defense lawyer.
    â€œRemind me now, where exactly do you hail from, Dixie?”
    Her new colleagues hadn’t troubled to ask her the first thing about herself today. She’d felt so lonely and at sea. She looked up. Evan’s eyes were the darkest brown. Black, really. So opaque that she couldn’t see into them.
    â€œTennessee,” she said. “But I hate my accent. I’d love to lose it but I can’t seem to.”
    â€œNo, don’t say that,” he said. “It’s completely adorable.”
    The praise made her glow. She couldn’t believe that she was alone in a room with him, or that he’d touched her. Any of it.
    â€œYou think so?” she asked.
    â€œI do. But here’s my question. You’re a Yalie. College and law school, right?”
    â€œI can’t believe you