“Case dismissed.”
Emmy resisted the urge to cheer as the judge dismissed the jury. She shook her client’s hand, a young girl who’d made friends with the wrong classmate, a shoplifter.
“Thank you so much, Miss Mahoney,” the girl’s mother said as she shook Emmy’s hand.
“My pleasure.” Her cases were so much more rewarding when she was reasonably sure her clients really were innocent of the charges. She left the courtroom and started toward the elevator, but a strong arm hooked hers and dragged her to a stop. A protest rose on her lips until she turned to find it was Pete.
“Hey, gorgeous.” He gave her a chaste kiss on her cheek and she picked up a whiff of his scent. “How’d it go?”
“We won.” She high fived him. “What are you doing here?” She looked him over. In jeans and a polo shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders and narrow waist, he stole her breath. Although they’d gone on a dozen or more dates in the last few months, he still inspired some serious butterflies in her stomach every time she saw him.
“I found out today is Rudy’s birthday. I thought we could surprise him with a cake. Or something.” He gave her a subtle wink she immediately understood. The three of them had marked several special occasions together by engaging in their new favorite sport-what the guys called lawyering up, which just meant the two of them seeking her counsel, not to mention all her erogenous zones.
She hooked her arm through his as they stepped onto the elevator.
“Are you done for the day?” He pressed the Lobby button.
She checked her watch. “Yup. Two whole days of freedom.”
“Think again. Did you forget this is Memorial Day weekend?”
She slapped her forehead. “Work’s been so crazy and all-consuming this month. It totally slipped my mind.”
They left the building and strode arm-in-arm to her car.
“I got you a present.” Pete waggled his eyebrows.
She couldn’t hold back a giggle at the silly expression on his face, like a kid with a secret he couldn’t keep inside. “What is it?”
“It’s in my car.” He led her a few rows past hers, then opened the trunk and pulled out a pink bag she recognized from her new favorite lingerie store.
She took the package from him and found a skimpy leather thing inside with loads of straps and buckles. “Um, am I supposed to wear this?”
He slowly nodded. It’ll be perfect for when we cuff you behind your back.”
She scanned the lot, hoping no one was around. With the coast clear, she held up the garment and tried to picture how it went on her. There wasn’t much to it, but she was used to Pete’s kinky gifts now and she had no problem with anything that revealed most of, or even all of, her body. The guys loved every inch of her, and they continued to show her how attractive they found her.
“Will you wear it?” Pete eyed her, a wicked grin playing on his lips.
She knew she would, but she loved making him wonder. “I’ll consider that motion…in my chambers.”
He pulled her into his arms. “You say the naughtiest stuff, counselor. I might have to punish you for teasing me.”
“Promises, promises.”
“I’m a man of my word.”
And she knew he was. She couldn’t wait for his brand of punishment, the kind that made her feel like the most powerful woman in the world.