Justice for All Read online

  A few turns and her feet touched cold tile. She almost gasped at the luxurious room sprawled out before her. The contrast of granite countertops against the black walnut cabinets was striking. And it was perfectly capped by shiny stainless steel appliances.

  Kay licked her dry lips, remembering the reason she’d been looking for this particular room. She opened and closed a few cabinet doors before finding a glass. She was less than an inch from pressing the glass into the refrigerator door to dispense the water, then stopped and opened the door to see what Van had available.

  “Yes!” she hissed in excitement when she saw the jug of orange juice. When that sweet and tart goodness hit her tongue she closed her eyes in a mixture of relief and pleasure. Her shoulders dropped with relaxation as she chugged the entire glass, then she poured up a second.

  Kay was just about to enter the hallway and head back to the guest room when she heard something from the other side of an open door just off the kitchen. Curiosity piqued, she tiptoed over to glance inside.

  And there was Van, reclined in an easy chair, both legs spread out before him. In the center of the room was a short, circular table with what looked to be some sort of board game. He was still wearing his dress clothes, though his shirt was unbuttoned almost to his belt so that she could see the ridges of his chest and stomach peeking out. There was a dark sprinkling of hair pointing down to a place she found a part of her wanted to see.

  But with all of that sexiness to look at, it was the alluring expression on his face that had her stopped in her tracks.

  This was the second time Kay had taken one of Audrick Van Buren’s courses. The most intimidating adjunct law professor on campus was also one of the most interesting, it turned out. And after managing to earn a high B the first time, she was determined to grab an A this go-around.

  Now here she sat in his office, doing her best not to fidget as he read through her brief in support of a motion for new trial. He was leaned back in his chair, holding the papers in one hand. His other arm was propped against the desk, and his index finger rubbed his chin just below the lip.

  She found herself mesmerized by that finger, by its subtle back and forth movements so close to his mouth. A mouth that for the first time she realized was somewhat sexy.

  “… and if my memory serves me, there are several other findings that oppose this particular method of applying waiver.”

  Her gaze flicked up to his eyes and the way they were furrowed in deep thought. He was so focused, so targeted on the paper. She wondered if he might be that intense when making love to a woman.

  “Miss Rawley?”

  A cold rush filled her veins as she realized he was speaking to her. She mentally backtracked, trying to recall what he had just said. Licking her lips, she cleared her throat and nodded. “There is a shortage of this particular ruling, but my case is based on the application of both doctrines, waiver, and statute of limitations. With those findings compounded, it’s my belief that the court must find for the defendant in this case.”

  Her cheeks flushed under his scrutiny. He wasn’t grinning or frowning or making any specific expression exactly, but there was something deep and primal in his dark eyes. The way in which his stare fixed to hers was so strong as to be an almost physical caress.

  Van’s hand stretched forward to deliver the paper back into her grasp. She took it and waited. “I look forward to seeing how the class responds.”

  Almost as if he sensed Kay’s presence just outside the door, Van’s eyes lifted, and he smiled when he caught sight of her. She returned the gesture, then feeling a tad uncomfortable she lifted the orange juice to her lips and drank.

  “Did I wake you? I thought I had the music down low enough.”

  Music? Kay rotated to her left and looked at the speakers. There was a strong instrumental score filling the room, weighted heavily by a chorus of strings and percussions. She hadn’t even noticed until just that moment.

  “No, you didn’t wake me. I just needed something to drink.” She raised her half-empty glass of OJ. “Something besides alcohol, that is.”

  He reached around behind his chair and emerged with a bottle of water in his hand. Tipping it in her direction, he grinned deeper.

  “What are you doing exactly? Playing a board game?” She stepped softly into the room, tentative in the event she might be invading his private space. “Wait! Is this Diplomacy? I know this.”

  He quirked a black brow high with an expression of incredulity but said nothing. Her lower lip pulled up into her mouth and she nibbled at it while she stared at the huge board, which was actually a map of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. One hand reached out to hover over one country in particular.

  “Durma was different at that time,” Van noted, inclining his head towards the map. “Interesting when you consider they lost nearly a quarter of their holdings as a result of the second Great War.”

  He couldn’t know it, but she had no need of a history lesson about Durma. Her father’s country was devastated first by the financial collapse post World War I, which was partly what drove the family to America. The Second World War might almost have been the nail in Durma’s coffin, but her people managed to accomplish a minor revolution and transition into a ceremonial monarchy such that the majority of power resided in the parliament.

  She chuckled and shook her head as a wave of nostalgia washed over her. Her father owned the game Diplomacy, though to her knowledge he’d never actually played it. She hadn’t realized she missed him so much until that moment when a little pang hit her square in the chest. Thankfully she would be home for Christmas in just a few days.

  “You have a strange look on your face. Is something wrong?”

  Kay raised her eyes to him. “No, nothing’s wrong at all.”

  He turned to glance at the computer behind him. “Moves are due by morning. I was taking some time to strategize”

  “Are you playing this online or some other way?” Kay pointed her chin towards the board.

  “These days most people play online. There are sites that keep track of moves and plays. Even though everything’s in there. . .” He touched the monitor. “I like seeing it a little more up close. It helps me concentrate.”

  “And what country do you represent?”

  Van leaned away from his desk and tapped the game board, “The very one you were just staring at so intently. Why were you staring?”

  She’d never revealed much about her family to anyone at the office and not even to Thomas. Somehow she was compelled to share with Van now. With a deep breath she pointed to the chair across from him and upon his nod, she sat down.

  “I actually have dual citizenship in Durma and the US.” Stop right there. No more revelations about your family.

  “You’re kidding.”

  Kay shrugged and finished off her orange juice. “Not kidding.”

  “Would you like some more orange juice?”

  “Oh, no, I should probably leave you to your game. A girl should know better than to intrude in the man-cave.”

  Van grimaced and rubbed a hand across his face. She couldn’t help but notice the five o’clock shadow that had developed and the way it made him appear rakish. “My mother would be absolutely horrified by the very suggestion that I own a man-cave.” He waved his hand to bring her closer. “And you’re not intruding. I’m stymied at the moment. It usually takes me all of a twelve-hour block to come up with a move.”

  She decided to take him at his word that she wasn’t intruding and approached the map. “So how does this work? I seem to remember you get to team up with other countries.”

  Van leaned back in his chair and interlaced his fingers behind his head. “Mmm, that part’s right. I currently have tentative alliances with France and Austria-Hungary. Russia is questionable at this point, though they are ‘open to discussion’ after the first movement.” He made imaginary quotations with his fingers.

  “Ick, France.” She wrinkled her nose. />
  “You don’t like France?”

  “Never trust a Frenchman.” Though the words were said in her voice, she heard them in her father’s. She suppressed a little giggle as she studied the scene closer, squatting down so that the board was almost at eye level.

  “Well, these days most people agree that if Austria can survive the first season, then they may survive the game. So, I’m sure they’ve tried to make other alliances as well. Durma’s close geographically to the UK, but our relationship with Austria has them concerned.”

  “Then let’s just attack them all!” Kay laughed, turning her head in his direction. She inhaled quickly when she found herself almost nose-to-nose with Van. She hadn’t realized he’d come forward so that both his elbows were resting on his knees. Her eyes confronted his and in them all time seemed to stand still for a moment.

  Van didn’t move and in fact held himself completely still. She waited, anticipation tingling under the skin. Seconds, perhaps even half a minute, passed and nothing. Unable to wait any longer, Kay leaned in and put her mouth to his. For a moment, she thought he might pull away, but when her hand touched the inside of his leg, he opened his lips and ground them against hers.

  The kiss was consuming, and Kay’s legs gave way so that she slipped to her knees just between his thighs. His arms wrapped her up, lifting some of her weight and pulling her tight against him. She could feel his erection pressing into her stomach just below her breasts. It was so erotic a sensation that she moaned and nipped at his lip.

  Gasps of air were exchanged between pecking kisses. Then, open-mouthed, their tongues stroked one another, tasting, teasing. And then it ended. Kay blinked, reaching at empty air with her mouth, but Van had pulled away, head back and his breath coming in such quick huffs as to make his Adam’s apple move up and down.

  “What’s wrong?” she stammered, worry furrowing her brow.

  Van couldn’t look at her just yet. He kept his gaze focused on the ceiling above him, and it was all he could do not to plaster his lips to hers again. He hadn’t let go of her entirely; his hands were still at her waist. He could feel her ribs expanding and contracting with her breath. His fingers clenched her just a bit, then his thumbs made twin caresses under her breasts before releasing her.

  “Kay, this isn’t a good idea.”

  “It isn’t?” The words were a question, but her tone was a grumble. He guessed she was somewhere between hurt and frustrated, with a side of confused. And he couldn’t blame her in the least.

  Van watched her settle down on her rump and run one hand through her hair. He dug his feet into the carpet and rolled his chair back a little to put some space between them. When she raised her head, he gazed directly into her eyes and smiled apologetically, “If it makes me the bad guy, then so be it, but I don’t want to be the reason your goals take a detour.”

  She gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes at him. The blue and green depths sparked with the sort of fire that nearly made him want to take back his words and instead take her across the board game table.

  “You know, some people might say this could be a step towards achieve one of my goals.” Her voice was low and her words measured.

  “Sleeping your way to the top? Not a chance. I know you better than that.”

  She snorted in a very unlady-like manner, then shifted her weight and stood up, walking around the table. He wanted to murmur a thank you for the extra distance between them. One kiss from Kay Rawley and he was on fire in every way imaginable. His willpower could only stand so much.

  “Kay, I’ve watched you,” he continued. “I see the drive you have to succeed. Not just to become some big shot attorney, join the firm, and make partner one day. You’re really in this to be the best, to do it right, and to do it well.”

  There was surprise hidden in her expression, though it seemed it was all she could do to contain it. She gave him her back, and he figured that was just a means of buying time while she considered a retort. Finally, she walked towards the hallway, then turned back to face him, leaning one shoulder against the door jam.

  “So you think you know me?” A shake of her head stopped him from responding. “I’ll try to convince myself that’s true while I go back to bed and nurse my wounded pride…”

  “Kay…”

  “Let me finish, counselor.” He chewed his tongue to keep from chuckling at her sharp tone. “I just want to be clear. I kissed you because I wanted to, Van. And I’d sleep with you now because I want you. Because that kiss was something hotter and sexier than anything I can remember having in a very long time. And if it happens again, I’m not going to let it stop. I’m not going to let you put the brakes on next time”

  There were any number of things he might’ve said after that little monologue. He could have issued another cautionary statement about her future. He could have argued that she wouldn’t be able to keep him from doing anything he wanted. And then again, he could have strode across the room and kissed her once more just to prove it. Instead he stared at her, getting lost in those gorgeous eyes.

  After a moment, she smiled, turned around and exited the room. He heard the water come on in the kitchen as she rinsed out her glass. “Good night,” she called out to him.

  Silence crept through the house, though he could still hear a rushing in his ears as he tried to think straight. He wanted to be proud of himself for maintaining his control and not letting them get carried away. Somehow all he could muster was the sinking feeling of being old. There weren’t that many years between the two of them, but something seemed incredibly wrong about a man turning down a woman as sexy as Kay Rawley.

  “Damn,” he grumbled, furiously scratching at his head with both hands.

  ~oOo~

  Van was in the process of scrambling a bowl of egg whites when Kay made her way into the kitchen, feet dragging behind her. She didn’t look like she’d slept well at all, but the puffy dark smudges under her eyes somehow made her look pretty. She was a stunning woman when perfectly made up for the office or court. Now, with her blonde hair askew, cheeks flushed and an indentation in the side of her face probably from the pillow, there was a vulnerability that was almost irresistible.

  “Orange juice?” he asked, coughing to clear the hoarseness from his voice.

  She plopped down onto one of the bar stools across from him. “Coffee?”

  Chuckling, Van nodded and set the eggs aside so that he could pour her a steaming cup. “Cream or sweetener?”

  “Mmm … a little sugar is all.”

  He passed her a few packets, a spoon and mug, then watched her carefully doctor the coffee just the way she wanted it. When she took a sip, she closed her eyes, and it was all he could do not to reach over the counter and brush an errant strand of her hair away from her forehead.

  “Did you get some sleep?”

  Kay made a grumbling sound. “Not enough.” She took another drink and set down her mug. “And how did the king of restraint sleep?”

  One dark eyebrow shot up, and he lifted his chin so that he could glare down his nose at her. “Like a baby.”

  Liar, his mind hissed. By the incredulous look on Kay’s face, she might have heard his inner voice dispute his words. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the bowl that held the eggs and poured them into the hot cast iron skillet. He heard the buzzing of a phone and glanced over his shoulder to see his guest frowning at the broken screen.

  “Is that him?”

  “Who? Oh, you mean Thomas. No, it’s my brother.”

  He looked at her even as he dumped the cooked eggs onto two plates. “Bad news?”

  Kay appeared startled, tucking her phone back into her purse and shaking her head. “Why would you assume that?”

  Her plate made a scratching sound as he pushed it towards her on the breakfast bar. He shook salt and pepper onto his own food and then placed the shakers in front of her. “The assumption was based on that little furrow you’ve got just above your nose.”

  As
if without thinking, one of her hands raised to finger the spot, but she caught herself and grabbed her fork instead. “Not bad news. Something he wants to tell me about before I get there.”

  “Ah, Christmas. When are you leaving?”

  Kay had just stuffed a huge bite of eggs and bacon into her mouth, and he watched her cover her lips with her fingers until she could swallow. Everything about the woman seemed to be incredibly charming to him this morning.

  “I really need to hit the road by this afternoon. I’ll get there late tonight or early in the morning, which is nice. There’s something about getting there that time of night, headlights following the long drive up to the…” She trailed off and brought another bite into her mouth.

  He had the feeling she had stopped herself just before revealing something she hadn’t intended. Van chose not to press for now.

  “What about you?” she asked. “Do you have plans for Christmas?”

  He stabbed his fork at his eggs and brought it to his mouth, holding it there while he spoke. “I have a few things I want to do at the office this afternoon, but I’ll probably head home tomorrow. The hens will be busy cooking for at least forty-eight hours ahead of time so it doesn’t do me any good to get there early.”

  Kay snorted a laugh. “Hens?”

  “My mother and my three aunts.”

  Her head rose and fell in long understanding nods. “That’s nice though. I mean to have all of the family together.”

  “I’m not complaining. Or maybe I am, but the insincere complaining is part of the fun. I chide the hens all day while I sneak back and forth into the kitchen to steal bites and nibbles. They fuss back and smack my hand with a wooden spoon.”

  Kay laughed, then turned thoughtful. “So there’re the hens, but aren’t there any roosters around?”