Feels Like Family (15 page)

She regarded him incredulously. “With your client on the ropes? I don’t think so,” Helen replied. “I think you’ll find Brad’s hidden assets quite fascinating. I know we have. So has Judge Rockingham, which is why he went along with that second delay I requested. Suddenly he seems to be as eager to get to the bottom of Brad’s finances as we are.”

She gave him an innocent look. “It must be making things a little tense for the three of you on the golf course, though.”

He winced. “Look, I had no idea Brad had been keeping things from me,” Jimmy Bob said. “I hope you know that. The judge was in the dark, too. He’s livid and he let Brad know it. I always tell my clients that full disclosure is necessary in situations like this.”

“I’m sure you do,” Helen said, though she was certain of no such thing. That was a battle for another day. “I’m here about another case.”

Jimmy Bob looked puzzled. “Are we representing opposing sides in another divorce?”

“No, this is about Tess Martinez.”

For an instant his expression was blank, but then he nodded slowly. “Of course. I remember Tess. A very sad situation. She claimed her husband was deported even though he was here legally.”

“She didn’t just claim it, Jimmy Bob. It’s the truth.”

“They all say that,” he insisted with a shrug. “Most of the time it’s a lie.”

“It isn’t a lie in the case of Diego Martinez. He has his papers, Jimmy Bob. I know Tess showed them to you. And I know she paid you to represent her and fix this so her husband could come home to his family.”

He frowned as he looked over the papers Helen had picked up from Tess on her way over here. “Excellent forgeries,” he concluded. “That’s why I couldn’t do anything for her.”

“Either you’re incredibly lazy or you’re an idiot, or maybe you’re just low-down scum,” she said. “I was able to check out this information with a few phone calls.” Okay, it had taken two days, but still. “It’s all completely legitimate. Diego’s papers are in order. He should have been back here months ago. Instead, you took Tess’s money and then blew her off.”

He squirmed uncomfortably. “She’s taking you in, Helen. I never picked you to be one of those softies who believes every sob story.”

Helen stared at him. “So you’re saying I’m gullible and you were just doing your civic duty by taking money from a client and then doing absolutely nothing to help her?”

“There was nothing I could do,” he insisted.

She shook her head. “That’s amazing. Because the person I spoke to at Immigration says we can have this straightened out by the end of the week and Diego home with his family within a few weeks at most.”

“No way,” Jimmy Bob said, his face red. “This town doesn’t need any more of these border jumpers coming in to take jobs that belong to our own people, Helen. What is
wrong
with you?”

Helen merely shook her head at his outrageous comment. “There’s nothing wrong with me, but there’s a whole lot wrong with an attorney who would cheat someone out
of their very limited funds, then do absolutely nothing to help them.”

“I’m telling you, you’re being conned,” he blustered.

“The federal government doesn’t seem to agree,” she said. “But rather than sit here and argue with you about the merits of Diego’s case, I’ll be happy if you’ll just write a check to Tess for the amount she gave you. She and Diego can use that to get settled when he gets back here. If you’re smart, you’ll add a little interest to keep me from spreading this story far and wide.”

“That’s blackmail,” he accused.

“We can certainly debate that in front of the bar association’s ethics committee,” she offered.

Jimmy Bob locked gazes with her. When Helen didn’t flinch, he finally pulled a checkbook out of his desk and wrote a check. She glanced at the figure and nodded in satisfaction. “Thank you. I’ll see you in court in a few days. I think we can get the Holliday case wrapped up this time, don’t you?”

“I’ll do my best to convince Brad of that, but he’s furious about this last maneuver of yours. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him so angry. He’s been on a rampage, making all sorts of ridiculous threats.”

Helen’s gaze narrowed. “Threats?”

Jimmy Bob waved his hand dismissively. “Nothing to worry about. He’s just blowing smoke.”

“You sure about that?”

“Of course I am. Brad’s been a respected member of this community most of his life. He’s not going to do anything stupid.” Jimmy Bob shook his head. “Doesn’t mean I can get him to listen to reason when it comes to settling this case.” He paused and gave her a considering look. “You
know, Trent and I have been thinking about adding another partner. You interested?”

“In working with you?” Helen asked. Was he kidding?

“Why not? You’re smart. You’re tough. I admire that.”

“While I appreciate the compliment, Jimmy Bob, I’m afraid I don’t have the stomach for working with you.”

To her surprise, he grinned. “That’s exactly what I like about you, Helen. You don’t pull punches. Think about the offer.”

“No need to,” she assured him.

“Not even if it meant you could spend your spare time trying to reform me?”

She laughed at that. “Something tells me you’re beyond redemption, Jimmy Bob.” She waved the check before tucking it into her briefcase. “But you did the right thing this time. I appreciate it.”

He walked her to the door. “You take care, you hear.”

“You do the same.”

As she drove away, she couldn’t help wondering if Jimmy Bob was the scumbag she’d always thought him to be, or just a good old boy who got a kick out of working all the angles to see who’d call him on it. Thinking of the check she’d gotten for Tess without too much of a protest from Jimmy Bob, she was beginning to think it might be the latter.

Karen had been conscientiously going to The Corner Spa every afternoon for an hour during the break between lunch and dinner at Sullivan’s. As much as she’d hated the exercise at first, she realized that she always felt better afterward. She was never going to run in a marathon or lift her own weight in barbells, but the modest goals and chal
lenges Elliott set for her were making a difference in her overall stamina and fitness.

She’d been disappointed when he’d declared her ready to do her workouts on her own, but she’d understood that his time was valuable. He had other, paying clients who deserved his full attention. Still, she watched with a certain amount of envy as he coached those other women, while she trudged away on the treadmill or rode an exercise bike.

She sighed as he bent close to a new client, whispering encouragement as he once had to her. She reminded herself he was just doing his job. Despite the sparks she’d felt, it was obvious she’d been just another client to him. Why had she allowed herself to make such a big deal of their time together? Because she was an idiot, that was why.

She finished her cooldown stretches, then headed for the locker room. Suddenly Elliott stepped into her path.

“You weren’t pushing yourself today,” he said. “What’s going on?”

She flushed under his intense look. “I was distracted, I guess.”

“Something you want to talk about?”

Not with him, anyway. She shook her head.

“Then how about going to a movie with me this weekend?”

The request, coming right after she’d convinced herself she’d only imagined Elliott’s interest, caught her completely by surprise. “A movie?”

He grinned. “I’ve been known to sit in the dark occasionally and stare up at images on a big screen. It’s relaxing.”

“And here I thought you never sat down for a second.”

“You still haven’t answered me,” he said. “How about a movie?”

Karen was tempted, but there were so many complications in her life she wasn’t sure she could handle any more. Maybe she was better off sticking with the fantasy. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea,” she said at last.

Elliott looked genuinely disappointed. “Another time?”

Deciding to explain the reason she was turning him down, she asked, “Do you have a minute for a break? I’d like to talk to you about this.” She wanted him to understand that her refusal wasn’t about him. Maybe then she wouldn’t be slamming the door for good.

“Sure, I can take a break,” he said readily. “I’ll get us a couple of bottled waters and meet you on the patio out back.”

“Give me ten minutes to shower and dress.”

“That’ll work.”

Karen was grateful for her short hair. She was able to shape it while it was still damp and look halfway presentable when she joined Elliott outside. Several women studied her with interest when she sat down at his table.

He handed her the bottled water, then leaned back in his chair. Though he was totally focused on her, he still managed to look completely relaxed and at ease. Karen envied him for that.

“Elliott,” she began hesitantly, “I didn’t turn you down because I don’t like you. I…” She tried again. “My life is complicated and—” She stopped. “No, actually it’s a mess. Or it has been. I have two kids. My ex-husband hasn’t paid child support since he left. My kids have been sick a lot. I’ve missed work. I’ve been totally stressed out. In fact, one of the reasons I’m even here is because my shrink thought the exercise would help with the stress and Dana Sue arranged for a free membership. That’s my life in a nutshell.”

Elliott’s gaze remained steady as she blurted everything
out. When she was finished, he simply nodded. “I knew all that, or most of it, anyway. I didn’t know about the deadbeat dad, but I’d heard all the rest.”

“And you still want to go out with me?” she asked in amazement.

He chuckled at her reaction. “Here’s what I see. You’re a beautiful woman who’s had a tough time. You’re a good mom. You’re working hard to put your life back together. Your kids are back home now, which proves just how hard you’ve worked. What’s not to admire and like about that?”

“But why would you want to get caught up in all my drama?” she asked, genuinely bemused.

“Didn’t I mention you’re gorgeous? And funny?”

Karen laughed. “You hadn’t mentioned the part about me being funny,” she teased. “
Now
I get it.”

“Look, it’s just a movie. We can make it a family thing, if that would be easier for you than worrying about a sitter. I like kids. I’d better. Between my brothers and sisters, I have ten nieces and nephews. They’re always around at my folks’ place. My mom takes her duties as their
abuela
very seriously.”

Karen thought about that. “Daisy, she’s my five-year-old, has been begging to see the new animated movie. Could you stand it?”

“My nieces tell me it’s great and they’re very good judges of animated films,” he said.

Karen made an impulsive decision for the first time in ages. “I have to work on Saturday. Would Sunday afternoon be okay for you?”

“Sunday afternoon would be fine. We can go for pizza after the movie.”

“You are a very brave man,” she said.

“Heroic, perhaps?” he teased.

She laughed. “Maybe.”

But, she admitted to herself, he was showing all the signs of being outstanding hero material.

Erik couldn’t figure out what the devil was going on. Suddenly every time he turned around Helen was in the kitchen at Sullivan’s, and she didn’t seem to be there to see Dana Sue. In fact, he was getting this odd vibe that she was there to flirt with him, which made no sense at all. They’d talked about the fact that neither of them were looking for any kind of serious relationship. While there was no mistaking the flirtatious undertones of their conversations, she had yet to say or do anything that would suggest she was ready to move to another level. In fact, the messages she was sending out were so mixed he had yet to unscramble them. Didn’t mean he wasn’t getting a kick out of trying, though.

More peculiar than Helen’s behavior was the fact that Dana Sue didn’t seem to be behind any of it. If anything, she seemed just as puzzled by Helen’s presence as he was.

After she’d shown up every single night for a week, Erik decided to call her on it. Dana Sue had gone home with Ronnie after Helen had volunteered to stay and help him clean up the kitchen. Right this second she was apparently on a mission to polish every piece of chrome in sight.

Erik hitched himself up onto a counter and watched her work, a frown furrowing her brow, her hair curling about her face from the steam that had filled the room when he’d opened the dishwasher. She’d kicked off her shoes, another pair of those high-heeled sandals that drew attention to her shapely legs. Her hips swayed in time to some tune she was singing, mostly off-key. He couldn’t stop the grin that
spread across his face as he listened to her slaughter the lyrics and the tune. It was yet another unexpected side to a very complex woman, who was as fascinating as she was infuriating.

Apparently sensing his gaze on her, she turned slowly. “What are you looking at?”

“You,” he said.

“Why aren’t you cleaning?”

“Because it’s more fun watching you do it.”

“If I’m that entertaining, maybe I should request pay.”

“Since you managed to keep Karen on the payroll, convinced us to hire Tess and nudged Dana Sue to bring in more part-time help, there’s not enough left in the budget to pay you, too.

“Tell me something.” His tone was serious. “Why are you hanging around here so much lately? Are you bored? Did you run out of high-profile cases all of a sudden?”

To his surprise, her gaze locked with his. “Maybe it’s the company.”

That took the wind right out of his sails. He hadn’t expected her to be so direct. Then, again, he didn’t know why not. Helen was one of the most direct women he’d ever met. She never minced words. The surprise was that she’d taken so long to get to this point.

She tossed her sponge in the direction of the sink, then crossed the kitchen to stand directly in front of him. She put a hand on his chest. “We’ve kissed a few times now. I can’t seem to get that out of my head,” she said, sounding a little breathless. “How about you?”

He shrugged, not ready to admit to just how hard it had been to shake the memory of their kisses. “I haven’t had to work too hard at forgetting,” he claimed. “You said you
wanted time to think things through. I figured you’d let me know when you had.”