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  Sam had never denied her attraction to women. She’d known for sure at the young age of ten, when asked by one of her older sisters what boy in her class she would most like to kiss. Sam couldn’t come up with a single boy’s name, but she had quickly thought of a half dozen girls she’d like to kiss. She kept it under wraps, though, trying to fit the norm. She didn’t want to be defined by her sexuality. She didn’t want to be part of a “special group” and she didn’t want to disappoint Momma. She dated a few boys in high school and attended the usual dances and prom, but she didn’t develop interest in any serious relationships, instead concentrating on her schoolwork. Once she went off to college, she was of course free to pursue relationships of her choosing, and in fact had a girlfriend during her first year. Brittany Greer was a beautiful and charming woman. Sam had fallen head over heels in love after going to bed with her the first time. But, the longer she and Sam were together, the more controlling Brittany became. Her first relationship with a woman had ended worse than any nightmare Sam could have imagined.

  Because medicine was an exhausting and demanding field, she shifted her time and effort toward her future and hadn’t been interested in anyone since. Sam closed her eyes and saw in her mind those intense eyes that had gazed at her moments earlier. She smiled. She’d see those eyes in her sleep…if her shift ever ended.

  Concluding the night’s reading thirty minutes after beginning, Abby called Selena’s cell as she rushed to her car. She had to leave a voice mail and said she’d be at the restaurant as quickly as she could get there, but she knew she was going to be at least fifteen minutes late.

  She found Selena seated with a near empty drink glass. Her expression belied her mood. She was upset, and knowing that Selena would require several drinks to lighten up, Abby asked the maitre d’ to locate their server on her way to the table.

  When the waiter left, Selena gulped the last of her martini. “So glad you found time to join me.”

  Abby leaned close. “I’m so sorry to keep you waiting. I’m here now. Can’t we make the best of our time together?”

  Sitting back Selena crossed her arms. Apparently not. She was going to be a tough nut about this, but Abby had plenty of experience with her moods and fully intended to crack her before the night was over. Selena sulked throughout dinner and despite having three drinks, Abby still couldn’t get her to smile. While Selena polished off her drink and they waited for the waiter to return with Abby’s credit card, Abby slipped off one of her heels and slowly worked her bare foot up Selena’s calf. She focused on Selena, which only yielded her a glare. Working her foot between Selena’s knees and then her thighs, Abby finally touched her toes to Selena’s center. Selena’s thigh muscles tightened on Abby’s foot and she slid down in her chair pushing herself against it. Abby gave a tiny smile as she worked her toes against Selena’s heat. Selena’s eyes drifted closed for a moment and when she opened them, Abby saw only lust. Selena slid her hand under the tablecloth and onto Abby’s foot, her lips curling in a wolfish smile.

  Abby had her. “Are you ready?” she asked.

  “Oh yeah.” Selena squeezed her foot.

  Abby slipped her foot back into her shoe and leaned close again. “I don’t want you to drive.”

  Selena’s lips curled again. “I can’t now.”

  In the car, Selena took Abby’s hand and pressed it to her lips. “Your hand is cold. Let me warm it.”

  Selena’s hot breath on her skin made other parts heat up. She held Abby’s hand for another moment, and then placed it between her legs. Images of her hand in Selena’s pants played through her mind the entire drive home. On the elevator ride from the parking lot, Selena pinned her in the corner with a long passionate kiss. And the second they stepped into the loft and closed the door, Selena kissed her again all the while tugging at her coat until it lay in a heap at their feet. She pulled Abby’s blouse loose and moved one hand up to her breast while the other one slid inside her panties before Abby could stop her.

  Selena’s lips traveled across her cheek to her ear. “I see you’re ready for me. Do you want me to take you to bed?” Selena asked, her voice low and raspy.

  Abby pushed Selena’s fingers deeper into her wetness.

  Selena jerked her hand out. “No doll, you have to tell me what you want.”

  Abby couldn’t get enough air to breathe, let alone talk, but she managed to say between gasps, “Please take me to bed.”

  “And do what?” she asked with half-lidded eyes.

  Abby pulled her within an inch of her lips and put her other hand between Selena’s legs. “Make love to me like there’s not going to be another tomorrow.”

  Selena kissed her briefly and then tugged her toward the bedroom, garments strewn along the way.

  Chapter Two

  Abby slept like a baby. Granted it was only for six hours, but she was sure she must have been unconscious, because the last thing she remembered before the alarm sounded was telling Selena she loved her and kissing her. She rolled out of bed with a smile on her face and a bounce in her step. Selena opened her eyes long enough to tell her last night was over the moon, and that she would see Abby when she got home from work. Abby gave her a kiss and Selena rolled back over.

  Abby didn’t need to go in early, their normal start time was eight, but she arrived a little after seven thirty. At fifteen of eight she started Blair’s coffee, expecting her to blow through the door promptly at seven fifty-five. You could set your watch by her arrival.

  “Well, you really must teach me this relaxation thing you do. It looks so enjoyable.”

  Abby wasn’t aware her mind had wandered so far away until Blair’s voice came out of nowhere. “Excuse me?”

  “You were wearing that smiling, faraway look again.” She waved a hand. “Never mind.” She stepped into her office. “You made coffee already. Are you bucking for a raise?” Abby followed her in. “Because if you want one, I’d sign off on it.” Blair hung up her coat.

  “No, I’m not.”

  Abby pulled out her chair, but before she could sit, Blair continued. “I brought muffins.” She raised a paper sack in her hand. “I thought we’d treat ourselves before we get started.”

  Blair was being exceedingly nice, making Abby wonder who this person was in Blair’s office, and what she’d done with the real Blair. Or, maybe she was after something.

  Blair joined her at the table bringing two mugs of coffee and the muffins. Taking the seat across the table, she asked, “How was your volunteer thing at the hospital?”

  “Fine.”

  Blair helped herself to a muffin. “So what exactly is it you do there every week?”

  She was acting—human. Maybe she’d gotten laid too. Abby shivered. The thought of Blair getting laid conjured up a picture of some unsuspecting guy tied to her bed and her with a whip in hand. According to coworkers, Blair Stanton couldn’t care less about anyone’s life outside the job. Abby had worked with enough people at the prosecutor’s office who’d confirmed that tidbit about Blair.

  “Abby?”

  “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

  “I asked what you do at the hospital. Is everything all right?”

  “Sorry. Yes, I’m fine. I read to the kids on the pediatric floor.”

  Blair munched on a bite of muffin. “You like kids?”

  “I love kids. I can’t wait to have my own.”

  Abby felt her clock ticking away at thirty-four. She and Selena had discussed kids, and while Selena hadn’t said no to the idea, she hadn’t seemed overly enthused about it either. Of course Selena was only twenty-seven and Abby didn’t think her clock had started yet. Her resolution for the New Year was to get Selena fully onboard with having a baby. What a way to begin a New Year. And even though Selena never brought up the topic of kids, Abby knew she had a large family. She couldn’t imagine Selena wouldn’t want a family of her own.

  Everything Blair needed for her trial that began the following day was finished by five. Before Abby could get away from her desk, though, Blair asked if she minded staying long enough to listen to her opening statement to the jury. Since Blair was paying for her time and Selena was working, she didn’t see any reason to rush home to a microwave dinner and an empty loft. Blair might be a lot of things, like bitchy and self-centered, but she had a brilliant legal mind. It was no surprise she’d earned the reputation as the toughest, “hard as nails” prosecutor in Dawson, Indiana. She knew the law inside out and she was better than good at putting the bad guys away for breaking it.

  “It moved me. I’m sure it will move the jury,” Abby told her honestly.

  Blair closed the file and dropped herself into her chair. “Speaking of the jury, I’d like you to be in court with me tomorrow.”

  “Court,” Abby repeated, as if she’d not heard Blair correctly. “Why would you want me there?”

  Blair tossed the file on her desk. Leaning back in her chair she formed a steeple with her fingers and looked at Abby a long moment. “I think you have good instincts about people. I’d like you to observe the jury during opening statements and let me know if you see anything I should worry about.”

  “But…”

  Blair raised a hand. “I know you studied law for a while. You’re much smarter than any assistant I’ve ever worked with, and again, I think you have good people instincts.”

  “I don’t know. Your confidence in me is far greater than my own.”

  “Don’t worry. If we lose, which is highly unlikely with this case, I’m not going to fire you.” Blair’s expression became stoic. “Because you’ve chosen to be just an assistant, I can’t require you to do this, but I am sincerely asking for your help.”

  She actually sounded sincere. “All right.” Abby sighed
. Blair had never smiled quite like she smiled now.

  “Excellent! Court starts at nine. We’ll meet there and don’t worry about coming here first.”

  Wow! The boss was going to let her sleep an extra hour tomorrow. Blair stood and began stuffing her briefcase.

  “Thank you for helping me out on this,” she said as Abby stood to leave.

  “Sure, Blair.” Abby only made it a step toward the door.

  “Hey, Abby, would you like to join me for dinner? I know a place that serves the finest filet in the city.”

  Abby made sure she was wearing her best poker face before turning around. “I can’t. I already have plans, but thank you for the invitation.”

  Blair nodded. “Another time perhaps.”

  Abby had plans all right. A frozen microwave dinner, her nails, and now she had to come up with something to wear to court tomorrow—as if someone might notice the prosecutor’s assistant seated in the gallery and what she was wearing. As she gathered her things, she pictured Blair in only the finest, most expensive restaurants in the city. It would be nice to be treated to a lavish meal. Selena’s idea of lavish was Fernando’s, which was okay as restaurants go. But then Selena thought it fancy because they had tablecloths and candles.

  Abby stepped into the doorway as she pulled on her coat. Blair was again seated at her desk with a file open in front of her.

  “I thought you were going to have dinner.”

  She looked up. “Oh, I’ve actually got a few other cases I need to look over.”

  Abby buttoned up her coat and leaned in the doorway. “I know I should mind my own business, but you should get a life outside the office, you know like dating. You might find Mr. Right and he might steal your heart away from this ball and chain.”

  Blair’s expression hardened. “You’re right. It’s not your business,” she snapped. Then like Jekyll and Hyde, she transformed. Her jaw muscles relaxed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from.”

  I do. It’s inbred in your genes. It’s who I’ve always heard that you are.

  “You obviously have a life outside this office,” Blair stated in a softer tone.

  Abby wasn’t sure if she was fishing or making an observation. “I’ll see you in court.”

  “Yes. Have a good evening.”

  As she walked the cavernous hallway, Abby wondered why Blair wasn’t attached, or engaged, or married. She was certainly attractive and probably considered one of the most eligible catches in the city, personality aside. Maybe she was one of those “career first and have a life later” kind of women.

  Abby regretted every minute she spent alone in the loft that night and wished she’d taken Blair up on her dinner offer. But, she didn’t really want to be seen with her. She worried if something like that got around the office, her coworkers would think she was sucking up or consorting with the enemy. She suspected they were already speculating why she’d been assigned as Blair’s new assistant when there were others with less seniority, and therefore, better candidates to be stuck with the worst boss.

  Selena had come home so beat that she barely kissed Abby before falling dead asleep. Abby was enjoying her extra hour this morning, sitting in front of the big living room windows, sipping her coffee, and looking out into the city as the day’s rat race began. A lady of leisure, she took her time getting ready to leave. Once it was time to go, she sat on the edge of the bed and pushed back the dark locks that covered Selena’s face. She kissed the corner of her mouth.

  Selena moaned softly and cracked open her eyes. “You smell delicious. Come back to bed.” She tried to slide her hand under Abby’s skirt but Abby caught it.

  “You look dreamy lying there and I wish I could, but I’ve got to go to work.”

  Selena again attempted to get her hand under Abby’s skirt. “You look especially nice this morning. You have a hot lunch date or something?”

  “I’m sitting in on a court case.”

  Selena yawned and stretched her arms over her head exposing her breasts. The sight made Abby want to crawl into the bed, but instead she pulled up the sheet.

  “Is this a promotion?”

  The sight of Selena’s breasts had stamped an image in Abby’s mind and she would have played hooky today were it not for her obligation to Blair.

  “No, just a request by the boss.”

  “You’re not having a thing with the boss, are you?” Selena asked seriously.

  “Oh, please. She was voted most likely to be hated by everyone in the office, including the other prosecutors. I wouldn’t consider such a thing if she were the last woman alive.” She shivered and laughed.

  “And why would you? She could never satisfy you like I do.”

  “Stop. This whole conversation is becoming repulsive. I’ve got to go.” She gave Selena a quick peck on the lips and moved away before Selena could get her hands on her. “Go back to sleep. I’ll see you tonight.”

  The conversation with Selena stayed on her mind during her drive to the courthouse. She wondered why she painted Blair in such a bad light to Selena after seeing a more human side of her yesterday and realizing she may actually possess a heart. Selena was insanely jealous, which was why when Abby first volunteered at the hospital, Selena insisted on going with her, no doubt to make certain Abby wasn’t having a fling with one of the nurses. When they first started dating Selena admitted that she had issues with abandonment and jealousy. It took quite a bit of convincing on Abby’s part for Selena to believe that she was the only woman for her.

  The corridor outside courtroom four was packed with people. She finally spotted Blair standing with her second chair. He was fairly new to the prosecutor’s office and by appearances, fresh out of law school. Enthralled in conversation, their foreheads almost touched. Blair checked her watch and then looked into the crowd gathering in front of the courtroom doors. Her gaze eventually landed on Abby. Smiling, Blair gave her a wave.

  “Nice outfit. You look like you could be my second chair.” She winked before looking at the young man beside her. “No offense. This is Jeffery White, and this…” She looked at Abby and smiled, “is my assistant, Abby. I don’t know if you’ve had the chance to work with Jeffery yet.”

  “No, I haven’t.” Abby extended her hand, accepting his handshake.

  “He’s only been with us a few months. I’m sure you’ll have a chance to work together if he stays around long enough.” Blair glanced at her watch again. “Let’s go in. I want you to have a seat with a good view of the jury.”

  When Jeffery opened and held the door, Blair placed her hand lightly on Abby’s back and waved her ahead with her briefcase.

  “This should be fine here.” Blair stopped at the second row and motioned to the seat on the aisle.

  Abby slipped off her coat and settled in, hoping she could stay awake. It reminded her of sitting in a lecture hall in law school, fighting to keep her eyes open during a few of her classes. She was pretty sure that by the last quarter of her first year she had mastered the art of sleeping with her eyes open. She had also decided she didn’t want to spend five more years in school and have to pass the bar simply to please her parents. Lawyers spent too much of their lives on display. What she wanted was to live a simple life away from the spotlight and societal obligations.