Debra Webb - In His Touch Box Set (Here To Stay, Up Close, Tempting Trace, Basic Instincts) (11 page)

“What happened then, Calvin?”

“A.J. yelled at me for coming in. Told me to go back to the car.” Calvin rubbed his hands over his face. “He said if I ever told anybody what I saw that I’d be history. Said he had a hard time talking the man into letting me walk as it was.”

“Do you think A.J. had anything to do with the drugs planted in your locker?”

“I figure they did that to make sure I understood they were serious.” He shook his head slowly from side to side. “I wish I’d just went on and called in late for work that day.”

Paige put her arm around his shoulders and squeezed. “Don’t worry, we’ll work this out, Calvin.”

“I appreciate everything you’re doing for me, Miss P. But I don’t want to cause you no trouble.” He gazed at her with the saddest eyes she had ever seen.

“You’re no trouble, Calvin.” She smiled.

Calvin returned her smile and then his expression grew somber. “What’s the deal between you and Tonto—I mean Nathan?”

“No deal, just old friends. We’ve known each other since we were kids.”

“Yeah, right and my cousin A.J.’s the Pope.” Calvin chuckled. “I got eyes, Miss P.”

“Well, I think you need to have your eyes checked, because we’re only friends.”

Calvin snorted. “The man’s got it bad for you and you’re only friends. Yeah, right.”

Paige shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous, Calvin.”

“Just ‘cause you blind, don’t mean I am. I read the signals loud and clear. Old Nathan thinks you’re his woman.”

“Well, old Nathan is wrong and so are you. I’m my own woman,” Paige stated firmly.

“Whatever you say, Miss P.” Calvin shrugged. “Personally, I don’t see what women see in the tall, silent type. The man don’t have a sense of humor at all.”

Paige laughed. And when she started she couldn’t stop. Tears streamed down her cheeks she laughed so hard. She hugged her abdomen and tried to compose herself, but nothing worked.

“Don’t strain yourself, Miss P., it ain’t that funny.”

“I’m sorry, Calvin,” She choked out, her breath catching on every other word. “You’re right. Nathan doesn’t have a sense of humor. Everything’s serious to him.” She sucked in a long breath and swiped her eyes.

“I know I’m right,” Calvin informed her. He jutted his chin stubbornly. “I’m right about the other part, too. Old Tonto’s crazy about you and you know it.”

Paige didn’t laugh this time. It wasn’t funny, because she knew Calvin had hit the nail on the head.

Chapter Seven

“I can’t believe this,” she muttered to herself as she bolted from her car. Paige took a deep breath, grasped her briefcase a little tighter and headed for the courthouse as fast as she could in heels. She had fifteen minutes to meet her assistant Denise, get the file on the Redmond case, and be in court.

Paige had left Trinity in plenty of time, but she had somehow managed to get behind every farm tractor between Trinity and the interstate. She cursed planting season, John Deere, and the inventor of high heel shoes as she half-ran, half-stumbled down the busy sidewalk. She muttered “excuse-me’s” as she pushed her way through the going-to-work crowd. Nothing riled Judge Mattson more than tardiness.

God, she was so late. Her heels tapped against stone as she hurriedly climbed the steps to the courthouse. She glanced at her wrist watch. Ten minutes. She might make it—just barely.

She looked up just in time to see a hefty figure before it collided with her. A wave of something cold and wet flowed down her chest. She gasped from the cold and the impact. Paige teetered for a moment, ready to tumble down the steps she’d just climbed. A beefy hand grasped her arm and steadied her.

Her gaze darted from the robust man before her to the carry-out tray and Styrofoam cups scattered around her feet. She winced at the mess in between. Orange juice stained her white blouse and mint green blazer. Grape jelly smeared her breasts and midriff as half a jelly biscuit oozed down the material. He’d obviously been eating the biscuit at the time of the collision.

“I’m so sorry,” the man exclaimed, plucking the sticky biscuit from the waistband of her skirt. “I guess I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

Paige stared down at herself and then up at him in disbelief. This couldn’t be happening. Not today.

“I’ll be happy to pay your dry cleaning bill,” he added apologetically. The man yanked a clean, white handkerchief from his pocket and swiped at the purple jelly.

His hands fumbling over her breasts snapped Paige back to reality. “It’s all right,” she assured and moved away from his helpful hands. “I should have been watching where I was going. Sorry about your breakfast,” she added, rushing past him. The man called back another apology, but Paige kept going.

She bounded through the courtroom doors, sweeping her gaze over the milling crowd for Denise. Her hands felt like ice and every nerve ending in her body vibrated. One pair of curious eyes after the other inspected her disheveled appearance.

“What happened to you?” Denise asked as she emerged from the throng of people.

“Don’t ask. What am I going to do?” She peered down at herself and shook her head. “I can’t go to court looking like this and there’s no time for me to go home and change.”

“Come with me,” Denise ordered. She pulled Paige into the ladies’ room and locked the door behind them.

“Water won’t help,” Paige protested, trying to decide on some sort of strategy.

“Take your clothes off,” Denise told her, already removing her own.

“Excuse me?” Totally confused, her gaze shot to Denise.

“Hurry, Paige,” Denise urged. “You can wear my outfit to court and I’ll wear yours home and change.”

“I can’t wear your clothes,” Paige denied. She stripped off her blazer despite the denial she’d just uttered.

“We’re the same size,” Denise insisted.

“Size isn’t the problem.” Paige shucked her blouse and skirt, her body doing the only logical thing while her brain struggled to arrive at any other alternative. She quickly slipped on the lavender dress Denise had taken off. “Oh, my God,” Paige muttered as she viewed herself in the mirror. The dress hugged everything from collar to hem. Denise’s taste in fashion varied greatly from Paige’s. Night and day would be a good comparison.

“This is why I can’t wear your clothes,” she muttered, still trying to convince herself she couldn’t do this even though she knew she had no other choice.

Denise stuck Paige’s briefcase in her hand. “You’re due in court right now.” She pushed Paige out the door. “By the way, Mr. Redmond won’t be here this morning.”

“What?” Paige pivoted to face her.

“He had to be rushed to the emergency room early this morning for an appendectomy. It was too late to reach you when I received the call. He’ll be out in a few days.”

Paige shook her head vigorously in an effort to force her grey matter into activity and out of its current catatonic state. “I’ll have to ask for a continuance.”

“That’s right, counselor. See you later.” Denise patted her on the back and scurried away.

“Thanks.” Paige smoothed her hand over the soft, clingy fabric of the dress she now wore. She steeled herself and strode in the direction of the courtroom. She was still a professional no matter what she wore. Right? Silence echoed inside her head, effectively diminishing her already waning confidence.
Look at the bright side, Paige. When you get through this you can be with Jesse.
She smiled. Now there was something to look forward to.

Judge Mattson had just given the order to be seated when Paige entered the filled-to-capacity room. The judge’s mouth gaped, as did Mr. Myers’s when their eyes came to rest on Paige.

Paige hurried to her place on the left side of the bench.

“The people versus Redmond,” the bailiff announced.

“Your Honor, defense requests a continuance due to Mr. Redmond’s unexpected hospitalization. He was taken early this morning for an emergency appendectomy. I am prepared to proceed; however, in light of my client’s unavoidable absence, I feel a continuance is warranted.” Paige took a breath and tried to keep her expression calm though humiliation had consumed her. She felt every eye on the courtroom on her back.

“Your Honor, I have no objection to the defense’s request,” Joe Myers stated, his eyes hardly leaving Paige long enough to give the judge a compulsory glance.

“Miss Weston, approach the bench,” Judge Mattson requested.

Paige moistened her parched lips and stepped forward. Her face burned with embarrassment. “Yes, your Honor?”

The judge leaned forward, his gaze full of concern. “Somehow you don’t quite look yourself today. Is there something I should know?” he asked for her ears only.

“I had a little accident on the way into the courthouse, your Honor,” Paige whispered, mortified. “I had to change clothes with Denise.”

“Oh,” he said knowingly, a smile peeking past his judicial demeanor. “Just so long as your attire wasn’t a ploy to throw Mr. Myers off balance.”

Paige shot a sidelong glance at Myers, who quickly averted his gaze. “No, your Honor, I can assure you there’s no hidden agenda behind my appearance this morning,” she told him meekly.

“Good,” he whispered, and then leaned closer. “Personally, I kind of like it.”

Paige smiled and returned to the defense’s table.

“This case will be rescheduled at such time as Mr. Redmond is physically able to be present. Counsel will coordinate a new date with the court.”

Paige snatched up her briefcase and strode out of the court room as the bailiff called the next case. Myers dogged her step. Once out in the marble-floored hall, Paige whirled to face him.

“Is there something you need, Mr. Myers?”

“That’s some dress, counselor.” Myers gave her another slow perusal.

“That’s an inappropriate remark, Mr. Myers,” Paige said frostily.

“Sorry,” he offered humbly. “I was just wondering about Calvin Jefferson. His employer says he’s been out sick for a few days and no one’s seen him around his grandmother’s house.”

“My client’s health is no concern of yours,” Paige told him briskly. “Good day, Mr. Myers.” Paige stormed away. Oh, how she had wanted to light into him about the little deal he had offered Calvin, but she held back. She didn’t want Myers to know that she knew just yet. The beginning of a plan had formed in her mind. Paige smiled. Maybe the morning hadn’t been a total loss after all.

~*~

She parked in front of Robert’s garage, got out of her car and slammed the door shut. Except for her time with Jesse, the day had been the pits so far. Surely it couldn’t get any worse.

Nathan’s white Corvette roared up behind Paige’s car. “Whoa, Mama,” Calvin shouted as he hopped from the convertible. “That’s one bad dress, Miss P!”

Oh, yes, it had just gotten worse. Now her humiliation was complete. “Don’t give me any lip, Calvin. I’ve had a bad day and this dress represents only part of the overall disaster.” Her gaze skittered over to where Nathan stood.

He leaned against the car, crossed his arms over his chest and crossed his feet at the ankles. The breeze shifted a strand of long, silky black hair across one shoulder. His gaze slid over Paige as if she were an enticing entrée and he were a starving man. Nathan’s smile was slow and easy, but the heat in his eyes flashed strong and wild. He nodded a silent hello.

Not one word. The man never uttered a single syllable, yet Paige’s pulse reacted as if he had told her he intended to throw her across the shiny, classic car and make love to her. She didn’t need this. She stalked across the yard, up the steps and to the door. She jammed the key into the lock and let herself in. Her keys landed on the hall table with a heavy rattle as Paige headed toward the stairs. Calvin followed right behind her. Maybe if she ignored him, he’d go away. She didn’t want to talk right now. She only wanted to get out of Denise’s clothes and into something of her own. Something comfortable... something with absolutely no sex appeal.

“Me and Nathan rode over to Jackson to look at a horse he’s gonna buy,” Calvin told her as he continued to trail her up the stairs. “That’s one tough car. It’ll fly.”

Paige stopped and turned to face him; she had to look down since he had stopped three steps below her. “Just how fast is flying?” she asked, irritated that Nathan would drive too fast, thus breaking the law, with a teenager in the car.

“Ah, I don’t know... pretty fast, I guess,” he stuttered. “I’m telling you that Nathan is one cool dude. Everybody respects him. And the ladies”—Calvin shook his head and shrugged dramatically—”they just crazy about the man. Everywhere we went he got the look.”

“The look?” Paige asked, putting the question of speed aside.

“You know,” Calvin urged. “The I-want-you look. The baby-you-hot look.”

Paige shook her head. “I get the picture.” She held up a hand to prevent any further explanation. “I’m glad you had a nice day. But, if you’ll excuse me I have to get changed. I have a meeting with Silas in thirty minutes. You can tell me all about your day at dinner tonight. Okay?” She gave Calvin the best smile she could manage in her foul mood.

“Sure thing, Miss P.” Calvin returned her smile and started back down the stairs.

He was a good kid. She sure hoped she could get him out of the mess that circumstances and poor judgment had gotten him into. She hurried up the remaining steps. And somehow she had to straighten out the mess she had made of trying to tell Nathan about Jesse.

“Hey,” Calvin called from the foot of the staircase. Paige paused and looked down at him from the landing.

“Yes.”

“He ignored all of ‘em.”

“What?”

“He didn’t look at nobody the way he looks at you.” With that said, Calvin sauntered across the entry hall and out the door.

Paige remained perfectly still for a long while. She closed her eyes and willed back the surge of emotions tugging at her heart. Tonight. She had to tell Nathan tonight. Any further delays were only going to lead to trouble. Heart trouble.

With renewed determination, Paige cut a trail to her bedroom. She quickly shed her borrowed clothing and slipped into a comfortable pair of worn jeans and a pink cotton shirt. Her sneakers tied, she trotted down the hall and then the stairs. She would run her idea about Calvin and Myers by Silas to get his feedback. Personally, she thought the plan would work, but it never hurt to get an objective opinion.