Laws of Love (8 page)

Pausing, Jack turned and
glanced up at the building.

How can I keep her?

Were the money and the project worth the emptiness in his heart?

Chapter 8

Abby couldn’t believe she was doing this today. She should have an adjournment until she could get some sleep and think straight. When she had awoken during the night, Jack had been gone. She’d cried half the night, feeling like a horrible lawyer, and wondering what the hell she was doing caring about him the way she did.

Once the tears had stopped
, she pondered for hours if she was being fair to everyone involved. She was hurting, and he was hurting. Then there was the issue of representing her clients to the best of her capabilities with so many emotions riding on the case.

Jack
had been disgruntled since they had walked into the courtroom. Abby had purposely avoided looking at him. Instead, she focused on the good. The amazing thing she was about to do for the people that lived in her old neighborhood.

The opposing
attorney was another matter. Anthony Frost had been a first class jerk and still looked down his nose at her, and his greeting words had been low for her ears only.

“Well
, Abigail, apparently this is one time where big business is going to knock you on your ass.” Raking his eyes over her, he looked down his nose. “Then again, you just might like that. God knows you have it coming. I don’t know who you blew to get this bumped to today, but your sexy body does nothing for me.”

She h
ad remained a lady and smiled. “It didn’t do anything for your son either.”

Now she was here and wishing
the situation hadn’t come this far. People needed affordable housing, but part of her needed Jack—needed and wanted. She had thought him different, had thought he would care, but he was just another guy in a suit that put money before everything. Including her, and what she stood for.

Both sides had given opening statements
, and while she was moving forward, Jack had fidgeted in his seat and become more agitated by the moment. Her concentration faltered and she now stood facing the judge, feeling unsure of herself.

“Your honor
, that is why the people feel—”

The legs of a chair shoved back and she glanced to Jack
, who now stood and looked right at her. Her stomach flipped and her calm dissolved. “Tell me, Abby, is
this
more important to you than me?”

The gavel ca
me down hard against the block. “Mr. Hunter, I will not tolerate disorder in my court.”

Shut up
, Jack, and let this be business. I don’t want this personal.

Her stomach tightened and she knew it was
too late. This whole thing was personal. Anthony’s anger towards her, her protecting her roots, or the closest thing she had to roots, and most of all, Jack and his big business and…And what?

“Are you okay?”

Abby turned to the graying woman next to her. “Fine.” If she was fine then why could she barely hear her own voice?

“You may continue
, Ms. Crosby.” Judge O’Neil’s voice revealed she was not amused.

“Hunter Industries is known for buying property and turning it into commercial monstrosities
. However, the area that they have chosen to set their current project is in an area—”

“So that’
s it!” Jack cut her off again. “It’s them!”

Anthony stood and glared at Jack. “Be quiet and let me handle this.”

“Shut the hell up!” he told the attorney with disgust.

“Mr. Hunter!” Judge O’Neil slammed her gavel seve
ral times. “One more outburst and I’ll be forced to hold you in contempt.”

Blinking, she willed herself to stay strong.

What is running through his mind?

“Fine,” Jack
faced the judge. “Just let me finish.”

The woman clutching the gavel frowned.
“You are finished.”

He turned fro
m the judge. “Abby, please don’t do this.” She could hear the emotion in his voice. “Don’t ruin what we had and still can have—”

“Mr. Hunter
, I warned you. I hold you in contempt!” The gavel slammed down. “Bailiff, take him away.”

The Bailiff stepped toward
Jack, but he stepped away from him and darted closer to Abby. Her heart lurched to her throat. “No…”

“Let me talk!”
he snapped at the bailiff as he grabbed Jack’s arms and threw his chest against the table she had been sitting at. He had stopped struggling as another bailiff approached. They cuffed him then yanked him to an upright position.

It was only by a force
of nature that she didn’t cry. His dark eyes met her gaze and sadness reflected in them.

“If the property means that much to you then
I don’t want it.”

The men walked
Jack away from her.

He shook his head and sadness turned to blatant grief on his handsome face.
“I only want you, Abby.” He turned to his lawyer. “They can have it.”

“JW?”
Anthony bellowed with unmasked anger. “What has gotten into you?”

“The boy has flipped his cracker, that’s what’s going on
,” Mrs. Burlington told Abby quietly as the courtroom erupted into noise and chaos.

Abby shot her a
leveled look and glanced back at Jack as the Bailiff’s pushed open the door. “I love her,” he called to his attorney then looked at Abby. “I love you.” The doors fell shut and Jack was gone. She just stood there and stared. Her stomach rolled and fierce pricks started behind her eyes.

“Love, yeah
, that would cause some rich guy to give up that land. All for a woman that is standing here and refusing to admit that she loves him too.”

Turning, Abby looked at Mrs. Burlin
gton. “Why did you have to say that?”

“Order in the court!” Judge O’ Neil banged her wooden ha
mmer as Jack’s words sunk in. The courtroom settled and her stomach became turbulent. “Counsel, approach the bench.”

“She ain’t happy.”

“Gee, you think?”Abby glanced at Mrs. “Peanut Gallery” Burlington, tossed her pen down on the table, and walked up to the bench where Jack’s attorney was standing.

“I must say
, Ms. Crosby, this has been a three ring circus.” The judge turned to defense. “As for you, Mr. Frost, your client was out of line. Would you like court to recess until Mr. Hunter is able to join us?”

“No, as per my client’s instructions and his poor judgment, we will not be taking any further course and will allow the plaintiffs to stay on the property.” The lawyer
from hell scowled at her then returned his attention to the judge.

Swallowing h
ard, she shivered, never more thankful that she hadn’t married into that family. She had won—and lost. Looking at the judge, she waited for a decision.

“Fine
, I’ll see you both here at nine a.m. on Monday morning after the long weekend to discuss any punitive damages. Court is adjourned!” Slamming the gavel down again, the judge had said her piece and Abby turned.

She plastered a smile on her face and walked over to Mrs. Burlingt
on, who now stood talking to Abby’s mom. Struggling to find her voice, she digested everything that had happened. “You won. I have to come back on Monday and go over the details.”

“I’m so proud of you.” Her mom l
eaned in and hugged her tight. “You did a good thing, Abby.”

“You did a good thing
, indeed.” Mrs. Burlington patted her back.

If she
had done such a great thing, why did she feel sick inside?

Jack sat in the holding cell and rubbed his wrists. This wasn’t good, and his father wasn’t going to be happy. He couldn’t really fire his own son, could he? What did it matter? Jack had just walked away from millions of dollars of land. The Gibson Street project was now dead, and the punitive damages were going to run high. Not to mention, they now owned a block of low rental housing. That wasn’t the best investment. It wasn’t good at all. In fact, things looked bleak. Very effectively, he had not only lost a multi-million dollar project, but he had also lost Abby, which right now was worse than the money.

He only
liked
money;
he
loved
Abby;

His
heart fell. He was sick to his stomach and downright miserable. He looked over at an officer as he came to unlock the cell door. “Mr. Hunter, you can go. Your fine has been paid.”

Jack
blinked, then nodded, grabbed his suit jacket next to him, and walked out of the cell.

The officer shut the door and le
d him to the front. “You’ll have to sign for your possessions. Just go over to the counter and get your things.”

He
slowly walked over and waited at the counter, wanting to go home and feel sorry for himself. Wallowing would have to wait since he still had to explain everything to his father. Tomorrow was a holiday so his father would have to wait until Monday to try fixing the decision Jack had made. Not that much could be done at this point. The damage was done. He gave the desk clerk his name and signed for his wallet, keys, and cell phone, then set the pen down and looked at the clerk behind the desk. “You don’t happen to know who bailed me out, do you?”

The clerk smiled. “
Of course, that lady right there.” He nodded and pointed behind Jack.

His heart beat faster.
Abby!

He
turned but didn’t see her and his spirits dampened when his eyes rested on the gray-haired lady that had been sitting behind Abby in court. She smiled warmly and walked towards him. “You look better than I thought you would.”

“Hello.”

“Hello, Mr. Hunter. I couldn’t leave you here after the display in the court room today.” She chuckled lightly. “I’m Anna Crosby, Abigail’s mother.” She extended a hand and he shook it both in gratitude and awe.

“You can call me Jack.
It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Crosby.” He glanced around, even though he knew Abby wasn’t there.

“She’s not here. I don’t know where she is.
All I know is she isn’t answering her cell phone and she isn’t at her house.”

He frowned.
“Did you try her office?”

“She’s not there either.
Don’t worry, though. Why don’t we grab a bite to eat and wait for her to surface?” Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a key on an ‘I Love Mom’ key ring.  “She has to come home sometime.”

“That she does.” He smiled.
“I’ve heard a lot of great things about you.”

“And I
, you. Of course, that was before she found out who you were. That’s not important now. This will give us a chance to talk.”

“
Yes, we need to talk.” He knew one thing that was true through time. You get in good with Mom, you get in good with the girl, and Jack wasn’t one to miss the opportunity of a lifetime.

Abby couldn’t believe that Jack’s display had caused her such a whirlwind of emotions. Mrs. Burlington was right; she did love Jack. He was different. No one else would have sacrificed millions for the woman he loved. She also could bet that there would be hell to pay when his father found out. Richard Hunter was a tough cookie from what she had researched on him. That’s what had led her to his Beverly Hills office.

Never in a million years
had she expected him to be as sweet to her as he was. The time slipped away as they talked, and they had taken a drive to the neighborhood. She introduced him to the kids and discussed, without his attorney, a variety of things. Finding out about his humble beginnings was all it took. They talked like old friends about business, life, and love.

“Abby, my son
is lucky to have met you.” Richard told her as they walked into the police station. He opened the door for her, and after crossing the threshold, she paused and looked at him.

“I love him.”

He smiled and she saw so much of Jack in him. “I gathered. Not many women would come face me after costing me millions.”

She grinned and nodded.
“I have bigger balls than a lot of men.”

“Then that makes you perfect for my boy because most women give into his good looks and charm.”

Her heart fluttered despite the ache of missing Jack. “To his credit, he
is
charming.”

Richard laughed and patted
her back. “He’s also my son.” He winked. “Let’s go get him out.”

Th
ey walked up to the desk clerk and she pulled a card from her pocket then set it on the desk. “Attorney Abigail Crosby inquiring about the bail amount for Jackson William Hunter?”

The clerk took the card. “One moment
, Ms. Crosby.” He typed something into a computer then walked over to another clerk.

The other male clerk
came over to her and smiled. “I’m sorry. Mr. Hunter is no longer here.”

Blinking,
Abby was sure she had misheard. She glanced at Richard. “Did Anthony bail him out?”