Trust Me (7 page)

“I know this French Bistro I thought you might like.  They have a
really nice garden patio and since it's such a nice day I thought you might
enjoy the atmosphere.” Donovan was showing her every consideration to win her
over.  He believed that if he could befriend her, she might let her guard
down enough for him to determine her role in her father's activities.  He
certainly didn't have any other motivation for wanting to take her to lunch,
did he?  He thought about her all of the time, but that was normal under
the circumstances.  He always concentrated on his suspects during an
investigation.  Although, Donovan had to concede, he had never wanted to
take one of them to bed before.  He was beginning to have definite
concerns about maintaining his objectivity.  It had been his hope that the
agents he had following her the last week would have uncovered some information
indicating her guilt or innocence.  Unfortunately they had uncovered
nothing of significance.  In the past week she had spent all of her time
at the office or at home.  The calls she had made had either been to
friends or family, none of which had any connection to the OAS.  However, if
Alaina Simmons was involved with them, she wouldn't be stupid enough to take
any chances in revealing her collusion.   She was much too smart for
such a stupid move.  No, he was going to have to get closer to her to find
out if she was guilty.  It was the only way, wasn't it?

The restaurant was as charming as Donovan had
described.  The outdoor patio, surrounded by cherry trees located at the
rear of the restaurant, resembled a well-manicured garden.  The patio
itself was covered overhead with a wooden lattice, which let in light but
provided adequate shade, while the floor was tiled with limestone.  It was
after two o'clock when they arrived so the restaurant was almost empty which
made their lunch a bit more intimate than she would have preferred.  They
were promptly seated by the hostess and given menus.  Donovan took the
liberty of ordering them both a glass of wine.

As Alaina sat across from Donovan sipping a glass of
Pinot Grigio she was aware of the awkward silence that existed between them,
although it was hardly a surprise considering the exchange they had shared
before coming to the restaurant. 

In an effort to break the tension she thought it was
best to attempt a conversation.  “Do you come here often?” she asked.

“I try to come any time I'm in Washington.  The
food is excellent, I hope you enjoy it,” he smiled as he responded to her
query, obviously appreciating her attempt to smooth out the atmosphere.

“I hope so too.   Does your job require that
you come to Washington often?”

“No, I work out of the San Diego office, but having
lived in Washington for several years I still have friends living here that I
try and visit when I’m in town.   Have you been to Washington
before?”  As he asked the question he felt an uncharacteristic stab of
guilt, since he knew the answer just as he knew everything else about her
background.  Why was he feeling these unusual pangs of guilt? After all
she was a suspect, and he was just doing his job.  He shook the
uncustomary emotions aside, attempting to concentrate once again on their
conversation.

Alaina was oblivious to his discomfort and responded
without hesitation, “Actually, I did my law degree at Georgetown University so
I am quite familiar with the Washington area.  Though as a student I never
could’ve afforded a place like this one.”

Donovan smiled at her last remark, remembering his own
money-tight university years. “I thought I detected a bit of eastern influence
in your office.  What made you decide to work in California?” 

He found himself gazing at her intently, but he
couldn't stop.  What was it about this woman that intrigued him so
much?  She was wearing that perfume again with the citrus
undertones.  God she smelled so fresh, her scent was unbelievably
sensual.  Forgetting himself, he reached out and brushed a stray hair from
her face, his fingers lightly brushed her cheek.  He could hear her breath
hitch at the contact, and he pulled his hand back abruptly.

Alaina was trying to focus on his question, but she
couldn't help but be aware of the intensity of his gaze and the burning
sensation where he touched her cheek.  The air almost seemed to be charged
around them. He was asking very un-provocative questions but the look in his
eyes was telling her something else; it was one of unmistakable hunger. 
The awful thing was she was sure the same look was reflected in her eyes as
well. 

She finally found her voice and said, “Actually I was
raised in California.  Going to Georgetown was a big step, but it was an
excellent opportunity to attend such a prestigious law school.  I really
enjoyed it here, but after I graduated I decided I really missed the laid-back
atmosphere of California and a part of me just wanted to go home. 
Besides, I'd had enough of winter,” she laughed as she said the last part, in a
fruitless effort to relieve the sexual tension that was growing between them.

“Yeah, I know what you mean about winter.  I have
to admit I haven't missed it since I was transferred to the San Diego office
five years ago.” 

They were both avoiding the topic of the hearing and
her father. Donovan knew instinctively he was going to have to gain her trust
before he could start pressing her for information.

“So tell me Donovan, how did you become a lawyer for
the FBI?”

“Mmmm, good question.  I started doing corporate
commercial law when I first passed my bar, but I knew after a year I couldn’t
stick with it. 
Very boring, and a lot of contracts,
although you probably already know that.
  Despite the advice of
colleagues I switched over to criminal law and shortly after that I realized
that I wanted to be on the side of the law that helped put criminals
away.  The firm I was working with in Washington worked on case that the
FBI was involved in and I got to know some of the FBI attorneys.  The next
thing I knew I found myself applying for a job and I was hired. I’ve never
regretted my career change.” 

“What about family, do you have any?  
You’re not married are you?”

He laughed, “No,   I’ve never been married.
My parents are still alive and they live in Boston.  My sister, Michaela
lives there too, she’s an accountant.  I adore them and usually see them
every Christmas, and anytime business brings me out east.”

 “You’re close with your sister?” Alaina found
herself
curious about his family.

“Yes, we’re close.  She’s going through a rough
time right now.  She just broke up with her fiancé after she found him in
bed with her best friend.

“Double ouch!  How awful for her.  It’s one
thing to lose your man, but your best friend.  Now that really sucks!”

Donavan sighed while he thought of his sister. “I
worry about her, but it’s one of those things that just
takes
time to get over.”

Alaina stared at him fascinated by this side of him.
“Oh look at you being the protective big brother.”

Donavan smiled ruefully.  “Guilty, but it’s hard
to stand by and watch your little sister get hurt.  I’d feel a lot better
if I could just punch the cheating bastard.”

She laughed.  “You know, you’re beginning to
sound like a person rather than just my adversary.”

“I’m hardly the bad guy in this scenario. You’re a
lawyer, you know better than to demonize your adversary.  It’s all just
business.  I promise the world won’t come to an end if the FBI gets access
to the OAS papers.”

She gave him a disgruntled look. “I know that, it’s
hard to explain why I feel this way and sometimes I’m not sure why I do. 
My relationship with my father was unusual.  My father disappeared from
life after my parents divorced when I was very young.  He re-appeared at
my law school graduation, and let me tell you, I was pissed. 
A little too late, if you know what I mean?”

He nodded, very interested in what she had to say.
“Yeah, I do.  So why do you care so much now?”

“Well, you know what, my father worked very hard at getting
to know me. He went out of his way to spend time with me, and believe me that
couldn’t have been easy because I was a total bitch to him.  I wasn’t very
forgiving, but after a while he wore my defenses down and I think it worked
because he didn’t try to be my dad. He just tried to understand me as a
person.  So we became friends and then he died so soon after that.”

Donovan leaned back in his chair, studying her. “So
you’re trying to make up for lost time?”

Appreciating his insight she cocked her head to one
side giving him a half smile.
“Maybe.
  You know,
I had a wonderful stepdad who I consider my real dad, but it’s funny how those
blood ties still pull at you.”

“I can appreciate that and now that you’ve told me
this, it makes me understand why you are so emotional about carrying through on
your father’s will.”

“I know this should just be a business matter
shouldn’t it?  I’m finding it hard to draw that line.”

Donovan gave her a wry smile. “I’ve noticed.”

The waiter arrived and asked them for their order,
putting an end to the conversation Alaina wondered if she was going to be
able to eat anything.  Her stomach was in knots and she felt like a
teenager on her first date.  This is ridiculous she thought.  I’m a
grown woman why do I feel like I'm seventeen?  She decided she should
order something light to soothe her churning stomach.  She looked up at
the waiter. “I'll have the soup and salad.”

Donovan, however, did not appear to have his appetite
affected at all as he ordered, “I'll have the Caesar salad and the beef
tenderloin.”  The waiter thanked them and promptly took their menus. 

Alaina looked at Donovan wryly. “Well, you certainly
don't believe in eating light for lunch, do you?”

“I certainly don't and besides I didn't have breakfast
this morning.  At least I don't eat like a bird.  How do you live on
soup and salad?  You’re not one of those chicks that is afraid to eat in
front of guys are you?”

Alaina grimaced inwardly, if he wasn't making her so
nervous she would probably be ordering the tenderloin too, but of course she
wasn't going to tell him that.

“Did you just call me a chick?”

He smiled, flashing white teeth. “I did, but just to
irritate you.  You’re just too easy.”

She rolled her eyes. “Why do I feel like punching
you?”

He leaned over and tugged on a loch of her hair. “I
think it’s because you’re starting to like me.”

She rolled her eyes again. “God, I should have known
better than to go to lunch with a lawyer, their egos are always out of
control.”

“I was just going to say the same thing about you,” he
said with a deep chuckle.

The waiter soon arrived with their meals.  Alaina
couldn't taste anything as a result of her overwrought nerves.  Donovan,
however, was consuming his huge lunch with great appreciation, a fact that
irritated Alaina to no end.  She obviously did not have the same effect on
him that he had on her, another irritating thought, although he did keep on
staring at her like she was dessert and he wanted to eat her. This image began
leading her mind to stray to all sorts of interesting fantasies.  Come on
Alaina, she berated herself, get a grip, he's just a man.

Donovan was far from unaffected and he knew he must
have been staring at her like he wanted to devour her.  Everything about
this woman turned him on.  She was intelligent and sexy with a wry sense
of humor that only served to attract him more.  She had this alluring
little habit of chewing her lip when she was in deep thought and that made him
think how much he wanted to take little nips at those full sensuous lips. 
Donovan knew he had to put a stop to this train of thought.  He couldn't
risk losing control. He was well aware he was tenuously close to doing exactly
that, not to mention that if he didn’t get his erection under control he was
going to be very embarrassed when he stood up to leave.

It occurred to Alaina that they were just sitting
there staring at each other hungrily, but neither of them was hungry for
food.  She decided that her best course of action was to restart the
conversation so they could both switch their concentration, and she could stop
fantasizing about what it would be like to be kissed by his bold lips. 

She cleared her throat and began, “So when are you
returning to San Diego?”

Donovan was grateful for the reprieve from his own
wayward thoughts as he said, “I'm planning to leave early this evening. 
How about you?”

“I'm leaving tomorrow morning.  I have a friend
I’m planning on seeing tonight.”

“A friend from school?”
 As he asked the question he made a mental note
to have her followed to find out whom exactly she was meeting and if it was as
innocent as she was leading him to believe.

“Yes, my old roommate.  I'm really looking
forward to seeing her.  We haven't had a chance to get together in over a
year.”

“Yeah, I know how you feel.  Since I moved to San
Diego I've lost contact with a lot of my friends from Washington.  It can
be really hard to stay in touch, despite phones and email.”