Читать книгу Dirty Little Secrets: A tempting friends to lovers romance - Kierney Scott - Страница 10

Chapter Two

Megan’s head snapped up to see Steve Dixon standing just ten feet in front of her. Her back straightened, her instinct was to make herself look taller. Her index finger went to the nozzle of her pepper spray. If he came any closer, he would be getting a faceful of pain. “I’m warning you, Mr. Dixon. Go away.”

“Fuck you, bitch. You’re trying to get me locked up. I didn’t fucking do anything.”

He was moving in closer. Almost close enough. She took a deep breath. No man would ever make her run again. “We’ll have to let the jury decide. Go home.”

He lunged at her. She braced herself for the impact as her finger pressed down on the spray. But instead of being on the receiving end of Dixon’s blow she was pushed out of the way. She fell back into the car door before she saw Dixon swing at James.

James stood perfectly still like he had been frozen in suspended animation. His hands fisted, the muscles in his arms bulging, deep lines defining his triceps even through his shirt as he flexed, but his arms remained at his sides. Dixon’s fist connected with the side of James’ face. His head snapped back with an audible cracking sound.

Megan gasped and lunged to help him, but James righted himself and gave Dixon a shove that sent the convict flying to the ground.

James turned and looked at her, blood pouring from his left eye.

“Is that enough to get him for assault?” he asked. There was a fire in his eyes, angry and raw. She knew that look. She had seen that look before. She had been on the receiving end of it.

Megan swallowed hard as she nodded.

“Good,” he said. “Now look away. I don’t need a witness for the next part.”

Before she could do what he said, he pulled Dixon off the ground and pushed him into the door of the Range Rover. “Listen, you piece of shit. You don’t hit women. You just don’t. Next time listen to the lady and go home.” With that last piece of advice James hit him square in the jaw. With one blow, Dixon folded, his hands flew to his face, cradling it in his hands as he groaned.

Megan stood shocked, temporarily frozen in place. People rarely surprised her, and never for the better. She swallowed hard against the lump in her throat.

She shook her head. James was speaking but she did not register what he was saying.

“Sorry. What did you say?”

“I think you should phone the police. We’re both going to need to make a statement. You saw him lunge at me the second time before I hit him?” James asked pointedly, making it clear what answer he expected.

She nodded. The truth was close enough to what he was suggesting.

“Good. Nice to know we’re singing from the same hymn sheet.”

She nodded. She would get the conviction she wanted. Why had James done that, put himself on the line for her? What possible benefit could there be? She strained to think of a plausible explanation, but she fell short. A flash of annoyance washed over her. She had an answer for everything, especially when it came to knowing what made people tick. Reading people is what kept her safe as a kid, and it is what made her good at her job now.

Men didn’t do things unless there was a payoff. All men expected something in return. All men except Ben.

Just to make sure, she asked, “Did you let him hit you just so I would have something to charge him with?”

Dixon made a start on standing up but James pushed him to the ground again. He turned to her again. “No, I was entertaining the idea of masochism, but it turns out I’m not a fan.” The blood continued to gush from above his eye. His shirt was now soaked through with scarlet patches. Despite looking like a crime scene, James smiled.

Her gaze trained on his full lips. She had not noticed before how full his bottom lip was or the way when he smiled the way half of his face raised that bit higher, making him look mischievous and cheerful at the same time, almost playful. She watched mesmerised as his lips relaxed back. She forced herself to raise her eyes and return his gaze.

“Jesus, your eye.” Megan looked in her purse for something to mop up the fast torrent. All she could find was a sanitary towel and wadded up paper towels from wiping down equipment at the gym. She unwrapped the pad and pressed it to his eye.

“Cheers,” he said with the faintest smile. It was a simple movement, his mouth rising slightly at one side again, but it made her stomach flip.

“No, thank you,” she said. She had not intended to whisper but her voice failed her. Suddenly she saw him as a man, not a reporter, just an unfathomably hot man who had done the first decent thing she had seen all day. And she didn’t even care why he had done it because it had righted a wrong that she could not. A searing heat crept across her chest, and lower still, into her belly.

She gave her head a terse shake. She could not remember the last time she had had that feeling, and it unsettled her. Her sex life had taken a nose dive since she married Ben. He never asked her to stop seeing people; quite the opposite, he positively encouraged her to have sex. Ben said she was nicest after a good meal and a good fuck. But fear of exposing Ben had prevented her from having sex for the last few years. She thought back. No, the last time she had sex was the night before her wedding. An old boyfriend had been passing through New York, and she had met him for drinks. No. Had it really been five years?

She could not think about that now. She had to deal with Dixon. “I need to call the police and then I think we should get you to the hospital.”

“I’m fine. Head wounds bleed a lot. Nothing to worry about.” He spoke with authority and it made her wonder about other times he had taken a blow to the head, or perhaps delivered one. Normally she would recoil at the thought of violence, but strangely she was not bothered. She felt…safe.

“It would help my case if an ambulance took you to the hospital. And stitches would really help,” she pressed. She wanted Dixon to go away for a good long time.

“Woman, it is a scratch,” he said in exasperation, but he was already dialling 911.

“Tell them you’re with me. The boys in blue like me,” she smiled. She had a good working relationship with the police department. She knew as a prosecutor to always keep law enforcement onside. And on a personal level, she would always be grateful to the police. Growing up, they had saved her more times than she wanted to remember.

“Really? I don’t really see you as the friends type.” His tone was noncommittal, hard to tell if he was insulting her or just giving on honest assessment of the situation. He was both right and wrong on that count. She had many friends on the most superficial level, but no one really knew her, other than Ben.

Before she could respond, his call went through.

“Hi, this is James Emerson. I’m with Megan McCoy. I need to report an incident.” He took a breath and rolled his eyes before he added. “Also I’ll need an ambulance.” His tone indicated that it pained him to make the request.

She could not help but smile; there was nothing sexier than a man making a sacrifice. As a whole, they did it so rarely.

Within minutes three police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance arrived, filling the parking lot of the steakhouse. Patrons and staff alike flooded from the restaurant to see the commotion. Nothing people liked better than a free show.

An officer she knew ran toward her. “Megan, you OK?”

“Fine now. Thanks, Mac. Be better once Dixon is locked up again.” She gestured to the police car, where he was being handcuffed.

“You sure you’re OK?” he asked again, concern evident in his tone.

She shrugged her shoulder. “All in a day’s work, right?”

Mac Duncan took a preliminary statement from her before he turned to James. “I’ll follow you to the hospital and get your statement there.”

James opened his mouth but quickly shut it again. She could tell he wanted to object to the ride in the ambulance but remained silent. The muscles in his jaw bunched together, his annoyance clear, but he acquiesced. Her estimation of him went up again.

“I can drive your car to the hospital and meet you there,” she offered.

“Fine,” he said, tossing his keys at her. When everyone was out of earshot he whispered, “You owe me one.” His words were casual but his tone sent a jolt through her. It was simultaneously menacing and sexual, not a combination she usually enjoyed, but from his mouth it held just the right amount of danger to make her tingle.

When Megan arrived at the hospital James was already being seen by a doctor; impressive, since it was a busy DC hospital and the ER waiting room was lined with people waiting to be seen.

Megan took a seat and picked up a copy of People Magazine. The edges were frayed and the main story was about the heroes of Hurricane Katrina. So not a recent issue she thought, as she tossed it back on the table.

“Mrs. McCoy,” the nurse at reception called.

Megan looked up. “Yes?”

“You can go back into examination room five if you want to wait with your friend.”

James Emerson was hardly a friend. She barely knew the man. She looked around the waiting room. At least twenty people were waiting, some bleeding, most just coughing like they had been nursing a ninety-a-day habit since infancy. God only knew the pathogens making their home here. An examination room with James suddenly seemed quite appealing.

A nurse showed her the way.

“Hi,” she said lamely when she saw James.

He nodded at her. “I’m getting stitched up. And a cast apparently.” James indicated his left hand.

She glanced down at his hand. It was swollen and an angry bruise had appeared across his knuckles. Shouldn’t he be moaning or wincing or something? Shed a stray tear at least. His face was mangled and he had a broken bone. When she stubbed her toe, the neighbours across the street knew about it. But James was sitting chatting quite happily like having his head split open was an everyday occurrence. “You broke your hand?” she asked.

“Looks like it. Your case better be airtight.”

“As long as my complaining witness doesn’t go all sentimental and change his mind because deep down you know he really does love you. And he only did it because he is such a passionate and misunderstood person.”

“Does that happen a lot?”

She nodded. “All the time. Domestic violence cases are a nightmare. Every second woman recants. There are always kids and dogs and grannies involved. It’s just ugly. Sorry you got caught up in it.”

He shook his head. “Not a problem. But why do you do it?”

“My job? Why do I do my job?” Her throat was suddenly dry. The question was possibly her least favourite. There was no answer that could possibly sum up her feelings adequately, or at least not one she would share with someone.

“Yeah. I reckon you could make a lot of money in private practice. My lawyer just bought a Ferrari. Come to think about it, I think he’s overcharging me.”

“Probably. Never trust lawyers. They’re a slimy lot.” She smiled.

“And apparently they’re good at avoiding questions. You didn’t give me an answer.” His face rose again in a half smile.

She shifted from one foot to the other but forced herself to look him directly in the eye. “I told you. I like putting bad guys away.”

“But why those bad guys?” he asked.

There was something about his tone that made her consider letting down her guard. Or maybe it was the gold flecks in his eyes, or the adrenaline, or the fact he had allowed himself to be physically assaulted for her, but she would never really let her public mask slip, especially not with a reporter. She never stopped being a DA, and she knew sure as shit nothing would ever be off the record with James if she told him things beyond her official bio. She and Ben had worked too long and too hard to let anything jeopardise them now. “Because I am good at it. I don’t have the highest conviction rate in the District by accident.”

She turned the question on him. “Why are you still in journalism? When your father was indicted, why didn’t you cash in and move to the Caribbean and sit on the beach and drink cocktails until you meet your maker?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not really a sitting on the beach type of guy.”

The DA in her pounced. She never let an untruth go without a challenge. “So that wasn’t you I saw in St. Bart’s with a girl off that soap opera? And it wasn’t you in Maui with the lingerie model? Perhaps it was your twin in Nice with that heiress?”

“Christ, you read a lot of tabloids.” James lay back on the hospital bed.

He looked too big for the bed, his legs too long, his shoulders too broad. He looked like a man in a child’s bed. Physically he was very daunting. If he wanted to hurt her, he could, quite easily. The thought unsettled her almost as much as the realisation that she assessed everyone on their potential to inflict pain. Old habits die hard.

“I don’t read any tabloids actually, but thank you for making my point for me. So-called legitimate news organisations report on where you are and who you are sleeping with.”

“Only because you read it, sweetheart.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Woman, you just named three chicks I shagged this year. I would say you’ve taken an interest.” He grinned. His eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled properly.

Her stomach did a flip. Jesus, she needed to get it together. He was flirting with her and she liked it. Lack of sex did strange things to a woman’s brain. “Hardly. I was trying to make a point and you put me off. So congratulations on that, because that is hard to do.”

She turned to look down the hall and see if a doctor was coming to tend to him. The examination room suddenly seemed hot. She hoped he could not see the blush she felt creeping across her cheeks. She didn’t blush. Self-imposed abstinence was turning her into a schoolgirl. She was going to add sex to her to do list, or even just buy new batteries, that might take the edge off. All the thinking about sex reminded her of the point she had been trying to make. “Oh, now I remember: real news outlets should not be reporting on who you or anyone else is having sex with. If no one is getting hurt, it is nobody’s business.”

“We print what people buy. Supply and demand. If you don’t want to read it, stop buying it. The almighty dollar speaks loudly, sweetheart.” He closed his eyes and sank his dark head deeper into the pillow. His body language was so relaxed and indifferent, it would have infuriated her had it not aroused her. He was so masculine and in charge of his surroundings, even now with a broken hand and split eyebrow. Something primitive in her responded to him, it was part of herself she had not seen in a very long time.

She let out a long breath. “If that is your justification, we can hardly have a productive conversation.” There was no point arguing, he was not going to be swayed and there was no jury to convince.

He opened one eye. “Keep fighting, counsellor, this is the most animated I’ve seen you all night. I like seeing the ice queen melt a bit. Not too much though, I like your rough edges.”

Her back stiffened at the ice queen reference. She knew people called her that, hell, she prided herself on it, but she wasn’t entirely comfortable with James Emerson knowing about her reputation in the courtroom. “I don’t engage in arguments I can’t win,” she lied. She lived for a good argument. “If you think money trumps ethics, there is no changing your mind.”

“I also think democracy could not function without a free press. But the money is good too. Either of those things would get me up in the morning. How lucky am I that I have both?”

“I think that is as close to an admission as I am going to get that your profession is, for the most part, completely mercenary.”

He lifted his head and smiled. “Are we making admissions now? I like this game. Now your turn. Admit that it turns you on to read about people fucking on the beach, doesn’t it? If one of my newspapers made you come that bit harder when you were underneath your husband, I have done you a service. You’re welcome.” He closed his eyes again as he lay back.

Her breath caught in her throat. No one spoke to her like that. Her mouth was dry but between her thighs there was a wetness she had not felt in a long time. Every beat of her heart pushed blood lower into her body, heightening her awareness of his proximity. She pretended to cough to give her an excuse to move away.

“Cat got your tongue?” he asked. “I usually cringe when I see a story about my sex life. But now I’ll smile just a little, knowing I helped get you off.”

She opened her mouth to speak but nothing coherent sprang to mind. For God’s sake she argued for a living. She should be able to shut him down with a few words, but every single one in her lexicon failed her.

“I kind of like you quiet. Who knew all it would take is a little talk about my sex life? Christ, I haven’t even given you details. I’ll save those for when I really want to shut you up.”

She cleared her throat, her pride allowing her to rise to the challenge. “If you want me to shut up, you could always just ask me.”

“Really? You don’t seem the type to take orders. Is that another confession? The ice queen secretly likes being ordered about? Too bad this is all off the record, because that front page would sell out.”

“Why are we talking about your sex life?” she demanded.

“I don’t know. Why are we? You brought it up. Shall we talk about yours? When was the last time the senator rode you hard? Really had you panting, just begging him to fuck you? I’m guessing it’s been a while. I can see the way your eyes are dilated. You’re turned on. If you’d been fucked lately you would tell me to shove it up my ass.”

She willed her body to relax, but each word he spoke turned her on more, winding her up tighter. “I wasn’t aware you were an expert in body language and a journalist. You’re obviously a man of many talents. And by the way, I would not just tell you to shove it up your ass. I would do it for you.”

“Feisty. But before I indulge you any further in your fantasy, I should tell you I’m not really into having things shoved in my ass or shoving what I got in anyone else’s. No judgement, just not my thing. Why use an ass when the good Lord created something perfect for the job?” He crossed himself and then kissed his thumb and index finger.

Her heart beat harder against her ribs. He looked simultaneously angelic and deviant, saint and sinner all wrapped into one beautiful package. Screw the batteries, she was going to need something rechargeable.

They were both temporarily distracted by a knock at the door. Moments later a teenager in scrubs walked in. He flipped through the chart looking for something, because apparently the blood covering James’ face did not illustrate the problem well enough, he needed to read about it first.

“Hello. Mr. …Emerson?”

James nodded.

“I’m going to stitch you up before you are sent down for x-rays. And probably a cast. Yep, that is going to need a cast.” The doctor eyed James’ hand suspiciously but he made no attempt to examine it.

Megan itched to ask if this was his first day. He didn’t look old enough to be a doctor; he didn’t even look like he was shaving yet.

“Great. And the night was just getting fun. It’s been a pleasure, Mrs. McCoy. It is my sincerest hope we can do this again soon.”

“Likewise.” Megan smiled even though she was put out that Doogie Howser had interrupted her verbal sparring session. She had not felt so alive in ages. She wasn’t likely to see James again, which was probably for the best because she had gone too long without sex to withstand a full charm offensive. “I will tell Lynette to expect your call.”

James’ eyes narrowed in question.

“To schedule an interview with Ben,” she reminded him.

“Christ, I nearly forgot you are married,” he said. His voice was like liquid chocolate, hot and sweet.

He hadn’t forgotten. But she had.

And that was a problem. If there was anyone one who she needed to remember her role in front of, it would be the owner of Global Media Network.

Megan turned and left without looking back.