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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN��Bonnie K. Winn----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Contents:�1234567891011121314----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapter 1^�This was it.A lifetime of preparation for the case that could make or break her career.BarbaraCallister drew in a discreet breath for reassurance as she smoothed the impeccable camel-colored wool of her severely tailored suit, then pushed open the door to the courtroom. She'd checked and rechecked every detail � from each line of every document resting inside her briefcase to the raw silk blouse that softened her power suit.Barrett and Barrett could send out every top gun in their arsenal and they wouldn't catch her unprepared. She scanned the crowd, wondering which one of the "suits" was the infamous Kenneth Gerrard, the barracuda sent from theSan Franciscolegal office tooutpower the local legal talent. Barbara, along with the partners in her firm, Coker andRigley , had been surprised by the turn of events.She'd been assigned this case because she was good � one ofSalt Lake City's best litigators. But no one in her firm had expected the opposition to call in a high-powered litigator from out of town. Expecting once this news broke to have to relinquish the case to one of the senior partners, Barbara had been amazed to find they still wanted her to represent Coker &Rigley in the case of the decade. Corporate litigation was her specialty and she sensed this case could propel her forward on the partnership track sooner than she anticipated.A whirlwind of barely contained energy honed to fighting form, Barbara moved with confidence through the crowded courtroom. She found she was anticipating this match. Gerrard might be good, but she planned to be better. She took a deep breath as she looked around the room.At least she hoped she would be.Gripping her briefcase, she wove through the spectators, headed for the plaintiff's table. As always when intensely concentrating, she saw little other than the direct path in front of her. But that path ended quickly when an overpowering, distinctly male form blocked her way.She looked up to see who had so rudely moved to obstruct the aisle, a caustic comment already forming, but it died away as she met twinkling green eyes. Coupled with a grinning mouth beneath a well-groomed mustache that indented charmingly in a face that made the most of hard planes and edges, it was a knockout combination.One that touched some forgotten chord before she nudged the thought aside.One eyebrow rose as he made a slow appraisal from the top of hermidnight-colored hair to the tips of her high-heeled kidskin pumps. And his expression made it clear he was pleased with the entire package.She resisted the urge to respond in kind. Now was a time for business.Nothing else. Not even for the most attractive man she'd stumbled across in far longer than she wanted to count. She smiled to take the sting from her words."One aisle per person. And I believe this one's mine."He moved aside, allowing her to pass, but his gaze remained trained on her departing form. "The view just gets better."Angling her head back, she saw the admiration painted on his features. At some other time she probably would have appreciated his casual good looks, the confidence that emanated from him as naturally as his cocky grin.But not now. Despite a bracing dose of courage, she was keyed-up about this case.Sending the man a distracted smile, she slid into place and greeted her client. As she snapped open her briefcase, she again ignored the niggling feelings that persisted as she thought of the good-looking stranger. Carefully she lifted out her notes and a legal pad, making sure her exhibits were lined up in precise fashion.Barbara checked her watch, noting that it was five minutes until court time. Judge Donald Herbert was punctual to a fault. Unfortunately her associate and harebrained friendDani wasn't. If not for her legal brilliance, Barbara would have opted for someone else to sit this trial, butDani , despite her faults, was the best.With seconds remaining,Dani slid into the chair next to Barbara's, her winsome smile in place beneath a riot of strawberry curls and flushed cheeks. "Hi!Got the courtroom number mixed up. Thank God I beat Horrible Herbert."Barbara restrained the desire to strangleDani as they both rose at the judge's entrance. There was no room in this case for error and the thought of dueling with a high-powered litigator was making her more anxious than usual. Glancing at opposing counsel's table, Barbara's jaw nearly dropped as she saw the flirtatious stranger manning that very table.Momentarily forgetting etiquette, she hissed intoDani's ear, "Who is that?"Dani'sgaze followed hers, her lips quirking into a satisfied grin. "That, my dear, isthe Kenneth Gerrard."Barbara withheld her reaction. Spared from meeting him before the trial, she hadn't any idea�Dani had done all theprediscovery work conducted inSan Franciscoand Gerrard had sent competent associates to theSaltLakeoffice, one of whom was sitting at the table with him now. Barbara's communications with Gerrard had been by mail or fax. Throat dry, she wondered how she'd stand being seated opposite the Armani-clad Adonis for the duration of the trial.Suddenly aware ofDani digging a sharp elbow into her side, Barbara dragged her gaze away from Kenneth Gerrard and stared up at the judge."MissCallister," the judge repeated with exaggerated patience. "If I can have your attention, we will begin jury selection now.""Yes, sir," she mumbled, acutely embarrassed by her unprofessional behavior."He's a hunk,"Dani whispered, "but not worth blowing the case over."Barbara straightened up and fiddled with the legal pad, positioning it carefully so as not to let her gaze wander. Taking notes on the first prospective juror, she found her usually unshakable concentration fading as her eyes slid to the defendant's table. There was something about Kenneth Gerrard, something she couldn't put her finger on�"MissCallister, are we keeping you from something else?" the judge questioned, pushing his half glasses down his nose, the skin on his bald head shining beneath the unforgiving courtroom lights.Barbara flushed."No, sir. That is� I'm ready to question the juror.""That's fine, but Mr. Gerrard has already struck him. Call the next name on your list."Dani'seyes were wide with concern, and Barbara called on the poise that she'd cultivated over fifteen years. For the next few hours, furious with herself, she gave new definition to concentration. She wasn't a hormonal teenager, easily thrown by an attractive man � no matter how handsome.When the judge adjourned the proceedings for the day, Barbara gathered her papers with a vengeance. She planned to spend the night going over the notes she andDani had made, making sure she hadn't missed anything during her ridiculous daydreaming."MissCallister ." KennethGerrard's smooth voice glided over her.Her spine automatically stiffened. "I think it's a bit late for introductions."His smile was as smooth as his voice. "You didn't seem interested earlier.""And I'm not interested now," she retorted, embarrassed by her behavior and mortified that he hadn't clarified his identity."Perhaps we should have all worn ID tags," he suggested, that smile still lurking, just waiting to turn up his delicious-looking lips.She wanted to chuckle at the ridiculousness of the suggestion, the frank smile that said he knew she was peeved. But she still felt too embarrassed to appreciate his levity. One brush with blowing the case was enough. She snapped her briefcase shut dismissively. "And perhaps you could have remembered your manners earlier.""Then let me make it up to you now.How about a drink?"Shock overrode caution. From his reputation she hadn't expected him to be the type to break the rules. "I don't think so. I have my client's interests to consider."His brow winged upward again. "I doubt either of our clients would mind your pointing me in the direction of a drink. I promise not to photograph everything in your attach� case."Her gaze slid downward toward her briefcase before she snapped her eyes back up to meet his, caught again by something she saw there. Her gaze lingered on the sculpted waves of chestnut hair,then drifted over his handsome features, yet she steeled herself to sound uninterested. "Funny. But I'll have to pass." Not allowingherself to say more, she pivoted and exited the courtroom."A pity," he muttered to no one in particular. The twinkle in his eyes faded along with his grin, replaced by longing and a shred of pain he'd never quite conquered. Some lark. He should have had his head examined for thinking he could simply look and then walk away. A yawning emptiness reminded him that it was impossible to let go of some things.Things like BarbaraCallister .But she had left before seeing the conflicting emotions covering his face, the disappointment coupled with something far deeper. Something he'd never quite been able to forget.* * *Lingering tendrils of sunshine greeted Barbara and she breathed in deeply, relieved to be outside. Normally relief was a rare sensation. Usually she felt a letdown when leaving the courthouse, preferring the battle to the intermissions.Until lately�"Barb, wait up."Dani danced down the steps and into unison with Barbara's long-legged stride. "We stil... [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]