The Secret Child

The judge reviewed the arrest warrant, ignoring the request. “A hearing to establish bail will be heard Monday at two o‘clock.” He stared hard at Rebecca. “Do you have any further objections, Ms. Parks?”

Rebecca lowered her eyes. “None, Your Honor.”

Marni cringed inwardly at the judge‘s harsh tone. Poor Rebecca. She didn‘t deserve such treatment, but Judge Bickerman obviously hadn‘t forgotten Rebecca had represented Mrs. Bickerman in their divorce three years ago.

When the last prisoner was led from the courtroom, Marni gathered the armload of files together, then turned toward the low swinging door separating the attorneys from the audience. Rebecca Parks held the door for her.

“I‘ll see you get a copy of the bench warrant.” Marni smiled at her friend. “What are you doing here today?”

“The firm‘s criminal attorney is on vacation.” Rebecca grimaced. “Free for lunch?” Their earlier courtroom demeanor dissolved as they slipped into a familiar and easy friendship.

They walked side by side out of the courtroom. Marni looked up and down the corridor. She half expected to see Cole, but she was relieved to find he wasn‘t there. He continued to occupy her thoughts; she knew he wouldn‘t let up until he got his way. “I‘d love to, but I haven‘t even been to the office yet,” she explained. “How‘s next week?”

Rebecca shifted the bulk of files in her arms and pressed the button for the elevator. “Hectic. I‘m stuck with criminal arraignments on top of my regular caseload. How about dinner next week? You and Jenna can come over and I‘ll cook.”

“Actually, I do need to see you,” she said turning serious.

“Sure. Problem?”

Marni shook her head. “Not yet. I just need some legal advice.” She glanced above at the bank of elevators and watched the flashing lights behind the floor numbers, ignoring Rebecca‘s questioning blue eyes.

A low-toned ping signaled the arrival of the elevator car. The center door slid open and Marni gasped. Cole stepped out dressed in khaki slacks and a navy blazer. The whiteness of his shirt emphasized his golden tan and the color of his eyes. A blue paisley tie completed the picture of a well-dressed man.

Recovering quickly from her shock, she stiffened both her spine and her resolve not to let him into her life again, no matter how much he affected her. “What are you doing here?” she asked. Her tone was harsher than she‘d intended, if the perplexed expression on Rebecca‘s classically beautiful face was any indication.

Cole graced her with one of his disarming smiles, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “I came to take you to lunch.”

Marni sighed. “Cole, I can‘t.”

“Are we going to have that old argument again?” He turned his attention to Rebecca. “She needs to eat, right?”

Rebecca eyed Cole appreciatively. “Absolutely. Now I understand why you turned me down.”

The silky purr of Rebecca‘s voice made Marni bristle. No one could claim her friend wasn‘t a smart woman, but at this moment, she was simply a woman who appreciated a handsome man. And that man was Cole Ballinger.

“I didn‘t know he was–” Marni began as Rebecca stepped through the open doors of the elevator.

“Don‘t worry about it.” Rebecca gave a deep, throaty chuckle. “I‘ll talk to you later,” she called as the door slid closed.

Marni was left alone with Cole.

He reached for the files in her arm. “Can I take those?”

“No.” Marni pushed the button to signal for another car. “I have to get to the office.” She kept her eyes on the lights above the elevators. “I have a busy day.”

The smile on his face disappeared, only to be replaced by a tensing of his jaw. “There are a few questions I want answered.”

Now, what was that supposed to mean? Fear gripped her, but she shook the sensation away. “Cole, please. Leave me alone.” She concentrated on the indicators. Two more floors and she‘d be free of Cole.

“Why?” he demanded.

“I have a lot to do this afternoon.” If I don‘t look at him, he‘ll go away.

“You can‘t be all that busy.”

Marni‘s shoulders sagged. So much for mind over matter. “I am. Now, please, just go away. It‘s been great seeing you, but really, I just don‘t have the time.”

When the elevator finally arrived, Marni stepped inside, trying desperately to ignore him. She punched the button for the garage and prayed the door would close before Cole could step through the portal.

Her guardian angel must have been on a coffee break, because Cole sauntered into the lift and stood close beside her. Her shoulder rested against his upper arm in the crowded car. Marni could feel the muscles bunch beneath the fabric of his blazer. His cologne mingled with his masculine scent, tickling her senses. God, he smelled good. Marni‘s pulse quickened as she cast him a sideways glance. He smiled down at her, but the look in his eyes said something she wasn‘t ready to analyze.

The doors opened on the third floor, and a few people pushed their way forward. Cole rested his hands on her shoulders in a possessive gesture and stepped behind her. His fingers lightly brushed the side of her neck, and Marni closed her eyes against her increased awareness of him.

The doors closed and Cole released her, moving again to her side. She could sense his eyes on her but willed herself not to look in his direction. She had to find a way to escape him. She couldn‘t have Cole following her to her office. She rarely dated, and if Cole came waltzing into the D.A.‘s office, surely people would talk. Lawyers were the worst when it came to gossip. Maybe if she had lunch with him he‘d be satisfied and not bother her again. Besides, he‘d tracked her down to the courthouse, he could just as easily discover where she worked–or lived. Then he‘d be sure to find out about Jenna, and Marni refused to even think about the possible ramifications.

They reached the garage and Marni stepped out of the elevator, Cole on her heels. “All right. I‘ll have lunch with you, but I have to be back in the office this afternoon.”

Cole said nothing but followed her to her car. She opened the trunk to place the files and briefcase inside. Alarm sparked through her. A box full of clothes Jenna had outgrown sat in the center of the trunk. Marni had planned to drop them off at the Salvation Army but hadn‘t gotten around to it. She struggled to fight back rising hysteria. Practically throwing the files in the trunk, she bent to pick up the briefcase, but Cole held it in his hands. Before she could stop him, he set the case in the trunk. He‘d barely moved out of harm‘s way when she slammed the lid closed, praying he hadn‘t seen the contents of the open box.

“Where do you want to eat?” She spoke quickly, hoping Cole wouldn‘t detect her nervousness.

“I‘ll drive,” he told her. He placed his hand on the small of her back and steered her away from her car before she could argue.

Seated within the confines of Cole‘s sleek black Jaguar, Marni was surrounded by the scent of new leather. She concentrated on the country song flowing through the elaborate sound system. At least they still had the same taste in music, she mused, wondering when Cole had stopped listening to the heavier rock music of their younger days.

“Where are we going?” she asked, noting they were leaving the downtown area.

“A little place I found. I think you‘ll like it,” he told her while he guided the Jag onto the freeway on ramp.

About twenty minutes later, Cole pulled into a hamburger stand. Waitresses dressed in short spandex skirts and T-shirts a size too small roller-skated around the cars. Cole pulled into one of the parking slots, killed the engine and rolled down the window.

“This is it?” Marni asked incredulously, unfastening her seat belt. She wasn‘t certain what she‘d expected. A dark restaurant, maybe. Candlelight, perhaps. Certainly not a drive-in with carhops.

Cole shrugged, his expression noncommittal. “I thought you‘d like it.” He unfastened his own safety belt, then turned the key in the ignition so they could listen to the stereo as they ate.

A perky brunette skated up to the driver‘s side. “What‘ll ya have?”

“Two cheeseburgers, two fries and two root beer floats,” he said, and looked at Marni for approval.

She nodded slowly as realization struck her. The first time Cole had taken her out they‘d gone to the local drive-in restaurant in Elk Falls. Now, in his attempt to re-create their first date, Cole had even duplicated the menu. She couldn‘t believe he remembered. Marni couldn‘t even remember when she‘d last indulged in a root beer float, but she remembered other things, like the time she believed Cole loved her.

The waitress skated away and Marni reached out to him, placing her hand on his arm. When he looked at her, she said, “You were right. I do like it.” The soft expression in his eyes told her he was pleased.

“I wasn‘t sure you‘d remember.” His voice was low and seductive.

Marni removed her hand, uncomfortable with the sudden intimacy. Cole was close, too close, and she had to be careful. She had Jenna to think of, and she couldn‘t afford to lose her heart to Cole again. The price of loving him was simply too high to pay and had cost her dearly already.

Cole watched her retreat inside herself, and frowned. For an instant she‘d let her defenses down, but now the veil covering her emotions fell back into place. He wanted to shout in frustration. The questions that had plagued him for years needed answers, yet he found he was strangely reluctant to learn the truth. What if she had never experienced the same strong emotional pull he had all those years ago? Cole took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. He turned to face her, his arm resting on the seat inches from her hair. The jacket of her peach suit cast a soft hue against her skin. “You still like football?” Cole wanted to shake himself for being such a coward, for not asking what he really wanted to know.