You look like hell,” Ava said, glancing up from the paper. “Thanks,” I croaked. “You have no idea how much that doesn't help.” “Do us both a favor and have some coffee,” she said taking a sip of her own. “So, where do you plan to go to dinner?” “That little Middle Eastern place on Sansom.” The coffee maker looked like an oasis sitting there on the counter as I staggered toward it. “That little hole-in-the wall place? He would take you anywhere you wanted. Why not someplace fancy?” “That place is really good and the people who own it are sweet. Besides, it's close by. Maybe afterward we can go down to Suburban Station and see if Stan's playing.” I filled my mug and just as I was about to reach for the creamer I stopped myself. This was a black coffee kind of morning. “Stan? You want your first date with a senator’s son to include a trip to a railway station to listen to a street musician?” “Stan’s really talented. He’s credited on albums put out by some real blues giants.” I col
“Why would I want my eyes to pop?” I asked, pulling a brush through my hair. I was leaving it down even though it was a warm night because he had seemed to find it so appealing the night before. I figured that if I was willing to shove my feet into high heels every day I had already demonstrated a willingness to undergo a little discomfort in the interest of looking good.“You know what I mean.” Ava was the fashion and beauty expert of the two of us. She always looked great. Of course it didn’t hurt that she was gorgeous. She had long auburn hair, big chocolate brown eyes, creamy white skin and seriously dangerous curves. She couldn’t look bad if she tried.“What are you wearing?” I picked up a short cotton skirt and a white scoop neck top.“I figured this would be casual and comfortable but still show off my girl stuff. And the top makes my boobs look good without making me look like a walking dairy state.”“Good choice. You're going to wear pretty undies aren't you?”“It's only a fi
Well, at least you know I'm probably not after your money.”“Most people highly motivated by money don't become public defenders.”“My parents like to point that out too, but not for the same reason.”“Are you close to your mom and dad?” he asked.“Yes, very. They’ve been happily married for twenty-eight years and they’re very loving parents. Is your family close?”“Yes, exceptionally,” he answered. “My parents have been happily married for thirty years. And my brother and sister and I are close even though Drew and I rag on each other.”“You went to Georgetown Law and you’re twenty-seven like Fred?”“Right. You went to Penn Law and you’re twenty-six?”“Yep. So now we know the details,” I said with a smile.“Now we know the details,” he agreed.“Ah, here we are,” I said as we approached the restaurant. “I warned you that it's not fancy.”“I don't care about fancy as long as it tastes good. I'll try the lamb even though I'm afraid that now I'm going to think about how cute my dinner on
Don’t be embarrassed! Weirdly enough, I think that may have been the sexiest thing anyone has ever said to me. And believe me, I would be happy to oblige, but I understand what you’re saying about tonight. And I’d like to be able to take my time and not be worried about having to be somewhere. Don’t worry, I’m a big boy and I can wait a while. Not a long while. I have kind of a strong libido.”“So do I and I don’t have much of an outlet for it, so believe me, I don’t want to wait a long time either. I’ve been having X-rated dreams about you for God knows how long. Okay, that’s probably too much information too.”“You’re a very upfront person.” He laughed.“With you at least, it seems. So anyway! Since that’s not in the cards for tonight, maybe we could just focus on getting to know each other better. We did the basic details but we didn’t try to figure out if we have similar interests. Besides sex I mean,” I said, and he laughed again. “I amuse you, don’t I?”“Yes, very much, and that
“I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you. I think your chances of getting pretty much any kind of sex you want are exceptionally good.” My tummy flipped over.He walked me to my apartment door but didn’t make any move to touch me. He just stood there about three feet away from me waiting to see what I wanted him to do.“I had a great time tonight,” he said, watching me carefully.“Me too,” I said, a little nervous about actually initiating anything.“Well then, I guess I’ll call you tomorrow.” He started to turn back toward the elevator.“Kiss me! Please?” He paused and turned back. “I asked nicely.” He smiled and then walked slowly over to me, looking into my eyes as he approached. When he was directly in front of me he leaned down to kiss me slowly and gently on the lips. My heart was pounding so hard I thought he must be able to hear it. I had just witnessed a famous bluesman playing a private dedication to me in a train station but not even that seemed as unbelievable as the fac
“I think I may need to sit down.”“Sure,” he said, looking a bit concerned. I’m sure my eyes were probably glazed over and my face was flushed. I probably looked drugged. He took my hand and led me over to the sofa where I plunked myself down less than gracefully.“Are you feeling okay?”“More than okay — I was feeling so good that I was afraid I might hit the floor,” I said throatily, and a big beautiful grin slowly took the place of the worried look. He sat down beside me and picked right up where he had left off, returning his attention to my very lucky earlobe. I ran my fingers through his hair enjoying how warm and soft it felt even slightly damp. Actually, he was warm all over, but his hair was probably the only soft part of him. I ran my other hand over his back, and lordy, those muscles were tight. I breathed in his spicy scent and I felt drugged too My hands weren’t the only ones that were busy. His had started out on my back but then one hand had worked its way to my front
Switching sides already.” Adam shook his head.“Hey, it's the New York Times, not the National Enquirer,” Fred shot back. “I just figured that Senator Hills might be interested in knowing that his son is dating the Kingmaker’s daughter.”“My dad does things strictly by the book,” I said. “He wouldn’t make a bed without asking three people to advise him, two people to draft proposals and someone to provide catering. He’s not sitting in some smoky back room plotting the future of the country.”“Can I see the article?” Dan asked. Fred passed i“My dad would probably just find it an amusing coincidence. For the record, he’s not the pawn of any secret cadre of businessmen with moderate political views.” He winked at me and my tummy fluttered again. Ha! I was on the teasing end for a change and Dan was on my side! I loved it!“I think you guys should take a road trip to Roswell,” I joked.“Maybe you can prove that Elvis is still alive and break the Da Vinci Code on the way,” he added and I
Obviously. All charges held for trial. Schedule it.” He banged his gavel. That, thankfully, was the last case of the day. Dan brought me the order and Mr. Wills, the industrious armed robber, was led away.“No deal.”“What? What do you mean no deal?”“Hannah, the man worked the counter for eight hours with the owner tied up behind him. It’s all on video. I would have to try really hard to lose this case at trial.”“You want to waste your time trying this? What is it you think I would say to the twelve jurors who gave up their day for that great example of the criminal justice system in action?”“Maybe you could put on your ‘everybody has a right to a trial’ defense.”“You know, I’m going to win with that one someday, baby. You had just better watch out.”“Look, I won’t object to him pleading guilty.”“With no agreement? How kind of you! Well, at least people won’t question whether I’m trading sexual favors for deals.”“Wait a minute! You never said that was on the table!” he joked.“I
Then marry me.” Huh?“Did you just ask me to marry you?”“Yes. And believe me, it never would have occurred to me that one day I would be proposing in front of four other people to someone dressed as a dominatrix. Yet here I find myself. And the fact that I’m still standing here extending this offer should tell you something, Hannah.”“It does!” I smiled with incredible, almost irrational, joy as I felt the tears completely filling my eyes. “I thought that my dad was the only guy in the world romantic enough to knowingly marry into pure insanity just because he really loved somebody.”“So is that a yes?”“Yes!” I ran over to him and hugged him tightly. I heard a yip and Bruno ran over and started humping Braden’s leg.“Mazel tov. Does this mean you’re going to convert?” Adam asked.“Who cares about that? Does it mean you’re not going to kill me?”Fred wanted to know.“What it means is that Hannah won’t be digging through garbage or attending underground sex parties anymore. Well, unles
My car!” I cried.“Are you sure this is where you parked it?”“Yes!” I could hear voices in the distance. “What the f**k?! Why are they still looking for you?”“Hannah, this is an illegal gathering and there are important people here. We just snuck out the f**king window. That may cause them some“Well, then we have no choice.” I took out my phone.“Who are you calling?” Cam asked.“The police. We’re about to give them an anonymous tip.” I called it in and we set off on foot trying to get as far away as possible before the cops arrived and raided the place. We ran until we were all out of breath. Finally, we paused to rest in an alleyway.“Okay,” Fred panted. “I say we call a cab from here.”“Hey! Isn’t that your car?!” Ava cried. I looked up. It was the Mini Cooper about three blocks away! Somebody had just boosted it for a joyride! We ran toward it and dove in. I pulled away with my tires squealing and headed home. Fifteen minutes later the four of us, bedraggled and sweating, were
We arrived near the location of the party, an abandoned warehouse down by the docks. It was a rough neighborhood, so I was armed with pepper spray. We took my car and parked it several blocks away as we went over everything one last time.“Okay, you guys have the code and we watched the video of Cole online a thousand times, so hopefully you’ll be able to recognize him,” I said.“I’m going to walk up to him and tell him he’s a bad boy and needs to be punished,” Ava said.“I’ll stay near you the whole time,” Fred assured her“I get him to write ‘I’ve been a bad little boy because’ and then tell him to list the reasons.”“If he won’t do it you tell him you’ll spank him with your ruler,” I added.“We get the sample and we get the hell out of Dodge,” Fred finished.“We’re here if you need us and we can come in to help you if necessary,” Cam offered.“We’ll try to stay in touch by phone as much as possible,” Ava said.“Okay, team. I think it’s go time. I just want to thank you all for doin
“Hey Dan! Are you done with your phone sex yet?”“You can come in!” Dan called out. I thought I heard a door close. “I didn’t expect to see you back here tonight.”“I gotta sleep, man. Besides, I couldn’t remember her name and it felt kind of awkward after she gave me such a great…”“Still on the phone here, dude,” Dan interrupted.“You’re still on the f**king phone? You just saw her this morning. You might as well just hand her your balls right now.” Then in a louder voice he called out, “Hi Hannah!”“Please tell Adam that I said hello and that I can hear him even when he’s not shouting.”“She said hello and she can hear everything you’re saying.”“Terrific. So your girlfriend knows that I’m a dick.”“She knew that that already,” Dan replied.“Did you tell her you missed her?”“I think I got this, Adam.”“Did you tell you love her?”“I really don’t need your help here.”“Ah, Dan’s in love,” Adam teased. “All the women at the G Lounge are probably crying into their vodka.”“Will you p
It took some searching but we finally found what we needed at a place called Tony’s Fantasy Land. It was a little scary finding out what other people fantasized about.“Who has fantasies about being a tampon?” Ava asked, looking over a long white fleece tube.“People are weird,” I answered.“Wasn’t there a member of the royal family years ago?” Cam asked.“Don’t talk about it. The poor man will never live that down,” I replied.“What in the hell is that?” I asked.“I believe that’s a dildo, in size,” Cam checked a label, “men’s extra-large.”“I think I see a pattern here,” Jess offered.“Newsflash, men fantasize about being inside women’s vaginas,” I said dryly.“Oh look! A naughty nurse costume. I think I like that one,” Cam said with a smile.“I don’t think it would fit you.” Ava laughed.“A nun?” I asked.“To a priest that might be pretty enticing,” Cam explained.“Hmm. Here’s your pirate suit, Cam,” I teased.“And here’s a wench costume. Which one of you wants to put it on for me?
It wasn’t dangerous.”“Hannah, anything could be dangerous right now. You know that. And you wound up crawling around in a dumpster. I really don’t want you doing things like that anymore.” He didn’t want me doing things like this anymore? Who was he, my dad?“Oh? And you’ll never go out to a crime scene or go out to interview a witness in the field huh?”“I’m a guy,” he said, like that explained everything.“So. Female prosecutors do it too.”“Yeah, but they’re not my girlfriend and they’re not getting harassing letters.” He was starting to sound annoyed.“They probably get lots of harassing letters.”“Okay, have I mentioned that they’re not my girlfriend?” He was definitely sounding annoyed now.“Even before the letter, you were worrying about me going into lock-up to interview clients charged with violent crimes.”“Because you could get hurt and there are plenty of male public defenders who could do it.”“But I can do it and it’s my job to do it. Next you’ll be telling me that you
Uh, Playboy, Penthouse, cigars, Scotch. Actually, if you find that stuff let me know. I think I want to hang out with that guy.”“Well, what kind of stuff would a woman have that a guy wouldn’t?” I was getting desperate.“Tampons!” Ava yelled and clapped her hands like she was on Family Feud.“Will you be quiet?” I hissed. “The point is we can figure out within maybe five cans which one is hers. It looks like there’s an alley over there and there are street lights. I say we carry the cans back there and figure out which one it is.”“Okay, good luck with that. I’m the lookout, remember?” Cam said, walking away.“I’m the driver,” Ava chimed in.“And I’m the trash picker. Yes, I recall the conversation, but I need your help carrying it back there.” They sighed and both of them went over and picked up a can and hauled it back to the alley. I picked one up too and we soon had five cans back there. We had placed them directly under a street light and I opened the lid and started going throu
“Well, dearest, that sounds like a sound plan for the future.” I felt myself starting to sweat and my panties got damp. The Astros struck out and the game was over within minutes. Our friends stretched and stood up. My heart started racing as they headed for the door.“Thanks for inviting us along,” Cam added.“We do it every Sunday night. Come whenever you want,” Dan said. That was definite progress.“I guess we’ll play it by ear next week?” Fred asked.“We’ll be back in time,” Adam said.“But Dan might be busy making up for the loss of his Saturday night sex.”Cam offered to walk Ava home and we said our goodnights as everyone left, shutting the door behind them.Dan turned to me with his hot look and I was up against the wall in seconds with his mouth on mine, his tongue exploring possessively. His hand traveled up under my shirt and into my bra where he gently squeezed my nipple and cupped my breast. Then the other hand traveled under my skirt and into my panties, where he began s
“I arranged for doggy day care,” he answered.“Doggy day care? Are you serious?”“There’s a place right on the way to work. You can drop him off in the morning and pick him up on the way home. He’ll have other dogs to play with and the people there will walk him.”“Did you check these people out? I mean are they a good place? The bigger dogs wouldn’t pick on him, would they?” I couldn’t help it. I’m a mother.“More importantly, can they get him into the right colleges?” Cam added. Dan and I gave him an unamused look.“I checked them out. They have a good reputation.”“Well, okay, I guess. You’re going to help me take care of him, though, right? It’s not going to be ‘go ask mommy’ whenever he wants something?”“Mommy?” Ava asked, returning with Bruno tucked under her arm and one of her slippers in his mouth.“And are you Daddy?” Cam asked Dan with a smile.“Of course he is! What are you implying?” I asked indignantly. Ava and Cam gave each other a look that clearly said they thought Da