Take Me to Court Page 2

  I smiled knowing that she had done some research as well. “A longish story that might be better over dinner, but the short version is I got into the law because of my dad. I did the corporate thing for nearly 15 years, but I was defending people I decided I didn't like, and helping them hurt the people and things in this world that I do care about. I finally, one failed marriage and too many sleepless nights later, went into my dad’s office and told him I needed to switch sides. He looked at me and said ‘Hallelujah.’ Now 10 years later I have my own small firm and I like to think we've managed to do some occasional good in this world and I sleep just fine at night."

  “Wow. So there’s no animosity between you and your dad?”

  “None, we are really close. Aside from the fact that I can’t do what he does, he does have a great deal of integrity and high ethical standards even if some of the companies he represents don’t. He isn’t breaking laws, he’s just making them work for him. Sorry, I don’t mean to get up on my soap box.”

  “Not at all. I’m fascinated. I really would like to know more about what you do.”

  “How long have you been a paralegal? I never would have guessed that by the way?”

  “Why not?”

  “I had you pegged as more of a free spirit, creative type.”

  “I did go to interior design school and I did do that for a while, but, well, there is a long story I’ll spare you, but suffice it to say, I got married, stopped chasing my dreams and when I came out the other side I ended up at a friend’s law firm and here I am.”

  “Do you like baseball?”

  “In person.”

  “Perfect. Are you free this weekend?”

  “I can be.”

  I smiled. “Let me sort some things out and I’ll call you back with details.”

  I hung up smiling possibly more than I had been when I dialed her number. Talking to her had been so nice, so easy. I remembered the citrusy smell of her hair and the silky softness of it under my lips. Those light finger tips trailing along the side of my thigh. I felt a twitch deep in my pants I hadn’t felt in a very long time until she touched me igniting an arousal that hasn’t cooled in the few days that have passed since the concert.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  JOEL

  “Hey Dad.” I sat on the large leather couch in his expansive office looking out over the Potomac River.

  “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  “I’d like to ask a favor, or two.” While my younger brother took our access to box seats at all profession sports games in the city and a private jet as a birthright, I was never comfortable taking advantage except on rare occasions.

  “Anything, you know that.” My dad’s face turned somewhat concerned.

  “I met someone I’d like to bring to the Eagles game this weekend and since she lives in Richmond, I’d like to borrow the plane to go get her.”

  My dad grinned from ear-to-ear. This was big. I know the wheels were turning and he was probably going to pick up the phone and call Mom when I left and the wedding bells would be ringing by dinner. “Dad, this is still very new.”

  “But clearly something special because unlike your brother, you have never asked for the jet for personal use, ever! Just get me the details on her location and let me know what time and I'll call the pilot.”

  “Thanks Dad.”

  -----------------------

  I had never used the jet to pick up a woman before - figuratively or literally. She had been very excited by the idea and while I didn’t want her to think I was throwing my money around to her impress her, I was in the position to make the weekend very special and I intended to do exactly that.

  I followed our pilot, Brian, through the doors of the small FBO just as she walked through the doors on the other side of the building. God she was more stunning than I remembered. Her raven waves were pulled just back from her face in a small clip leaving the rest to fall loosely around her bare shoulders. Her dress at first appeared to be a loose tank falling just to her knees. But when she moved the pale blue fabric shifted and flowed and clung to all the right spots. I imagined the feel of those hips under my palms. Better than all of that was the smile that lit up her face and room when she saw me.

  The fresh citrus scent proceeded her and I couldn’t stop my hands from reaching into those waves and pulling her face to mine. Her soft lips parted for mine and I let my tongue taste her for just a moment before slowly pulling away.

  “Hi,” I smiled at her.

  “Hi,” she returned that smile and linked her arm with mine as I picked up her bag and escorted her out to the plane.

  “Can we do that one more time before we take off?” she asked.

  I looked at her confused and then she pressed her body against me and raised her lips to mine. Done with the timidity, I plunged my tongue deep into her mouth, letting it dance with hers, tangling my hand in her hair lifting her closer to me. There was no way to conceal the erection forming so I didn’t even try. I pressed against her hard, wanting her to know what she was doing to me.

  I let my head drop against her forehead and smiled when we came up for air.

  She giggled a bit. “Nice to know you aren’t always so calm, cool and collected.”

  Brian was watching us with a smile. She blushed and bowed her head into my chest.

  "OK, you two, I need you buckled in for takeoff." We laughed and reluctantly untangled from each other. "He's been flying for us for years, known my dad forever. Kind of a second father or uncle to me." I said.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  NATALIE

  He pulled the black Range Rover into the alley behind a row of townhouses in a quiet Georgetown neighborhood. It was sleek and clean inside, not at all unexpected given what I had gleaned from his personality of quiet strength. It was comfortable, lacking any clutter, but not in the cold modern way. The home office off the front door sported floor-to-ceiling book cases, a well-worn leather loveseat, an antique desk with laptop and files stacked neatly next to it. French doors shut it off from the living room as needed.

  The kitchen was long and ran from the door to the garage across to the living room. An island ran virtually the full length as well. A sink was built into the island opposite the larger sink against the wall and windows looked out onto the tranquil backyard, filled with vines crawling along the fence. One tree with a hammock swinging between it and the fence. Then a small table and assorted chairs just begging to be sat in. The grass was lush and perfect for sprawling in if you preferred that over a chair.

  “Does this meet the approval of your designer’s eye?” He joked realizing I was surveying everything.

  “Sorry, occupational hazard! It’s beautiful,” I said.

  He had talked me into bringing my running stuff with me, saying he would run with me. I wanted to go run before it got too hot and the day got away from us. I was also OK with taking a couple of days off from running. Reading my mind, he ushered me upstairs to change.

  He gave me the tour of the neighborhood, including his office, as we wound our way around and down by the Potomac for 6-plus miles. He had no issues with the miles or the pace, which did not surprise me. I spotted a nice road bike as we walked in through the garage, and given the ripples in his arms, I knew he lifted weights. He admitted he ran on occasion but nothing consistent and while it might seem today had been a piece of cake. "I'll feel this later," he joked. "I was just trying to impress you." he winked.

  A quick change into dry clothes and we strolled around the corner to a little cafe for brunch. He told me all about the place and where they source their food. Another check in the yes column, he cares deeply where his food comes from.

  “I like living in the city and doing things like this, but in reality I’ve always dreamt of being the farmer providing the food,” he said.

  “Really?” I raised my eyebrows honestly floored by this.

  “Really,” he said. He winked again. “See, you don’t have me completely figured ou
t yet.”

  “No, clearly I do not,” I grinned and stared at him.

  After inhaling a huge meal of chicken and waffles and fruit and yogurt, we settled in with coffee enjoying the sun and breeze. He was glancing at the headlines in the Post that the waitress brought for him, a hand caressing my thigh. I lifted my face to the sun and relished the perfection of this moment and this man. I let my fingers wander aimlessly among the soft hairs on his arm and then into his thick dark waves.

  He tossed the paper aside. "Sorry that was rude of me."

  "Not at all. Somehow you glancing at a newspaper at breakfast is not rude, but if you were reading your phone...."

  "Agreed," he laughed. "I won't let friends even bring their phones into restaurants anymore."

  I high-fived him. Another check.

  We still had several hours before needing to leave for the game, but I was ready for a shower. I made my way upstairs and turned on the water, leaving the door open as I stepped into the shower. An invitation I hoped he’d accept.

  He did not.

  But when I stepped out of the shower I found him leaning against the door frame, towel in hand waiting for me.

  I stood naked before him, and reached for the towel with a grin. He didn't initially relinquish it. I tugged harder and freed it from his hands. He pulled his shirt off over his head and turned the water back on. I moved past him, turning in time to see his bare ass step into the shower. I dried off but didn't put anything on, my skin pebbling against the cool air conditioning as I laid across his bed inhaling the scent of him.

  When I heard the water turn off, I returned the favor and handed him the towel drinking in the broad muscled chest, the long, corded necklace nestled into his chest hairs. The tattoo traveling farther across his shoulder than I had seen before. He watched my eyes as I surveyed what lay before me. I felt heat fill my cheeks as I blushed under his stare.

  He dropped the towel to the floor and reached for me, hands cupping my face. I moaned and pressed my body against him, feeling him grow hot and hard against my skin. I was aching to be touched like this, to feel someone inside me, to have a man look at me like he just wanted to devour every inch of me. Just the way he was looking at me now as he lifted me into his arms and carried me to the bed.

  Cool drops of water from his wet hair dripped down my face and into my ears as he filled me with his hot tongue. I moaned and lifted my hips to his, rubbing against him. Hot and silky against me. I reached down and wrapped my hands around him, eliciting a delighted growl from him and no complaints when I used him as a toy rubbing the tip of his cock against my clit, teasing myself with him at my entrance.

  “Hold that thought,” he purred into my ear as he slid up my body to reach into the nightstand drawer.

  The position had him delightfully close to my mouth and I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity to taste him and surprise him. He froze when I slowly wrapped my mouth around his tip and slid my mouth down his shaft.

  The low moan satisfied me to my core. I slowly stroked him with my hand and mouth feeling surges of excitement fill me up every time he groaned or said my name.

  “Oh God, Nat,” he was breathless. “Stop, I want inside you…I NEED to be inside you, now.”

  I pulled away and then slid him deep into my throat one more time before complying with his request. He slipped the condom on and dove into me fast and hard. I met his smile and kissed him as he slowed to an easy rhythm, calming us both just long enough to drink in the feel of each other. The skin-on-skin contact. I let my hands roam all over his back and sides, got lost in the strength of his biceps held taught holding him above me.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered.

  “I was about to say the same thing,” I said.

  We smiled into another deep kiss and this time his tongue sent the sparks to my core and I could feel the tidal pool forming. He dove into me harder and faster, his breath against my neck. I wrapped my legs around him, lifting my hips, willing him to go harder until I let go and he thrust one more time with a loud moan into my ear.

  Unbelievably and blissfully satisfied I laid in his arms examining his tattoo.

  "This all makes perfect sense now." I said to him.

  "How do you mean?"

  "The mountains, the waterfall, river, different leaves and feathers...the symbol for Mother Nature or Mother Earth or something like that.

  "I can't believe you know that," he said excitedly.

  I grinned. "You won me over with the mountains, and I liked all of it a lot because it is different and as soon as you told me what you did for a living it all made sense."

  CHAPTER SIX

  NATALIE

  The afternoon had been fantastic, but as we got closer to the stadium for the game I got nervous and thus quiet, which did not go unnoticed.

  “Hey, you OK?”

  “Honestly, I'm a little nervous about this.”

  He smiled and grabbed my hand. “You have no reason to be. I promise no politics or legal talk from me. We are here for a baseball game, and some food I promise.”

  “OK,” I took a deep breath. “I just don't want to do something wrong.” It was not a special occasion, but the Eagles were playing the rival Dodgers who shared the best record in the league with them at the moment. Joel said his parents would be on hand and some of his dad’s clients and maybe a few congressmen. He said it like it was no big deal. This is the main reason the firm keeps a box for hockey, basketball and baseball games.

  “There is no wrong,” he assured me. "NO wrong. My dad is going to love you and you are going to love him. And I'm right here," he said, squeezing my hand.

  His dad was indeed awesome, as was his mom, and welcoming. His dad was just an older version of his kind-hearted son. I was instantly at ease.

  As I relaxed and got a glass of wine in me, I felt better equipped to stop clinging to him. And thus did a bit of mingling and found myself deep in conversation about NASCAR with a man named Jack Orson. I know more about NASCAR than I wish I did at times due to my sister being a sports nut and my ex-husband being a former crew chief, none of which I shared. I just impressed him with my knowledge of the sport’s history.

  I turned to excuse myself to the ladies room before the game started and saw Joel and his dad gawking at me in wonder.

  "I'll be right back," I squeezed Joel’s arm as I slipped out the door to the restroom, but was still within earshot as I heard Jack say "Son, if you don't marry that woman, then I just might.”

  I couldn’t see Joel’s expression, but heard his easy laugh. "I'll take that under advisement."

  The players were taking the field. I grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the seats in front of the box. I do love baseball in person and it had been ages since I’d been to a major league game.

  I cheered as Anthony Palmiero took the field. And I did not hesitate to join in the singing of the National anthem. He was staring at me that same look of awe in his eyes.

  "What? Did I do something?"

  "Can I ask what you and Jack were talking about?"

  "Sports," I said "NASCAR, mainly" I said with a roll of my eyes. "Not sure how that came up, but once it does..."

  He was grinning at me and shaking his head.

  "What?"

  He leaned over and kissed me. "You are incredible." He explained a bit about Jack being on the board of some company I’d never heard of and that he was a billionaire who was firmly in the climate change is a hoax camp and he would harvest every tree in every National Park for lumber if he could.