Chapter 40

Hope spent a boring day going between the DA's office and the courthouse. As she suspected, the judge made a statement about how upsetting the news about Jeff Beasley's death was, but also impressed on the lone lawyer sitting at the defense table that it was time to get the jury seated.

The young attorney was a junior associate with minimal trial experience.

Aisha kept her promise to help get Hope the best jury she could wish for.

When it was finally over, Aisha whispered, "I would high-five you if I didn't think the judge might disapprove."

Hope smiled. Ella had insisted on coming in today and it was good she had the chance to see them having a good day in court. Hope knew she was worried about Jeff's murder and how it might affect things. But now they could move on from the bullshit and get on with trying the meat of the case.

"Do you want a ride home, Ella?" asked Hope.

Ella flashed a look across to where Jason Swann was staring sullenly at his lawyer, who was pretending not to notice. She bit her lip. "I wanted to visit a bookstore. Buy something for my mom's birthday next week so I can mail it."

Hope opened her mouth to say they could do that first when she heard Ryan Sullivan clear his throat behind them.

She glanced at him and saw something in his eyes that expressed disapproval of the idea.

But she was in charge here?—

"I can take you," Colin said cheerfully. "And then see you get back to your place."

Hope exhaled. "Excellent idea. Remember, you don't need to be here every day, but it would probably help as often as you can." She didn't expect it to take more than a few days because Jason Swann was not a nice guy. Hope surreptitiously opened her wallet inside her purse and pulled out a hundred-dollar bill. She pressed it into Colin's hand without Ella seeing. "Take a cab."

At least this way the DA wouldn't find out she was babying her client.

She shot Ryan a look, and he nodded curtly. He hadn't been cracking jokes today. In fact, he was strangely quiet. Did he know about her and Aaron? Was that why she was getting the silent treatment? Was it disapproval that furrowed his brow?

The others started to pull on jackets and coats ready to leave, but she leaned over. "Are you okay? Or is something the matter?"

He blinked at her in surprise. The smile he sent her seemed genuine if a little worn around the edges. "Concerned about one of my coworkers. She's burying her father today. I texted this morning but didn't hear anything back."

"I'm sorry."

He nodded and looked away. "She'd tell me to butt out of her business, but losing a parent is hard."

Hope nodded. "Mine passed very close together. I felt anchor-less for a long time after. Still do."

Ryan nodded. "Yeah. My dad was larger than life and my mother a force of nature." He pressed his lips into a thin line. "You never expect to lose them, and then one day they're just gone."

She knew he'd lost his wife to cancer, so there wasn't much she could teach this man about grief.

"Did you text her again?"

Ryan pulled a face. "Nah."

"Why not?" Her eyes widened.

"Don't want to interfere. Today of all days."

"You like her."

Ryan's face lost its humor, and his jaw firmed. "I work with her. She's off-limits."

You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart.

The guy was irritated she'd figured it out. "I won't tell anyone."

One brow arched slyly. "Not even Nash?"

So he did know what she and Aaron had done last night.

The others had stood and moved away, milling, and waiting to say their goodbyes.

She leaned closer to Ryan. "Please don't say anything to anyone. It won't affect me but?—"

"You like him." He sounded surprised.

"No." She looked away, not the only liar in the room. "I don't want to screw with his career, not when I was the one to drag him into my bedroom last night."

Ryan's gaze was intent on her features, eyes full of unspoken thoughts. Finally, he stood and casually leaned forward. "Don't break his heart."

"It was sex." Her low tone was sharp. "Trust me, I'm not the lovable type." She shook her head, admitted, "Even the thought of falling in love is…"

"Scarier than any serial killer." His expression changed then. "Other people don't get it." He stared into space. "The idea makes me want to puke."

He looked lonely rather than liberated though.

Hope didn't want to think about the future. Not right now with Leech on the loose and her world turned upside down again. She had enough to deal with, and she didn't even know if she and Aaron would get the opportunity to spend another night together, let alone anything else.

She didn't want anything else. Remember?

"You should text this work friend of yours again. Make sure she's okay."

His eyes went hooded then, and he shook his head. "Nah. She's with her family. I'm sure she'll be fine."