legal system in play. But hear this. The person who really concerns me is Lindsay Blackstone, a television personality at WBYH-TV. She heard everything. My paralegal tells me that there was a series on her show last year about the escalating violence against women from husbands and lovers. I just hope she wasn’t there doing more research for a follow-up. I don’t think so, as there was no camera, but you never can tell.”
“Goddamn it!” Leggett rose abruptly from his chair, his frown thunderous. “Why didn’t you see to it the hearing was closed, Paxton? That’s why I chose you to handle this…mess.”
“If I’d suspected what Austin was going to be accused of, I would have,” Ryan said in an even tone. Did he have to remind the old coot that he’d walked into this case blind? And whose fault was that? The first rule in defense was to come clean with your lawyer.
Leggett grunted and puffed furiously on his cigar while he thought. He then gave Ryan a sharp look. “You think anything’ll come of it?”
“Only if Austin gets stupid and hits her again.”
Ryan was out of Leggett’s office and on his way to his car when he realized what he’d revealed in his parting remark to Austin’s old man. Leggett clearly was unsurprised to hear that his son was accused of beating up on a woman. That was disgusting enough, but what was just as disgusting was the absence of any shock and sympathy on Leggett’s part for the victim. The whole thing left a bad taste in Ryan’s mouth. He wished he’d never gotten involved.
Seven
Austin lifted his wineglass and smiled into Gina’s eyes. “To peace and harmony,” he said, his voice low and sexy. “To a better understanding, and especially to a history that can’t be wiped out by asshole lawyers.”
“Present company excluded, I assume,” Gina said dryly.
He touched her glass to his and grinned wickedly. “Damn right.”
Gina tasted the pinot grigio and found it fragrant and light. At one time she would have enjoyed it, as well as the hushed, intimate atmosphere of the restaurant. Anthony’s was pricey and the place to see and be seen in Houston, but considering that they’d spent the past two days in a bitter court fight, Austin’s motive in bringing her here was pretty obvious. She should have asked him to take her home after lunch, but he’d suggested they take in the new exhibit at the museum and then they’d stopped at happy hour at a bar he liked. And now…
When the menus were placed before them, he set his glass down and rubbed his hands together. “So, let’s see what’s wonderful tonight. I’ve heard the tomato tower is great. Let’s try it. What do you say?”
She ordered without much enthusiasm and sat back to wait for the meal while Austin chatted with ease about everything except the one subject that they should discuss. “So how’s your job search coming?” he asked as soon as their salads were served.
“I’ve had a couple of interviews.” She toyed with the garden greens. “I think I would have been hired by a small firm last week, but the personnel manager was spooked by the circumstances of my leaving LJ and B.”
“Not a problem.” He poured more wine for both of them. “Have them call me. I’ll give you a recommendation that won’t quit.” He lifted his glass. “Cheers, babe.”
“It’s too late, Austin. I needed the recommendation before they notified me that someone else had been selected.” Since that had been before the hearing, she didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand why there’d been blank silence from Austin.
“It’s their loss, sweetheart.” He reached over and touched her cheek. “Next time.”
In spite of her suspicions, she felt a quick, familiar warmth as his hand lingered, cradling her face. Austin in this mood was dangerously seductive. And the emotion he kindled wasn’t from the wine. No, it stemmed from some deep need in herself that Austin had always been skillful in tapping. Struggling to resist it, she glanced at her watch. “I really need to get back, Austin. Liz will be wondering what happened to me.”
The easy charm disappeared at the mention of Liz’s name. He dropped his hand and his voice went flat. “Liz knows you’re with me. Forget her.” He lifted his wineglass, but found it empty and set it down with a hard thump. Refilling his glass almost emptied the bottle. Looking about with irritation, he located the waiter and with a curt gesture ordered another.
“Austin, I’m serious.” Gina covered her glass with one hand. More wine would undermine her ability to resist him. “It’s not just Liz I’m concerned about, it’s Jesse.”
“She’s asleep, for Christ sake! Or she damn well should be at this hour.”
“She is, because Liz is so conscientious about everything to do with Jesse. But I’m responsible for her even so. I hadn’t planned on having dinner with you this evening. What if Liz had plans of her own?”
“She never has plans. She’s a goddamned recluse!”
“You make her sound weird or…or antisocial, or something. She isn’t any of that. She’s the best kind of friend a person could have, especially to Jesse and me. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her.”
“We probably wouldn’t be in this mess without her,” he said in a biting tone, then added, “And don’t forget good ol’ Louie.”
She looked again at her watch as the waiter approached with a fresh bottle of wine. “I really have to go, Austin. Stay and enjoy your meal. I’ll get a taxi.”
He stood up with a short obscenity and pulled out his wallet. Sensing trouble, the waiter backed away and stood at a discreet distance as Austin peeled off several bills and tossed them on the table. The waiter wasn’t the only one who sensed trouble. Gina recognized the signs all too well. She quickly stood, grabbing her purse. On the ride home, Austin’s irritation would grow with every mile. He’d be tense and silent, seething with rage. But tonight, thank God, she wouldn’t be going home with him.
She stole a quick look at him and felt an odd regret. For several hours today when he was so utterly focused on her, when he’d turned on the full force of his appeal, she’d come dangerously close to forgetting who he was. What he was really like. Just a moment ago, in the heat of his gaze and his touch, she’d allowed her defenses to slip. Then she’d mentioned Liz’s name. That, coupled with her reluctance to stay until he decided it was time to go, was all it took. His good humor was gone in a flash. A dash of cold water couldn’t have brought her back to earth quicker.
With a weary sigh, Gina stood quietly beside Austin while the valet brought the Porsche around. The trip would be a harrowing experience. Austin drove like a maniac when he was ticked off. She’d lost count of the many instances in their long relationship that had ended this way. She’d say something, or do something that set him off and the fat would be in the fire. Tonight, knowing she was not going to be his victim, she could almost view his behavior with humor.
They were barely seated in the Porsche when he pulled away in a wild screech of tires. He was like a teenager, she thought, hiding a smile. In fact, a kid would probably have more self-control. Jesse certainly did. Apparently she hadn’t inherited her father’s black temper, another point for which to thank God tonight.
“What?” he growled.
“Nothing.” She cleared her throat and looked straight ahead. He was pretty mad at her right now, but if he guessed she was laughing at him, his temper would really explode. “Just thinking of something funny that Jesse said,” she lied.
“Liar, liar, pants on fire.”
She gave him a startled look and saw that he was smiling slightly. Austin…laughing at himself?
“Okay, I was an idiot back there. I apologize.”
She made some incoherent sound.
“Yeah,