* * *
A cold wind almost blasted Tori off her feet as she stepped out of the county building. Autumn-bright leaves were flying off their branches in a storm of reds and golds. To the northwest, muddy-looking clouds were roiling in over the caprock. The forecasted norther was moving in fast.
Clutching her blazer around her, Tori raced across the parking lot to the old red pickup she’d borrowed from the ranch while her wagon was in the shop. Flinging herself into the driver’s seat, she grabbed for the door, which the wind had blown open, and yanked it shut.
For a moment she sat still, catching her breath and thinking about her meeting with Clay Drummond. In the nearly six years she’d worked as Clay’s law partner, he’d never been anything but honest and fair with her. She knew his wife, Louise, and his three children—one in college now, the other two in high school. She’d even had dinner in their home. Even though they were on opposite sides of the legal process now, she’d always believed she could trust the man. But today he’d seemed uncomfortable, as if he couldn’t wait for her to leave. When she’d argued in favor of Will’s innocence, she could’ve sworn she’d seen the man squirm. What was even more disquieting, he’d kept breaking eye contact while she was talking to him, which wasn’t like Clay at all.
Something wasn’t right. And she owed it to her client—to Will—to find out what it was.
Will.
How many times had she relived that encounter in the hall outside Erin’s room? If she’d made one more move, where would she be right now? She’d seen the hunger in Will’s eyes and felt the heat rising between them. The urge to reach down and touch the sash on his old bathrobe had been almost overpowering. One tug at the loose knot would have been enough to push them over the edge. But Will had saved them both. He had kissed her hand and walked away, leaving her weak-kneed and quivering in her silk nightgown.
Time to put the whole incident out of her mind and get on with her day. It wouldn’t happen again. She wouldn’t give it a chance. Neither, evidently, would Will.
She was fishing her keys out of her purse when her cell phone rang. It was Drew. “Hi,” she said, welcoming the diversion. “Aren’t you supposed to be in school, Mr. Middleton?”
He chuckled. “Even the principal needs a recess break. How about you? Are you working?”
“Sort of. I’ve been laying some groundwork for Will’s defense, in case he needs it.”
“Can’t he get himself another lawyer for that?”
“Not one who’ll work for free. Since he’s Erin’s father, and since she was a witness, I really do have to be involved. It’s family business.”
There was a beat of silence. “All right,” he said. “But I confess I’d feel more secure if you weren’t so chummy with your ex.”
“We’re not chummy. We have a daughter, who means the world to both of us. If it weren’t for Erin, I’d probably never speak to him again.”
“Ouch!” Drew’s laugh sounded forced. “Sorry, that’s not why I called. Just wondering if you were free for a movie tonight.”
She hesitated, checking her mental to-do list.
“I need to see you, Tori,” he said. “Besides, you could use a fun chick flick with popcorn and some good old-fashioned back-row snuggling.”
“Isn’t the back row where your students sit to make out?”
“At least they won’t be sitting behind us. Is that a yes?”
She relented. “Sure. My house, seven-thirty?”
“Let’s make it seven. We can get pizza before the movie.”
“Fine. Seven. See you then.” She ended the call. At least she’d have something to take her mind off Will’s troubles tonight. Drew had a way of relaxing her, making her laugh. He never confronted her or made unreasonable demands the way Will had done when they were married. And Will would never offer to watch a chick flick just because he thought she’d enjoy it.
Drew is a gem, Tori told herself. If she didn’t grab him fast, some other woman would.
As she started the truck, a gust blasted a shower of leaves onto the windshield. Tori turned on the wipers to clear them away. She’d planned to drive to the ranch tonight to brief Will on the case and check on Erin. But given her date with Drew and the chance of a storm moving in, it made more sense to spend the night in town—which brought up the question of what would happen when Drew drove her home.
He’d said he needed to see her. Did that mean he wanted to take their relationship to a new level? Was she ready for that? Tori wasn’t a prude. The one brief fling she’d had when she was still reeling from the divorce had been doomed from the start. And she’d never been one for casual sleeping around. She’d come to believe that love, or at least emotional intimacy, should be there before sex happened. Had she reached that point with Drew?
What would he do if she hadn’t?
During her musings she’d let the truck idle too low and killed the engine. Shifting down, she started it again and pulled out of the parking spot. Her station wagon was still waiting for the arrival of a new starter. Maybe it was time she began shopping for a new vehicle, something that wouldn’t strand her somewhere at night or break down in bad weather. The next time she saw Will, maybe she’d ask him for some suggestions.
Will again. Damn.
Muttering under her breath, Tori ground the pickup’s aging gears and roared out of the parking lot.