Santa's Special Delivery by Val Daniels

Author:Val Daniels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

TRUST me! He’d said trust me. “Why?” The word was out of her mouth before she could stop it. It echoed around the empty room and the hurt in her voice reverberated back to her. She’d trusted him too much. She’d known she’d regret it.

She saw his concern and quickly tried to mask her dismay. “Never mind.” How many times did you have to be betrayed before you realized, once and for all, that trusting someone else with your hopes was like handing them a weapon to use against you. “You don’t owe me an explanation. You’ve already done more than—”

His finger stilled her again. “Let me finish?”

She eyed him warily.

“I’m recusing myself like I’d have to if I were a judge in this case.” His grin was tentative, coaxing, as he waited for her to respond. She refused. “I’ve been responding to this as a unique situation that calls for a unique approach, but frankly, when I volunteered to watch Kris this morning and suggested you go shopping, I knew I’d gone overboard. I’m too involved. What happens to you and Kris has become very personal.”

The way he looked at her made her a mass of nervous frustration. “I want someone to represent us who cares what happens to Kris.” She lifted her chin. “If you’re too personally involved, that’s fine with me.”

“You deserve the best representation you can get, Lori. You need someone who doesn’t have to worry about missing the forest because he’s too close to the trees.”

She brushed her hands together and backed away from him. She wasn’t going to beg. “Okay. I can find someone else.” Her voice was flat. “I know I haven’t—”

“Lori, I’m turning the case over to my sister,” he interrupted in a tight voice. “She happens to be a very good attorney,” he went on. “She’s also a partner in my father’s law firm, so your retainer applies to her, too. Though we have a general practice, Dad does a lot of business stuff. That’s his specialty. I do most of the criminal law. Melanie gravitates toward the family stuff. Divorces. Wills. She’s handled lots of adoptions. I’ve only handled two and they were pretty routine. She may have some insight I don’t.”

“Oh.”

“I’ll be around. Watching, offering any ideas—which I still don’t have—but my official capacity will be as...an interested party. A friend.”

“Kris’s friend?”

His smile tilted. “Yes.” The hint of a dimple showed even in the dim light of the barren room. “My father will also have a say, I imagine. That’s one reason we’re so good.”

He didn’t even realize he was bragging. It was part of his charm, Lori decided grudgingly.

“We all bring a different view to each case,” he continued. “That’s another reason I plan to take you home. Bright and early the day after Christmas, we have to know what we’re going to do next. Three lawyers for the price of one. Not a bad deal, Lori.”

She looked at the baby who was wiggling in her little carrier.

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