Legal Briefs (Lawyers in Love) (24 page)

“Gentlemen, I present your newest colleague, Lily Adler,” Braden, who had already joined his co-workers, announced with a smile. “Also known as the woman who finally made Adam behave.”

“Hi Lily!” six guys said at the same time, all of them giving me huge smiles. I smiled back and waved. This is what I was known for – being the woman who brought down Adam Roth. What a proud moment this was. It didn’t help much that they had probably all seen me drunk off my ass the week before.

Adam pulled a chair up next to another and urged me to sit down close beside him. When I did, he took my hand and, you guessed it, placed it lovingly in his lap. I gave him a ‘you have to be kidding me’ look. As if on cue, my phone rang. I answered and was immediately verbally assaulted by an irate gay man.

“How could you leave me alone with the Jane Gang?”

“Hello, Bruce. How are you?”

“Where are you?” he demanded.

“I’m fine, thanks. I’m at O’Malley’s.”

“I’ll be right there.” He hung up and I sighed. When was the phenomenal sexing?

I redirected my attention to Adam, who was proudly relating the account of how Jacob snidely asked me who would try the case, and how I had asked him the same thing. The other prosecutors at our table were looking at Adam with something akin to worship. What exactly had
he
done? Then it occurred to me, he was doing
me.
Just then Bruce stalked in, looking like someone had just stolen his tricycle. Where had he called from, the men’s room?

“You left me in a high crime area with nothing but a Brownie troupe to defend me?”

“A high crime area? Bruce, it’s a law library.”

“You were chased by a maniac! And now I’m stuck in that unsafe work environment with a couple of Martha Stewart clones. I’m so depressed!”

“Judge Channing’s looking for a new law clerk,” Adam offered.

“Really?” Bruce said, suddenly sounding perky.

“Yeah, Braden and I could probably put in a good word for you.”

“That would be wonderful!” He turned to me, smiled and without moving his lips, mumbled, “Make sure you give him some really good oral tonight, Lil.” I almost decked him.

“Why don’t you sit down and join us, Bruce?” Adam invited enthusiastically. Bruce had just made a friend for life. I looked up and saw Gab and Jess waving me over.

“Why don’t you fill Bruce in a little more about the job? I’m going over to say ‘hi’ to the girls, okay?” I said to Adam.

“Okay.” He smiled. Why wouldn’t he smile? His friends idolized him, and Bruce was offering him my sexual favors. All was good in his universe. I got up and crossed enemy lines.

“Well, well,” Gab said with a grin as I approached. “I heard you took on not only your mom, but Jacob too. I knew you could handle him in the bedroom, but I didn’t know you could take him in a courtroom.”

“Gabrielle,” I said through gritted teeth, glancing significantly at Mark and Cam.

“It’s okay, honey,” Jess chimed in. “Everyone who was in courtroom seven today knows that you and Mr. Sachs used to tear up the sheets together.”

“They also know that you and Adam are tearing them up now,” Mark added helpfully.

“Where’s that bowl full of spiked punch when I need it?” I asked, sitting down.

“Here, somebody in my office won a trial today, but I have to drive, so this is for you,” Mark said, pushing a shot glass toward me. I knew that after last week’s little display, I should behave, but I downed the shot anyway. It turned out to be a Kamikaze, incidentally. Why did that seem somehow appropriate?

“So what’s going on between you and Adam now anyway?” Jess asked. “Gab said that the two of you are working
and
living together? Didn’t you just start dating last week?”

“Yeah, that’s even faster than Gabrielle and Braden,” Cam said with a laugh.

“When we went out last week, I had a strange conversation with a neighbor of mine that may have had something to do with the Moretti trial,” I explained, going into the whole story, starting with neighbor Dan and ending with Mr. O.J. gloves and our plan to keep me in town.

“But won’t it be weird living together when you just started dating?” Cam asked.

“It’s not permanent and Adam and I have known each other since we were four. We spent every day together in school, every Saturday together in Hebrew school, and every summer together at camp.”

“And they’re sleeping together now,” Gab pointed out. “They’ll get along much better, since it was probably sexual frustration
fueling
their animosity.” Every now and then Gabrielle showed a scary smart flash of insight.

“You should know that I’m jealous,” Mark said and gave me a cute bad boy smile.

“Stop flirting with her,” Adam demanded, sitting down next to me.

“What do you have, radar?” Mark asked.

“I’ve already got to put up with Sachs leering at her from across the room. I don’t need to deal with you, Mr. Grabby Hands,” he shot back.

“And here comes hubby,” Jess smiled at Gab. “You don’t follow me around like that,” she said to Cam.

“Maybe I do and I just don’t let you know.”

“That’s creepy, honey.” She laughed and he leaned down and kissed her.

“Mark, I think you’re going to have to find yourself a girlfriend soon,” Braden teased, glancing at Cam and taking a seat next to Gabrielle.

“I guess so, since Adam won’t lend me his.” He laughed when Adam glared at him.

“Where’s Bruce?” I asked, changing the subject.

“He and Jason had plans,” Adam explained, sounding like he and Bruce were tight now.

“So, one of your neighbors may be involved in the Moretti case,” Braden said.

“I’ve been thinking about it and I have a few ideas…” Gabrielle started.

“Oh no. Here we go,” Cam interrupted. “What will it be this time, garbage cans, UFO conferences or underground sex parties?”

“Why don’t you
throw
a party, Lily?” Gab went on, ignoring him.

“I’ll be your partner,” Mark offered with a sexy smile. “I’ve infiltrated parties for Gabrielle before. I’ll even wear the costume again if you want me to.”

“That’s it!” Adam growled angrily.

“Cut it out, Mark,” Braden intervened, smiling, but giving him a warning look.

“You’ll never let me live that down, will you?” Gab asked, rolling her eyes. “One time, you ask somebody to dress up like a naughty schoolboy and sneak into and underground sex party and they’ll never let you forget it. For the record, though, I’m not talking about that kind of party. I mean just a regular old party and Lily can tell her neighbors that they should stop by.”

“And
why
would they want to do that?” I inquired before I could stop myself.

“Curiosity.” I must not have looked convinced. “And free booze – s
tress
the free booze.”

“What are we going to
do
at the party, Sherlock?” Adam asked with a smile. “Play Beer Pong with the loonies and the hit man?”

“Yeah, why would
I
want to do that?” I asked.

“So we can observe them,” Gab said with a smile.

“Observe them do
what
, honey?” Jess asked. “Get drunk?”

“Observe them to see if anyone is acting suspiciously, but first, we’ll get McGuire’s door open and leave it open a little. Then we’ll watch from somewhere. Anyone innocent won’t try to go in, because they’ll think McGuire is there, but the Fox will know he’s not and he’ll probably want to go in and look around.”

“Hang on, get his door open?” Mark chimed in. “I could be wrong, but that sounds a whole lot like, oh, I don’t know, breaking and entering?”

“It’s not breaking and entering. It’s just breaking.
We’re
not going into his apartment.”

“This sounds like such a
fun
party,” Adam replied. “Should we vandalize the private citizen’s door and lie in wait for the contract killer, before or after we play Twister?”

“Forget about the legalities for now,” Braden spoke up and then paused. “I don’t believe I just said that.” He shook his head in disbelief.

“Gabrielle’s rubbing off on you, Braden,” Cam said with a laugh.

“What I want to know,” Braden went on, “is why he would want to look around McGuire’s apartment. What’s he looking
for
, baby?”

“The flash drive,” Gab answered, like that should make perfect sense to all of us.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, completely lost at this point.

“Don’t you remember what he said? Details on drive?”

“Yeah, I figured he meant he wanted a ride home, and he would explain whatever he wanted to tell me then,” I answered.

“That doesn’t make any sense, though. Who talks like that?”

“I guess it’s possible he was talking about a flash drive,” I said pensively. “Come to think of it, that federal agent did ask me if McGuire gave me anything.”

“So, how about next Saturday night?” Gab suggested. “That will give you some time to plan and let the neighbors know about it.”

“Oh that’s so sweet!” Mark laughed. “Adam and Lily are entertaining together.”

“Adam and Lily have always been entertaining together,” Braden joked.

We stayed for a while longer, talking about court that day. I explained a little bit more about my delightful parents and how my failure to practice law had made me a failure in general in their eyes. I pointed out, though, that it didn’t really matter since they had never seemed to like me much anyway. We ordered food and talked a little about my neighbors. Adam assured Mark that he would just love Donna. Somehow, I don’t think Mark believed him.

When it was getting close to eight o’clock, Adam and I said our goodbyes and headed out. I noted as we left that Jacob and his blonde were gone. I guess she was luckier than Adam’s blonde. When we got to the car Adam didn’t pull out immediately, turning to me instead.

“So, how about we go to my place and take a bath?” he said in a sexy voice.

“That sounds nice,” I said, practically purring with delight.

“And then I suggest we remain naked, grab the quilt from my bed, hit the sofa and watch a movie,” he continued, reaching up and rubbing the pad of his thumb along my lower lip. “I’m thinking maybe we should go for a classic this time,
9 ½ Weeks, Body Heat, Eyes Wide Shut,
something like that.” My heart started to beat faster and my tummy started fluttering with anticipation.

“I think I see a common theme in those movies,” I noted in a breathy voice.

“Yeah, there are no musical numbers,” he said with a smile, leaning in and lightly kissing my neck. I was practically panting already. “So, what do you say?” he asked, nuzzling me.

“I say that sounds like a fun Friday night.”

“I was hoping you would say that.”

“There’s a bottle of wine in the cupboard, why don’t you go open it and pour us some while I run a bath,” he said as soon as we got to his place. I was more than happy to oblige. I heard the water flowing a minute later. Luckily, Adam had a nice big tub. I found the wine, the corkscrew and the wine glasses and just got them filled when he came back out.

“Well, hello,” I said as he came up behind me and put his arms around my waist.