Lust on the Rocks

Copyright 2011 by Dianne Venetta

All rights reserved

ISBN 9780983246435

Acknowledgements

In every book it’s said there’s a piece of the author within the characters, the drama, and while that may be true, it’s not entirely so.  Samantha Rawlings is a complicated woman, drawn from several different people—several
very
different people—the least of which is me!  (Probably why it’s been so much fun to write her.)  Now I won’t divulge the “who” from whence the inspiration came, but I will acknowledge a few who helped to create her story.

First and foremost is Janet Warwick, my feisty savvy lady lawyer friend who helped give authenticity to my courtroom scenes and legal scenarios.  Like Sam, this woman is an
ace
when it comes to the courtroom and I’m grateful for both her friendship and her advice.

As usual, no book ever makes it to the shelf without editors and beta readers and mine are some of the best!  From my beta reader friends and family to authors Roxanne St. Claire and Kylie Brant, my sister Stephanie Sherman and my mother Joan, this novel has made the rounds, each and every time growing stronger and better.

And speaking of Sherman sisters, I must mention Merceditas and Skye—two of the best!

Thank you one and all.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my father, a man whose lust for life is unmatched, whose capacity for love is unsurpassed and whose support is—and always has been—steadfast and steady.

If I can live my life half as well as he has lived his, then I’ll have lived some
exciting
times.

Chapter One

“I want you to consider Victor Marin for the Perry case.”

Samantha Rawlings stiffened, and forced her fingers to finish removing the dark fuzz of lint from her cream linen skirt.  With cool precision, she settled both arms along the wide fabric armrests of her chair and locked her attention onto her boss, Raul Martinez.  “Not necessary, Raul.  It’s covered.”

“He has experience in the area.”

“As do I,” Sam replied, wondering why he would suggest involving a new hire on the firm’s powerhouse complaint.  Raul may be the senior partner of Baker, Schofield, Martinez and Brown—one of Miami’s top legal firms—and he may have the authority, but this was
her
case and she would try it as she saw fit.

“I’m merely suggesting you take advantage of his insight.  It may prove fruitful to your case.”

“I’m always willing to listen.”

Raul’s dark brown eyes registered the deflection.  “But not inclined to include him for trial?”

The Perry Fitness case was hers, and there was no room for the new guy to work it with her.  She might want to get close to Victor, but only in the most
personal
of terms.  Her business affairs were something else entirely.

“Victor won a substantial settlement from a casino out of New Jersey.  One of their patrons died on the premises.”  He paused.  “From sudden cardiac death.”

Sam shifted her weight and fought a rising tide of misgiving.  Heart attacks were not rare occurrences.  People collapsed in all sorts of places unfortunately, casinos notwithstanding.  “I’m well versed in the arena, Raul, from the statistics to the complications and I’ve already consulted Diego on the case.”  Diego Rodriguez was her in-house ally and extremely skilled in trial work.  “We’re still working up the history now, but if Perry has been found culpable before, as I suspect, it’s going to cost them.”  Cutting corners to boost profits shouldn’t come at the expense of people’s lives.

Not in her courtroom
.

Raul interlaced his fingers and set them to rest on a manila folder.  Despite the steam of summer, his formality seldom changed.  From his cufflinks to the perfectly formed knot in his silk tie, the man reigned supreme over Baker, Schofield, Martinez and Brown in both title and appearance.  A full head of gray hair and expensive haircut only accentuated his vitality.

“I know you and Diego work well together, but he’s heavily involved in the Esposito trial.  You may need the extra hand.”

“Diego says that’ll be wrapped up within the month.”

Curiosity churned in Raul’s eyes like a storm on the horizon.  “Is there a problem, Sam?  I was under the impression you were pleased with Victor’s performance.”

“I am.  He’s sharp, aggressive, and I think he’ll make a great lawyer someday.”

Raul’s brow raised in question.

Sam pulled her top leg in, bracing her body against the chair as she leaned forward. “I want to nail this one, Raul.  It’s an important case and likely to be precedent-setting.  I can’t be distracted by training the new guy—not on this one.”

“I see.”

“Besides, my understanding is that as soon as we tie up Morgan-Baxter, Vic’s digging into an HMO case.  Vic doesn’t have time to work Perry with me.”  Nor the experience, but voicing that would only insult Raul.

“I’m not asking you to recuse yourself.  Simply bring him up to speed and consider what he has to say.  Listen to him.  Allow him to assist you with discovery, pretrial motions, sit alongside you in court when the time comes.”

Alarms started to sound.  She needed no assistance.  
Where was this coming from
?

“It’s worth a listen.  His experience could prove invaluable.”

She heard a distinct retreat in Raul’s voice.

Good
. Sam pulled back into her chair and relaxed her demeanor.  The air-conditioner kicked on.  Her tension eased.  “I appreciate the advice Raul and I’ll take it into consideration.  I’ll talk to him, though I reserve the right to try this case my way.”

He smiled.  “As always.”

Though he had given in, Sam didn’t like the note of victory she detected in his voice.  It meant the discussion wasn’t over.  “Listen, if it’s all right with you,” she rose from her chair.  “I need to get back to work.”

“Of course.”

Taking no comfort in the concession, her mind launched into high gear.  Something was going on around here.  Like a pirate too close to the plank, she knew something was lurking beneath the surface. 
But what
?

Good sense evaporated.  “Raul, is there something—”

“Yes?” he asked with soft expectation.

The glimpse of premeditation staring back at her sent Sam’s body shock-still.  His tone was too cool, too deliberate. There was more to this—more than his pretense of helpful unity among associates, the man had an agenda.

She held his gaze.  “Nothing, Raul.”

He pulled his hands from the ebony desktop and set them on the smooth leather armrests of his chair.  His smile was nothing if not gracious, accommodating, befitting that of a patriarch.  “If you’re sure.”

Sam wasn’t sure about anything at the moment. 
But she knew how to avoid a trap
.  “I’m sure.”

“Very well.”

Without another word, Raul waited for her to make her exit.  No more arguments, no more questions, he was giving her lead time.  For what, she didn’t have a clue, but experience taught that he’d be back.

As Sam headed back to her office, speculation consumed her.  Had Diego miscalculated?  Was that what bothered her?  Maybe she was ornery because Raul had interfered with her caseload, veered into her lane like oncoming traffic, blind-siding her with a full blast of headlights.

Passing her secretary with an absent nod, Sam strode into her office and rounded the corner of her desk.  She stopped short.  Unable to indulge in her prized view of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, glittering like a sheet of aquamarine crystals out the thirty-second floor windows, suspicion gnawed.  Something wasn’t right.  She shuffled through a stack of new phone messages, interested by none.

Maria Jimenez breezed into her office, the tight maroon skirt wrapped around her hourglass hips moving with unbelievable ease as she carried a stack of files hugged close to her chest.  “What’s the matter with you?”

“Nothing.”  Ditching the pink sheets of paper, Sam glanced about the office.  Regal blue lampshades and plush navy carpeting, diplomas organized on her wall, it looked like any other in the firm.

Maria dropped the folders onto the edge of the desk.  “These are the files you requested.”

“Thanks.”  Sam whipped a hand to her hip and asked, “What’s up with Diego’s schedule?  I thought he and Stevens were almost finished, but Raul says they’re still deep in it.”

“I don’t know.”  Saucy eyes sharpened and her Spanish accent thickened. “You want me to find out?”

Sam shook her head.  “Don’t worry about it.”  She wasn’t sure
what
she wanted or from whom.  No sense sending Maria out unarmed.

“So what did Raul want?”

She looked at Maria, the question crystallizing in her brain.  What
did
he want?  Was he setting her up?  Did he have an agenda?  Sam’s gaze wandered to the red leather chaise sequestered in the corner.  A bit loud and far outside the dignified image Raul was cultivating for the firm, it was the only piece of décor in her office that hinted to the woman within.  She insisted it gave fire to her thought process and was largely responsible for her wins.  Who could argue with such logic?  Certainly not Raul, so he allowed the one item to stay.

Why was he challenging her now
?

“Never mind.  None of my business,” Maria mur-mured, but her black eyes blazed the third degree.

“Actually,” Sam sighed. “I have no idea.” Had he wanted to revoke confidence with her performance?  Express disapproval at her budding interest in Vic?  He frowned upon office romances, but over the years had come to allow her some wiggle room on the subject.  But pushing another associate on her, overriding her authority...

It wasn’t his style.

“You think it’s good news or bad?”

Misgiving pinched her chest.  “You tell me,” she pitched back.  “He wants Vic to assist on the Perry case.”

“
What
?  Why would he want to do something crazy like that?” she whipped back.

“My question exactly.”

“Is it Diego’s schedule?” She packed on a matter-of-fact attitude and waved a finger through the air, gold bangles jingling.  “I’ll call Suzette right now.  She’ll tell me what’s going on over there in
two
seconds.”

Sam surrendered to a small smile.  Maria; her paralegal-secretary-extraordinaire.  The woman was a pint of sass packed into a Latin man’s voluptuous fantasy:  long black hair and big brown eyes, full pouty lips and enough makeup to make a cosmetician swoon.  Damn sharp when it came to following instructions though, making Maria the best assistant since Moses. And indispensable.  No doubt she would plunder the information in no time if asked.  “Don’t bother, Mare.  I’ll ask him myself.”