Deadly Proposal(39)
“You look like a naughty librarian without the glasses,” James said. “I like it. Why don’t you stay here and let me take it off of you? You can spank me for returning a book late or something.”
“You have to go back to work, too,” Mandy said. “You haven’t touched anything besides me for two weeks.”
James cleared his throat. “Mandy, we need to figure out who planted the bomb and why,” James said. “Finn and Grady have done some legwork, but the truth is, we’re really behind. I let myself get distracted.”
Mandy cocked her head to the side as she regarded him. “Define distracted.”
“Well, the first week all I could think about was not touching you,” James said, forcing a rueful smile on his face. “The second week was different. Then I could only think about touching you. They were both viable avenues of distraction. Now I need to focus on keeping you safe.”
“And you don’t think I’ll be safe at the courthouse? There are like fifty cops in and out of there every day. There’s no place safer.”
“My lap is safer,” James said. “Why don’t we do computer work all day?”
“Whenever we do computer work, we end up having sex.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” James said. “I’ll call the judge. He’ll understand.”
“I know he’ll understand,” Mandy said. “I’m the one who doesn’t understand. We don’t have any indication that I was specifically targeted. For all we know, it could have been random.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“I don’t know,” Mandy said. “Like I said, we don’t know anything.”
“Which is exactly why you should stay here.”
“I don’t want to stay here,” Mandy said. “I want to get my life back. I want to actually sit in my office and fantasize about missing you so much that I tear your clothes off when I get home.”
James sighed, rolling his eyes. “Don’t try to manipulate me.”
“I’m not,” Mandy said. “Sometimes I actually fantasize about you coming into my office and closing the door behind you. You don’t lock it, though. It’s dirtier that way. Then you kneel in front of me, right underneath my desk and … .” Mandy leaned in, finishing her fantasy with her lips in close proximity to James’ ear.
He shivered, enjoying the visual accompanying the fantasy. “I still don’t want you going to work.”
“I know,” Mandy said. “That’s why I’m going to let you take me to work and pick me up. I’m also going to stay in the courthouse and eat lunch there.”
James knit his eyebrows together, considering. “Do you promise?”
“Yes.”
“Do you promise to let me really act out that fantasy some time?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to agree to everything I want to make me feel better?”
“Yes.”
“Fine,” James said, getting to his feet. “Let’s get you to work. I don’t suppose you’d consider going without underwear this whole week so I have something to fantasize about?”
THERE was only one case on Judge MacIntosh’s docket Monday, and it was in the afternoon. That left the morning for Mandy to catch up and clear her desk. A girl from the main records room had temped during her convalescence – and things were fairly well organized. Mandy didn’t say it out loud, but she was irked things hadn’t ground to a halt in her absence. It was ridiculous, and she knew it, but she wanted to feel important.
She settled behind her desk in the courtroom about twenty minutes before the case was set to begin. Heidi was still out at lunch, disappointed Mandy hadn’t gone with her, but resigned that Mandy’s safety came first. Mandy figured she would make it up to her friend when everything was over and settled.
The door to the courtroom swung open, and Mandy was surprised to see Sophie enter. She was dressed in one of her sensible pantsuits, and she had a notebook in her hand. She headed in Mandy’s direction.
“So, the rumors are true,” Sophie said. “You’re back at work.”
“I figured James called you and made you come and check on me,” Mandy teased. “Are you telling me this is a coincidence?”
Sophie held up her notebook. “I’m covering your afternoon case.”
Mandy sifted through her files. “Walter Tipton, Jr.?”
“Yup.”
“What did he do?”
“He killed his wife,” Sophie said. “She was having an affair with his best friend. Walter says the best friend killed her, but the evidence says otherwise.”