Bree hesitated too long before nodding. Hank’s initial glance came back as a prolonged look as he studied her face.
“Ah, this line of questioning is more than just superficial interest. Care to spill?” he asked.
Bree thought for another moment, then decided which things she was willing to tell Hank.
“Did Rachelle tell you that I shared the Tahoe cabin?”
“Yup. With a friend of Flo’s, from what she told me.” Hank waited while Bree decided what to say next.
“That friend of Flo’s turned out to be Theresa Fairchild, but I only knew her as Tess. I had no clue that week that she was a judge, or that she lived here in Corazon Cove—we’d agreed to leave the outside world behind.”
Hank grunted, then chuckled. “So how well did you get to know Tess?”
Bree offered Hank her best effort at a dismissive wave of her hand. “You’re known as Hank and not Henry to most people.”
“Now that’s an avoidance answer. My journalist’s radar is telling me that there’s a story here. Off the record, of course.”
“I met up with her at the Steam Stop the other night, now that we’ve realized we’re judicial colleagues. We agreed to be friendly.”
Bree swallowed down the lump she felt rise in her throat as she thought about the meeting, Tess’s obvious initial frustration and agenda, and their undeniable chemistry. A chemistry in conflict with her intention to keep her focus on everything new that she had on her plate.
“That tells me that you’ve decided to redefine things. So you got close”—Hank waggled his eyebrows—“to the reserved Judge Fairchild. I’d love to know what she’s like underneath all that polite armor I hear she wears.”
Bree remained silent.
“What’s the issue if you two ladies happen to like each other? I’m sure you can figure out the work dynamics. I know you’ve said you’re not interested in a girlfriend, that you’ve got too much change going on, but it’s been a year and a half since your divorce from Cora. Don’t waste any more time on her. You deserve someone.”
“I need to make a success of my new job. Do my best to finally heal after Cora. I don’t want a new serious relationship right now. Besides, workplace romances can have plenty of complications.” Bree gave Hank a look that told him she’d considered the issues and Tess was not in her current plans.
He nodded. “Okay. I can tell you’ve thought about it, so my feelings as your older-and-wiser brother and advisor are only mildly bruised. I’m just going to say that you need love, Bree. And not just family, although I do love you.”
“I love you too, Hank.” She knew he’d have her back, and that meant the world to her.
Chapter Seven
Today was the day they were selecting their presiding judge for the next two years. Tess was a few minutes late to the meeting in the courthouse conference room, and while she’d like to blame it on her busy schedule, she knew she’d been dragging her feet. Not simply because she didn’t want to sit and make polite conversation with her fellow judges, and not because of today’s election agenda—the outcome would undoubtedly be Huffington as a shoo-in for the presiding judge, and the assistant presiding judge position would likely go to whoever was willing.
No, Tess’s hesitation was because she’d undoubtedly see Bree here. It was highly unlikely that the newest judge would miss her first judicial meeting and the vote. Tess hadn’t seen her since their coffee last week. Admittedly, her heart was all in for seeing Bree, but her common sense told her it would only hurt.
Simon Huffington sat at the head of the table as he prepared to run the meeting. Tess couldn’t bring herself to think of him as just Simon—his overbearing demeanor had implanted him with an added requisiteHuffingtonin her mind a long time ago, so fitting. His surname as her silent mental default for him had fallen into place as she realized he was self-absorbed and petty and forever huffing about one thing or another. Of course, she maintained her characteristic cordial demeanor with him, and on the rare occasion when it was necessary to address him, she politely referred to him as Judge Huffington or Simon Huffington…but never just Simon.
As she headed on through the door, Tess took a quick glance around. Her colleagues were chatting as they waited. The court’s executive officer, an impeccably dressed, older gray-haired woman, Helene Chase, was the only one in the room who was not a judge. She sat against the wall with an iPad, behind Huffington. Vera, Callie, and Eric sat in the seats on one side, and Alan and Bree sat in the seats on the other side of the table.
“There you are. Good to see you, Tess,” Callie greeted her, and the others agreed.
“Glad you could make it.” Huffington’s tone lacked sincerity.
“Thanks. Sorry I’m late.” Tess nodded and avoided making eye contact with Bree. She quickly assessed whether to sit in the open place next to Bree or take the empty seat at the end of the table opposite where Huffington sat. Neither one was Tess’s position of choice because sitting too close to Bree would only feed what was completely off the agenda, and taking the end seat could be interpreted as a direct challenge to Huffington. After hesitating, she sat next to Bree.
Bree’s leg bumped hers under the table, and Tess wasn’t sure if it was an accident. She wasn’t even sure whether she wanted it to be an accident. She kept her attention on Huffington and his frown. At least her outward attention was on him because there was no way she didn’t smell the floral notes of Bree’s perfume, didn’t see the smooth skin on Bree’s jawline as they both looked toward Huffington, and didn’t feel the tingle created by the pressure of Bree’s leg travel from her knee to her thigh to that area Bree seemed to so easily ignite. Maybe she should have taken that other empty seat, so she wouldn’t be so distracted.
“I’d like to welcome our newest colleague, Judge Brianna O’Brian.” Huffington nodded at Bree, and then continued. “We’ve put this off until Gerry’s seat was filled, and now we have everyone back from vacation—today we’re here to cast a vote for the presiding judge for the next two years. But before weget to that, let me say what an honor it’s been to serve you, to put in the time to perfect my performance of the duties, to help make this an excellent and efficient courthouse. And I would be extremely happy to continue.” He cleared his throat and looked around the table, locking eyes with one judge at a time. There was an undercurrent in his tone that was intimidating, if not threatening. “Our protocol allows for anyone to throw their own hat in the ring, or any of you can nominate someone else. To save time and because we all know I’m up to the challenge, I’ll submit my name.”
The table was silent as Huffington sat back. Tess acknowledged this was going to proceed in the manner he’d orchestrated. She wasn’t surprised. When this meeting was put on her calendar, Tess’s first thought had been that this would be another perfunctory exercise in extending Huffington’s tenure as their chief.
Huffington waited about ten seconds and then said, “I guess that closes the nominations, so let’s cast the official secret ballots so we’ve adhered to the process, and Helene can count them.”
Tess felt Bree shift in her seat before emitting a quiet sigh. She gave herself credit for not chuckling at Bree’s realization that this was an undertaking with a predetermined outcome.
