Page 39 of Dirty Judge

“Hello, Miss Spencer,” he said. “Do you happen to know what time it is?”

“No.” I held back a groan. “But I’m sure you can look at your phone and find out the information for yourself…”

“I’d rather hear it from you.”

You’ve got to be kidding me…

“No, Judge Ashton,” I said. “I don’t know what time it is, but whenever I wake up for the day, I’ll look at my call log and call back to let you know.”

His low laughter came over the line, and my nipples hardened under its tempting sound.

“Are you still there for me, Miss Spencer?” he asked. “Do you have the time?”

I swallowed several curse words and sat up, tapping my screen.

“I’m here, and it’s currently three fifteen a.m.,” I said.

“Good to know our clocks are set to the same time then.” There was a smile in his voice. “Which means you should be up assisting me with an important task I need help with.”

“I don’t remember you giving me one.”

“That’s why I’m calling you.” His voice was suddenly terse. “I need to get to the courthouse early this morning, but another resident has borrowed my condo’s complimentary car and I can’t find my Audi in the garage.”

What the hell? “With all due respect, this sounds like a personal problem, sir…”

“Well, since two of my favorite cars were vandalized a few weeks ago, and I can’t drive those…”

A pang of guilt hit my chest, but then I remembered he had no idea I was the one who did it.

“I’ve decided that you should help me with my transportation arrangements for the rest of the week.”

“Do you want me to walk you through getting an Uber?”

“No, I can’t risk getting into one of those.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ve lost count of how many Uber drivers I’ve fined and sentenced to defensive driving classes,” he said. “I don’t want to risk someone taking their anger out on me, you know?”

“I understand…” My cheeks heated. “Um, what about a cab?”

“Same issue.”

“Mara?”

“I would never wake Mara up at this ungodly hour,” he said. “She doesn’t deserve that.”

“So,Ido?”

“Let’s not get personal, Miss Spencer,” he said. “Focus on how you’re going to make sure I get to work within the next hour.”

“Um…” My brain wasn’t fully functional at this hour. “Let me think.”

I slipped out of the bed and zombie-walked to my kitchen. Hitting the lights, I noticed a pink post-it on the coffeemaker.

Sooo happy you landed such an awesome job.

Your favorite blend is all set up for your second day!