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"Seriously, Malloy." She offered him the hint of a smile that made his stomach tighten with desire. "If you wanted to avoid so much alimony, you should've come to me. I would've gotten you out of it."
He snorted. She probably would've lost him his entire check instead of merely three-fourths of it. "I doubt you were even ten years old back when I booted out the old battle ax."
"And just how young do you think I am?" Willow's expression told him how much she didn't appreciate his nasty comment.
Not wanting to delve any further into personal conversation because it would only torture him more, misleading him into believing he might actually have a chance with her, Raith stonily asked, "Who're you here to see?"
Willow lifted her brows. "My, my. Changing the subject, are we? You must be much older than I originally imagined."
His gaze narrowed. "Who're you here to see?"
She pulled back, undoubtedly startled by his tone, and cleared her throat. "Um, Theodore Franklin."
Shaking his head in disgust, he snorted. "Dear God, you really do defend scum bags, don't you?" He held up his hand, motioning her to stay put. "Wait here. I'll check his status."
He hurried off, thinking he had narrowly been saved from making an utter idiot of himself. Because if she ever discovered how he didn't give a damn how young she was—he would take her any way he could get her— She would forever have a reason to mock him. No way would he give her the upper hand in this pissing contest they had going. Hiding his lust was top priority.
~ * ~
Willow sighed as Deputy Malloy stalked away. He had to be more arrogant, rude, and prickly than any man she had ever met. But my, oh my, did he have a nice butt. She took a moment to enjoy his tight, narrow buns of steel strolling off before she turned and settled into an uncomfortable waiting chair, crossing her legs and impatiently swinging one high-heeled foot back and forth.
If Malloy wasn't such a royal pain, she would probably be after him like sesame seeds on a hamburger bun. Something intrinsically primal about him always managed to entice all her hormones into coming alive in his presence. Willow just knew she could have fun with a big, tough cop like him.
She sighed a little over the fact she would never get to find out just how much of a good time as the door opened and a correctional officer escorted Theo, dressed in his street clothes, into the lobby.
Setting her briefcase on the floor by the chair, Willow pushed to her feet. When Franklin glanced her way with an indignant sneer, she made a little sound of disgust, realizing the next couple of minutes were probably going to turn nasty.
"Theo, Theo, Theo," she murmured, her voice thick with disapproval. "What have you gotten yourself into this time?"
She shook her head sadly as she took in the deep scratch marks on his cheek, trailing down his throat and disappearing into his collar. This particular client could never lay claim to being the brightest crayon in the box to start with, but she began to doubt her own intelligence for taking him on in the first place as he skipped a polite greeting an
d instantly began demanding.
"I need a ride home." He marched toward her, coming entirely too close for her comfort.
Willow ignored the instinctive need to edge a wary step back. "In a minute. Let's discuss a few things first."
Franklin frowned, looking blank. "'Bout what?"
Willow almost rolled her eyes. "About your arrest record, Theo." She managed to remain calm. But honestly, she wanted to shake him senseless. "I thought I told you the last time you were incarcerated I'd drop you as a client if you were arrested again for some senseless—"
"Look, I don't need a sermon from you, bitch—"
"Watch yourself, Franklin," the lingering correctional officer warned, "or you'll find yourself back behind bars."
As Theo snarled at the deputy, Willow scowled as well, thinking he wouldn't have thought twice about letting a male lawyer defend himself from his client, or probably even a tough-looking butch woman lawyer. It rankled that he didn't believe she could handle her own situation. She almost snorted and asked him if he was chauvinist Malloy's protégé.
But, well aware she could get better results using honey rather than vinegar, Willow patted the man's arm and smiled at him. "Thank you," she said, barely able to actually look grateful as she took Theo's elbow and coaxed him back around to face her. "But I can handle this."
Honey-approach working, the officer gazed back and returned her smile. "Yes, ma'am." He obligingly stepped back.
She hadn't even fully turned from him when her client continued with his rant. "How much longer are you going to make me stand here and listen to this shit? I got places to be."
Willow sighed. "I need answers first. Now, what did you do to get
yourself arrested?"
"That's nothing to concern yourself with," he answered evasively, unable to meet her intense, probing stare. "Just get me the hell outta here."
