He shrugged those impossibly broad shoulders, his blue gaze sweeping down her body, taking her in from head to toe. She felt his gaze as if it was the caress of his warm fingertips, and she stiffened defensively against the invisible assault. Ive been in town a little over a week. Ive been staying out at my dads place.
A week. Hed been in Inferno a whole week and she hadnt felt his presence, hadnt instinctively known he was near. Good. He was firmly and forever out of her life, out of her heart.
Well, its nice to see you, she said with what she thought was just the right touch of airy nonchalance. She headed for the door, but he stymied her escape by grabbing her arm.
Johnna, wait. I need to talk to you.
She didnt want to talk to him. She didnt even want to look at him. Shed hoped hed never return to Inferno, that shed never, ever have to see him or talk to him again.
She pulled her arm out of his grasp. Its been almost nine years, Jerrod. What on earth could you need to discuss with me?
Erin McCall.
The name exploded in Johnnas headthe name of the woman whod stolen any hope for happiness that Johnna might once have had. The name sounded like blasphemy on his lips, and she flinched as if hed physically hit her.
I guess youve heard she was arrested two days ago for the murder of her husband?
Johnna refused to meet his gaze. I heard. But that has nothing to do with me. How could she not have heard? The whole town of Inferno had been buzzing with the news of Richard Kramers murder.
She pushed past him and walked out of the court-room and into the lobby of the courthouse, aware of him following close behind.
She wants you to represent her.
Johnna whirled around to face him, her heart banging against her ribs. Thats absurd! she exclaimed. Why on earth would she want me?
She asked me to speak to you, he replied, not answering her question. He took a step closer to her, his blue eyes compelling her to acquiesce.
There had been a time when a single glance of those deep blue eyes with their thick dark lashes had been able to twist her inside out. But that had been another lifetime. They held no power over her now.
You can tell her you spoke with me and my answer was no. For the third time she turned and walked away from him, exiting the building and walking out into the stifling heat and relentless sunshine.
To her surprise, he didnt follow. She walked to her car, got in, then drew a deep breath as the trauma of seeing him again fully infused her.
Shed thought shed forgotten his irregular features, the thick dark hair and sensual lips, the nose with the small bump and his mesmerizing eyes. Shed tried to forget everything about
him, but now her head was filled with the sum of him.
There had been a time when she would have driven a thousand miles just to catch his scentthat wildly masculine, clean fragrance that emanated from him. And there had been a time when shed have done anything to taste his kiss, to know the heat of his mouth against hers.
There had been a timea long time ago.
She started her car and pulled away from the curb, attempting to shove aside thoughts of him. Her hands trembled and her heart still beat an irregular rhythm.
She glanced at her wristwatch and realized if she hurried, shed be able to make it to the ranch for dinner.
And after dinner shed have to put in at least three hours of workwork that had nothing to do with her cases or chosen occupation, but rather work shed been forced to endure by the terms of her fathers will.
Bitterness swept through her as she thought of her father and his last will and testament. Adam Delaney had died almost three months ago, leaving behind a fortune in the form of a successful dude ranch.
Unfortunately hed stipulated that all four of his children must work the ranch for a year, and only then would they be free to sell the place and split the profits. If they defaulted, the ranch went to Clara Delaney, Adams spinster sister, whom none of the Delaney children could stand.
Johnna hadnt wanted anything to do with the ranch, but shed agreed to abide by the terms of the will for her three brothers sakes. Still, spending twenty-five hours a week working the ranch, in addition to her work as the only defense attorney in the small town of Inferno, was taxing her both physically and mentally.
And now Jerrod had entered the equation. Hed probably lied when hed said hed been back in town for a week. Hed probably heard about Erins arrest and ridden back into town to her rescue.
Where had he been all these years? Was he married? With children?
Nine years was a long time, and yet for just a moment, when shed first seen him, the years had faded away, leaving the taste of fresh betrayal and bitterness in her mouth.
Shed always thought that eventually theyd see each other again, couldnt believe that somebody who had been her world, somebody who had marked her life, her heart, in such a profound way, could just drift away, never to return.
In all her imaginings, shed always been arrogantly smug about how well her life had turned out without him. Shed imagined him as a convict, a drunk, a man whose life had been filled with guilt and unhappiness.