Page 27 of Passionate Defense

As she walked away, she heard his bark of laughter. With a smug grin, she purposefully crossed directly in the enemy’s path and gave the woman the glare that had broken many a hostile witness under cross examination. It appeared to work beyond the courtroom because Red became flustered and promptly spilled the beer she was serving right in her patron’s lap. The waitress gaped at her as if she had some magic power that made her spill the beer. Lanie simply stared at her, letting the power of the Ice Queen do its thing. As she tried to sop up the mess, Lanie grinned with satisfaction.

She sauntered toward the restrooms. Looking back at the last minute, she found Ethan’s eyes on her. He wore an amused look, obviously having taken in the entire scene. She beamed at him and gave a little wave, feeling no qualms about leaving him on his own now. But she planned to hurry back all the same.

Chapter 7

LANIE WALKED THROUGHthe swinging door of the ladies’ room and was immediately assaulted by the heavy floral scent of air freshener. Her eyes instantly watered, and she sneezed three times in succession. She also collided with a woman as she turned the corner from the powder room into the stalls.

“I’m so sorry,” she managed, before sneezing again, this time twice.

“Oh dear,” the woman exclaimed. “I’m fine, but you don’t sound well. Are you ill?”

“It’s the air freshener,” Lanie said with a sniff. “It’s overwhelming at first.”

A tissue was pressed into her hand. When she looked up to thank the woman, she saw a familiar face. Victoria Studor, the honorable judge who had presided over the high-profile Deevers trial for almost a year.

Startled, she mustered up her composure and uttered, “Judge Studor. This is a surprise.”

“It is? Didn’t Ethan tell you we were meeting for dinner?”

“We’re having dinner with the chief justice and his wife.”

At her nod, an amused smile gracing her coral tinted lips, Lanie wanted to kick herself. “I’m having a brain lapse, obviously. Ethan always calls him Ray. That’s why I never put you two together.”

She waved an elegant, be-ringed hand. “Don’t worry, dear. Actually, it’s refreshing not being part and parcel with Chief Justice Raymond Studor for a change. We’ve been married for over thirty years and people see us as a matched set all too often. Although early on, I was only seen as the woman behind the man with the gavel.”

Living in the shadow of a formidable man, Lanie could relate all too well. “I agree it has its challenges. Although Ethan works very hard at keeping me out in the light.”

“He is doing an excellent job of it, too. I’ve heard the buzz around town about your new firm and Ethan’s name has never been mentioned. Congrats, by the way. It’s about time two young, talented women rattled some cages and made the establishment take notice.”

“You mean the good ole boys club?”

“Yes, indeed,” the judge said with a huff. “The culture of misogyny in the legal community has gone unchecked for entirely too long.”

“Amen to that. Most successful men owe thanks to the hardworking women who helped get them there. Like me, until recently,” Lanie added, thinking of WW&S. “And in my case, receiving very little praise and much less reward.”

“I was a junior associate working for a bunch of pricks once, too.”

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