Page 59 of Passionate Defense

Lanie snickered when she saw them, irreverently calling the local favorite a heart attack on a plate. Despite her mockery, Ethan watched in amusement as she dug into them ravenously, licking her fingers so as not to miss a single tasty morsel. It was one of the most erotic things he’d ever seen, especially when she angled her head back, slid a fry dripping with meat and cheese into her mouth, and licked the juices from her gleaming lips, the whole while grinning at him like the cat who got the cream.

He couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

Earlier, she had changed into more appropriate Sox attire and presented herself for Ethan’s inspection. He’d nodded approvingly at the fitted tee in muted red with a huge Boston B that covered most of the front. It hugged her curves perfectly, as did the snug jeans that she wore with it.

“Better, but not quite right,” was his comment as he strode to their walk-in closet.

“I have nothing else except a Giant’s nightshirt.”

He grunted in mock outrage as he scanned the shelves. “Wear that to my bed, woman, and it’ll be in shreds, too. This is strictly a Sox and Pats household.”

He reappeared with one of his many ball caps and placed it on her head. “There. Now you’re ready.”

Looking cute and sexy all in one perfect package, she moved to the mirror and promptly removed it. Brushing her hair back, she tucked the sides behind her ears and adjusted the cap just so.

Tilting her head back, she grinned up at him. “What do you think? Do I pass for a member of the Red Sox Nation? Or are my pinstripes still showing?”

He grimaced then said, still teasing, “Bite your tongue. I’m trying to erase the image from my memory banks.”

“I was kidding about the Giants shirt. I had one years ago, but it must have gotten lost in the move.”

“Nope. I trashed that ugly sucker the minute I saw it.”

Amused by the shocked look on her face, he bent and kissed her, thanking the heavens above for bringing such a beautiful creature into his life. When he lifted his head, he smiled at her dazed expression, pleased he had the power to make her forget for a while.

As Ethan looked at her now, chatting animatedly with her friend, she was comfortable, spirited, vivacious...worlds removed from the Ice Queen. If he hadn’t seen her in action in court several times, he would never have believed the nickname. Their coexistence in the same body was a paradox.

“So, Lanie,” Ray asked when there was a lull in the ladies’ conversation, “how is your practice coming along?”

“Wonderfully, sir. Business is brisk, and we’re expanding already. We hired a practice manager who started last week and we’re currently interviewing for a paralegal.” She beamed at Ethan, who had helped her come to grips with those decisions.

“I know an excellent paralegal with over twenty years of experience. She worked for a friend of mine who retired last month. I can send her your way if you’d like.” He frowned suddenly and added, “No pressure, of course.”

“I’d love to meet with her, sir. Vicky, you have one of my cards, don’t you? I didn’t bring a purse.”

“She stuffed everything in my pockets, Ray. If you need lip gloss during the seventh inning stretch, I’m your man.”

They were still chuckling at Ethan’s joke when the waiter brought their check.

“Here’s one,” Vicky said, holding up her business card and passing it to her husband. “And stop calling Ray, sir. You’re making me feel ancient.”

“It’s hard not to, considering his position and that he could pass for my father’s twin brother.”

The chief justice reached over and squeezed her hand. “You’ll have to excuse my wife, dear. We have a daughter older than you, and she refuses to acknowledge that we’re really that old.”

“Speak for yourself,” Vicky said with an arched brow. “It might be okay for her to call yousirandpopslike Becca, orpawpawlike the grandkids, but I must draw the line somewhere.”

Ray looked at Lanie and winked. “See what I mean?”

“Ray,” Vicky protested, but her husband eased the sting of his teasing with a gentle kiss on her cheek.

Ethan couldn’t be sure in the dim light, but he thought the tough-as-nails judge actually blushed. Despite decades of marriage, they were still playful and affectionate with one another. Glancing at Lanie, he noticed the tears glistening in her eyes, and knew what she was thinking and hoping, that they would continue to share the same closeness, even after another thirty or forty years together. He caught her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze confident that they would.

* * *

WITH THE BILL SETTLED, the men arguing good-naturedly over who would pay, they headed out. Although it was a short walk to the ballpark, it took almost thirty minutes to find their seats in the sellout crowd. Ethan gripped her hand tightly as they wove through the sea of fans dressed in predominant Sox red. An occasional pinstripe-wearing fan was spotted here and there, but they were definitely a minority and received some razzing from the hometown fans. Even though their earlier scene was created from Ethan’s vivid imagination, she wondered how much of it was to protect her.

When they emerged from the service area under the seats, Lanie’s steps slowed as she took in the view before her. She’d been to a few games with Ethan before, but there was nothing like the thrill of excitement that swept through her at that first glimpse of the stadium. It was a treat for all the senses, from the smell of popcorn to the vendors’ calls of “get your peanuts” and “beer here, ice cold beer.” And was there a more vivid green than the perfectly manicured infield grass? Over the hum of the sellout crowd, she heard the crack of bats as the players took infield practice and the outfielders shagged fly balls, and the slap of the ball hitting leather as other players threw to each other, warming up. There was also the sight of the world famous thirty-seven-foot-high left-field fence—the Green Monster. It appeared much bigger than it did on TV. Flags fluttered high over centerfield, and the Jumbotron flashed the smiling faces and stats of the hometown heroes in the starting lineup. Most impressive of all was the crowd.

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