Page 27 of A Trial of the Heart
“You not worried, are you?”
Hearing Barret’s deep voice pulled me from the short memory that had led to a roller coaster of events which ended with me in court.
“Nah, nah. I’m good.” I adjusted my tie before Barret nodded, and we continued into the room.
Just as I made my way to the front of the courtroom where we’d sit, a familiar, potent, intoxicating scent filled my nose. Scanning the courtroom, my eyes landed on Shiloh. She was oblivious to me as her head was down in some files. Almost two weeks ago to the day, I had met her on a cruise, and we connected as if we’d known each other all of our lives. Perusing her slowly, I licked my lips at the thought of her sweet nectar dripping on my tongue. The red high-waisted skirt paired with the white ruffled blouse hugged her curves, while the nude designer heels made her thighs more appealing. Shiloh was beautiful by default.
After the judge asked me how I pleaded, I looked Shiloh’s way as I knew her eyes would instantly find mine. It took a lot not to chuckle out loud once our eyes met. She looked as though she’d seen a ghost. I winked her way, and the expression on herface intensified. She was genuinely surprised and even confused. Shiloh and I had spent every day together on the cruise, but once we stepped back on land, we went our separate ways. As dope as the time was together, she made it clear she didn’t want anything serious, and though I was feeling her, I respected her wishes.
It was comical how things worked. The world was so small that running into Shiloh in such a setting didn’t even surprise me. When we were together, she told me she was a lawyer, but it never went any further than that. My eyes never wavered from Shiloh as she seemed to have a battle with her own self on what to do. I knew she no longer wanted the case after realizing it was me. I expected her to say so, so it was surprising when she didn’t.
“You good?” Barret leaned my way asking just above a whisper.
Looking away from Shiloh, I nodded to Barret but didn’t speak.Barret looked past me and then focused back my way.
“Conflict of interest I should know about? If you know her, it’s something we need to speak on now.”
Shiloh had already said she was good to proceed, so if she was cool with it, then so was I. She meant what she said when she said whatever we shared would be left at the dock, even though we had exchanged numbers. I hated that her beautiful self would lose this case. Looking Shiloh’s way, I hoped she’d look my way because, though she said she was good, had I seen an ounce of doubt, I would have spoken up. She refused to look back my way. I truly hated it had to be the way it was, but she set the tone, and I was dancing to her beat.
“Nah. We good.” I spoke quietly.
“Cool.”
I listened to the judge say when the first day of court would be, which would be the selecting of the jury and then the trial date, before the bailiff instructed everyone to rise for the judge’s dismissal. Once the judge was out of the room and court hadbeen dismissed for the day, I looked Shiloh’s way and chuckled silently because I knew she was trying to avoid me. I spoke to Barret about getting with him later in the week before I strolled from the courtroom. Shiloh wasn’t getting away no matter how fast she tried.
Chapter
Thirteen
Shiloh:
Gathering my things, I hurried from the courtroom the second the judge dismissed us. I didn’t even bother waiting for Arthur or William to follow. The walls felt like they were caving in, and I needed to get the hell out of there and get some air. My heels double tapped the marble floor as I rushed to the elevator.
“Come on. Come on,” I said frantically, pushing the elevator button. One would have thought someone was after me the way I was moving.
The doors had barely opened before I slipped inside, pressing the button to close the door faster than they would on their own. Just as the steel doors were closing, a large hand peeked between them, stopping it and causing the door to open again.
“Mind if I ride down with you?” Rashad’s deep voice sent jolts throughout my body as his inviting eyes scanned me while he stepped inside before I could answer.
Fuck. I wished I’d just taken the stairs or moved much faster than I had.
“I guess.” The mumble was almost inaudible.
Finally, the doors closed, and neither of us pushed a button to get the elevator moving. Instead, we stood there staring at each other.
“How you been, Shiloh?” he asked, taking a step toward me, it caused me to instinctively back into the wall with nowhere to go. I’d been in this position more times than not with Rashad, and it for sure had become a weakness.
“Kyan, is it?” I spoke in a not so flattering tone while pressing my floor number.
“It is.”
I scoffed. “So, where the hell does Rashad come from?”
“Middle name.”
“Middle name?” I mocked his tone before continuing. “How often do you go on cruises spewing the bullshit you did to me, pretending to be someone you’re not, making vulnerable women fall hard for you?”
“First time being on a cruise, never been one to spew bullshit, never been into pretend, and I like shit real and raw. You may have been vulnerable, but I did nothing to or with you that you didn’t want.” He hadn’t a missed a beat.
