“You didn’t answer my question,” I accused.
“I didn’t. You’re right, counselor,” he said, glancing around. “You should probably get where you need to be, huh?”
“Why are you at court?”
“I had to fight a parking ticket.”
I couldn’t stop myself from running a finger over one of his bruises. “What did you do?”
He leaned back like my touch burned him. “You need help gettin’ where you need to go?”
“No.” I cocked my head. “I have a file on you.”
Jesus H. Lucifer Christ, why the hell did I just say that out loud?
The darkness I’d grown familiar with covered his face again. “What?”
“I haven’t opened it.”
“Fuck me,” he growled, and put distance between us.
“I would really like to sit down and have an adult conversation with you and have you tell me your story, rather than reading whatever my investigator found out.”
He stepped back to me and leaned close. “Why the fuck do you have a file on me?”
“Because I always do a background check on the men my sisters date.”
“I’m not dating your sister.”
I raised an eyebrow. “But you will.”
“I won’t.”
“She bid fifty-thousand dollars on you, you don’t find that a little bit intriguing?” I challenged.
“No.”
“Bullshit.”
“Woman, I know everything I need to know about your sister, and no offense, but fucked up, ditzy, and rich enough not to care about anything but herself is not my type.” He jabbed a finger toward me. “I will honor my commitment because I don’t bail, but no further.”
“Contrary to popular belief, my sister isn’t actually ditzy.”
“Don’t give a fuck. Not one single one.” He dragged his hands through his hair. “Forget it. Tell your sister I’ll refund her fuckin’ money, but I’m out. Have a nice life.”
He stalked away and I felt like a complete asshole.
I made my way down to the courtroom and took a seat as close to the front as I could, then tried to put my bad behavior aside for the moment.
* * *
“How bad was it?” Georgia asked as we walked out of court.
“What are you talking about?” I countered, sliding my bag over my shoulder. “You did great.”
“You must havesomefeedback. I didn’t come at Waller hard enough on cross. If it had been you, he would have folded much quicker.”
I sighed. “You make me sound like a ball buster.”
