“I didn’t have time to wrap it,” Joshua said, standing before him. “I just picked it up today.” He offered Colin an item stuffed into a brown paper bag. “But I don’t think you’ll mind.”
Colin took the bag from Joshua’s hand then pulled him down beside him and shot him a quick glance. “Open it,” Joshua urged.
Colin drew the item from the bag and stared at it, feeling his throat tighten and his eyes burn with sudden tears. In his hand was a base of shining wood onto which was affixed a black brass name plate engraved to read:Colin Michael Campbell-Abrams. And beneath his name,Attorney at Law.
“The base is made of oak,” Joshua whispered.
Colin drew in a quick, shuddering breath and wrapped Joshua in his arms. “Of course it is,” he replied, his voice a hoarse whisper. Goosebumps had swept over his entire body when he saw those three words engraved beneath his name:Attorney at Law. “God, Josh,” he choked out, his face pressed to Joshua’s shoulder. “Thank you. I don’t have words for how much this means to me.”
“For your desk,” Joshua replied, his own voice shaking. He drew in a deep breath, then nudged Colin’s arm. “You ready for dinner, Mr. ADA?”
“I am,” Colin replied. He got to his feet and drew Joshua up with him, still holding the nameplate in his hand. “But I’m not an ADA, I’m anACA. An Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney.” He sat the nameplate on the dining room table then followed Joshua to the kitchen.
“Was your boss unfriendly?” Joshua asked, ladling stir-fry onto Colin’s plate.
Colin’s nose wrinkled. He took his plate from Joshua’s hand and considered the question, while Joshua added food to his own plate. “I wouldn’t call her unfriendly,” he said finally, then trailed Joshua to their dining room. He placed his food on the table and sat, a hint of a frown darkening his features. “Like David said, I think she’s all business.” He shook himself and picked up his fork. “And I think she’s seen her fill of bigmouthed, know-it-all baby lawyers.”
“You arenoneof those things,” Joshua told him.
Colin looked up at him through long lashes. “You accusing me of not being cocky and overconfident?” he asked. “I think she had a bead on me from the moment I walked in the door and probably before. I get the sense that she’s done her homework on every assistant in the office.”
“Just do your job and be yourself,” Joshua said. “She won’t be able to stop from falling in love with you.”
Colin reared back and stared at him, his eyes wide. “Don’t eventhink it!” he sputtered.
“Figuratively speaking,” Joshua amended, chuckling. “D’you know the judge you’re appearing before tomorrow?”
“I do,” Colin said. He sat his fork next to his plate and stared out the window, brows furrowed as he chewed his food. Then he nodded. “Trying to remember all the dealings I’ve had with Judge Robinson,” he said. “And as far as I can recall they’ve all been good experiences. He’s not a showboat. He’s steady and fair. If I had to pick which judge I’d go in front of first, I’d pick him.”
“Maybeshepicked him,” Joshua suggested.
“Who?”
“Your boss.”
Colin grimaced and shook his head, once again lifting food to his mouth. “I doubt it.”
Chapter 4
For The People
The following morning Colin paced the length and breadth of their kitchen until Joshua grew dizzy watching him. He had fixed breakfast, but Colin wouldn’t stop moving long enough to eat it. “I can’t, Josh. I’m toonervous!Dammit! Ihatefeeling like this.”
“Would you please stop?” Joshua begged, guiding Colin to a kitchen chair. “Put something besides caffeine in your stomach, and maybe youwon’tfeel like this!” He pushed a plate filled with bacon and eggs in front of Colin. “Look! I even made bacon! Just eat a little. Let all that protein and fat work for you.”
Colin husked out a breath, staring up at his husband, then sighed in defeat and grabbed his fork. “You seduced me with bacon,” he grumbled around a mouthful of food. “Not fair, Josh.”
“You’ll thank me later,” Joshua said, chuckling.
Colin shot him a glance and huffed out a dubious grunt before once again lifting his fork to his mouth. “God, I hope Judge Robinson remembers that he likes me.”
“Remind him,” Joshua offered. “Smile and say: Nice to see you again, Your Honor.”
Colin smiled, then stretched out his hand to caress Joshua’s cheek. “Good thinking, bud.”
“You would have thought of it.”
Colin exhaled deeply then surged to his feet and grabbed his briefcase. “NottodayI wouldn’t.”
