Free Dangerous to Her by Virna Depaul

have stayed away and let him?”
    “Be serious.”
    “I’m being completely serious. Now, tell me what happened this morning. Did you guys do it in the judge’s chambers?”
    Mattie juggled her files and slipped past Linda, who followed her out of the courtroom. She didn’t stop until she was outside on the courthouse steps, breathing in air like she was starved for it. She wanted to spill her guts and tell Linda everything, but somehow she knew that if she actually verbalized her past and emotions about Dominic, she’d no longer be able to keep them at arm’s length. It was already hurting her. She couldn’t let it have a stronger hold than it already did.
    “Whoa. Mattie?” Linda placed a hand on her shoulder, her pale green eyes shadowed with concern. “I’m just messing with you. Don’t be mad.”
    Mattie nodded and put a hand over hers. “It’s not you. I was just feeling a little trapped in there.”
    “Was he harassing you? Do we need to report him?”
    “No, no. Of course not.” She hesitated, then figured Linda would learn about it soon enough. “One of the inmates tried to grab me before court started.”
    Linda gasped. “Tried to or did?”
    “Well, did. Sort of.”
    Fury sparkled in Linda’s eyes. “And how’d he get that close to you? I can’t believe Dom let that happen. What an idiot.”
    “It wasn’t his fault. Another deputy was manning the in-custody room and the inmate got away from him. Dominic— I mean, Deputy Jeffries subdued him.”
    “I can tell that’s not the end to the story, is it?”
    She licked her lips, weighing honesty with the likelihood that Linda would tease her incessantly about Dominic’s invitation. “Well, afterward he—he asked me out to dinner.”
    Linda laughed. “I told you I thought something was up. The guy can’t keep his eyes off you. He just decided for some reason today that he was through trying to hide it. So does this mean you’re canceling your date with Ty?”
    “What? Of course not.” Inside, she winced, because truthfully she’d forgotten all about the date. Mattie walked down the steps and headed for the parking lot across the street.
    “You turned him down?”
    “Great deduction, counselor.”
    “So you’re not attracted to the buff bailiff in the least?”
    Not in the least. The words were on the tip of the tongue, but so was a snide “Liar, liar, pants on fire.” She opted for silence. Mattie was five feet from her car when she groaned. “I left my purse in the break room.” Trying to get away from Dominic’s probing gaze had zapped her memory.
    “I’ll go back with you.” Linda linked her arm through Mattie’s and began walking, forcing Mattie to either keep up with her much longer stride or be dragged along. Hoping to forestall any more questions about Dom, she asked, “What about the burglary? Do the police have any leads?”
    Shaking her head, Linda said, “No. It’s going to take a bit longer than eighteen hours for them to find anything.” They walked in silence for a few seconds and Mattie had just started to relax when Linda said softly, “Someday, you’re going to have to take a chance again, Mattie.”
    Mattie clenched her jaw. “Have you forgotten your friend? The one you set me up with? Doesn’t that count?” They entered the main hallway and followed it to the judge’s chambers.
    “Of course, but I have a feeling you’re not really interested in—”
    Mattie opened the door and froze in shock.
    Judge Butler—the respected Judge Butler; the married Judge Butler who had mentored Mattie for years—was on his knees in front of Brenda. She was perched on the table, naked from the waist down, legs spread, eyes closed in pleasure.
    Mattie took a step back. “Ew.” She wasn’t sure if she’d spoken out loud or not. I eat at that table, she thought.
    Brenda’s eyes popped open and the judge slowly turned his head until his eyes met Mattie’s. Mattie quickly shut the door and speed-walked