Free Something True by Malia Mallory Page B

that hurt. You’re lucky, Mr. Smith, that you didn’t seriously injure yourself or anyone else. I’m happy to see you were clean but quite unhappy to see you using the streets of Los Angeles inappropriately.”
    The judge cleared her throat. “Here’s what’s going to happen. Restitution has been made. That’s a plus. I’m extending your probation by a year, including the drug testing.”
    Liam’s attorney lifted her hand. “Your Honor, if I may offer—”
    “You may not. One year additional probation plus drug testing, continuing from the previous offense. One hundred hours of community service to be completed by the end of the probationary term. And the most important part,” the judge looked at Liam over her glasses,” I don’t want to see you in here again. You get so much as a parking ticket, we might be talking. No speeding. No moving violations. You need to keep out of trouble, period. You do that and complete your community service? We’ll be out of each other’s hair in fourteen months. Do you understand?”
    “I do, ma’am.” Liam was determined to make this work. He didn’t want to be one of those guys called into court repeatedly. He wanted this over.
    “Counselor, be sure to impress upon your client how lenient I’m being. The fact that he was clean at the time of the accident weighed heavily in his favor. Let’s keep it that way.” The judge picked up the gavel and thumped it on her desk.
    Liam’s attorney gathered her papers off the tabletop. “Let’s go.”
    They walked out together. As they entered the hallway, Liam saw a few people lifting their phones to snap pictures, and he turned his face to the wall.
    “Ignore them. Say nothing. We’ll talk in the car.” Liam’s attorney made a quick call to the driver to inform him they were coming out.
    They pushed through the crowded hallways and eventually were on the street. A non-descript black sedan stopped at the curb and they hurried into the back. The car sped away as photographers loped down the sidewalk, hoping for a good shot.
      ~ * ~ * ~
      Liam took Shelley’s elbow as they entered the gallery. His touch infused her with confidence. A few cameras flashed, but she ignored them. When heads turned, all she felt was glad to be with Liam.
    Liam leaned in toward Shelley’s ear. “Have I told you that you look fabulous?”
    “No, I don’t believe you did.” Shelley licked the corner of her mouth.
    “Believe it, because you do.” Liam placed a ghost of a kiss on her earlobe.
    Liam’s fingers rubbed her arm and Shelley’s heart skipped. The fabric of her skirt swayed around her legs as she walked.
    Liam stopped a waiter, snagged two fluted glasses, and handed one to Shelley. “For you.”
    “Thanks.” Shelley sipped and the bubbly champagne tickled her throat. “Mmm, it’s good.”
    Liam stopped in front of a display of photographs. “Is all the work your sister’s?”
    “Yeah, a one woman show. She’s so excited.” Kate had been a shutterbug her whole life. Shelley admired her sister’s ability to see something in the world that wasn’t always obvious to others and share it.
    “I like these.” Liam gestured toward a grouping of five similar photographs of the roiling ocean.
    “She took them on the beach in San Francisco. You can almost feel the cold in the waves, can’t you?” Many of the photographs depicted natural landscapes, but a few portraits were mixed in.
    “She’s captured something.” Liam touched Shelley’s neck and trailed his fingers down her back.
    Shelley shivered in response. “Liam …”
    “Yes?” His hand stopped at her waist and he stroked her hip.
    Shelley sucked in a breath. “Perhaps you shouldn’t do that.”
    “Do what?” Liam led Shelley down the wall, his fingers lingering on the curve of her ass.
    “Touch me like that,” Shelley whispered. She glanced around. Was anyone watching?
    “Does it bother you?” His tone said that was exactly what he wanted—her, hot