Free Scandalous by Donna Hill Page A

husband,” she added, giving her husband a quick wink.
    â€œWell, only if you’re not keeping him too preoccupied to talk to me, of course,” Justin joked.
    â€œLet me just check and see if he wants to be distracted, by business, that is, this early in the morning.” Khendra chuckled. “Listen,” she said, switching gears, “I was just going over the reports on the Harrison murder case. I think we should take it, Justin. I know I can pull this off.”
    â€œGreat. Bring your notes. We’ll discuss it at the meeting.”
    â€œHere’s Sean.”
    â€œHey, Justin. What’s up?” Sean’s voice came over the wire.
    â€œI was hoping you, uh, had some free time this morning, before the meeting.”
    Sean immediately caught the hitch of hesitation in Justin’s voice. His thick eyebrows arched. Justin was never hesitant about anything.
    â€œSure. You want me to stop in now?”
    â€œYeah. Barb is bringing in coffee. Have you had breakfast?”
    â€œWe just finished. I just need to make two short calls and I’ll be right down.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œJustin?”
    â€œYeah, Sean.”
    â€œIs everything all right? You don’t sound like yourself.”
    Justin thought for a moment and almost laughed out loud. He wasn’t himself. “Everything’s fine. Better than fine. That’s what I want to talk with you about. See you in a few.”
    Justin reached again for the phone. His smile was broad. This time he dialed an outside number to the local florist.
    Â 
    Shortly there was a light knock on Justin’s office door.
    â€œCome in.”
    Sean strutted in, the picture of polish, power, and control. Sean was a connoisseur of fine clothing. His instincts and tenacity when it came to criminal law could be paralleled only by his wife, Khendra. But Sean knew when to relax and enjoy the good life he’d built for himself. He spent hours in the gym and on the racquetball court, which was where he and Justin had met nearly eight years before. They’d become fast friends, sharing a variety of similar interests. Justin had come to rely not only on Sean’s legal judgment, but on his personal judgment as well.
    â€œWhat’s up, partner?” Sean asked, breezing in and taking a seat opposite Justin.
    Justin stood up, slinging his hands into his pockets. He turned dark eyes on Sean. “I’m thinking about making some…changes.”
    Sean’s eyebrows rose in question. He remained silent and listened as Justin revealed a side of himself that Sean hadn’t known existed.
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    The morning flew by with blinding speed. Before Vaughn had completed half of her tasks for the day, it was time to meet her father for lunch. She’d had Tess order two jumbo salad specials, knowing that they would be both filling and in keeping with her father’s diet, which he readily ignored.
    Her midday interview with Channel 6 had gone off smoothly; the statements she’d made to the reporter from the Herald would be in the next day’s paper. She’d gone through half her mail, returned nearly a dozen phone calls, and remained sane through it all. To cap off a morning of success, she’d just received a huge bouquet of two dozenred roses from Justin. The whole office was buzzing. And she knew that as soon as Crystal was finished with her meeting, she’d be beating down her door for some answers. She’d tried to call Justin to thank him for his thoughtful gift, but he was tied up in a staff meeting.
    In the meantime, she had her father to deal with. She checked her watch. Ten to two. He’d be arriving in minutes. Vaughn straightened her desk and crossed the parquet floor to the small conference table that held their lunch. She looked over the array of salads, breads, and low-calorie dressings. Everything was in place.
    The brief knock on the door signaled her father’s arrival.
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