Beyond Innocence Read Online Free PDF Page A

glint in Julie’s eyes. “What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be here.” Both the question and the statement were delivered with a whisper. She hadn’t seen Julie since that morning in the courtroom. Seeing her now released all the feelings she’d managed to box away. “Come in.” She grabbed Julie’s arm and pulled her into the foyer.
    Julie pulled her close, hugging her tight, her hands roaming. “I’ve missed you. You haven’t called. I’ve been worried. I haven’t seen you since the hearing and even then you were gone so fast I didn’t get to talk to you.”
    Cory didn’t trust the words, but she wanted to. She’d purposefully avoided any contact, didn’t want to open the connection and risk all that came with that. For sure she didn’t want to risk it now. Still, Julie had noticed her at the hearing, noticed she’d made a quick exit. The revelation gave her cautious hope. She kept her answer simple. “I’m fine.”
    “Sure you are, but still, I worried.” Julie pushed gently away and examined her from head to toe before pulling her back into a tight embrace. “You look great. Comfortable. Don’t get too used to casual. You’ll be back in no time. We need you.”
    Again with the “we.” Do you need me, Julie? Cory wouldn’t ever ask the question out loud. Wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer. She’s here. That means something, doesn’t it? “I don’t know when it will be. Things aren’t settled yet.” Cory glanced at the clock again. “In fact, I have to get dressed. My attorney will be here any minute. She’s picking me up for a meeting.”
    “A meeting? With who? And she’s picking you up? Pretty personal service, don’t you think?”
    Cory took on the last question because it was the simplest to answer. “My car’s in the shop.” Thank goodness. Otherwise, she’d be forced to make up some lie to respond to the “with who” and details about the “meeting.” She didn’t have a clue what Melinda had planned for the morning, but no way did she want to let Julie know how far she’d fallen from taking personal responsibility for her life. She’d stopped doing that the moment she’d fallen under Julie’s spell.
    “Bummer. Hate not having wheels. Well, I’m sure you’re paying her out the nose, so the least she can do is pick you up.” Not a trace of sympathy that Cory had to hire an attorney in the first place. Cory filed the observation away for future examination. The ring of the doorbell interrupted any further conversation. “Damn. That’s her and I’m not even dressed yet.”
    Julie looked around, a hint of panic in her eyes.
    “You can go out the back door, but if you parked in front, she’s still going to see you. Don’t worry. She’s not going to rat you out.”
    “Don’t be silly. I’m just a colleague, dropping by to check on another colleague.”
    We were never colleagues . Cory stepped to the door. “Thanks for stopping by. To check on your colleague. She’s fine.”
    Julie walked to the door, kissing her cheek as she passed. “I really can’t wait until you’re back. Things will be better for both of us. I promise.”
    Maybe they would. Cory tried not to think about how much energy she’d expended thinking that over the course of their relationship. She swung the door open and held a finger to her lips when she saw Melinda about to burst into a fit of scolding. “Melinda Stone, Julie Dalmar. Julie was just leaving and I’m going to get dressed. Coffee’s in the kitchen.” She strode away quickly before either woman could ask her any more questions.
    Ten minutes later, outfitted in a sharp black suit, she walked into the kitchen.
    Melinda looked up from her steaming cup of coffee. “Black, huh?”
    “Considering that we’re probably headed to my funeral, I thought it was appropriate.”
    “Oh ye of little faith.” She set the coffee cup down and grabbed her purse from the counter. “Come on, we’re late. I’ll explain