Blackjack and Moonlight: A Contemporary Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

I’m not glamorous, not exotic, not particularly eye-catching. So I have no clue why Blackjack McIntyre said what he did. All I know is that I didn’t do anything to prompt it.”
    “Well, with that hair, I think you’re certainly eye-catching, but never mind that. I heard what happened in open court. What went on in chambers?” He rested his elbows on his desk, grinning again.
    “Good lord, the gossip got that specific?” Elise said. “The whole scene was insane. You don’t look at someone and think, that’s the one.”
    “Cynic.”
    “Yes, I am. And my clients are damned glad of that,” she retorted.
    “So you say he’s not in love with you?”
    “Of course he isn’t. He can’t be.” Elise wasn’t stupid—hers was not the face to inspire that sort of reaction. She had good legs. No way he could have seen them from the bench, though. “At most, you might think, Wow, that person’s really gorgeous.” Which Blackjack McIntyre undoubtedly was. And she wasn’t.
    “Well, what’s your theory, then? Why’d he say it?” Geoff asked.
    “Hell if I know.” Elise leaned back and focused on Geoff’s array of diplomas and credentials. “He’s the hottest thing in that courthouse, which may not be saying much, but he is. And I’m not in his league. Which—” She held a hand up at Geoff’s look, “—is fine with me. I don’t need the aggravation.”
    “How did you leave it with him?”
    “Courthouse gossip didn’t get that part, huh?”
    Geoff laughed. “No.”
    “He asked me out, I said no. He asked if I was married. I pointed out that this was the flaw in his crazy declaration—he knows nothing about me. He said he was going to find out and admitted he’d ask the other judges.” Elise made a “puh-leeze” face worthy of a new teenager. “Just what I need. I said no rather more forcefully, and left.”
    “You think that’s going to be enough to stop him?”
    “Of course.” It had to be.
    “El, his conviction rate as US Attorney was damn near perfect. He’s scored a judgeship at a crazy young age. They’re already talking about how long it’ll be before he’s appointed to the Third Circuit. Or running for the Senate. The guy’s golden. Basically, he doesn’t lose. Hell, he got the nickname Blackjack because he paid for law school by winning in Atlantic City.”
    “He counted cards?”
    Geoff frowned at her. “It’s not illegal. Casinos just kick you out if you’re too good.” He chuckled. “Yeah, I’m sure Donald Trump is happy McIntyre doesn’t visit the Taj anymore. Rumor is, now they play golf together.”
    Elise stared out the window. She wasn’t going to listen to this. No meant no. Just like that, Jack McIntyre hijacked her imagination. She could see him—dark suit, red tie and glowing smile—and tension twisted her gut. Maybe she wouldn’t be able to keep saying no. He really did look like a superhero. And he smelled absurdly good. How long could she resist the alchemy of Blackjack’s charm? “I’m screwed, aren’t I?”
    “Well, he’s still a gentleman, from all I hear,” Geoff offered. “Of course, I suspect that just means he’ll find a way to be very, very persuasive.”
    Ten years convincing defendants to confess and juries to convict. She pictured Blackjack’s eyes, his lips, his fingers, and she shuddered. “Hell.”
    “Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?”
    It took Elise a moment to get the joke. “Ah, yes, the case. Well, I think I may get the other side to settle, thanks to that man . I called Bart and mentioned how popular I’m going to be with virtually every judge in the courthouse, so perhaps his client would like to settle. I seriously lowballed him and he didn’t even squeak.”
    “You think he’ll get his client to agree?”
    “Yup. There’s no upside in it for him, He’s such a snake he’ll dump his client rather than continue with a case that can’t be won.”
    “Nice. Go tell the