Convincing Alex Read Online Free PDF

reacquaint you with civil rights.”
    â€œYour sister?” Bess surmised, beaming at both of them.
    Alex sent her a considering frown. “How did you know that?”
    â€œI’m really good with faces. Same bone structure, same coloring, same mouth. You have to be brother and sister, or first cousins.”
    â€œGuilty,” Rachel admitted. Though she would have liked to know what Alex was doing with the sharp-eyed redhead, she wasn’t about to be swayed from her duties as a public defender. “Jesús Domingo, Alexi. Illegal search and seizure.”
    â€œBull.” Alex crossed his arms and leaned back against the desk.
    â€œYou had a search warrant?”
    â€œDidn’t need one. He invited us in.”
    â€œAnd invited you to poke through his belongings, I suppose.”
    â€œNope.” Alex grinned while Bess watched them bounce the verbal ball as though they were champion tennis players. “Jesús got sick. I offered to get him some water. He didn’t object. I opened the freezer to get the poor guy some ice, and there it was. Two kilos. It’ll all be in my report.”
    â€œThat’s lame, Alexi. You’ll never get a conviction.”
    â€œMaybe. Maybe not. Talk to the DA.”
    â€œI intend to.” Rachel shifted her briefcase and began to rub her belly in circular motions to soothe the baby, who seemed to be doing aerobics in her womb. “You had no probable cause.”
    â€œSit down.”
    â€œI don’t want to sit down.”
    â€œThe baby does.” He yanked over a chair and all but shoved her into it. “When are you going to knock this off?”
    It did feel better to sit. Indescribably better. But she wasn’t about to admit it. “The baby’s not due for two months. I have plenty of time. We were discussing…”
    â€œRach.” He laid a hand on her cheek, very gently. A shouted curse wouldn’t have stopped her, but the small gesture did. “Don’t make me worry about you.”
    â€œI’m perfectly fine.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t be here.”
    â€œI’m having a baby. It’s not contagious. Now, about Domingo.”
    Alex gave a brief, pithy opinion on what could be done with Domingo. “Talk to the DA,” he repeated. “Sitting down.”
    â€œShe looks pretty strong to me,” Bess commented. Two pair of eyes turned to her, one furious, the other thoughtful.
    â€œThank you. The men in my life are coddlers,” Rachel explained. “Sweet, but annoying.”
    â€œMuldoon should take better care of you,” Alex insisted.
    â€œI don’t need Zack to take care of me. And the fact is, between him and Nick, I’m barely allowed to brush my own teeth.” She held out a hand to Bess. “Since my brother is too rude to introduce me, I’m Rachel Muldoon.”
    â€œBess McNee. You’re a lawyer?”
    â€œThat’s right. I work for the public defender’s office.”
    â€œReally?” Bess’s thoughts began to perk. “What’s it like to—”
    Alex held up a hand. “Don’t get her started. She’ll pick your brain clean before you know she’s had her fingers in it. Look, McNee—” he turned to Bess, determined not to be charmed by her easy smile “—we’re a little busy here.”
    â€œOf course you are. I’m sorry.” Obligingly she swung her huge purse on to her shoulder. “We’ll talk tonight. Nice to meet you, Rachel.”
    â€œSame here.” Rachel ran her tongue over her teeth, and both she and Alex watched Bess weave her way out of the squad room. “Well, that was rude.”
    â€œIt’s the only way to handle her. Believe me.”
    â€œHmm… She seems like an interesting woman. How did you meet her?”
    â€œDon’t ask.” He sat back down on his desk, irked that the scent of sunshine and sex still lingered