When Lightning Strikes Twice Read Online Free PDF

well-fought victory?” His voice echoed in her head.
    Rachel felt the warmth of his big hand engulf hers, felt his thumb glide lightly over her palm. Her heart slammed against her ribs and she stood stock still, her gaze compulsively drawn to his. She had to tilt her neck to look into his eyes because at six-foot-four, he towered over her despiteher courtroom pumps with their chunky two-and-a-half-inch heels.
    Rachel gulped, then and now. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d looked up to any man, but there she was, looking up into Quinton Cormack’s intense brown eyes while he held her hand.
    He was so tall, so strong and he exuded a masculine virility that had a potent and totally uncharacteristic effect on her. She still squirmed when she remembered how completely immobilized she’d been as she’d gazed into his dark eyes. Like a mouse under a cobra’s stare.
    She’d also remained mute. A first for her. She’d never been unable to come up with just that right phrase necessary to level her opponent.
    “You won’t say it? You’re not going to say anything at all, are you? Well, then I won’t offer you better luck next time, Rachel,” Quint had said softly, releasing her hand.
    Hearing him say her name left her as breathless as a sucker punch. It wasn’t until later, when she’d replayed the scene in her mind for the fiftieth time that the note of mockery in his voice finally registered with her. “
Then I won’t offer you better luck next time, Rachel
.” He’d been needling her. Ridiculing her! And she had stood there passively and taken it!
    Rachel burned. No wonder he thought she was an insipid twit, she’d certainly acted like one that day in the courtroom. And she had given him no further opportunities to change his mind about her. Since the disastrous Pedersen verdict, she had taken great care to keep her distance from Quinton Cormack.
    If she saw him walking her way on the street, she assiduously turned in the other direction. If they accidentally turned up in the same place, like the courthouse or supermarket or a shop in town, she avoided eye contact and made a quick getaway. Her natural vigilance kept her safely away from the man she’d come to regard as her nemesis.
    He seemed bent on proving it, too. Quint Cormack hadn’t messengered this ridiculous faux will to Aunt Eve or Wade,he had marked it personal and sent it to her. Obviously, he saw her as the weak link in Saxon Associates. The acknowledgment stung, but Rachel forced herself to face it.
    “I didn’t personalize the Pedersen case,” Rachel insisted once more, but her words rang hollow, even to herself.
    “Okay, if you say so. But Cormack’s decided to personalize this case, Rach.” Wade pointed to the word
personal
on the manila envelope, his expression wry. “He’s just made his first move.”
    “Yes.” Was it possible to implode from pent-up anger? If so, Rachel feared she was dangerously near that point. She had to do something, to take action, to get out of here!
    “I’ll be back.” She stalked from her office, nearly knocking over Katie Sheely, who was entering it.
    “Kind of reminds you of Schwarzenegger in that
Terminator
flick.” Wade smiled at the younger girl. “Or maybe a disgruntled postal worker looking for revenge is even closer to the mark, huh?”
    “What’s up with her, anyway?” Katie asked, peering into the narrow carpeted corridor. Rachel had already disappeared from view.
    “I’m going to take a wild guess that she’s on her way over to the offices of Cormack and Son to lodge a protest—or maybe even wreak some havoc. A very unRachel-like action, but her response to Quinton Cormack is also very unRachel-like.”
    “She looked awful mad.” Katie nervously sucked in her cheeks. “What you said about postal workers…. Maybe I should call Dana over there and warn her?”
    Wade chuckled. “Maybe you should. Advise the staff to take cover. After all, Rachel’s broomstick makes great