Novels: The Law is a Lady by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

his mouth water, but he bent back to his task.
    "Okay, sit down and eat."
    He shot her a doubtful look. "Me?"
    "Yes, you." Carrying the other plate, she walked over to get the keys. "When you and Mr. Kincaid have finished, run the dishes back to the hotel." Without waiting for a response, she unlocked Phil's cell. But Phil watched the expression on Tod's face as he started at his breakfast.
    "Sheriff," Phil murmured, taking her hand, rather than the plate she held out to him, "you're a very classy lady." Lifting her hand, he kissed her lingers lightly.
    Unable to resist, she allowed her hand to rest in his a moment. "Phil," she said on a sigh, "don't be disarming; you'll complicate things."
    His brow lifted in surprise as he studied her. "You know," he said slowly, "I think it's already too late."
    Tory shook her head, denying it. "Eat your breakfast," she ordered briskly. "Merle will be coming by with your clothes soon."
    When she turned to leave, he held her hand another moment. "Tory," he said quietly, "you and I aren't finished yet."
    Carefully she took her hand from his. "You and I never started," she corrected, then closed the door of the cell with a resolute clang. As she headed back to the coffeepot she glanced at Tod. The boy was making his way through bacon and eggs without any trouble.
    "Aren't you eating?" Phil asked her as he settled down to his own breakfast.
    "I'll never understand how anyone can eat at this hour," Tory muttered, fortifying herself on coffee. "Tod, the sheriff's car could use a wash. Can you handle it?"
    "Sure thing, Sheriff." He was half out of the chair before Tory put a restraining hand on his shoulder.
    "Eat first," she told him. with a chuckle. "If you finish up the sweeping and the car, that should do it for today." She sat on the corner of the desk, enjoying his appetite. "Your parents know where you are?" she asked casually.
    "I finished my chores before I left," he mumbled with a full mouth.
    "Hmmm." She said nothing more, sipping instead at her coffee. When the door opened, she glanced over, expecting to see Merle. Instead she was struck dumb.
    "Lou!" Phil was up and holding on to the bars. "It's about time."
    "Well, Phil, you look very natural."
    Lou Sherman, Tory thought, sincerely awed. One of the top attorneys in the country. She'd followed his cases, studied his style, used his precedents. He looked just as commanding in person as in any newspaper or magazine picture she'd ever seen of him. He was a huge man, six foot four, with a stocky frame and a wild thatch of white hair. His voice had resonated in courtrooms for more than forty years. He was tenacious, flamboyant and feared. For the moment Tory could only stare at the figure striding into her office in a magnificent pearl-gray suit and baby-pink shirt.
    Phil called him an uncomplimentary name, which made him laugh loudly. "You'd better have some respect if you want me to get you out of there, son." His eyes slid to Phil's half-eaten breakfast. "Finish eating," he advised, "while I talk to the sheriff." Turning, he gazed solemnly from Tory to Tod. "One of you the sheriff?"
    Tory hadn't found her voice yet. Tod jerked his head at her. "She is," he stated with his mouth still full.
    Lou let his eyes drift down to her badge. ' 'Well, so she is," he said genially. "Best-looking law person I've seen... No offense," he added with a wide grin.
    Remembering herself, Tory rose and extended her hand. ''Victoria Ashton, Mr. Sherman. It's a pleasure to meet you."
    "My pleasure, Sheriff Ashton." he corrected with a great deal of charm. "Tell me, what's the kid done now?"
    "Lou—" Phil began, and got an absent wave of the hand from his attorney.
    "Finish your eggs," he ordered. "I gave up a perfectly good golf date to fly over here. Sheriff?'' he added with a questioning lift of brow.
    "Mr. Kincaid was stopped for speeding on Highway Seventeen," Tory began. "When he refused to sign the ticket, my deputy brought him in." After Lou's heavy