Objection Overruled by J.K. O'Hanlon Read Free Book Online Page A

senses. Jackie turned around to face Gary Stone. She pressed herself against the conference room table to maintain space between them. Not only was he using the cologne she’d bought him, he was also wearing the yellow-paisley tie she’d given him. Didn’t his wife buy him any clothes? Surely Brandon wouldn’t jerk her around like this.
    “Didn’t you get my message about the deposition being pushed back an hour and that I’d be defending it, not Kevin?” He moved a half step closer, pressing her farther into the table. His smile was alluring yet mischievous, as if he were holding back some secret.
    “No. Must have missed that somehow.” Jackie resisted the urge to question him why he, and not his associate, was handling this deposition. She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing she was agitated at this sudden change in plans.
    “The witness is delayed,” Stone said with a slight shrug of one shoulder.
    “He’s driving from DC to Baltimore for an eight a.m. deposition. The beltway is completely wide open. I saw the traffic report. Did his horse throw a shoe?” She couldn’t restrain the snide tone.
    “Are you calling me a liar?” Stone’s body tensed as he leaned in. The vein at his temple pulsed.
    He wasn’t a violent man, but Jackie had never seen him wound so tight. No point in pushing. He probably wanted that anyway.
    “I’ll help myself to a cup of coffee. I hope you haven’t moved the kitchen. It’s so memorable.” Jackie slid out from between Stone and the table to ease toward the door.
    Undoubtedly he was also recalling their first tryst in the kitchen years ago. He turned his body to let her pass but hadn’t moved completely out of the way, forcing her to sidle between him and the door frame.
    As she brushed up against him, she flinched, expecting an unwanted reaction. Where fireworks had once danced, a lifeless morass now lay.
    Thank God the sparks has vanished. And the pain of their breakup had faded. Finally.
    Jackie permitted herself a long look into Stone’s eyes. Beneath the slick veneer of tailored suits and expensive accessories, he was thinner than she remembered. His eyes had dulled, sunken with circles underneath them. Gray streaks invaded his jet-black hair. He seemed less of a man than he was a year ago. Her throat tightened in pity.
    “Gary.” She reached to touch his arm.
    “I’ll see you in an hour.” Stone jerked away and stalked down the hall.
    Jackie helped herself to a cup of coffee in the kitchen where she ran into Gary’s associate, Kevin.
    “Hey, Kev, I thought you’d be defending the depo this morning. What’s up?”
    Kevin winced while sucking in a long breath. “Sorry about that, Jackie. Gary showed up this morning and said he’d be handling it. I didn’t have time to call you and warn you. And the guy’s running late too. Gary said he’d call you and let you know. Uhm, obviously that didn’t happen, did it?”
    “Obviously not. No big deal.”
    “I’ve got our exhibit list drafted, which you’ll need to see before trial. Want to come down to my office and take a look? I’ve got some new pictures of Marie and the kids too.” Kevin’s eyes widened and he bounced on the balls of his feet like a puppy eager to show off his new toy.
    Although nothing on the exhibit list was surprising or controversial, it took them almost an hour to finalize the list. Jackie checked her watch. 8:55. Just long enough to hit the bathroom and refill her coffee cup.
    Jackie followed the hall through a back door to the ladies’ room, where she reapplied her lipstick. She psyched herself up by straightening her blouse and skirt and pulling her jacket down to show off her athletic build. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach like they did before every deposition or court appearance, despite her years of experience.
    Would she ever believe in herself enough for the butterflies to go away? Thank God no one could see. At least she’d perfected the art of looking