Simple Intent by Linda Sands Read Free Book Online

tulips: Reilly could make them all smile. He’d learned to keep them laughing to get what he wanted. It worked like a charm. As a job, it paid pretty well too, just not as well as Law. 
    “Don’t forget, Sailor, next Saturday at Dick’s, ten o’clock. I’m closing the show, so you’d better be there.” 
    Sailor checked her rearview mirror then zipped across two lanes. “I remember, Reilly. You only plastered twelve flyers on the bulletin board.”
    “I guess you missed the ones in the elevator and the men’s room.”
    “Men’s room?” 
    “Just a little reading material.”
    “Yeah, I definitely missed those.” She looked at him. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there.”
    “Good.” He crossed his arms, reclined his seat and slept the rest of the way.
    When Sailor dropped Reilly at the front of the building, she watched him walk away wondering the whole time what it was about this abrasive guy that somehow touched her. He was wrong for her. But he made her smile. 
    Sailor drove into the parking garage and began circling. She was about to give up and head straight for the roof when she found an empty corner on the partner’s floor and pulled her dinged-up Acura in tight next to a new Mercedes SL. 
    She slipped her briefcase over her shoulder and hurried to the elevator while rooting around inside her purse for a mint. When the elevator doors opened she stepped forward automatically and smacked heads with the guy coming out. 
    “Dammit!” 
    “Oh!” Sailor rubbed her head.
    The guy said, “Watch where you’re going!”
    They looked up at the same time. Sailor apologized. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. Are you okay?”
    He swept his eyes over her, then smoothed his hair. “Of course.” He grinned. “No problem.”
    Sailor entered the elevator and punched the floor button. The doors started to close and the guy stuck his briefcase in the gap. 
    “Sure you’re all right?’ he asked, leaning in.
    “I’m fine.” She waved him off. “Fine, really.”
    Still blocking the door, he asked, “So, are you going up?”
    “Yes, actually.”
    “Where to?”
    “Sixth floor. Second day on the job.”
    “Second day, huh? Well that explains it.”
    “Explains what?” she asked.
    “Why we haven’t met. All the new admin hires always go through me. Missy should have told you about the MDB&S custom.”
    “Custom?” Sailor asked.
    “Oh yes. See, each new secretary is invited to a candlelight dinner at my place on the water to celebrate her...position.”
    Now that Sailor’s vision had cleared, she knew exactly whom she had bumped into.
    “Allow me to introduce myself.” He drew himself up and extended his hand. “Edward John Deluca, at your service.”
    As he bowed before her, Sailor wondered why he hadn’t added ‘Esquire’ to his introduction. Fast Eddie. She smiled. “Mr. Deluca, I am neither a secretary nor a dinner partner, and as far as you are concerned my position, is unavailable. Have a good day.”
    Toeing his briefcase out of the elevator’s path, Sailor watched the doors close on a very stunned King of Repartee. Philly’s homeboy: the most feared prosecutor-turned-defense-attorney, Fast Eddie Deluca.

CHAPTER 5
Berger, Bentley, Banning and Berger

    HIRAM BERGER was off duty, tooling through the familiar neighborhood. In a few days he’d be off duty for good, and after twenty years on the force, he still wasn’t sure how he felt about that. The shrink said he’d get used to the down time, but that a hobby might be good, too. Berger had had to laugh. Only hobby he ever had was drinking, and look what that got him—an ex-wife, questionable business partners and a one-way ticket to Hell.

    He made a sharp left turn, which sent a leaky fast food bag sliding across the vinyl back seat. It teetered at the edge then fell to the floor, adding sausage and pancakes to the aromatic pile of debris. The radio blared; he tried to keep up with the song, inserting his own lyrics