Her Reason to Stay by Anna Adams Page B

being excited that way when certain cases came to trial.
    “I breed roses.” Miriam leaned down to cradle a rose’s fleshy petals. “Of course, everyone wants to create a new rose. I’m a cliché.” She spun toward the shop. “Come back inside. We’ll go through today’s orders.”
    Daphne followed her, distracted by the courthouse spire that towered crookedly in the glass-paned roof. “I’ve never seen a greenhouse attached to a florist’s before.”
    “Did you notice the shopping area behind us?” Miriam didn’t wait for an answer. “It’s pedestrian only, which put my parking spots out of reach. Instead of leaving the area empty, I built the greenhouse and we have to depend on the parking out front.”
    “Does it hurt business?” Daphne asked.
    “You mean will I be able to afford you? If you’re agreeable to the salary I can offer, we’ll do fine.” She stroked the petals of an orchid that seemed to preen beneath her fingers. “I know the ad said I wanted delivery only, but that was when I thought I’d be settling for a kid. If you want to work in the shop, too, I might add something to your paycheck. You may not be using any of your training, but you’ve obviously got what it takes to stick with something.”
    “Thanks.”
    Again, Miriam grinned as they made their way back to the shop. From behind the counter, Miriam drew out an apron of poppies and blue crocuses printed on a white cotton background. She offered it to Daphne. “You want to stay the rest of today?”
    Daphne hesitated. She owed Raina that call. “Okay.” After all, she also had to pay rent for her scary hotel-room-by-the-month.

CHAPTER FIVE
    “C OURT IS ADJOURNED . I’ll see both attorneys in my chambers tomorrow morning at eight. The jury reports on Monday morning at nine. I know tomorrow is Saturday,” Judge Masters went on, “but I’d like a brief word with both counselors.”
    “What’s that about?” Alexis Long was Patrick’s second chair. She watched the judge depart.
    Patrick was already stuffing papers and a legal pad into his briefcase. He lowered his voice, mindful of their client, who was talking with his daughter. “Probably wants to suggest we persuade our client to not contest the charge of attacking his wife, then Masters will massage the prosecutor into suggesting a fair sentence.”
    Alexis touched his sleeve. “Go get Will.” She gestured to the rest of the books and notepads. “Take what you need in case you’re right about what he wants, and I’ll get everything else back to the office.”
    Her offer tempted him, but he always left first. “You work as hard as I do, and I take advantage of you every time court runs late.”
    “I’m going home to a cat.” She picked up one of the notepads. “And even he won’t miss me until his dinner’s late. Will needs you.” Alexis was kind considering the dark circles under her eyes.
    How much did she know? How much did everyone know, despite his best efforts to keep Will safe from gossip? “You’re tired, too,” he said.
    “I’m not a kid who needs his dad’s attention.”
    “You sure?” he asked.
    “Positive.” She nudged him with her elbow and he needed no further invitation to dump everything and run. “Don’t worry. This case will end soon either way.”
    She glanced at their client, Hal Baker. Patrick and Alexis were using every weapon in their legal arsenal to defend the man, but Patrick had come to doubt Hal’s innocence.
    He gave Hal a level look. Even in repose, listening to his daughter, the only person who still had any faith in him, the man’s ruddy face revealed his anger.
    Patrick hated to lose a case, but this time it might be for the best. He’d tried to talk Hal into therapy, but the man refused, even when Alexis and Patrick argued it might keep him out of jail.
    Alexis reached around Patrick for a book. “Forget about Hal for tonight. I’ll talk to him about trying to look a little less—enraged.” She pressed