Fathers and Sons (Harlequin Super Romance) Read Free Page A

to the services of the firm. And that’s what you’ll get.”
    “When? Tomorrow? The next day? When somebody else can manage to get down here?” He reached out a large brown hand. She shrank away—the thought of any molecule from his body touching any molecule of hers appalled her.
    “We can’t wait that long. Jason can’t spend another night in this place. He’s innocent, for God’s sake. Forget he’s my son and think of him as a terrified nineteen-year-old kid stuck in a situation he doesn’t understand.”
    “What do you want me to do about it? Break him out?”
    “Can’t you get him out on bail?”
    “This afternoon?” She glanced at Arnold. “Is there a judge in this place we can see this afternoon?”
    “Bail hearing tentatively set for four,” Arnold told her. “I still have to confirm, but I think we can manage it.”
    Kate sighed. “One of these days you’re going to go too far, Arnold, dear.”
    “Hey. It’s my job to smooth your path, right?”
    “You’ve sandbagged me is what you’ve done.”
    “So you’ll handle the bail hearing?” David asked. Kate heard the hope in his voice. “And then come on out to the house later and meet Dub?”
    “Dub?”
    “His real name is Douglas Mays. He’s my father-in-law and the biggest planter in this part of the state. Hear us out. Hear Jason out. Then make up your mind whether to take the case or not.” He ran his hand down his face, and when he removed it, the steel was gone. “Maybe you’re right that this is a bad idea, but please, Kate, do this one thing for me.”
    “For you? I thought it was for your son.” She turned away. “It is always and forever about you , isn’t it? Come on, Arnold, let’s go talk to our client.”
     
    “THIS IS CRAZY.”
    Jason sat slumped on his side of the table in his orange prison jumpsuit. His fingers played five-finger piano exercises on the table in front of him. He walked them thumb to little finger and back again. He watched them as though if he concentrated long and hard enough, he’d be able to hear Mozart. Or, more likely in his case, some new hardrock group with a creepy name.
    Arnold pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and shoved it across the table. Jason looked up at him with a sneer. “Don’t smoke.”
    “Neither do I,” Arnold said, retrieved the packet and stuck it back in his briefcase. “I keep them for nervous client.”
    Jason glanced up at the guard. “I don’t smoke cigarettes or anything stronger. No dope. You hear me, Otis?” The guard, who leaned against the wall looking half-asleep, didn’t acknowledge the remark.
    “I think it’s time we had a little privacy, isn’t it, Otis?” Kate asked sweetly. “And I assume there’s no one behind that.” She gestured to a broad two-way mirror along one wall. “That would be terribly naughty. Lawyers speak to their clients in total privacy. Rather like the confessional.” She smiled again. “Oh, and unlock his ankles and wrists on your way out, please.”
    “Can’t do it.”
    “Of course you can, Otis. As a matter of fact, I insist on it. And so, incidentally, does the Constitution of the United States, if you’d care to check. We’ll be happy to wait.”
    Grumbling, Otis unlocked the chains and pulled them away from Jason’s body. “I’ll be right outside.”
    “Thank you so much. We’ll call you when we’re finished.”
    Jason’s head stayed bent. His fingers hesitated only momentarily and then went back to their Czerny exercises, but Kate caught the edge of a grin on his face and winked at Arnold.
    “So, what happened?” Kate asked.
    “Huh?” This time Jason looked at her directly.
    Kate caught her breath. Michelangelo would have fainted dead away with lust at the sight of the boy. He was, if anything, more beautiful than David had been at that age. No, David had been ruggedly handsome. Jason looked like David, but with a fine-boned elegance that was only heightened by the tension in his