Love on Trial Read Free

more than she’d ever had with Hawke Grayson.

Two
    S iri fumed around the house like a steaming clam, and every time she saw that arrogant dark head, she fumed even more. The trouble with Hawke, she told herself, was that he was too used to feminine adulation. He was accustomed to getting his own way about everything. But, even so…why did she always yield?
    â€œHe makes me feel like a spoiled brat,” she grumbled, as she headed forthe shower. “That’s why I don’t like him!”
    Not that she was spoiled. Jared had seen to that. When her mother died, just before Siri’s sixth birthday, he’d made sure she had enough love to make up for both parents. But he hadn’t indulged her to any great extent. His law practice took up a great deal of his time, and Siri had to settle for odd moments of togetherness. Jared didn’t spoil her; he forced her to fight her battles on all fronts. Even now, he only interfered when things got blazing hot between Hawke and his daughter. Which was another curious thing, Siri thought as she undressed and stepped under the spray of warm water.
    She wasn’t naturally antagonistic toward anyone, except her father’s famous partner. It had been that way from the beginning, as if she’d sensed in Hawke an adversary the first time she saw him. There had been the occasional pleasant time, as Marty had hinted earlier. Buteven those fleeting moments of affinity had been laced with tension, because she could never relax completely with Hawke. No matter how congenial he was on the surface, she always felt the tingle of deep fires burning just under his impassive exterior.
    She stepped out of the shower refreshed, and was on her way to change when the phone caught her.
    â€œCounty morgue,” she droned into the receiver, expecting to hear Marty’s voice on the other end.
    There was a brief pause, followed by an irritated masculine sigh. “Must you answer the phone that way, Cyrene? What if it had been mother, or your editor?”
    She raised her eyes heavenward. “Mark,” she explained patiently, “I’m a reporter, remember? This is the way I am.”
    â€œSo you keep telling me. Never mind.We’re having dinner at the Magnolia Inn. I’ll pick you up at six.”
    â€œI know,” she reminded him. “You told me yesterday.”
    â€œYes,” he said in a long-suffering tone. “But you tend to forget dates you make with me as you move from fire to murder.”
    â€œIt was only once,” she defended herself. “And you know it was one of the very biggest fires in the city.”
    â€œAnd that’s another thing,” he grumbled, “always hanging around with men; firemen, policemen, civil defense…”
    â€œIt’s my job, Mark,” she reminded him.
    â€œBut, Siri, the way it looks…”
    Her temper boiled over. “That’s it,” she said tightly, “if you can’t bring yourself to accept me the way I am, you can jolly well go chase yourself!” With that, she slammed the receiver down.
    She didn’t get two steps before thephone rang again. She jerked it up. “Yes?” she asked impatiently.
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said. “It’s been a long day, and I’m in a rotten mood. Come out with me and cheer me up.”
    Out of habit, or weariness, she gave in. After all, she wasn’t any more perfect than he was.
    Â 
    They went to a popular restaurant on the outskirts of the city, and business was booming.
    Without bothering to ask if the cigarette smoke would bother her, Mark led her straight to the smoking section of the plush, carpeted restaurant and seated her. She barely had time to scan the extensive and appetizing menu before the waitress was asking for her order. She ordered a steak, wild rice and a tossed salad bypassing the delicious but horribly fattening strawberry shortcake with its foot-high topping of