The Laws of Seduction: A French Kiss Novel Read Free Page A

learning what you’re up against becomes second nature.” Just as when you’re working with women, you learn their vanity comes first. “Just as I’m sure you’ve come to know every labor law on the books to be as good as you are.”
    She tilted her head slightly, a subtle nod to his praise. “I suppose. But what does that have to do with you being in Philadelphia? You’d think you’d be haunting Elizabeth.”
    “Not when one of the committee members is in town for a fund-raiser.”
    “You mean Congresswoman Lilith Millwater?”
    “Well, this is her district.”
    She eyed him over. “Hence the tux. So you were here for a bit of a schmooze.”
    “Only because nothing gets done in Washington anymore,” he said, shaking his head. “Used to be ninety percent of business was accomplished during cocktail hour. Now the righteous lot of you are afraid to be seen with a drink in your hand. You seemed to have forgotten the immense value of a tumbler of scotch. Why is that?” He looked at her, truly curious. “Why is it that Americans have created every type of pleasure for themselves but are vilified if they indulge?”
    “Perhaps because some forget there’s a time and place for everything.”
    “Perhaps they should realize it doesn’t have to hurt or taste bad to be good for you.”
    “Is that what happened, Monsieur Renaud?” she asked. “Were you looking for lightning in your glass of champagne?” She crossed her arms in front of her, throwing up the gate. “Perhaps you were showing someone the value of pleasure only to have it explode in your face? Is that what happened when you took that lobbyist in the next room and tried to rip her clothes from her?”
    He clenched his fists. “Bravo. You’ve well-proved you can read a police report.”
    “And a good thing I did as you’re telling me nothing.” She huffed, tossing her hand in futility. “You know, out of everything you’ve said so far the one item you’ve omitted is that you’re innocent.” She eyed him speculatively. “Are you?”
    He rose, coming around the desk, remaining at a respectful enough distance so he could read her reaction. “They say a good defense attorney doesn’t need to know that. That all they need are facts and evidence.”
    “But I’m not a defense attorney, am I?”
    Now she was just irritating him. “Don’t be flip with me, Charlotte.”
    “And don’t play me for an idiot. The one thing I need more than facts and evidence is to absolutely believe in what I’m doing, and I can’t defend you if you lie to me. So I’m only going to ask you this once, and I expect absolute truthfulness.” She met his gaze squarely. “Are you guilty of what they’re accusing you of? Did you sexually assault that woman?”
    A knock came at the door. “Ten minutes,” they heard the guard say.
    He looked down on her. “Well, let me tell you . . .”

 
    Chapter Two
    By Any Other Name
    Earlier at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel
    Philadelphia
    R EX NEEDED A drink like a car crash needed an ambulance.
    The day had not started well in Marseille, not with the dockworkers threatening to strike again, and rumors of the board entertaining the idea of going public. Prospects weren’t looking much better on this side of the Atlantic either. Credit that to U.S. Representative Lilith Millwater, staring daggers at him from across the ballroom. What a couple, she and her horndog of a husband, the Honorable Stanley Millwater, a circuit court judge. They’d make a fine pair of blackmailers if they ever decided to leave politics, but then why give up when they’d honed their skill to a polish? For now the judge was busy keeping his mojo in form with a pair of female law clerks he was energetically chatting up. Rex caught Lilith’s glare and held it for a moment before he aimed toward the bar, knowing she’d soon follow.
    He ordered scotch, narrowing it to Glenfiddich when asked for a preference. He told himself even before he left France that