Chapter 2.
"Gonzales was an inspired more," Terry Loomis said as they walked together down the hall after her successful hearing.
"Thanks, Terry," Kathleen said. All she could think of was Ripley – and how she was going to thank him.
"How's it going with the judge?" Loomis asked with undisguised contempt.
"Fine," Kathleen said.
"Yeah?" Loomis said. "I can't figure what you'd see in him."
"I'd rather not discuss this," Kathleen said.
"Is he always as uptight as…"
"Drop it, Terry," Kathleen said with more venom than she had intended.
He stopped and stared at her for a moment. "It's serious?" he said. "You and Ripley? Come on, Kathleen…"
"Good-bye, Terry," she said walking away.
* * * * * * * * *
Kathleen sought out Ripley in his chambers, knocking once and then walking in. "You're taking liberties, counselor," he said, looking up from the papers on his desk as she shut the door. "We wouldn't want to break with protocol."
"Really?" Kathleen asked. "That's too bad."
Ripley stood and walked over to her. "Maybe I can be convinced otherwise," he said. He drew her into his arms and kissed her firmly.
"So you can be compromised?" Kathleen whispered.
"I can be…persuaded," Ripley said.
"Thank you for Gonzales…and the rest of last night," she said. His eyes held hers, and he was silent a beat too long. "Is something wrong?"
"I don't know," he said, bringing his fingers to her face, touching it lightly.
"What does that mean?"
"I don't want to mess this up," Ripley said. He kissed her cheek.
Kathleen withdrew a bit. "Has something happened?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "I've…no, there's no time for this now." He stepped away from her. "We can talk later."
"We can talk now, Jack," Kathleen said. "Spill it."
He smiled. "I don't think that's a good idea," he said.
"I'm serious," she said. "What is it you want to say?"
He moved closer again, taking her hand gently in his. "This isn't the place, Kathleen," he said. His beautiful eyes were soft and warm. Butterflies were fluttering in her stomach like they hadn't in years.
"Say it," she said. "Tell me."
His lips had just parted when there was a knock on the door. "The jury is ready, your honor," the bailiff said.
"Thank you," Ripley said. "I have to go," he told Kathleen. "We'll…"
"I love you, Jack," she said.
"Damn it, Maguire," he growled, and he pulled her to him and kissed her, pressing her to him. They embraced tightly for a long moment. "I love you," he said. He pulled away slowly. "Come by tonight, here…or my place…"
"I can't. Patrick will be…"
More knocking: "Your honor…"
"I'll be right there," Ripley called out. "Come here before you leave," he said, moving toward the door.
Kathleen smiled. "OK," she said, and Ripley smiled too.
* * * * * * * * *
By the time the day was ending Kathleen was exhausted. She declined Will's invitation to the bar…and was treated to an exaggerated wink from her partner. At least he had the brains to keep his opinion of Ripley and her love life to himself.
She returned to Ripley's chambers wearing her coat and carrying her briefcase; she needed to get home as soon as she could – Patrick would be waiting. Part of her wanted to bring Ripley home tonight – the part of her that wasn't the part that wanted to spend the night in his silk sheets.
"Come in." She opened the door and found Ripley waiting on the other side. He pushed the door closed and then pushed her up against it, pressing his lips and body to hers. This can't happen here, her brain told her, but it was the only part of her body offering resistance. Her lips and tongue were busy receiving his, and her hands were low on his backside trying to bring him even closer. The heat was so intense that for a moment she seriously believed they would wind up on the floor…but then Ripley peeled himself off her. "Can you…"
"I have a son, Jack," she gasped when she could finally breathe. "He needs to have me there."
Ripley's eyes flashed with passion. "I need you," he said.
Kathleen's heart was pounding hard, and her lungs were struggling to work. "Jesus, Jack," she said.
"We need to find a way to be together," he said.
"Yes…"
"Let's work on it," Ripley said. He brought himself back to her where she still stood against the door, his hot lips to her neck, and her hands were on his back. She thought of Terry – uptight? – and of Dan…even in the beginning with Dan it had never been like this.
"Jack…"
"I know," he whispered. He drew her into his arms. "I want you," he said in a way that made her blood boil. "But I'll wait." He stepped back. "I want to spend every night with you, Kathleen," he said. "But I know it will take a while to get there…if that's even what you want." His eyes seemed to search hers.
"Yes," was all she could say. Ripley smiled and moved away, releasing her from his hot magnetism. "Terry said he couldn't figure what I see in you."
"I'm a little different in chambers with him," Ripley said.
Kathleen laughed out loud. "God, I hope so," she said. "Not that there's anything wrong with that."
Ripley smiled. "I'm not going to switch teams," he said.
"I wouldn't think so," Kathleen said.
Ripley sat in his chair. "What you said before…did you mean that?" he asked.
"Did you?" Kathleen asked.
Ripley leaned back in his chair. "Yes," he said.
"Can you expand on that?" Kathleen asked walking over to his desk.
"I can do a lot of things, Kathleen," he said, "but you have to go."
"Not before that," she said, sitting on his desk. "Let's hear it, Jack."
He smiled. "I love you, Kathleen Maguire," he said.
She smiled too. "I love you, Augustus Merriwether Ripley," she said. He stood up and walked over to her, parting her legs and drawing her to him. "Jack, we can't…" He covered his mouth with hers, his lips hot and firm. She tangled her fingers in his hair and pressed him close. His passion made her crazy, willing to throw all caution and responsibility to the wind. But instead of pressing further he broke the kiss and stepped back, breathing heavy, clearly burning with need.
"If you're going to go, go," he said.
"I don't want to," she said. "If…"
"I know," he said. He went back to the chair. "I'll see you tomorrow for dinner."
Kathleen stood. "I'll call you tonight, after Patrick is in bed," she said.
Ripley smiled. "OK," he said.
Kathleen walked toward the door and stopped a few feet away and turned back toward him. "Damn, Jack," she said
His smile widened. "Like the fires of hell," he said.
"I'll talk to you soon," she said, turning back to the door.
"Goodnight, Kathleen," Ripley replied.
* * * * * * * * * *
"What's up , Mom?" Patrick said, as they sat eating dinner.
"What do you mean?" Kathleen asked.
"You seem distracted," he said. "Is there a problem with a case?"
"No…actually I was thinking about, uh…"
"Your boyfriend?" Patrick said.
Kathleen felt embarrassment wash through her. "He…I invited him to dinner tomorrow," she said. "I want you to meet him."
"So, it's serious," Patrick said.
"Yes," Kathleen said. "I…like him a lot."
"Do you love him?"
"I think so."
"Do you think you'll marry him?"
"I don't know," Kathleen said. "I want to know what you think of him."
"Does Dad know?" Patrick asked.
"He knows Judge Ripley and I…are involved," Kathleen said.
"Does Dad like the judge?"
Kathleen sighed. "I don't know," she said. "But you have to understand that isn't a priority for me anymore."
"I know, Mom," Patrick said.
"I think you're going to like Judge Ripley," Kathleen said. "But I want you to be honest with me. After he leaves I want us to have an honest talk. If there's something you don't like about him…if you don't feel comfortable with him…I want you to tell me, OK?"
"OK, Mom," Patrick said.
* * * * * * * * * *
Kathleen took the phone under the covers with her. She thought about Ripley alone in his big place pacing the floor, waiting. Was he waiting? God, if she could only go to him, touch him, kiss him, love him…
"Ripley."
"Maguire."
"How's Patrick?" he asked.
"Good…I told him you're coming tomorrow," she said.
"And?"
"He's interested in meeting you."
Silence. "And?"
"What he thinks and feels is important to me," she said.
Silence. "OK."
"Just be yourself, Jack," she said. "He'll like you." More silence; no response. "Jack?"
"I'm here," he said.
"I wish I was there," she said.
"I'm worried about this, Kathleen," he said.
"I don't think you should be," she said. "Even if there's a problem…which I don't think there will be…that won't be the end of it."
"Not immediately maybe," Ripley said. He sighed. "I don't want to lose you, Kathleen…not so damn soon."
Kathleen wrapped the blankets around her. "You won't lose me," she said.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you," she replied. "You don't have to do this, Jack. If you don't want to come here tomorrow…"
"I want to," he said softly. "I want…to be part of your life."
"You are," she said.
"Superficially," Ripley said.
"It doesn't feel superficial," Kathleen said. "It feels…deep."
After a brief, sharp silence Ripley said, "I know."
Kathleen imagined him between those silk sheets, so close that she could touch him. "I need you, Jack," she said. "I need you so much."
"You have me, Kathleen," he said. "I won't go anywhere."
"You better be here tomorrow," she said.
Ripley laughed softly. "OK, I'll go there," he said. "Is there any way for us to spend a little time alone?"
"If you're good," she teased.
"I will be," he said seriously.
"I know."
"Damn it, Maguire."
She smiled. "I love you too, Jack."
"Gonzales was an inspired more," Terry Loomis said as they walked together down the hall after her successful hearing.
"Thanks, Terry," Kathleen said. All she could think of was Ripley – and how she was going to thank him.
"How's it going with the judge?" Loomis asked with undisguised contempt.
"Fine," Kathleen said.
"Yeah?" Loomis said. "I can't figure what you'd see in him."
"I'd rather not discuss this," Kathleen said.
"Is he always as uptight as…"
"Drop it, Terry," Kathleen said with more venom than she had intended.
He stopped and stared at her for a moment. "It's serious?" he said. "You and Ripley? Come on, Kathleen…"
"Good-bye, Terry," she said walking away.
* * * * * * * * *
Kathleen sought out Ripley in his chambers, knocking once and then walking in. "You're taking liberties, counselor," he said, looking up from the papers on his desk as she shut the door. "We wouldn't want to break with protocol."
"Really?" Kathleen asked. "That's too bad."
Ripley stood and walked over to her. "Maybe I can be convinced otherwise," he said. He drew her into his arms and kissed her firmly.
"So you can be compromised?" Kathleen whispered.
"I can be…persuaded," Ripley said.
"Thank you for Gonzales…and the rest of last night," she said. His eyes held hers, and he was silent a beat too long. "Is something wrong?"
"I don't know," he said, bringing his fingers to her face, touching it lightly.
"What does that mean?"
"I don't want to mess this up," Ripley said. He kissed her cheek.
Kathleen withdrew a bit. "Has something happened?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "I've…no, there's no time for this now." He stepped away from her. "We can talk later."
"We can talk now, Jack," Kathleen said. "Spill it."
He smiled. "I don't think that's a good idea," he said.
"I'm serious," she said. "What is it you want to say?"
He moved closer again, taking her hand gently in his. "This isn't the place, Kathleen," he said. His beautiful eyes were soft and warm. Butterflies were fluttering in her stomach like they hadn't in years.
"Say it," she said. "Tell me."
His lips had just parted when there was a knock on the door. "The jury is ready, your honor," the bailiff said.
"Thank you," Ripley said. "I have to go," he told Kathleen. "We'll…"
"I love you, Jack," she said.
"Damn it, Maguire," he growled, and he pulled her to him and kissed her, pressing her to him. They embraced tightly for a long moment. "I love you," he said. He pulled away slowly. "Come by tonight, here…or my place…"
"I can't. Patrick will be…"
More knocking: "Your honor…"
"I'll be right there," Ripley called out. "Come here before you leave," he said, moving toward the door.
Kathleen smiled. "OK," she said, and Ripley smiled too.
* * * * * * * * *
By the time the day was ending Kathleen was exhausted. She declined Will's invitation to the bar…and was treated to an exaggerated wink from her partner. At least he had the brains to keep his opinion of Ripley and her love life to himself.
She returned to Ripley's chambers wearing her coat and carrying her briefcase; she needed to get home as soon as she could – Patrick would be waiting. Part of her wanted to bring Ripley home tonight – the part of her that wasn't the part that wanted to spend the night in his silk sheets.
"Come in." She opened the door and found Ripley waiting on the other side. He pushed the door closed and then pushed her up against it, pressing his lips and body to hers. This can't happen here, her brain told her, but it was the only part of her body offering resistance. Her lips and tongue were busy receiving his, and her hands were low on his backside trying to bring him even closer. The heat was so intense that for a moment she seriously believed they would wind up on the floor…but then Ripley peeled himself off her. "Can you…"
"I have a son, Jack," she gasped when she could finally breathe. "He needs to have me there."
Ripley's eyes flashed with passion. "I need you," he said.
Kathleen's heart was pounding hard, and her lungs were struggling to work. "Jesus, Jack," she said.
"We need to find a way to be together," he said.
"Yes…"
"Let's work on it," Ripley said. He brought himself back to her where she still stood against the door, his hot lips to her neck, and her hands were on his back. She thought of Terry – uptight? – and of Dan…even in the beginning with Dan it had never been like this.
"Jack…"
"I know," he whispered. He drew her into his arms. "I want you," he said in a way that made her blood boil. "But I'll wait." He stepped back. "I want to spend every night with you, Kathleen," he said. "But I know it will take a while to get there…if that's even what you want." His eyes seemed to search hers.
"Yes," was all she could say. Ripley smiled and moved away, releasing her from his hot magnetism. "Terry said he couldn't figure what I see in you."
"I'm a little different in chambers with him," Ripley said.
Kathleen laughed out loud. "God, I hope so," she said. "Not that there's anything wrong with that."
Ripley smiled. "I'm not going to switch teams," he said.
"I wouldn't think so," Kathleen said.
Ripley sat in his chair. "What you said before…did you mean that?" he asked.
"Did you?" Kathleen asked.
Ripley leaned back in his chair. "Yes," he said.
"Can you expand on that?" Kathleen asked walking over to his desk.
"I can do a lot of things, Kathleen," he said, "but you have to go."
"Not before that," she said, sitting on his desk. "Let's hear it, Jack."
He smiled. "I love you, Kathleen Maguire," he said.
She smiled too. "I love you, Augustus Merriwether Ripley," she said. He stood up and walked over to her, parting her legs and drawing her to him. "Jack, we can't…" He covered his mouth with hers, his lips hot and firm. She tangled her fingers in his hair and pressed him close. His passion made her crazy, willing to throw all caution and responsibility to the wind. But instead of pressing further he broke the kiss and stepped back, breathing heavy, clearly burning with need.
"If you're going to go, go," he said.
"I don't want to," she said. "If…"
"I know," he said. He went back to the chair. "I'll see you tomorrow for dinner."
Kathleen stood. "I'll call you tonight, after Patrick is in bed," she said.
Ripley smiled. "OK," he said.
Kathleen walked toward the door and stopped a few feet away and turned back toward him. "Damn, Jack," she said
His smile widened. "Like the fires of hell," he said.
"I'll talk to you soon," she said, turning back to the door.
"Goodnight, Kathleen," Ripley replied.
* * * * * * * * * *
"What's up , Mom?" Patrick said, as they sat eating dinner.
"What do you mean?" Kathleen asked.
"You seem distracted," he said. "Is there a problem with a case?"
"No…actually I was thinking about, uh…"
"Your boyfriend?" Patrick said.
Kathleen felt embarrassment wash through her. "He…I invited him to dinner tomorrow," she said. "I want you to meet him."
"So, it's serious," Patrick said.
"Yes," Kathleen said. "I…like him a lot."
"Do you love him?"
"I think so."
"Do you think you'll marry him?"
"I don't know," Kathleen said. "I want to know what you think of him."
"Does Dad know?" Patrick asked.
"He knows Judge Ripley and I…are involved," Kathleen said.
"Does Dad like the judge?"
Kathleen sighed. "I don't know," she said. "But you have to understand that isn't a priority for me anymore."
"I know, Mom," Patrick said.
"I think you're going to like Judge Ripley," Kathleen said. "But I want you to be honest with me. After he leaves I want us to have an honest talk. If there's something you don't like about him…if you don't feel comfortable with him…I want you to tell me, OK?"
"OK, Mom," Patrick said.
* * * * * * * * * *
Kathleen took the phone under the covers with her. She thought about Ripley alone in his big place pacing the floor, waiting. Was he waiting? God, if she could only go to him, touch him, kiss him, love him…
"Ripley."
"Maguire."
"How's Patrick?" he asked.
"Good…I told him you're coming tomorrow," she said.
"And?"
"He's interested in meeting you."
Silence. "And?"
"What he thinks and feels is important to me," she said.
Silence. "OK."
"Just be yourself, Jack," she said. "He'll like you." More silence; no response. "Jack?"
"I'm here," he said.
"I wish I was there," she said.
"I'm worried about this, Kathleen," he said.
"I don't think you should be," she said. "Even if there's a problem…which I don't think there will be…that won't be the end of it."
"Not immediately maybe," Ripley said. He sighed. "I don't want to lose you, Kathleen…not so damn soon."
Kathleen wrapped the blankets around her. "You won't lose me," she said.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you," she replied. "You don't have to do this, Jack. If you don't want to come here tomorrow…"
"I want to," he said softly. "I want…to be part of your life."
"You are," she said.
"Superficially," Ripley said.
"It doesn't feel superficial," Kathleen said. "It feels…deep."
After a brief, sharp silence Ripley said, "I know."
Kathleen imagined him between those silk sheets, so close that she could touch him. "I need you, Jack," she said. "I need you so much."
"You have me, Kathleen," he said. "I won't go anywhere."
"You better be here tomorrow," she said.
Ripley laughed softly. "OK, I'll go there," he said. "Is there any way for us to spend a little time alone?"
"If you're good," she teased.
"I will be," he said seriously.
"I know."
"Damn it, Maguire."
She smiled. "I love you too, Jack."