A WOMAN APART: Chapter 2 - HAVE DINNER WITH ME

by tarskeewee08

Nora sighed and looked at John for help "Will you explain to him why Judge Ellsworth will not grant a warrant for a public domain to be wired tapped. He's not going to do it point blank. I don't want to alienate the man because we need him on our side"

John shook his head "Nora, we've been on these guys even before the Santi case, we know they're responsible for the large influx of cocaine entering Llanview, we need more evidence. We need this warrant"

Antonio glared at her "I've been busting my butt trying to build a case against these guys. You are going to have to give me something. There is nothing to tie them to this drug ring."

"Maybe that's because they aren't connected to it" Evangeline said walking into their meeting unannounced.

Nora and Antonio looked up shocked. John just smiled
"Van, did we have an appointment?" Nora asked frowning at her sudden appearance.
"Actually we had a lunch date and you stood me up"
Antonio sighed and leaned back in his chair "Counselor this meeting is private"
"Not if concerns my clients" she said walking in and heading straight to Nora with a folded envelope.

"Your clients?" Nora said opening the envelope confused.
Evangeline felt John's eyes on her and couldn't help but smile. He was not going to give up.

Evangeline smiled "Eugene and Fredrick Barker are indeed my clients." She then looked at John and Antonio. "It appears Judge Ellsworth granted a warrant for you to bug their home, but your detectives overstepped that warrant and bugged my client's business and vehicle" she said saucily

John frowned and looked at Antonio "We did not"

"Yes you did, isn't that right Antonio?" she asked smiling at Antonio now.

Antonio looked away and said nothing.

Nora got up from behind her desk "Please tell me you too didn't do this?" Nora said to John and Antonio. John shook his head and glared at Antonio. He was always taking things too far.

Evangeline smiled at Nora "They did it, and I have petitioned the court to have your entire warrant thrown out in favor of my client's civil liberties." She started back toward the door and stopped "Oh and if either of you so much as sneeze by them I'll be back for your badges" she said turning to leave.

"Evangeline, why would you represent these scumbags?" Nora asked genuinely concerned for her friend.

Evangeline gave Nora cool look "These scumbags have been my clients for the past three years" she said "And if your detectives pull another stunt like this I won't be coming for a warrant…..it'll be their badge."

Nora glared at Antonio who shrugged. John watched her exit and jumped up to catch her. Heading to the door he ignored Nora's command to stay and discuss the motion forced upon her. Walking into the hallway he saw Evangeline about to enter the elevator "Wait" he said running to catch her. Evangeline held the elevator allowing him to enter. The doors closed and he faced her.

"You're remarkable" he said almost out of breath
Evangeline raised an eyebrow and laughed "Am I?"
"Of course you are. You know that. Have dinner with me"
"No"
"Here we go again" he said running his hand through his hair
"Sorry John but it's not in the cards"

"What are you afraid of? Its just dinner. How am I going to make you mine if you keep pushing me away like this" He said pushing the button to stop the elevator.
Evangeline felt the elevator come to an Emergency stop and looked at him shocked. Before she could reach to pull the plug to start the elevator again he grabbed her outstretched hand.

"I want to know you"
"There's nothing to know" she said slipping her hand out his and stepping back
"Oh but I think there is"

Evangeline tried to look away but couldn't move any further. Standing face to face with her he allowed his hand to travel slowly from her wrist up her arm to her shoulder. Sliding his hand gently around her neck he pulled her face to his and slipped his tongue into her mouth. He felt her exhale and heard her briefcase fall. Hesitantly she brought her arms around him and pulled him into her. He smiled through their kiss and pushed her up against the elevator wall. Now his passion exploded and his hands tore at her jacket so that he could get closer to her. Feeling him raise her skirt she dropped her hands and pushed him away from her. "I can't do this" she said trying to fix her skirt and tuck back in her blouse.

John stepped back and watch her try to regain her composure. His hand went to his lips and thought of the passionate kiss she laid on him. When she let her guard go she was more than maybe he could handle. He smiled at that "Have dinner with me"
Evangeline tried to switch gears "I suggest you and your partner get handle of the mess you created for Nora"

John's face flashed with anger "What was that about earlier? Why didn't you come out and tell me about this the other day when we met at Capricorn?"

Evangeline looked at him coolly "I'm sorry John, but I asked you directly how you executed a warrant and you implied that you knew the procedure. Who am I to remind you of how to do your job?" she replied.

"These men are dangerous and murderers please don't tell me you think you just did something just by getting our warrant tossed" he said seriously.

"Detective the law doesn't swing for the righteous only. Everyone is entitled to a fair representation and freedom to enjoy the liberties available to us all. By wiretapping my client's place of business and his car you infringed on those civil liberties. So what I just did in there is my job" she said fixing him with a heated stare.

Evangeline walked around him and pulled out the Emergency stop button starting the elevator. Kneeling she retrieved her briefcase from the floor.

John looked at her and smiled. "Bravo, you do the tough attorney thing really well" he said clapping.

Normally she'd be insulted by that comment but she laughed anyway.

He reached for her and grabbed her hand as the elevator came to a stop an the doors opened. "Have dinner with me"

She felt it again. Those flutters in her stomach that made her lightheaded when he was in her space. She didn't like how quickly he could disarm her. But she was extremely attracted to him and liked the heat she saw in his eyes for her. "When?" she asked

"Tonight" he said

She looked away for a moment and then back at him "Okay where do you want to meet?" she asked as the elevators doors closed on them and started to go back up. Sighing in frustration she hit the button again to no avail.

"My place….I can make you some Colcannon"

Evangeline looked at him confused "Some what?" she said laughing

"It's a traditional Irish cabbage stew that my mom made for me and my brother as kids, I promise you'll love it."

Evangeline shook her head "That sounds pretty intimate" she said ready to back out.

"I will be on my best behavior and no wine, I promise" he said holding his hand up and putting the other one over his heart.

She smiled. "Well you seem harmless…I guess dinner is fine" Evangeline had to admit to herself that she really could careless at his attempt to romance her, but the idea of being in his arms again was to enticing to pass up. The doors opened and two officers got in looking at them confused. They continued their conversation unfazed as the elevator made another decent down to the Garage level.

"Great, then you can tell me more on why you would defend the likes of the Barker clan" he said turning up his nose.

She laughed "I would advise you and Antonio to heed my warning. If either of you approach my clients without probable cause, I'll have you both on traffic duty" she said

He smiled "And you'll be the first person I give a ticket" he shot back.

"Very good" she said liking the way he challenged her. "What time should I be at your place for this Colca dish?" she asked looking him up and down.

"How about 8 tonight" he asked

She looked at her watch it was already after 5pm "Lets go for 8:30" she said

"Well I stay in the new development downtown. Llanview lofts. Do you know it?" he asked

"Sure do, very nice detective" she said impressed

He laughed "Its one of the places my brother owns" he said. "I just sublease it"

Evangeline marveled how unassuming he was. He was not the type to over indulge. She pictured him as the classic family man type. The type she made an extra effort to avoid. Why was she even considering this? They had nothing in common and she doubted other than good sex they ever would. But she knew why, ever since Mary's Barnes basement she found herself thinking about him. It was only because of the intensity of that moment that she found him still hard to resist. But she was dieing to find out if what she experienced was an anomaly or the real thing. Tonight would prove to be very interesting.

"Well I know the lofts they have a gated entranced right?" she asked staring into his blue eyes again.

He smiled at her. He wanted to know her. She stood before him polished and professional. Yet there was something hidden, he saw it in the cold manner in which she behaved while doing her job. To him her job was her weapon, she used it shield her against people. As an attorney she was the one in control asking the questions and fighting against others. He couldn't shake the feeling that underneath it all the true Evangeline was a lot softer and trusting than the woman standing in front of him.

"Yes look me up under Michael McBain and I will buzz you in" he said letting his eyes drift to the opening in her blouse. She smiled at him and walking out of the elevator not looking back.

He shook his head and watched her walk away. He knew he should be put off by the stunt she just pulled and threats she leveled at him and Antonio but he wasn't.

He walked back into Nora's office to witness part of the ongoing argument between them.

"Why on earth would you do this, even if you learned anything I couldn't use it!" Nora snapped.

"Look, we are up against a wall. Last month a 19 year old girl died when the cocaine balloons she swallowed burst in her stomach while smuggling them for these monsters. What you should be doing is finding a way for us to nail these scum bags!" he shouted back at her.

Nora put her hand to her head in frustration "You guys have no idea what you've done. Judge Ellsworth was our best shot. I know Evangeline she will use this to suppress any evidence we collect. We're in it deep" she said sitting back behind her desk.

Antonio looked up to see John sitting back down nonchalantly "What did you say to her? Is she really coming after us?"

John shrugged. "Didn't ask"

Nora looked up at him and that grin on his face "What's going on? Are you interested in her?" she asked surprised

"Why do you ask that?" he responded quickly

Nora shook her head "John, she's my best friend and I love her, but she's not one for games"
John frowned "I'm not playing games"

Antonio got up from his chair "I need to speak to Bo before this gets back to him the wrong way" he said walking toward the door.

John got up to follow and Nora stopped him "John can you hold up a minute."

John stopped and looked at her "Okay"

Nora stared at him "Did you ask Evangeline out?"
"Why?" John asked not understanding her concern
"Listen, I know you may be attracted to her and she is a really good person. I love her. But I think it wise that you keep your expectations low"

John smiled "Now you've go my attention. What's with this tough girl thing she has and why would you try to discourage me from showing her a good time?"

Nora didn't smile. "First of all it's not an act. She is tough. Second I think she has unresolved issues with RJ. I don't want her rebounding with you"

"I got the impression they were no longer together" he said remembering the tension between the two of them at Capricorn.

Nora waved her hand dismissively "Maybe not but its fresh and she may be vulnerable"

John laughed at that "She doesn't seem like the vulnerable type"

Nora didn't laugh and stared at him angrily "You'd be surprised"

"Nora what's really going on? Are you just protecting RJs interest here? Or is it truly Evangeline's feelings you are worried about?" he asked seeing through her.

He knew Nora loved RJ and if things ended badly between them she was probably the one in Evangeline's ear trying to encourage her to give him another chance.

He was curious as to why she ended it with RJ and had hoped it was because of what happened between them. The next morning after being discovered by Mary they'd talked and agreed that it was a onetime occurrence and they would never speak of it again. He wanted more than sex from her. He wanted to know her. And Nora's attitude was strange. What was she really concerned about?

Nora shook her head "I don't think RJ is a great fit either but I think the man that is would have to be a patient and serious one. I want her to be happy" she said cryptically

John rose from his chair. "Well its just dinner" he said not understanding what Nora meant. "I have no ulterior motives and they lady is free to cancel if she chooses"

Nora watched John exit. Evangeline was really beginning to concern her. These cases she sought after. Her detached manner with RJ. The way she closed off whenever anything about her family was mentioned. She loved her friend but the more time she spent with her the more she felt like she was hiding something and it was tearing her up inside. She would call her. John McBain's interest in her was an interesting turn of events.