Colton 911: Target In Jeopardy. Carla Cassidy

       Chapter 1

      Avery Logan slowly walked up the stairs to the courthouse’s front door. She paused for a moment before going inside the stately three-story brick building where justice was handed out on a daily basis.

      She took her job very seriously. She always arrived early and took a moment or two to relax on the top concrete step before heading inside to face her job as a criminal prosecutor.

      There were several other people standing around and waiting for the courthouse to officially open its doors to the public, including some who would find out their fate.

      She shifted her briefcase from one hand to the other and drew in a deep breath of the September air. Autumn was her favorite time of the year. The changing colors of the trees in Whisperwood, Texas, were particularly pretty this year. Deep reds battled with shades of orange and yellow, and created a vision of nature at its finest.

      Optimism buoyed her in spite of the fact that her feet already hurt and her lower back ached. Today was the last of the witnesses, and hopefully final arguments would occur by noon. She was relatively sure as prosecutor that this was going to be a win for Lady Justice. Although Dwayne Conway wasn’t the big drug lord she dreamed of bringing down, if she’d done her job right at least he’d be one more lowlife drug-selling creep off the streets.

      A sharp, stabbing pain shot through her. Her heart suddenly wept a single name... Zeke. Since his death a little over a year ago, a day didn’t go by that she didn’t grieve for him. He’d been her best friend and her beloved younger brother, and a heroin overdose had taken him away from her forever.

      She shoved thoughts of Zeke away and took one more glance around at the people gathered at the foot of the stairs. Suddenly she froze.

      He stood with a small group, including Forrest Colton, who was due to testify in the trial today. Was it really him or was she just imagining it?

      “Dallas.” His name whispered from her lips as a thousand emotions rushed over her. She stared at the man’s profile, drinking in the sight of his wavy, sandy-colored hair and his straight nose. Yes, there was no question in her mind, it was him. She knew his eyes were an azure blue and that he had an utterly charming smile.

      She also knew what it felt like to be held in his strong arms and how his sexy lips could kiss a woman completely mindless. She knew what it felt like to make exquisite love with him. What she didn’t know was his last name.

      She wrapped an arm around her burgeoning stomach, and at the same time he turned and looked up. His eyes widened in obvious stunned surprise at the sight of her. His gaze swept the length of her body, pausing on the huge baby bump that had annihilated her waistline months ago, and then his gaze trekked back up to her face.

      She remained frozen in place, not sure what to do. Should she turn around and run? What was his reaction going to be? It wasn’t like she really knew him. They’d shared only a single night together, a passionate night fueled by a little too much alcohol and loneliness. It had also been a foolish night without birth control or protection.

      He said something to the others in the group and then slowly climbed the stairs to where she stood. Her heart beat a million miles a minute as he drew closer.

      He was just as handsome as she remembered, with his light hair, intense blue eyes and well-defined features. She held her breath as he finally reached her.

      “Avery,” he said in greeting.

      “Hi, Dallas. It’s been a while.” Good Lord, this was definitely the most awkward moment she’d ever experienced in all of her thirty-three years. His gaze once again lingered on her very pregnant belly. “Uh...yes,” she said, answering what she knew his question might be.

      He shifted from one foot to the other, as if at a loss for words, and his face instantly paled. She had only a couple minutes left before she needed to be in her seat in the courtroom. “Uh, it’s nice to see you again,” she said. “I need to get inside.” She turned toward the door, but he stopped her.

      “Avery, obviously we need to talk.” He pulled his wallet out of his black slacks’ pocket and drew out a business card and handed it to her. “That’s got all my contact information on it. Could we maybe meet somewhere later today, after you’re finished here?”

      “I’m hoping this case goes to the jury around noon. I could meet you at JoJo’s Java after that.”

      “That would be good,” he replied soberly.

      “I really need to get inside now.” This time when she turned toward the door