Trouble Read online

  Trouble

  Ann Christopher

  Contents

  Back Cover Copy

  Also by Ann Christopher

  Dear Reader Letter

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Epilogue

  Afterword/Author’s Cut

  Introduction to Excerpt

  RISK Excerpt

  Also by Ann Christopher

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Career. Family. Romance.

  It’s Complicated.

  Brilliant criminal defense attorney Mike Baldwin follows the highest ethical standards. In his career and his personal life.

  Until a fascinating—and off-limits—woman named Dara Williams shows up and ignites a scorching passion that threatens Mike’s career and everything in its path.

  Including Mike’s tenuous relationship with his brother. Who also wants Dara.

  She that has a choice has trouble.

  — American proverb

  What’s an AC CLASSIC? An updated and pumped-up version of one of Ann’s earlier books, with new scenes, a never-before-seen epilogue and author commentary! Even if you read (and hopefully loved!) the original version, you won’t want to miss the AC CLASSIC version…

  “Ann Christopher gets it right every time.”

  —Lori Foster, New York Times Bestselling Author

  “Ann Christopher’s gift with words will leave you captivated and breathless.”

  —Brenda Jackson, New York Times & USA TODAY Bestselling Author

  “[D]elivers a scorching, chain reaction of relationship chemistry that leaves readers breathless!”

  —L.A. Banks, New York Times Bestselling Author

  Also by Ann Christopher

  JOURNEY’S END Small-Town Contemporary Romance Series

  “Book” 1: A JOURNEY’S END Novella Book 2: LET’S DO IT

  Book 3: ON FIRE

  “Book” 4: LET’S STAY TOGETHER Novella Book 5: UNFORGETTABLE

  DEADLY Romantic Suspense Series

  Book 1: DEADLY PURSUIT

  Book 2: DEADLY DESIRES

  Book 3: DEADLY SECRETS

  IT’S COMPLICATED Series

  RISK

  TROUBLE

  JUST ABOUT SEX

  SWEETER THAN REVENGE

  The Davies Legacy: TWINS OF SIN Series

  Book 1: SINFUL SEDUCTION

  Book 2: SINFUL TEMPTATION

  Book 3: SINFUL ATTRACTION

  Book 4: SINFUL PARADISE

  WARNER FAMILY SECRETS & LIES Series

  Book 1: TENDER SECRETS

  Book 2: ROAD TO SEDUCTION

  Book 3: CAMPAIGN FOR SEDUCTION

  Book 4: REDEMPTION’S KISS

  Book 5: REDEMPTION’S TOUCH

  Single Titles

  CASE FOR SEDUCTION

  THE SURGEON’S SECRET BABY

  SEDUCED ON THE RED CARPET

  JUST ABOUT SEX

  SWEETER THAN REVENGE

  Novellas

  TAILS OF LOVE

  GIFT OF LOVE

  BELLA MONSTRUM Young Adult Horror Series

  Book 1: MONSTRUM

  Dear Readers: It’s been over a decade since I began working on the love story between über-alpha attorney Mike Baldwin and his law student intern Dara Williams. The result, Trouble (7/06), is my second completed novel and first published book. From Day One, Chapter One to the present, Trouble has been, for lack of a better word, nothing but trouble. The hardest book I ever wrote, bar none. Why?

  Well, I barely knew how to write back then. The process of getting Mike and Dara’s story out of my head, where it was a perfect thing, full of passion and wonder, and onto the page was fraught with peril. The finished product was a meandering, bloated, repetitive and purple-prose-littered exercise in learning how to write a novel.

  I knew Trouble needed work, so I edited, reworked and rewrote that manuscript a good ten times. I spent so much time with Mike and Dara and their never-ending angst that I wished they’d just elope in Chapter Two and leave me the hell alone. I submitted it to contests and got constructive criticism. Reworked it again. Eventually, even though it was still too long and rough, it sold. If you want my whole first-sale story, you can read it here.

  Between Trouble and my next book, Risk, I studied writing craft. A lot. I got better. I’m not saying I was a good writer, mind you—but I was definitely better.

  There’ve been many other books since Risk and I’ve been happy with all of them. Except for my lingering dissatisfaction with Trouble, the book I always wanted another shot at.

  Now’s my chance.

  Welcome to the second edition of Trouble!

  I’ve rewritten it AGAIN, making it tighter and sharper. I’ve focused more on the emotional connection between Mike and Dara and gotten rid of some extraneous stuff. But if you liked the first edition just fine, no worries. Much of the deleted material appears, with my commentary, in the Author’s Cut section at the end of the book. I’ve also deleted references to outdated technology, but I doubt anyone’ll be crying about that.

  Oh, and there’s one more thing: I’ve added a couple new scenes and an epilogue.

  I hope you love the new version of Trouble as much as I do!

  As always, happy reading!

  Ann

  1

  “Why can’t you work with me on this, Michael?”

  “Mama, I can’t magically fix my relationship with Sean. He hates me.”

  “Your brother doesn’t hate you. And I need your help.”

  Irritated, Mike Baldwin looked around the crowded café in the heart of downtown Cincinnati and wondered how to extract himself from this situation. The jury was still out, and he should be with his client right now, holding her hand like a good criminal defense attorney. But Mama had called at the last minute, insisting on lunch today, and him saying no to Mama was like black-and-gold-wearing Steelers fans being welcomed to Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Bengals, on game day: it just didn’t happen.

  Mike tossed down his menu and sighed. “What’s this all about?”

  Mama ran a manicured hand through her sleek salt-and-pepper hair and fidgeted with her napkin. “I’m worried about Sean.”

  “What’s he done this time?”

  “Nothing. Yet. But we both know law school is going to be really hard for him.”

  Mike shrugged impatiently. “Everything is really hard for Sean.”

  “I think he’s going to need our—your—help.”

  Mike scowled. “What Sean needs is to stand up, be a man and work hard for once in his life. And have you forgotten I helped Sean two years ago, when I hired him to work as a paralegal in my firm? And I helped him by not firing his lazy ass.”

  “Language, Michael.”

  “I helped him get into law school. I helped him when I loaned him money to get his car fixed the other week. And I use the term ‘loan’ loosely. What else do you want?”

  “I want you to make up with him. I want you to be brothers. I want my family back,” Mama said sadly. “Nothing’s been the same since Daddy died.”

  Mike couldn’t let her get away with such a blatant sugarcoating of their family’s history. “Nothing’s been the same since way before that, and you know it.”

  Mama’s glare triggered a shot of tension through his shoulders.

 
He rubbed his neck to ease some of the strain. “Trust me. The best way for me to help Sean right now is to give him some space. School just started. Let’s wait a few weeks and see how he does.”

  Mama smoothed her napkin—now hopelessly wrinkled—and put it back in her lap. “I’m afraid to wait. Last time I caught up with him, he was carrying on about some classmate he thinks he’s in love with.”

  This news worried Mike a little. Sean could barely focus on one thing at a time, and if he was focused on some new relationship, it was a safe bet he hadn’t cracked open a book in days. And what was so special about this one particular woman?

  Mike’s curiosity got the better of him. “Who is she?”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” Mama waved her hand and rested it on the table. “He says she’s beautiful and sweet and funny. Who cares? All I care about is Sean staying on track and making it through law school.”

  “I agree. But Sean and I almost killed each other when he worked for me. I can’t help you. Sorry.”

  He picked up his menu, flipped it open and lowered his head to study it, hoping that was the end of the whole Sean topic.

  No such luck.

  “Do it as a favor to me.”

  The sudden hoarseness in her voice alarmed him. He dropped his menu and covered her hand with his.

  “What is it? Tell me.”

  Her wet gaze held his for a long beat. Finally, she took a deep breath. “There’s a lump.”

  Mike blinked. “A lump?”

  She nodded and swiped her free hand under her eyes.

  “Damn it, Mama!” Heads turned in their direction, forcing him to lower his voice. “I told you a lumpectomy wasn’t good enough! I knew you needed to get the mastectomy!”

  “Do you think I need a lecture now?”

  There was no reproach in her tone, but Mike choked back his rising panic and clamped his mouth shut anyway. His judgmental tendencies wouldn’t help Mama now.

  “What did the doctor say?”

  Mama’s hand trembled as she sipped her iced tea, making the ice clink. “He’s concerned. He says he’ll know more after the biopsy tomorrow. And I don’t want you to tell Sean anything about it.”

  Mike’s heart sank through the floor. Mama had cancer. Again. All the old fears came rushing back.

  “What can I do?” he asked helplessly.

  “You can make up with your brother. You’re all he’s got.”

  “He’s got you.”

  Shrugging, she flashed him a rueful smile. “For now.”

  “Jesus, Mama. Don’t talk like that.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Don’t be sorry for me, Michael. I’ve had a good life. A wonderful marriage, two boys I’m proud of . . .”

  Mike raised an eyebrow.

  She bowed her head, conceding the point. “I know Sean has had some rough spots. But he’s okay now. And you.” She beamed. “If I could just get you married and settled—with a couple babies—I’d be in heaven.”

  “Who’s got time to get married?”

  “You’d have more time if you stopped working so hard,” she told him. For the millionth time.

  “Someone’s got to pay the bills.”

  Mama frowned thoughtfully and shook her head. “I just hate what that girl did to you.”

  “Girl? What girl?”

  “What girl? You know! The one from college!”

  He stared at her. She had cancer again, and she wanted to talk about some girl he’d known a thousand years ago in college? “Can you be more specific?”

  “Michael! Your girlfriend who hooked up with your roommate.”

  Oh, that girl.

  Debbie.

  What was her last name? He couldn’t even remember. He hadn’t thought about her for years. Technically, she hadn’t been his girlfriend, because all they’d done was have sex—like rabbits— his first term at Harvard, when he’d been drunk with the freedom of living on his own. What he hadn’t realized, until he came home early one day and discovered them rolling around on the floor like models for a new edition of the Kama Sutra, was that she was also screwing one of his roommates.

  His heart hadn’t been broken. He probably wouldn’t even have minded much if she’d been up-front and announced she wanted to hook up with his roommate. No, what had hurt was the treachery and deceit. The fact that they’d lied right to his face, for weeks, apparently, and he’d trusted them. Looking back, he’d realized there’d been moments when he’d seen them exchange a look or a smile. So, of course, when he’d realized the truth, he’d kicked himself for ignoring his gut instincts. In the end, he’d chalked it up to a lesson well learned and forgotten about the whole incident.

  “What’s Debbie got to do with anything?”

  Mama made an exasperated sound. “That’s why you’re not married yet, Michael. You don’t trust women.”

  “Don’t trust women?” That was a new one on him. “I don’t have any problems with women.”

  “Not with sexing them up, no.”

  He froze, his cheeks and ears burning. “Language, Mama.”

  “It’s the letting them get close part that throws you off.”

  Before he could think of a response to that uncomfortable bit of psychoanalysis, his phone pinged. Grateful for the interruption, he checked it and saw he had a text.

  “Jury’s back. Gotta go.” He jumped up and kissed Mama on the cheek. “Sorry.”

  “You silly boy.” Grinning, she watched him grab his briefcase. “I don’t know why you’re so excited. I don’t think you’ve ever lost a case.”

  “Don’t jinx me.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “Listen, about the doctor. I don’t want you to worry because—”

  “I wouldn’t have a worry in the world if I knew you were looking out for Sean.”

  Mike shook his head in disbelief. As if he didn’t feel guilty enough that his life and career were on track while Sean floundered every chance he got.

  “Wow. Pushy, much?”

  “You’re so blessed, Michael. Would it hurt you to give a little back?”

  “I’ve already given till it hurts.”

  “Give some more,” she said flatly.

  He sighed. Tried one last time to find an escape hatch and came up empty. Sighed again.

  “I’ll see what I can do,” he told her. “Professor Stallworth is giving a party Friday night for the first-year law students. I’ll probably see Sean there.”

  Glorious smile from Mama. “Good.”

  As he dropped some money on the table and left the restaurant to hurry back to court, his mind shifted to Sean and his new girlfriend, the distraction. If Sean held true to form—and Sean always held true to form, having dated a cougar, a heavy drinker and a rabid party girl in recent memory—the woman would be nothing but trouble to him, an unnecessary complication to his fledgling law school career. And whoever she was, she’d aroused Mike’s curiosity.

  What kind of woman could she be?

  “Dara? Dara! Over here!”

  That Friday night, Dara Williams turned around in time to see Monica, her best friend since junior high, weave her way toward her through Professor Stallworth’s enormous great room.

  Monica waved and smiled. “I made it!”

  Dara held her glass of merlot in one hand and pulled Monica close for a hug with the other. “Late as usual.”

  “Don’t start! You know I’m time-management challenged.”

  “Yeah? Well, until they feature that condition on 60 Minutes, I’m going to keep calling you chronically late.”

  Laughing, they both looked around the crowded room. A pianist played something jazzy on a gleaming black grand piano on one side of the room. People milled around the buffet and two bar areas.

  Monica whistled. “Some house.”

  “Some crowd.” Dara discreetly tipped her head toward a woman sitting on the hearth. “See her? She’s with the prosecutor’s office.” She turned and indicated a man shoveling spaghetti onto a plate. “And he’s
with the U.S. Attorney’s—”

  Monica’s mouth twisted. “Can we at least eat dinner before you start in on your plans to conquer the legal world?”

  Dara frowned. Conquering the legal world was the legacy bequeathed to her, as Monica well knew. Dara’s father was a federal judge, and her grandfather had been a prominent civil rights attorney. She’d wanted to be a lawyer since she was seven.

  “The whole point of this party is for law students to network with alumni,” she reminded Monica. “Don’t you want one of them to hire you for your internship?”

  Monica snatched a piece of cheese from a passing server’s tray and popped it in her mouth. “You need to work on being a little more well-rounded,” she said, chewing.

  “I’m perfectly well-rounded, thank you. I read. I practice yoga. I cook.”

  “You study. You go to class. You talk about getting a good internship. You talk about making law review in the spring. Do you ever accidentally think or talk about anything else?”

  Dara had to laugh. “Fine. What do you want to talk about?”

  Monica gleefully rubbed her hands together. “Where’s Sean, and has he asked you out yet?”

  “He’ll meet us here, and no.”

  “Because he’s going to. It’s just a matter of time.”

  “For the millionth time: I’m not about to date anyone now.”

  Dara spied an empty stool by the piano and grabbed Monica’s arm to steer her to it.

  “But why?” Monica asked as she sat down. “He’s a law student. He’s handsome. He’s crazy about you. What more do you want?”