The attorneys and cops she dealt with didn’t seem to know what to make of her lately. Vanessa’s story had spread through the legal community, and several different versions were circulating. According to the most interesting one, Leigh had gotten into a shootout while trying to protect one of her clients from a stalker—which was absolutely not what had happened, but rumors had a way of taking on a life of their own. All the talk was distracting and made Leigh self-conscious at the courthouse. She hated being the subject of gossip. But at least this latest round wasn’t as tawdry and embarrassing as the last one, and she knew the talk would die down as soon as some new scandal came along.

In the meantime, Javi was elated.

“We couldn’t buy this kind of advertising,” he’d said. “I’ve always known what a badass you are, and now everyone else does, too!”

The elevator doors parted, and Leigh stepped into the crowded lobby filled with prospective jurors and courthouse employees. She immediately noticed the pair of tall cops standing by the X-ray machine.

Brandon traded words with Deputy Gronk, and Leigh’s heart did a little happy dance as he walked over.

“Hey,” he said. “Bella told me I’d find you here. You done?”

“Yep.”

They walked out together, stepping into the gusty November air. Leigh pulled a scarf from her bag and looped it around her neck.

“Want me to get that?” Brandon asked, nodding at her satchel loaded with case files.

“I’ve got it.”

She smiled up at him, feeling giddy that he’d come to meet her in the middle of the workday.

Over the past five weeks, they’d spent lots of time together—way more than she would have thought possible, given their busy schedules. She saw him frequently for dinner, and when neither of them had a work conflict, they’d spend the night at his place or hers. Last night, they had started the evening at her place with carryout from Mei’s, but then Brandon had gotten an urgent call from Antonio and had to leave. She hadn’t heard from him all night.

“You look happy today,” he said as they walked around the line of people waiting to get through security.

“The judge granted my TRO. And he’s issuing a takedown order. And I just filed papers this morning on behalf of Vanessa.” She smiled. “And it’s not even one o’clock, so you could say I’m having a productive day.”

“Vanessa?” he asked.

“She’s suing Mason Lloyd over the nonconsensual sex video. Just to add some hefty monetary damages to his list of worries. The cherry on top of his legal-problem sundae.”

“Good for Vanessa.”