Campaigning for Love Read Online Free Page B

will he see his grammy?”
    The panic in her voice tore at Nick. They needed a way out of the insanity his quest to renew their friendship had caused. But his mind was blank. He couldn’t offer one single, logical solution that would get them out of this mess.
    “Don’t worry, I’m sure Mrs. Potter will be more than happy to shuttle Stevie to the rehab center since it’s so close by. And I’ll check with Gina. She’d love the chance to take your place with Jeremy on Friday night. That leaves Saturday and Sunday. Even the Lord rested on Sunday, young lady.”
    Nick turned. “Who’s Jeremy?”
    She notched her chin. “A man’s name is all you got out of the conversation? Typical.”
    “There’s nothing typical about this conversation! Not by a long shot, sweetheart. Judge Pierce, sir, I don’t know what’s going on here, but I think I’m entitled to an explanation.” He leaned against the wall beside the window and leveled his hard gaze on the judge.
    “I’d be honored—no pun intended.” The judge smiled before he took on a serious mien. “You and Katherine are going to spend the weekend with me, at my home. We’ll have breakfast, lunch and dinner together. The two of you will spend one hour in the morning, afternoon, and evening together, where you will converse. Both of you will have to share something you learned about each other with me while we enjoy the meal you will prepare—together.
    “Katherine, you will cook. Nick, you’ll assist her, and I do mean assist. If she says chop, you chop. If she says stir, you stir. We will enjoy this time together, and there will be no fighting, or both of you will find yourselves enjoying this city’s finest hospitality behind bars come Monday morning. Do I make myself clear?”
    “I don’t understand.” The confusion flavoring Katherine’s words today sounded the same as it had all those years ago when Nick had laid out his father’s plans for his future, and knotted his stomach just as tight now as it had then.
    The judge’s tone carried a hard edge that clashed with the concerned look he sent her way. “Since you and Mr. Delaney feel the need to act like teenagers in my courtroom, consider yourselves in time-out, or on restriction, whichever you prefer. Katherine, have Gina provide Mr. Delaney’s office with your home address. He will pick you up at five on Friday afternoon. I’ll have the refrigerator stocked so you can come straight there.”
    The judge made eye contact with both of them, his look of concern gone. “I’ve cancelled tomorrow’s session so the two of you can tie up any loose ends before our happy weekend together. Off you go now.” He motioned toward the door with his hand in a careless wave.
    A speechless Katherine and Nick walked out of his office.
    Nick reached toward her after the door closed behind them. “Kat, I—”
    “Don’t! Don’t even try. There is nothing you can say right now that I want to hear.”

Chapter 3
    K atherine stormed through the glass doors of her office suite and flung her briefcase at the nearest chair. The hairpins anchoring her French twist were her next victims. She unleashed an angry growl and shook her head, torpedoing the area with any last holdouts.
    Gina ended her phone call and quirked her brow at Katherine’s uncharacteristic bout of temper. “Bad day in court?” Then jumped back when a stray pin bounced off her monitor.
    “That man...he...he...he’s ruining my life! Why couldn’t he let it go? When I didn’t take his calls on my cell phone, you’d think he’d get the clue that I do not want to speak to him! Arrgh!” She raged more to herself than Gina, pacing off the perimeter of the room like an angry bear.
    “I’ll be right back.” Gina scooted out from behind her desk and headed down the hall at a fast clip. She returned with a cup of tea, but hung back until Katherine reined her temper in enough that she stopped gesturing wildly with her hands.
    When a cough that