Page 33 of Indiscretion

“You mean a job?”

He nodded.

“Believe it or not, the market for disbarred attorneys is pretty bleak these days.”

Dawson frowned. “I’m sorry.”

“How about you? Find a new paralegal yet?”

“No. And at the risk of sounding like my grandfather, what the hell is wrong with the young people today? Every person who walks in expects to work from home and get more vacation and sick time than I do. I’m starting to think I’ll never find someone competent.”

I had to force a smile, because inside I was thinking,I’m competent.But whatever. I couldn’t blame people for not wanting to hire a person who’d had her license revoked. This was the bed I’d made.

I looked over Dawson’s handsome face once more. “I should get back to the party.”

“Sure. Yeah.” He nodded. “Good to see you.”

***

“I’ll text you tomorrow,” Lily said as she walked me to the door a little while later. “I got a lead on someone who needs a new paralegal today. Did you meet Nick? He’s the one Ben plays basketball with on Saturday mornings.”

“I think so?”

“Well, he mentioned he hasn’t played the last two Saturdays because his stepmother died.”

“Okay…”

“His father is an attorney, and his wife was his paralegal.”

My eyes widened. “What are you going to do? Call his dad and say, I’m sorry for your loss, but here’s someone to sit in the chair that’s still warm in your office?”

“Of course not!”

“Thank God.”

“I’m going to stop by basketball practice tomorrow morning and bring your resume to Nick. It’ll go over better with him pitching you to his father than a stranger.”

I sighed. “I’m not that desperate yet.”

“I know. But I hate seeing you so down. That reminds me, you didn’t look so glum when I saw you talking to Dawson in the hallway earlier. There’s something there. I can tell.”

“We spoke for less than five minutes, and then he spent most of the evening next to his date.”

“His date?” Lily laughed. “That’s Dawson’s little sister. She’s nineteen. Sarah’s in town visiting, and he asked if he could bring her.”

“Oh.” I hated that I felt instantly lighter knowing that.

She grinned and pointed to my face. “You like him. Your face was tense all day. I thought it was because you didn’t know anyone here. But your forehead smoothed out the minute I said the beautiful woman wasn’t Dawson’s date.”

“You’re insane.”

Lily stared at my forehead. “Nope. It’s like you just got Botox. The worry is completely gone. Why don’t you stay longer? When Dawson left, he said he was going to try to come back. His sister is in town to see a concert with her college roommate at the Barclay Center. He went to make sure they got there safely.”

“The first time we met, I wound up with a broken hand. The second time, he passed me over for a position. Sticking around for a third round might make me a masochist.” I kissed my friend’s cheek. “Go back to your company and be the hostess with the mostest. I’ll talk to you soon.”

I’d made it to the bottom of the front steps when I spotted Dawson on the sidewalk two houses down. My steps faltered.

“You’re not leaving, are you?” He rounded the corner into the front courtyard.

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