Page 22 of Pursuit of Happiness

“Now you sound like a little old woman yelling at people to getoff her lawn.”

Emily laughed. “You know, you’re right.” She glanced at the doorand back at Stevie. “I need to talk to some people before I can share specifics,but I promise you that, as much as it pains me, I will absolutely go to bat foryour guy if he comes through.” She stood. “Go ahead and look through thediscovery and I’ll get back to you soon.”

Saying she had another court appearance that afternoon, Emilywalked her out of the suite. As they waited for the elevator, Emily said, “Fishbowlhad some nicepics of you at Addison Riley’s wedding.”

Stevie feigned a smile. “It was a beautiful evening.”

“Have you and Senator Mitchell been dating long?”

“Who said we’re dating? Maybe we both just happened to beinvited.”

“Maybe.”

The elevator dinged. Stevie willed the door to open quickly. Shedidn’t want to stick around to hear Emily gossip about her and Meredith. Shestepped into the car, but before the doors could close, Emily said, “Did youknow the Mitchell Foundation is a client of Folsom Enterprises?”

Stevie stuck her hand in the doors to stop them from closing.“Half of Washington is a client of Folsom. What are you implying?”

Emily shrugged. “Nothing.”

“Seriously, Em, if you have something to say, spit it out.”

Emily sighed. “Really, it’s nothing. Just a weird coincidence.”

“Don’t you have enough on your plate without trying to stirthings up?”

“I guess. How about you get your client to talk to us and thenI’ll be too occupied to get in your other business?”

Emily laughed, but Stevie scanned her face carefully for any signshe’d been serious about implying the Mitchell Foundation might have anythingto do with the investigation into Folsom Enterprises. Emily didn’t give offvibes either way. The offhand mention of Meredith struck Stevie as odd, but forall she knew Emily was as much of a DC gossip hound as Hannah was. Finallydeciding she was making too much of it, she got back on the elevator, determinedto spend the rest of the day focused on her work. If only Emily hadn’t broughtup Meredith, because now that she had, Meredith’s deep brown eyes and extrakissable lips were all she could think about.

Chapter Six

The car had barely stopped when Meredith opened the door.Erica whipped her head around, but Meredith waved her off with a grin. “I gotthis. You just make sure you don’t get any parking tickets that will haunt myfuture.”

Unlike the night of the wedding, when she’d been in a hurry,Meredith took her time observing her surroundings. Stevie’s neighborhood wasdecidedly different from her own, but in a pleasant way. Instead of crowded,bustling city streets, the lanes were lined with sprawling lawns and gianttrees. Stevie’s house was a quaint craftsman with a wraparound porch completewith a swing, and as Meredith walked to the front door, she imagined sippinglemonade while rocking back and forth on a leisurely Sunday morning.

As if. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a day off,and even her social engagements were usually tailored around some chance tomake a new connection or be seen. But not tonight. Tonight she planned to havea quiet, private evening with Stevie without interference from her twenty-fourseven career.

Stevie answered on the first knock, and Meredith’s pulsequickened at the sight of her.

“Come in.” She stood back and held open the door, and then peeredout and waved at Erica. “Can I get you something to drink? I’m sorry. I’mrunning a few minutes behind.”

She shook her head when Stevie pointed at a bottle of wine on thekitchen counter. “I’m good. Would it be easier if I waited in the car?”

“Maybe for you, but I don’t mind the company if you don’t mindwaiting.” She motioned for Meredith to follow her, and a moment later they werein what had to be Stevie’s bedroom. “You didn’t mention where we were headedtonight. Do I look okay? I have a jacket that goes with this.”

Meredith took in the sleeveless, royal blue sheath dress andfought back the urge to tell Stevie it would be a shame to cover her shoulders.“You look fantastic, but you’ll need a jacket for outside. It’s pretty brisk.”

Stevie grinned at the compliment. “Thanks. I get so tired ofwearing lawyer drag. It’s nice to be able to dress up for someone who isn’twearing an orange jumpsuit.”

“I remember those days.”

“I keep forgetting you were an AUSA.”

“It seems like a long time ago.”

“Do you ever miss it?”

“Sometimes, but I think it’s like how sometimes you think youmiss things because all you remember are the good parts. I felt like I washelping people then, but I feel like what I do now has a much bigger impact.Does that make sense?”

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