Page 56 of A Whisper of Summer Magic

She frowned. Pickling wasn’t as sensuous or potentially sexy as making jam. It smelled.

“Skip pickling with Jackson,” she murmured entering her office.

They’d choose another recipe from the book to dare each other with. Jackson sounded like he wanted to get all sciencey about cooking, and the nerdy Jackson surprisingly intrigued her the most.

“Head in the game,” she reminded herself under her breath.

The minute she booted up her computer, she was busy, juggling several projects and research. One thing she’d always loved about law was that it was so diverse, so many approaches that she never got bored. She lost all track of time and even forgot to do a coffee run or eat the banana and yogurt she’d brought for lunch. She’d slotted in consults with a couple of new clients and wondered why her energy was flagging.

She got up to stretch and saw through her open door that the antique clock read five on the dot. That couldn’t be. She blinked in surprise, but Jenny, the receptionist, was already shutting down her computer and as Meghan wandered out of her office, wondering how she’d lost hours—yes, hours—and she could tell because she was quite stiff and had to pee.

Jenny bounced up and slid her purse strap over her shoulder the minute the clock hit five.

“Don’t let me get in your way,” Meghan teased.

She knew Elise had left early. She had a date and wanted to spruce up. Her father and grandfather and uncle’s offices were dark, door closed, though Rosalie still toiled away, looking up briefly to wave.

Meghan still hadn’t adjusted to the shorter work hours that were considered a full day. “I don’t want to get trampled.”

Jenny laughed. “You know I need to get Liam from childcare and Lucy from the school’s after-hours program.”

“Are you taking them to the park today?” Jenny often used the park to reconnect with her kids and her mom persona after work.

“Yes, it’s Friday, the shaved ice truck is at the park Fridays through Sundays in the summer. Fridays shaved ice is our ritual. My mom finishes at the bank and joins us. We used to go on to Millie’s for meatloaf and scalloped potatoes and collard greens after that.”

Meghan felt her eyes tear up, and she fidgeted with a seam in her pocket, willing herself to not cry.

“But now we’ll drive over to Hillbillies for the family special.” Jenny’s eyes too were suspiciously bright because her husband, Jake, was a lieutenant with the fire department, but also part of the National Guard and currently deployed for six months.

“Have fun. I might see you at the park.” Meghan tried to be casual.

She couldn’t remember if today was a Jackson workday or not, but she hoped Whiskey was there and that Jackson could take a break to walk around the park. He’d be close enough if they got a call.

“Really?”

“What? I don’t look like a park person?” She wasn’t really. She’d always been too busy working to stroll around savoring nature as an adult, and as a kid she’d played on athletic fields—soccer and field hockey. “I’m working on it. I’m going to borrow Whiskey, Jackson’s dog, and take a walk. Exercise will do me good,” she said virtuously. “Part of my build a new life for Meghan plan.”

“Really?” Jenny barely held back a laugh. “Jackson’s very…” She fanned her face. “He gets teased by the crew all the time when he goes on calls about the way women fall all over him, doesn’t matter their age.”

The age comment pinched, but Jenny had always been sweeter than sugar, and her expression was open, amused. She probably hadn’t meant the comment personally. Even though Jackson repeatedly scoffed at her references to age, and her sisters shrugged it off, Meghan was still sensitive about the age difference, but she was working on it.

“He’s a neighbor,” she said primly. “And I’m just helping myself and Whiskey out. Exercise.” Yup. Habit. And one she clearly needed to break.

“So that’s what they’re calling it these days.” Jenny laughed and opened the office’s outer door and swung her arm wide as if welcoming her to a fantastic event. “Enjoy sweating.”

“Oh, I intend to, because, yeah, Jackson’s quite spicy.”

Jenny’s laughter followed her outside, and Meghan felt like something inside of her had broken free.

Yes, she was attracted to Jackson. And yes, it was long past time she did something about it.

She quickly packed up her office and walked to her car, placing her satchel in the hidden trunk space, and she exchanged her shoes for sneakers and ditched her linen blazer, so she was just in her silk and cotton blend tank and flowy trousers. The heat and humidity was intense for the end of June, so walking in the shade of the large dogwood trees and indulging in a shaved ice held appeal. And if Jackson wasn’t available, she wouldn’t let that stop her after work, relaxing stroll.

Her heart thumped uncomfortably fast when she approached the fire station. One bay was open, and her breath fractured a little.

Get it together.

She wasn’t in middle school spying behind her locker on a cute boy who was out of reach.

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