Page 6 of Booked on a Feeling

“Don’t let her get to you,” Katie said, having witnessed the brief exchange. “Hopefully, we’ll be seeing a lot less of her for a while.”

“I know, but I just don’t see the need for all the personal animosity. Being a lawyer is hard enough as it is.” Lizzy sighed and gathered up her purse and rolling briefcase.

They walked out of the courthouse together into the warm summer afternoon. With the trial, she hadn’t seen much sun in the last couple of weeks. She squinted against the cheery glare, resisting the urge to block the light with her hands like a vampire. She dug in her purse for her sunglasses and her cell phone.

“I’ll call the client, and you call Peter,” she said as they headed toward the parking structure. They had driven in together for the verdict. “They must be dying to hear from us.”

“On it,” Katie said.

When her associate was gesturing exuberantly with her free hand as she spoke into the phone, Lizzy snuck a moment to text Jack.

Lizzy:We won.

Jack:What? Where are the exclamation marks?

Jack:Congratulations!!!

Jack:I knew you’d win after that opening statement. Better than Law & Order.

Jack’s texts arrived in quick succession, making her smile.

Lizzy:Thanks, Jack. I just wanted to let you know. Now I have to go and do lawyerly stuff.

Jack:Ok. I’m proud of you, Lizzy.

Her cheeks flushed with pleasure, and her heart pumped warmth through her. Sharing the news with her best friend made her happier than the actual win. Still smiling, she dialed the number for Jubilee Toy Company. Their HR director, Gloria, was supposed to be in court for the verdict, but she’d canceled at the last minute, saying the suspense would be too much for her. When Lizzy delivered the good news, Gloria was thrilled about the win, but she was more relieved than anything that the case was finally over. Lizzy couldn’t agree more with the sentiment.

Even though they’d won, it still would’ve been better to settle the case months earlier. It didn’t help that they had an unreasonable Plaintiff—who was fueled by an unreasonable Plaintiff’s counsel—but her firm could’ve pushed a little harder for settlement. Alas, trials were what brought in the big bucks. The powers that be at her law firm didn’t have the incentive to do more than what they’d already done.

Lizzy shook her head to disperse her bitter thoughts. The trial was over, and they’d won the damn thing. If anything, she should be ecstatic that she could finally get some sleep without jolting awake at three in the morning, thinking she forgot to file a crucial exhibit. Fun times.

“Peter wants to celebrate,” Katie squealed. “He said to meet him at Skyline for drinks right now.”

“It’s barely two in the afternoon,” Lizzy said, already thinking about all the work she had to catch up on. But she sighed when she saw her associate’s wide, pleading eyes.Way to be a wet blanket, Lizzy.When had she become this boring workaholic? “No, scratch that. It’s never too early for free alcohol. Let’s go.”

They crossed the street, dodging an SUV making anaggressive right turn as soon as theWALKsignal started blinking, and headed to the parking structure. She and Katie both forgot where they’d parked that morning, but they were in agreement that it was somewhere on the third level. Lizzy had to do that thing where she kept pushing the lock button on her key to find her car by sound. She liked her BMW, but playing Marco Polo was much more fun in a pool full of people.

Their drive back to the office took less time than locating her misplaced car. She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head as she drove down to the underground parking. After handing her keys to the valet, she and Katie made their way to Skyline, a trendy bar and restaurant on the seventy-fourth floor of their office building.

A wistful smile lit Lizzy’s face as they walked into the restaurant. The sharp, modern lines of the black-and-gray interior and the floor-to-ceiling windows with the panoramic view of Los Angeles made Skyline feel like a special destination even though it was only a few floors above her law firm. If she didn’t have to eat lunch at her desk most days to meet her billable-hour requirement, she would probably come here more often.

Lizzy took a quick glance around as they stepped up to the hostess stand. It looked like they’d beat Peter to the restaurant.

“Hello, ladies,” the hostess greeted them warmly. “Here for a late lunch?”

“That and for celebratory drinks,” Katie said, bouncing on her heels.

“Wonderful. What’s the occasion?” she asked, leading them to their table.

“We just won a trial.” Her associate’s excitement bubbled over, and she squeed a little.

“Shut the front door.” The hostess’s polish gave way to real surprise. “That is so exciting. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Katie gushed.

Lizzy smiled politely, feeling disquieted by her own lack of excitement. She was certainly glad they’d won the trial, but she should be bursting with pride. Well, she’d always been shy about tooting her own horn. “Peter from our office will be joining us.”

“Of course. He’s the tall gentleman with salt-and-pepper hair and horn-rimmed glasses, right?” When Lizzy nodded, the hostess said, “I’ll show him to your table when he arrives.”

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