Page 25 of Partner Pursuit
“Yes.” She pressed her lips tight, disappointed that she would miss out on this event.
“But you shouldaskhim.”
“Ask himdirectly?”
“Yes,whynot?”
She shrugged; Hunter must have a good reason, and she didn’t want to betoo pushy.
Tim said, “The focus is on high tech and finance. I’m hoping I can make connections that can lead to newbusiness.”
“Yes, I’m worried about that—the business development part of being a partner. Our firm has such established clients. I mean, I have good relationships with my peers at the banks…”shesaid.
“Exactly, and as they move up the ranks, they’ll want you. I’ve seen you with clients at our firm’s events. They love you. And not just as their lawyer. You’re calm and organized and have a good sense of humor—it’s the same reason so many associates want to workwithyou.”
“That’s so sweet of you to say.” That was the warmest thing Tim had ever said to her. A glow of pride suffusedher.
Loud coughing from her talkative neighbor interrupted their conversation. Tim looked over,concerned.
“Do you need some water?”he asked.
“That would be lovely,” their neighborsaid.
Tim looked surprised she’d accepted his offer, but he strode to the counter.
Leaning close, her watery eyes peering into Audrey’s, words fast and clipped, the older woman whispered, “All right, I think he likesyou.”
So, she hadn’t been imagining that their relationship was more than just a friendship.
The older woman continued, “But you need to dress up more for him. What is it with young women today? You’re wearing black pants and a white blouse, like a waiter. You need to wear a dress. And flirt! In my day…” Tim returned and handed her a glassof water.
Audrey’s lips curled into a wry smile. The dismal state of her love life was so obvious that strangers in coffee shops were giving her advice.
Batting her eyelashes, the woman offered a wide smile. “Thank you. I didn’t think that they made gentlemen like youanymore.”
“At your service.” Tim looked embarrassed as he slid intohisseat.
The woman winked at Audrey and shifted slightly away. Audrey wasn’t sure how to flirt with Tim, especially with an audience. But she wasn’t about to be bested by hermuumuu-wearingneighbor. She tried a wide smile.
Looking down as he flipped through the documents, Tim frowned. “I’m thinking of having a party with some college friends who became investment bankers so I can get back in touch, but my schedule has to free up first. And they work the same crazy hours as me, so it’s hard to schedule withthem.”
“That’s such a coincidence. I’m planning to have a party in the fall so Eve can showcase her catering. I hope you can come.” She felt awkward emphasizing the “you,” even though it was a totally normal sentence to say. Since the smile hadn’t worked, she casually stretched out her heeled foot and touched his shoewithhers.
He moved his foot away, but at least he looked up. “Well, you go first then. Maybe your friend can cater my party as well—although I was thinking more along the lines of awell-stockedbar.”
“Good food makes it classier.” She leaned forward and twirled a strand ofhair.
“True.” Tim nodded, not seeming to react at all to her flirtatiousgestures.
“Although it’s the company that makes the moment.” She held Tim’s gaze, but doubted that qualified as flirtatious enough for her eavesdropper.
“It’s an unbeatable combination.” He smiled at her and put downthe cases.
Hmm, maybe her neighbor was right and she did need to flirt more. She took a sip of her tea, unsure of where to go next in the conversation. Flirting with a work colleague was hard. And she wasn’t sure what more to do. There was the hair flip, the leaning forward, the standing closer, the meeting glances, the teasing…but that’s not the kind of relationshiptheyhad.
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Did you decide to join your college friends on the hiking trip in August?”
“I decided not to. I’ll go home briefly to see my family, but other than that, I’m going to power through all this work. If I scheduled something, I’d be afraid that I’d have to cancel it. Or work through it, which wouldn’t beworth it.”
