Page 69 of Partner Pursuit
“An umbrella? For what?”Tim asked.
“For bopping the guy onthehead.”
“I took martial artsself-defense. I can defend us. Stay behind me.” He put out his arm and moved her behind him. They inched up the hallway. She was right behind him. It was odd, but this was the closest physically they had ever been. She could smell his aftershave.
“I think there’s someone in there,” shewhispered.
“I don’t hear anything,” he said. They reached the door. Tim slowly turned the handle and pushed thedooropen.
The sight of the back of Jake’s tousled head with headphones watching a movie sprawled out on her couch greeted them. Biscuit barked. Jake looked up from the movie and pulled off his headphones. His beer was on the coffee table.
“Jake, what are you doing here?”she asked.
“MyBlu-rayplayer is broken, so I didn’t think you’d mind if I used yours. And I thought I’d make a dent in your beer stockpile,” Jake said. He stood and walked over to Tim, introducing himself, holding out his hand. Shaking hands, Jake said, “I think we met briefly before.”
“Did we? Sorry, I don’t recall.” Timshrugged.
Jake walked over to the kitchen, asking, “What’s your drink? Would you like a beer? Corona? Stella Artois? There’s quite a selection left over from the last party.”
“Umm, a Stella Artois,” Tim said, appearingflummoxed.
“Anything to eat? Chips? There’s even some amazing quiche in the freezer,”Jakesaid.
“We bought Magnolia cupcakes,” she said, trying to take control backfromJake.
Tim asked, “I’m sorry I don’t recall—are you roommates?”
“I practically live here, but my apartment is next door. The food is much better over here, though. And the company, of course,” Jake said, smilingat Audrey.
Jake disappeared into the kitchen, but before Audrey could say anything to Tim privately, he quickly reappeared with three Stella Artois and some plates, handing them out and reclaiming his seat on the couch. His legs seemed to spread out on the couch, taking up space. Tim sat in the armchair across fromthe couch.
“So, how was dinner?” Jake asked.
“Jake, don’t you have to go?” Audrey asked as she pulled over a chair from the table. She didn’t dare join Jake onthe couch.
“No.” Jake leanedback.
Audrey put the cupcake on a plate on the coffee table and cut it with the plastic knife from Magnolia. “Would you likea piece?”
“No, thanks,”Jakesaid.
Audrey handed Tim alight-bluefrosted cupcake on a plate with a fork. Tim cut a piece with his fork, but then put the cake down onthe table.
“So, what do you do again?”Tim asked.
“I work in the musicbusiness.”
“That’s tough. Make any money in that nowadays?”Tim asked.
“It’s up and down.” Jake shrugged and didn’t sound thatconcerned.
“But he’s doing what he loves,” Audreysaid.
“I love law. There’s nothing better than a good dispute: the strategy, trying to find a solution for your client.” Tim’s phone beeped, and he looked at it.
“Are you getting emails from work at this hour on a Sunday night?” Jake asked. Audrey shot him a warninglook.
“Yes, this partner, Gerald, usually starts working again around 11 p.m. after his family has goneto sleep.”
