Page 92 of Partner Pursuit
“That’s not a promising sign.” He rubbed her back. “Maybe you need to hold full committee meetings rather than meeting alonewithhim.”
“That’s a good idea.” Not that she wanted Malaburn to insinuate she didn’t have what it took in front of Colette andTim.
“I’ve some difficult clients too in the music business, and I’ve learned it’s better withback-up.” He stood and stretched. “On to more cheerful things.” He disappeared into his kitchen and reappeared with a small white bakery box. “What do you think of this new cookie? How’s it doing in the ranking scale?” They had established a mission to rank the best chocolate chip cookies inManhattan.
She tasted it. Very buttery. “Good, but tooold-fashioned. It reminds me of a bakery butter cookie with chips.”
“That’s what I thought too.” He sat back down on the couch and ate his cookie.
“I talked to Mrs. Rothman. She’s going to Paris to confront Laila.”
“Noway.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “She offered to take me along. She might’ve been joking—but I’ve got too muchwork.”
“You’re working too hard as it is.” He pulled her over to snuggle againsthim.
“Iknow.”
“How about coming on a ski trip thisweekend?”
Her shoulders slumped and she sighed. “I can’t. It’s not justtheboys?”
“Those with girlfriends are bringing them along.”
She still loved when Jake said she was his “girlfriend.” The thought of going and being “Jake’s girlfriend” with his friends was so tempting. It was almost worth ditching work, but as she thought of everything still to be done, she felt her chest tightening.Think, think, howto do it?
Jake looked at her. “I can also stay here if you needsupport.”
“No, you should definitely go. You should spend time with your friends and get out there skiing.”
“Why don’t you believe that for yourself?” he asked, looking intohereyes.
She stilled.
“Are you sure you can’t join us for two days?” he asked. “We’ll leave from the slopes around four. You could even go into work Sunday night if you need to. I’ve found that sometimes I’m even more productive at work if I have some time off torecharge.”
She was tempted. She’d resolved to be better at balancing life with work, and she ought to be able to make this work, but when she thought of all that she had to do…
“I just can’t,” she snapped. “I’ve got two weeks until the Popflicks trial, five weeks until the partnership decision. Colette and Tim live at the office, and I have to write the opening statement for the trial,” she said, her voice rising, “and review everybody else’scross-examinationquestions again. I probably shouldn’t even be here!” She closed her mouth and looked horrified that she’d just yelled at Jake. Like she’d yelled at Kevin to stop moping around—right before they’dbroken up.
He nodded, his face unreadable.
“I didn’t mean that. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking,”shesaid.
“You do know. Don’t doubt yourself.” He disappeared into his bedroom.
“Jake, I’m sorry.” She followed him and then bumped into him as he reappeared holding a boxingbag.
“Are you going to box?” she asked. Had she made him that angry? That upset?
“No, you are.” He smiled. “Pressure” by Billy Joel stared to play on his stereo system. “And if that doesn’t work, we’ll try karaoke. Singingde-stresses, according to my mom’s advice for babysitting.” He started to sing “Pressure.” “I used to play this before exams to psych me up.”
Using a stool, he hung the boxing bag from a corner hook in the ceiling.
“I never noticed that hook,”shesaid.
“Probably just as well.” “Another One Bites the Dust” began playing. “C’mon—pretend it’s Colette or Malaburn.” He opened a drawer near the hook and took out some gloves. “Don’t let them knock you down.” He pulled the gloves on her hands and tightened them around her wrists. She watched as he carefully fastenedthem.
