Page 31 of Partner Pursuit
Jake
She laughed. He didn’t seem to be ruling her out based on her career. And the close dancing and the glances last night had intimated that she was more than just a friend—more than a person added to his collection. She’d love to be traveling with Jake in Central and South America. Hanging out on the beach, listening to the music, swimming in the waves, eating dinner over a little table near agrass-roofedcabana by the moonlight, the lapping of waves in the background as she gazed into Jake’s blue eyes with the soft sea air caressing their skin. Okay, she was getting ahead of herself. He’d sent her a coloring book. If anything, the romance factor was going down. And right now, she had to concentrate on work.And then there was her mother’s voice telling her to stay focused on making partner. It was the final stretch.
She texted briefly with Winnie. Winnie had been asked to spend another week in Texas and wasnothappy. She was planning a surprise party for her boyfriend’s birthday in two weeks, so as long as she came back Friday, she wasresigned.
Invited by the birds chirping in the garden and the beautiful summer weather, Audrey decided to spend the day reading cases in her garden. Nothing like the smell of suntan lotion to remind you of summer. She lay out on the lounger in at-shirtand shorts, a homemade strawberry smoothie on the little wooden side table, iPhone music on, highlighter in hand, and read cases. The heat of the sun warmed her face and legs. The smell offresh-cutgrass filled the air. She finished reading late in the afternoon and leaned back, took off her headphones, closed her eyes and breathed in.
A rough tongue licked her foot and she jumped. She opened her eyes to find Biscuit wagginghistail.
“Oh my god! You completely scared me. How’d you get in here?” She looked over at the fence and saw a hole where two slats of the fence had broken off. Biscuit must have squeezed through.
“Oh, I see. Very innovative…I’m glad you didn’t hurt yourself. Did you want company?” She patted the lounge chair, and he jumped up and settled in on her legs. When he rolled over, exposing his belly, she gave him a belly rub until Biscuit rested his head on her legs. She closed her eyes. Even better.
Twenty minutes later, she heard Jake’s voice in his yard. “Biscuit!Hereboy!”
She opened her eyes. Jake was peering overthe fence.
“Biscuit! And Sleeping Beauty! Or is it Snow White?” Biscuit thumped his tail but didn’tmove.
“I don’t think either had adog.”
“Should have—always a good defense againstwitches.”
“And murderous huntsmen,” she said. “Should I go check my fairytale coloringbook?”
“Glad to see it’s of usealready.”
“I’m feeling much morerelaxed.”
“I installed one of those dog doors so he could go out whenever he wanted. I didn’t realize he could get through the fence.”
“Biscuit is always welcome. The hole has never bothered me, so I’ve never fixed it. I bought this apartment from a couple, and they said they used it to visit your predecessor.”
Jake bent down and squeezed through the gap in the fence, smiling at her. “Sounds like a good idea to me.” He surveyed her garden. “But I can fix it if you want. I’m positive there’s something in Emily Post about good fences make good neighbors.”
She glanced at thesix-foot-twohot guy standing in her yard. She wasn’t an idiot. Even if Emily Post recommended a fence, she wasn’t going to follow it. “Might as well leave it for now.” She added, “Robert Frost wrote a poem about fences—he’s often quoted for the line ‘good fences make good neighbors,’ but in the poem, he’s actually questioningthat.”
He looked impressed. “Well, there you go. I’ll have to read that poem.” He pulled the wooden chair next to her lounge chair and sat down. “Biscuit doesn’t bother you? He’s made himself comfortable.”
“He’s lovely. I wish I could have a pet, but I work too many hours. I thought about getting a cat, but then…” She stopped right before she said she’d be a single woman with a cat looking desperate. Phew. She’d caught herself just intime.
“Still too muchwork?”
“Cats aren’t, butI travel.”
“Well, I’d be happy to come feed it. Or my sister could when I’m traveling.”
“That’s quite a commitment on your part to volunteer to feed it.” She raised her eyebrow. Maybe she should get a cat just so Jake would keep stopping by. And a dog so they could walk their dogs together. Every night.
“I like to find homes for strays. My first kitten followed me home one fall out in Fire Island.”
“I hadn’t taken you to be such a softie.” She tilted her head, smiling.
“Why not?” he smiled engagingly and held her gaze. “I’m not the killer litigator.”
“I’m quite friendly unless you happen to be opposing me in a lawsuit. Then you might be introuble.”
“Only then?” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, resting his chin in his steepled hands and focused on her. As opposed to Tim, pushing out his legs, leaningaway.
