Page 64 of Partner Pursuit
“Don’t worry. I shall extol your abilities to hire help, to throw dinner parties…”
Audrey punched him lightly.
Max said, “Ouch! I just want to meet him and see this paragon you’ve had a crush on. Jake is some tough competition, though. I want to see who’s right for you.” Max turned around. “Well, hello, is thatColette?”
“Yes. And what if he isn’t right?”
“Then there’s still time for sabotage,” Max said. “I can see her appeal.”
So could Audrey. Colette was dressed in a little black sheathmini-dresswith a mauve silk scarf, spiky heels, andtortoise-shellglasses. It made her look like a leggy 70’s pop star crossed with a strict librarian. How did she do it? As small consolation, Audrey realized that she would never look good in that dress; she was justtoo curvy.
“Thanks. You’re supposed to be on my side,” Audreysaid.
“I am, I am. I’m offering myself as a sacrificial lamb. And I’d love to be thestay-at-homehouse husband. I’m perfect for her. Anyway, you should be talking to him, not Colette. Let’s go over, and I’ll distracther.”
“Thanks, I think.” Max wasgood-looking, but he wasn’t preppy, and Audrey suspected that was Colette’s type. It was a shame that she and Max were not attracted to each other. They got along so well as friends.
Audrey and Max joined Colette and Tim by the center table, and Audrey introducedeverybody.
“The food is delicious,” Colette said, gesturing to the platters. “I took your friend’s card. I’m hosting a baby shower in April, so maybe Eve could cater it. I’ve been worried about what to do for food. I don’t want to rely on my cooking skills.”
“You’re a good cook,”Timsaid.
“You’re being kind. I have one dish, and that’s an omelet.”
Max and Audrey looked at each other, and Audrey suspected that they both had the same thought: an omelet—Tim had stayed over and had breakfast with Colette? Tim and Colette were dating, then. But Colette continued, “I think you were just really hungry that evening.” She smiled up at Tim and then explained to Audrey and Max, “It was the Unicorn project team dinner, and the portions were tiny. Even I was hungry afterward. Since my apartment was around the corner from the restaurant, I invited Tim over for an omelet.”
“It was a very good omelet,” Tim said staunchly. Hisbuttoned-updress shirt and khaki pants made him seem stiff in this party environment.
“I do make good omelets, but that’s it. I am not sure that’s going to work at this baby shower, although it is a brunch. But then I’d rather not be cooking and hosting—especially with all the various baby shower games I have to pull off. I had no idea it was so complicated.”
Max said he would introduce her to Eve and led Colette away, leaving Audrey alone with Tim. Max was a good wingman.
Tim mentioned an issue he was having with a junior associate assigned to his case and then asked her a legal question he was wrestling with. She concentrated on giving her best answer. She hoped he wasn’t going to talk about work the whole time. They moved away from the appetizers to the balcony doors, where the air seemed cooler. He looked out the glass doors to the murky darkness beyond, the black night tempered by the twinkling Christmas lights around the balcony railing.
“This is fun. It’s been a while since you had a party,” hesaid.
“Too long,probably.”
“I still remember vividly your garden party our first year at the law firm. We barely knew each other, but you invited all the litigators. You were wearing this very summery yellow dress.”
“Wow, you rememberthat?”
“Distinctly. And you started dancing with some of your college girlfriends on top of the picnic table in your backyard.” His warm brown eyes looked into hers. She could smell his woodsy cologne. Maybe the party setting was going towork.
“A bit wilderthen.”
“Law firm life does tend to tame one.” He gestured out the window. “What happened to the picnic table?”
“It broke. Either the winter weather or the dancing destroyed it. I’ve been meaning to replace it…” She paused. Like so much of her life, it was on hold while vying for partner. And if a partner, she doubted she would be dancing on picnic tables—except for the day she made it. “Lately we’ve just been dining at the little table out here.” She gestured to the balcony table.
“A table for two—much moreintimate.”
Audrey was not sure whether to leave him with the impression that she might be dating someone (per Eve’s advice: don’t let him think you’re completely available) or clarify that she was usually eating with Eve on the balcony (also per Eve’s advice: let him know that you’re interested). Flirting was so complicated.
At that moment, Jake walked up and put his arm around her. Her body warmed. She had no reaction when Max put his arm around her, except for a comfortable big brother feel, but when Jake touched her, she could feel the contact throughher dress.
Jake said, “I’m so sorry, I have to steal our hostess away for a second. Partydemands.”
