Someone Like You. Susan Mallery
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corporate law, she thought wistfully. Wouldn’t that be fun? “You need to stay where you are right now,” she said regretfully. “I don’t have the resources to handle your concerns.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, but it was sweet of you to offer.”
Rudy chuckled. “Not many people call me sweet.”
She could imagine. Rudy was one tough businessman, but he’d always been good to her.
“Are you sure about Lyle?” he asked. “I never liked him.”
“I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t have, either. Thanks, but don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
“If you change your mind…”
“I won’t. I’ll call when I’m with a new firm.”
“You do that, Jill.”
Rudy said goodbye and hung up. Jill did the same. She allowed herself exactly two minutes of pouting over what Lyle had cost her, then went over to check the printer.
Her résumés looked great, and the content was even more impressive. Rudy was a man of his word, so she knew she could bring him over to whatever law firm hired her. The senior partners would appreciate the extra three million a year in billings.
A knock on her closed door made her turn. It couldn’t be Tina—for one thing, the woman never knocked. For another, she’d disappeared shortly before noon.
“Come in,” she called, then caught her breath when Mac strolled into her taxidermy aquarium.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
“Great.”
The single word was all she could manage. Man oh man did he clean up good, she thought as she took in the dark tan uniform that emphasized broad shoulders and narrow hips. She had the sudden urge to throw herself on her desk and pretend to be a music video slut.
“Nice,” he said as he glanced around the office. “I don’t think I’ve been in here before.”
She wrinkled her nose. “It’s hardly the sort of place you’d forget. Welcome to fish central. If you see one you like, let me know. I’m thinking of having a yard sale.”
Not that she would, really. The fish belonged to Mrs. Dixon and, until Jill talked the widow into reclaiming her property, she was stuck.
Mac turned in a slow circle, then slowly shook his head. “Generous offer, but no thanks.”
“Figures. I bet I couldn’t even give them away. Are you here officially? Should I ask you to sit down?”
“Do I only get to sit under certain circumstances?”
She laughed. “Of course not.” She circled around her desk and waved at the leather visitor chair. “Be careful not to get caught in the net there.”
“Thanks.”
He sat and looked at her. Jill felt his gaze settle on her face with a connection so intense it was nearly physical. She wanted to ask him if he saw anything he liked. She wanted to lean closer so he could replace his gaze with his fingers. She wanted to know if he thought she was beautiful and sexy and irresistible. She settled on checking to make sure her hair was in place.
“It’s straight,” he said, motioning to her head.
“Thanks to the miracles of modern hair-care products, yes.”
“It looks nice, but I like it curly better.”
A piece of information she would file away for later. “I’m going to guess that’s not why you’re here.”
“Nope, I’m here to give a friendly warning. Slick Sam was arrested for passing bad checks. He got out earlier today and may come looking for representation. You probably want to tell him no.”
Her back stiffened. “Why is that? Do you think I couldn’t handle a criminal case? I assure you I’m more than capable of defending my clients against any number of charges. Furthermore, I don’t appreciate you judging me. You don’t know one thing about my legal experience. For all you know I could have—”
One eyebrow rose as he leaned back in his chair.
“What?” she demanded.
“Go on. You’re doing all the talking.”
“I…” She pressed her lips together. Okay, maybe she’d overreacted. She cleared her throat and straightened the papers on her desk.
“So why did you want to warn me about Slick Sam?”
Mac grinned. “I thought you’d never ask. The last lawyer he hired, also a woman and also very attractive, ended up letting him move in with her, where he made the moves on her teenage daughter, trashed her house, then took off with her cash, her credit cards and her car.”
Mac thought she was attractive? How attractive? Could she ask?
Not in this life, she told herself, then laughed. “I appreciate the advice and I’ll be sure to be out when he calls. But I have to tell you, I’m tempted by a client willing to steal my car.”
Chapter Four
JILL ARRIVED home shortly after five. As she was used to working until at least eight or nine every night she wasn’t cooking for Lyle, she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do with an entire evening. What did people who worked regular hours do with their lives? Was this why they had hobbies? Would she like a hobby?
“How was your day?” Bev asked as Jill walked through the front door. “Any dents on Lyle’s car?”
“I didn’t go by and check. I thought I’d do that in the morning.”
She set her briefcase by the coatrack and wondered why she’d bothered to carry it home. There wasn’t any work inside.
She leaned forward and kissed her aunt’s cheek. “I have high hopes, though. A nice high fly to the side door would make my heart beat with joy.”
Her aunt smiled. “I’m so happy for you, dear. How was work?”
Jill thought of Tina, the fish, and the hundred-year-old fence dispute. “You don’t want to know.”
“That bad?”
“Technically, there’s very little I can complain about, so I won’t.”
“Dinner will be ready in half an hour. You have time to change.”
Jill hugged the woman who had always been there for her. “I love you taking care of me, but I didn’t come here to invade your life. I’m going to start looking for a place of my own tomorrow.”
Bev shook her head so hard, her long red hair flew back and forth like a flag in the breeze. “Don’t you dare. I know you’re not moving back to Los Lobos permanently, but I want to be with you for the time you’re here.”
“Are you sure? I’m not crimping your social life?”
Bev rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You know I don’t date. I have to worry about the gift.”
Ah, yes. The gift. Bev’s psychic connection with the universe that allowed her to see the future. As her aunt had explained many times, the gift came with responsibilities—one of which was to stay pure…sexually.
“Don’t you ever get tired of being alone?” Jill asked, because whether or not she believed in her aunt’s gift, for the most part Bev lived as if she believed it. There had been very few men in her life and no long-term relationships.
Bev smiled. “I’ve been rewarded for my sacrifice. Over the years I’ve helped many people and that’s a great feeling.”
“Sex can be a great feeling,