Never mind.
That was history.
So much had changed since Mandy’s court date but to her there were still too many things unresolved. Dodging Jack’s phone calls had been getting easier. He’d slowed down to calling her every other day and she hadn’t received any flowers for several days.
She still missed him and there were times when she reconsidered her shut down attitude. The lonely nights had given her plenty of time to relive everything.
One new question had taken root in her mind and like April had said, sometimes those doubts just don’t go away. If she’d known Jack was an attorney, not an escort, would she have ever approached him? Would she have had the nerve to let herself explore the sexual side of herself?
The answer to both questions was no.
So where did that leave her?
Better off that he had lied. But how could that be? It didn’t make sense. Did it make what he did okay?
“Hello, Elizabeth.” April poked her head around the door. “Enjoying one last look around.”
“Hi, April,” she replied, pulling herself out of her slumped position. “Come on in. If you can get around the piles.”
“The boxes, they remind me of when Earl and I were just starting out.” She curved around a file cabinet the movers had left in the middle of the room and then leaned against it. “Back then we were always moving from one place to another.”
“That didn’t bother you?”
“Oh, no. Well, maybe at first. After we had Billy, our first, I wanted to settle down but Earl always wanted to move on when a better opportunity came his way.”
“It seems he knew what he was doing,” Elizabeth observed.
April’s wistful smile sent a pang of longing through her heart.
“There are some things you can’t control. Unexpected things happen, things you anticipate and plan for years may never happen.”
Elizabeth frowned. “Isn’t it hard to live that way?”
“Once I realized all that really mattered was being with a man I loved and trusted it wasn’t. Our family came first. Those other things—jobs, money, the house—they don’t give me memories I can carry with me wherever I go.”
April gazed across the stacks of work, then glanced over at Elizabeth. “Listen to me, I sound like a rambling old woman.” After she chuckled at herself, her face cleared and she focused her keen gaze on Elizabeth. “I apologize for the timing of my job offer but, well,” she said as she pushed away from the cabinet, “let me know by next Friday if you decide to take me up on it.”
“I really appreciate your confidence in me, April and taking care of Anderson’s accounts full-time would be a great job. It’s just that—”
“I know,” she held up her hand to halt Elizabeth’s babble. “You had your heart set on being a partner at this firm. I understand. You’ve worked hard for the spot and you deserve it.” The other woman stepped forward patted Elizabeth’s shoulder gently before weaving her way through the maze of boxes. “You take care, dear.”
“April?” Elizabeth blurted. “Is it really that simple?”
April turned back. “Things that matter, matter. Things that don’t, don’t.”
Elizabeth searched the other woman’s face and saw the certainty of a life well lived. “One more thing, if you don’t mind? That rumor, is it true? That you saw Steve harassing Mandy.”
The glow in April’s eyes faded. “At first I thought they were together but then I saw Mandy’s expression. One woman can tell when another is not interested.” She frowned and blew out a breath. “I asked Mr. Harrison not to tell anyone I came to him but I suppose in a situation like that names have to come out. For reasons of credibility, I suppose.”
“Not everyone would’ve come forward like that. It could’ve gotten ugly. If they hadn’t agreed to mediation, you would’ve been right in the middle of a trial.”
“Mandy needed someone to step forward for her. I could do it.” April stepped into the threshold, then turned back to add just before she stepped away, “Doing the right thing and doing the easy thing are rarely the same. I had to make a choice and it was simple.”
Elizabeth spun, scanning the dusky skyline and flipping April’s words through her mind. Things that matter, matter. Things that don’t, don’t.
Could it possibly be that simple?
—
Jack stretched back in his lawn chair and tossed down the Grisham novel he’d been trying to finish for the past five days. The charity ball tickets dropped onto the grass but he didn’t even bother picking them up.
Not even the peace and quiet of his backyard chased away the gloom that seemed to be following him everywhere. With four hours until that stupid charity ball, he’d better shape up. It would be impossible to charm prospective clients with a sour frown on his face.
He had no one but himself to blame. He’d only gotten what he deserved for crossing that line between right and wrong. Calling Elizabeth, again, to say “I’m sorry” wouldn’t change the fact that he had taken advantage of her. Just because a woman was sexy, didn’t give him the right to throw morals to the wind.
“Is this the home of Mr. Harley?”
Jack twisted, trying to get a clear view of the woman standing near his fence. A long-haired redhead, wearing Jackie O sunglasses and a skintight white dress leaned over his gate. He grumbled. Why did he ever tell Denton he’d be going to the ball alone? He’s rather go alone than with one of Denton’s sexpots.
He leaned forward, ready to tell her she had the wrong address.
“Aren’t you that sexy hunk of an attorney who just moved from Dallas?”
Are all women going to sound like Elizabeth from now on?
Jack really shouldn’t have cried on Denton’s shoulder. “Look, I know my cousin sent you. I’ll tell him you were here and that you’ll get, um, paid, or whatever but I don’t need your ser— You. Thanks anyway.”
To be sure she got the message, he turned away.
When the gate squeaked open, he steeled himself for a confrontation. Women who were used to men falling all over them didn’t take kindly to rejection.
No matter. He wasn’t in the mood for women.
Except Elizabeth. But he’d blown that.
The woman’s warm hands curved around his neck and spread across his chest. She purred in his ear. “I’m here to offer you an experience. Your choice, just tell me what you want.”
He jerked around, ready to tell her to get lost but she covered his mouth with hers. Her taste, her smell…
Now his mind was playing tricks on him. He grabbed her shoulders and eased her back.
“Elizabeth?”
He took her glasses off and looked into her beautiful, intelligent eyes.
“Is that who you want me to be?”
Jack yanked the wig off and, devouring the sight of her face, ran his fingers through her chestnut hair. He kissed her gently. “What’s with the wig?”
She spoke softly, reminding him of that first day she came into his office. “You did it for me…I’m ready to be whoever you want. Tell me your fantasy, Jack.”
“You, Elizabeth. You’re my fantasy,” he said, stretching past her for the tickets and waving them at her. “Seems I’m in need of a smart, sexy, woman.”
“You think I can do that?” she asked, smiling.
“You are that, sweetheart.”
She ran her fingers down the buttons of his shirt until stopping at the last one. Then started tugging his shirttails from his pants. “What was it you were about to say, at the courthouse? Remember, when I cut you off?”
“I was about to say I love you.” He got up and grabbed her. “But how about I show you I love you instead?”
Female satisfaction spread across her face. “Exactly what I had in mind.”
About the Author
Thrill-seeking risk takers, heroes with the dark past, sexy locales, untamed women! Isabelle Drake writes stories featuring men and women who aren’t afraid
to go after what they want. An avid traveler, she’ll go just about anywhere—at least once—to meet people and get story ideas.
Isabelle welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.cerridwenpress.com.
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Also by Isabelle Drake
If you are interested in a spicier read (and are over 18), check out her erotic romance at Ellora’s Cave Publishing (www.ellorascave.com).
Everglades Wildfire
Cerridwen, the Celtic goddess of wisdom, was the muse who brought inspiration to storytellers and those in the creative arts. Cerridwen Press encompasses the best and most innovative stories in all genres of today’s fiction. Visit our site and discover the newest titles by talented authors who still get inspired—much like the ancient storytellers did, once upon a time.
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