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“Of course, he’s coming. He reminded me to send him next week’s list of food. I’ll continue to invite him for a meal every Sunday.”
“Not this coming one, Mom. I’m working at three. Invite him for the Sunday after. I’ll have a night shift. I want to be present.” She lowered her head and headed to her bedroom for a needed nap while the children played in the backyard and the twins in their playpen.
Her mind filled with recent joyful images of Tim having lunch or dinner at her table, Tim coaching David and the girls, playing basketball or soccer with them, tutoring them in math. He was such a wonderful man, good looking, smart, and so caring about her and her children.
Good God, she wasn’t blind. She’d seen the way he looked at her and noticed the number of times his arm had wrapped around her back, her shoulder, or her waist, or his lips had brushed her mouth as if by mistake.
It would be so easy to melt against him. Ben would approve from up there in heaven.
After tossing and turning, she opened her eyes and frowned. Why did she care about Ben’s blessing?Be honest.He’d stopped caring about her feelings from the moment he’d learned she was expecting twins, insisting she have an abortion.
Still, he’d been a loving husband for more than ten years and had died too young, so tragically. She finally drifted off.
A while later, she woke up from a wonderful dream, sweating and smiling.
Oh God no.
In her dreams, Tim had been kissing her all over and she’d returned his kisses and caresses. Actually, he’d been making love to her, and she hadn’t stopped him.
“Something’s wrong with me. I can’t believe I miss him.”
Chapter Seven
On Saturday, Tim pulled his BMW to the curb in front of the residential building and entered the lobby. Jessica stood next to the reception desk. Her long, black, silk dress had narrow straps, a low cut bodice embroidered with black rhinestones, and a slit along the leg. With her dark hair waving down over her shoulder, she embodied elegance and beauty. High-heeled shoes and a small beaded clutch completed her outfit.
She welcomed him with a radiant smile. “Good evening, Tim. You look gorgeous.”
He burst out laughing. “The lady stole my line. Seriously, Jessica,youlook stunning. I’m a lucky man to be accompanying the most beautiful woman in our firm to the ball.” He offered her his arm, and she placed her hand in the crook of his elbow, her heady perfume wafting around them.
He held the car door open for her to sit and closed it behind her, then walked to the other side and slid behind the wheel.
“Ready to have fun?” Her throaty chuckle sent lusty tingles through his body.
“I wish.” He laughed and shook his head. “We’ll see. Don’t forget it’s a company get-together.”
“We’ll make our own fun. We won’t count on others,” she added in a reasonable tone.
When they entered the ball room of the Fremont Hotel, many eyes focused on them. “See, people are staring at you,” he murmured to his companion.
“Let them stare. I’ll try to garner a few new clients. Stay by my side. Women are ogling you. It’s good for the business.”
They both burst out laughing.
Soon, well-wishers gathered around them, mostly clients or friends of clients. Waiters circulated with various drinks. Tim handed her the Manhattan she’d chosen and grabbed one for himself. They maintained a light banter, drinking, and cracking jokes, entertaining the small circle around them, mingling, and distributing their business cards.
One guest in particular interested Tim, Russell Malcolm, a self-made billionaire in his early sixties. The businessman showed no particular problems necessitating a lawyer’s help, yet he chatted with Tim at length about golf, tennis, and sailing, asked Tim about the colleges and universities he’d attended, as if the man wanted to become his best friend. Always on his guard, Tim responded with humor, spicing his answers with anecdotes meant to put a prospective client at ease.
Soon the CEO, George McConnell, joined Tim and Jessica.
“Keep it going, you two. I’m sending more people your way,” he murmured to Tim with an approving nod.
Two or three drinks later, dinner was announced. The CEO invited them to his table and settled Russell on his left. Soft music played in the background, but business conversations continued as the waiters served the food.
Escorting Jessica had been a great idea. Tim calculated that if they both received cases from half the people they’d entertained tonight, they could relax about their next year’s revenues.
When the elaborate dinner and scrumptious dessert ended, couples moved to the dance floor to continue the evening. Tim decided it was time to leave, and Jessica agreed.
They bid goodbye to George who thanked them profusely. “You two were amazing. You gave a peak performance, jumping on the task with full energy. The clients are quite impressed. Some have asked for you two to be part of their legal teams.”
