“Your sister.” The lawyer thought quickly. “Can your sister help you out at all until next week?”
With a sigh the other woman reluctantly confirmed the suggestion. “I suppose she could … but I hate to ask. It’s such a messy situation.”
“I know that, Mrs. Connely. But you can assure her that the loan is only temporary. After next week, we should have things straightened out. Sound fair?”
Mrs. Connely’s voice reflected her more calmed state. “I guess so.”
“Fine, then. I’ll give you a call back later when I have something to report. Why don’t you call the hardware store right now and see about having those locks changed.”
“I will.” With a defeated “Thank you” and “Goodbye,” Mrs. Connely hung up the phone.
“All alone now?” John Doucette called gallantly from the door as Justine replaced the receiver and continued to make some notes, waving him away with a sweep of her arm. But he was not to be shooed off so quickly. “Did your toe survive that collision?” he asked, reveling in amusement as he sauntered up to her desk.
“I’m busy, John. Go call a client, will you?”
Actually, despite their sparring and John’s frequent badgering for a date, the two were good friends. John had been an associate when Justine entered the firm, putting them in the same class. The associates as a group were on the fringe of the firm, commiserating often about petty gripes, consoling each other on minor defeats, celebrating together those hard-fought victories. Justine respected his legal ability, and once she recognized him for the ladies’ man he prided himself on being, she found she could enjoy him in reasonable doses. This day’s dose, however, was growing oppressive.
“The fox is omniverous and an opportunist, you know,” he informed her, as though nothing at all had passed since the demise of their earlier conversation. “He leaps and pinions his victim with his paws. Then his powerful jaw takes over the work.”
In a gesture of exasperation Justine lifted the heavy fall of curls from her forehead and held it momentarily atop her head. Her eyes sent a dagger of disgust his way. “Is this absolutely necessary? You really have gone beyond the line of duty. As I recall, you’ve already warned me on that score.”
His grin reflected his pleasure in needling her—and, for once, her seeming lack of immunity. “Just thought I’d make my point a little stronger. If you’re determined to get involved with the man—”
“I am determined to get involved withno one!” She struck back loudly. “I don’t understand why you keep harping on this—” In her frustration she flung her hand from her head down onto her desk, accidentally toppling a pile of books that had rested precariously on its edge. “Damn!” she swore softly, then looked up accusingly as she knelt to retrieve the volumes. “Look what you’ve made me do!” She turned frustration into humor. “You get me all rattled so that I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. You do have a way with women, I can say that much!” Flattery, even of the backhanded sort, always did the male ego wonders, she mused.
“Ah, you finally noticed!” He had come to help her pick up the scattered pile of books, serving himself up meekly for the friendly swat Justine took at his head.
“Hey, you two! What’s going on here? I thought this was supposed to be a dignified law firm!”
Richard Logan joined the group, his boyish smile indicating his delight at the break in tradition. On occasion Justine wondered how his more staid father had managed to entice the younger, more adventurous Logan into the firm. This was one of those occasions.
“This man,” Justine began, nodding toward the now standing John, “is a menace to society. What he’s doing in here is beyond me!”
“And you, Dick,” the object of her mini-tirade interjected, “what brings you into this madhouse?”
The smile that lit the young Logan’s face bore its share of devilry. “An invitation.”
“Great!” John exclaimed humorously. “Where are we going?”
“You’renot going anywhere. It’s Justine. She’s been invited to join us for dinner tonight.”
Justine cocked her blond head toward John, her eyes green in their merriment. “That’s terrific! Where are we going to dine?”Might as well rub it in for effect,she thought with a grin, taking revenge on John’s earlier smugness.
“That hasn’t been decided yet. But the command has been issued. You’re not busy, are you?” Richard added as an afterthought.
“I am now. Dinner will be fine.” Then a strange and unbidden sense of unease crept into the recesses of her mind. “By the way,” she asked with studied nonchalance, “who’s ‘us’?”
Richard looked from Justine to John and back before answering, confirming in Justine’s mind what she had uncannily feared.Feared.Though she didn’t know why. But fear it she did.
“There will be yours truly, my father, Charlie, and … Sloane.”
The last name hung in the air for a long moment, before John broke the silence with his conspiratorial whisper. “The Silver Fox.” As Justine subconsciously caught her breath, both men turned to stare at her.
Chapter 2
It was a dilemma of the worst order. Not only had she already accepted the dinner invitation carte blanche and with gusto, but she had spent the better part of two separate conversations with John Doucette declaring her immunity to Sloane Harper. Having burned her bridges behind her, there was nothing to do but accept the situation with a practiced, if superficial, grace.
“That’s fine, Richard. Please give your father the message and thank him for the invitation. I’ll look forward to it.” Her eyes bore an emerald steadiness that was almost convincing.
