Page 23 of Passionate Defense

“What?”

“Wicked cool? You’re learning.”

Lanie shook her head as they both laughed.

“Let me talk to Steven and call you tonight.”

“You’re serious?”

“As a heart attack. I’ve been thinking of leaving ever since pervy Walt cornered me in the law library and brushed up against my boobs”—she raised her hands and made air quotes—“inadvertently. What a pig!”

“He came by his nickname honestly, it seems. He is so disgusting. Did you tell Steven?”

She squirmed in her seat. “I told him eventually, and he paddled my ass for keeping it from him. He also demanded I file harassment charges against him, which I’ve yet to do. So, if Daddy dearest is okay with the investment, Anderson v Simons can be our first case.”

Beth flashed her million-dollar grin. “Fischer & Anderson, Attorneys at Law. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

“You don’t want to do alphabetical and make it Anderson & Fischer?” Lanie suggested equitably.

“No, it was your idea. Besides, we might get callers who think the Fischer is Ethan. That’s fine by me. He’s practically a celebrity in the legal community. If we can ride his coattails to get started, I say we go for it. Don’t you?”

“Hell yes, but don’t mention it to him. He insists my success be on my merit, but I plan to use and abuse him as much as I can. With luck, in a few months, he can complain all the way to the bank.” Excited about practicing law for the first time in four years, Lanie practically vibrated. “I can’t stand the wait. When can you call Steven and discuss the financials?”

She pulled out her phone and checked the time. “He should be out of class for lunch. How about now?”

He answered when she dialed. As she filled her husband in, Lanie tried not to listen, but she couldn’t help it. After a brief ten-minute conversation, the partners of Boston’s newest law firm used lemonade to toast their future success. It was a go.

Chapter 6

TUGGING AT HER JACKET, Lanie smoothed the material and brushed at the few wrinkles on her pleated trousers. Linen was so hard to keep looking neat, but it was Calvin Klein and at half off, she couldn’t resist. Looking back, she wished she’d bought the blend instead. She reached up to straighten her collar, tucked in a few stray strands that had escaped her French twist, and then tugged at her jacket again.

“Quit fidgeting. You look beautiful, as always.”

Not having realized her nervous restlessness was noticeable, she gave Ethan a startled look then went back to fussing with her jacket. “I’ve never had dinner with a supreme court justice. I have to admit I’m a bit tweaked.”

“You’ll like Ray. He’s a very down-to-earth guy. In fact, I’ve heard the chief justice puts his robe on one sleeve at a time like everyone else.” He chuckled at his own little joke, but Lanie didn’t. Sure, he was the chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, not the highest court in the land, but it was still pretty darn impressive and to a fairly new lawyer, a little unnerving.

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