Dreamless. Darlene Graham

rather talk to Ms. McClean alone.” The rich timber of Jake’s voice stopped the discussion.

      Cassie and the lawyers turned to face him.

      “Uh, Jake, maybe it would be better if I were present—” Edward Hughes started.

      “Nope.” Jake’s dark gaze was fixed firmly on Cassie. “The judge told us to work it out between ourselves. I’m good for my word. How about you, Ms. McClean?”

      “I am absolutely a woman of my word.” Cassie had no trouble asserting that. It was her lifelong code.

      “Good. Then, we don’t need the lawyers.”

      The two lawyers stood looking from Jake to Cassie, dumbstruck.

      “I’m hungry.” Jake put a palm on his flat middle. “How about some lunch?”

      Cassie wondered what the heck this was all about. One minute they were sparring in court and the next he was inviting her to lunch. Was this a trick?

      “The judge said to sit down at a table.” He gave her a wicked grin. “There might as well be food on it.”

      Cassie frowned.

      “Seriously.” Jake tilted his head. “We only have until tomorrow morning, and in the meantime, we’ve got to eat.”

      This was true. Cassie always managed to find time to eat. Her appetite was as healthy as any man’s. But most of her lunches were fast food, eaten in the cab of her truck while she studied a materials list. It was not often that she was dressed nicely enough to go to a real restaurant and sit down and have a decent lunch. Suddenly it seemed like a shame to waste her snazzy outfit.

      “I guess we might as well eat while we talk this over, but it needs to be on this side of town. I’ve got to go by the hospital.”

      “Oh? The injured man?”

      “Yes.”

      “Is Legend’s okay?”

      Legend’s! A gourmet restaurant that had been hosting special events for Jordan residents for over thirty years. Cassie had loved that place ever since her aunt Rosemarie had first taken her there as a child. Her fluttery aunt always called the atmosphere…romantic. Cassie preferred to think of it as tasteful, classy.

      “Uh, sure. Legend’s will work.”

      “Great.” Jake gave the lawyers a little salute and put a light hand at Cassie’s back, steering her toward the stairs.

      Cassie glanced at the two older men, who were staring like stunned referees that had been told by the players to get off the field.

      “How about if I drive,” Jake said as he opened the stairwell door. “Once we’ve reached an…equitable position—” there was an unmistakable hint of humor in his voice “—I’ll bring you back to your car.”

      As they descended the stairs, Cassie started to feel something. Something akin to magnetism. She didn’t know if it was the synchronized physical movement—they stayed side by side, right in step the whole way—or the man’s very nearness as he held her elbow on the way down. Cassie didn’t even know if she had the right to feel this…this magnetism or whatever it was. For all she knew, he might be involved with a woman. The good-looking ones were never available.

      All she knew for certain about Jake Coffey was that, right now, she was going to lunch at Legend’s with him. And that prospect seemed at once frightening and thrilling.