Practice Makes Perfect(61)
J.D. turned around to face her. “You broke up with him?”
“As a matter of fact, I did,” Payton told him. “Contrary to what you apparently think, I don’t like to play games with people. And by the way, you have a lot of nerve accusing me of playing games when you’re the one giving me the silent treatment. Which reminds me, thanks for being the only person in our group not to congratulate me on winning my trial. Your actions lead me to believe that either (a) you felt awkward congratulating me, given that we are in competition with each other—in which case you can’t possibly fault me for similarly struggling with the complications of our situation the other night, or (b) you were simply being a stubborn, spiteful jerk, in which case I’m not sure I’d want to be in your company anyway. Either way, if you’re waiting for some big apology from me for asking you to leave the other night, you’re going to be waiting a very, very long time because, as you see, clearly I was in the right.” Payton put her hand on her hip defiantly. So there.
J.D. stared at her for a moment with that “amused” look on his face. “You really are an amazing lawyer, Payton,” he said.
She poked him in the chest. “Don’t try to flatter me now, Jameson.”
He grinned. “You’re angry with me again.”
“I think this situation is difficult enough without you making it any more difficult.”
This seemed to strike a chord with him. “Fair enough. Maybe I should make it up to you, then. What would you say—hypothetically speaking, of course—if I asked you out to dinner to celebrate your trial win?”
Payton hesitated. Not because she wasn’t tempted by his offer, or quasi-offer. Quite the opposite, actually.
“Hypothetically speaking, I’m not sure I trust myself around you,” she said. She could tell J.D. liked that answer.
He bent his head, lowering his voice further still. “Why? What are you afraid might happen if we’re alone? Hypothetically speaking.”
It was a dangerous game for them to be flirting in the office like this. Strangely, however, Payton wasn’t sure she cared about the office right then. Sure, J.D. pissed her off like no one else could. But when he gave her that look, that look that was bold and intimate, but also slightly cautious—as if he was waiting and gauging her every move—she felt thrills of anticipation at the thought of where their little intrigue might go next.
So she leaned in, her smile blatantly coy. “Hypothetically speaking, I’m afraid I might—”
“There you two are! Sorry about that, I got stuck on a Rule 26(f) conference that ran a little longer than expected.”
Interrupted by the sound of Ben’s voice, Payton and J.D. looked over and saw him standing in his doorway.
“Shall we?” Ben gestured for them to join him in his office.
J.D. caught Payton’s eye as they headed inside, seeming to find Ben’s interruption as inconvenient as she. They had barely taken their seats in front of the desk when Ben got right down to business.
“So I got a call from Jasper this morning,” he began. “Apparently they’ve had a little shake-up in the Gibson’s legal department. He fired the general counsel—probably a smart move since the guy obviously didn’t do a very good job of preventing this mess they’re in. The new GC started on Monday and, not surprisingly, is eager to meet with some of the people at our firm who will be working on the case. Jasper specifically asked whether either—or both—of you might possibly be free to fly down tomorrow for a meet and greet with him and the new general counsel. He acknowledged that this was short notice, but said he thought that since tomorrow is Friday, there was a chance the two of you might be free in the evening from your other work commitments.”
Ben cleared his throat. “Obviously, Jasper isn’t aware of the situation here, that one of you will not be continuing on in this matter. And I think it’s best that he not be made aware of that fact until the partnership decision has been announced.” Leaning back in his chair, he sighed melodramatically. “Given the circumstances, I find it a little awkward to ask you two to do this. Although, with the decision being this close—”
“I’ll go,” J.D. said.
Ben stopped and looked over. He appeared pleased by the definitiveness with which J.D. had responded. “Good.” He nodded his approval, then turned. “What do you say, Payton?”
She could feel J.D.’s eyes on her as she answered.
“I’ll go, too.”
Ben smiled. “Great. I’ll call Jasper and let him know to expect you both.” He glanced over at J.D. “You get there early enough, Jameson, you might even be able to squeeze in a round. Palm Beach has some great courses. I think the last time I was there was over three years ago. We went in May and it was nearly ninety degrees. And humid as all hell.” He pointed. “You two better prepare yourselves. It’s going to be a hot and steamy trip.”
It took every ounce of Payton’s strength not to react to that.
Twenty-one
THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT set Payton’s meal down in front of her.
“And one vegetarian entree for you,” she said efficiently before turning to serve lunch to the passengers across the aisle.
Seated next to Payton, J.D. didn’t even bother to look up from his Wall Street Journal.