Starting Now (Blossom Street #9)(73)

“Any particular friend?” he prodded, with slightly narrowed eyes.

She wasn’t about to go into details. They weren’t important. “A very good friend, if you must know.”

“Did you have a good time?” he asked.

“Very. You looked like you did, too.” Okay, that was a slight exaggeration.

“Looks can be deceiving.” He offered her a tentative smile. “The whole time I was wishing I was with you.”

“Were you really …?” Her heart went soft with emotion.

“There’s something to be said about … friendship. I missed you, too, Libby, more than I thought possible.”

“Oh, Phillip, I was such a fool. Forgive me, please.”

The smile faded from his eyes and his look grew serious. His gaze held her captive. “It was a good lesson for us both. What we share is special, Libby. We’ve both had time to step back and think this through.”

“I’m willing to give us a second chance if you are,” she burst out, hopeful and at the same time afraid.

He hesitated and then nodded.

Libby held her arm out to him. Phillip gripped her hand with his own. Bending over, he kissed her knuckles. “Okay, tell me who you were out with Friday night.”

“You first,” she insisted.

Phillip grinned. “A blind date. One of my poker buddies set me up.”

Libby looked away. “She was adorable.”

“Was she?” he asked, as if he hadn’t noticed. “You were with Robin?”

She nodded.

His grin grew wide. “Thought so. Why were you walking back to your condo alone?”

“You saw me?” Only now was he admitting that. She felt like she’d been sucker punched. Irritation flared but only briefly. Phillip was allowed that. He’d earned it.

“I saw you standing there on the other side of the street.”

Libby looked up at him and rolled her eyes. “I bet you were on top of the world to see me mooning over you.”

“You were mooning?”

“Big-time.”

“Good, that was what I hoped.”

Sharon entered the nursery just then, and when she saw Phillip, the nurse’s gaze instantly connected with Libby’s. She raised both brows and her lips quivered with a vain attempt to suppress a smile. It looked as if she was about to comment when Phillip spoke. “I’m helping to organize the hospital’s fund-raising dinner next week. Are you interested?”

Posters for the dinner were displayed all over the hospital. The tickets were $200 each, which was more than Libby could manage. But if Phillip was asking her, well, that was a different story.

“I could be,” she said, playing it cool.

“I’ve got space at my table and an extra ticket if you’d care to join me.”

“I’d love to.”

His gaze held and warmed hers.

“Is there any chance we could go out on your sailboat later this afternoon?” Libby asked, remembering that the first time he’d kissed her had been while they were on the water together.

“That can be arranged,” he assured her.

“If you two are looking for privacy there’s a cleaning closet down the hall,” Sharon piped up from across the room.

Phillip jiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Libby laughed. It felt good to laugh and she was excited that Phillip had been willing to accept her apology.

Libby walked on air for the rest of her shift. After she’d finished she met Abby Higginbotham for coffee. “You should attend the fund-raising dinner,” she advised Libby. “You’re looking for clients and I could introduce you to a couple of wealthy prospects.”

“Phillip invited me to sit at his table, and you’re right, it might be a good chance to network.” She should be thinking about Mrs. Reed. The older woman didn’t like to be rushed when it came to making a decision, even a small one. Libby could be patient. But it wasn’t the possibility of getting the older woman as a client that filled Libby’s mind. Instead all she could think about was Phillip. She hadn’t wanted to admit how much being with him meant to her. Now that they’d made up, Libby’s head swam with possibilities, hope, and a mixture of joy and happy anticipation.

Chapter 27

After leaving the hospital, Libby walked to the yarn store. Her step was lighter than it had been in a good long while. She’d be meeting Phillip later at Lake Washington and it was all she could do to keep her feet from dancing down the sidewalk.

She was only a block away from A Good Yarn when her cell chirped. Caller ID told her it was the firm, probably Sarah. Because she hadn’t yet heard from the paralegal, Libby had made other arrangements after meeting with Mrs. Reed. Feeling positive and inspired, she’d leased a space in a nearby office complex that had the advantage of a receptionist. Her services, plus that of the other office equipment, were included in the rental fee.

Once Libby was on her feet, she’d hire a paralegal … and it wouldn’t be Sarah. Despite all the years they’d worked together Sarah hadn’t found the courage to be honest with her—she’d let her silence do the talking for her.

Only it wasn’t Sarah on the phone.

Instead it was the managing partner, Hershel Burkhart. “Libby,” he said, sounding friendly and upbeat. “How are you, my dear?”