Starting Now (Blossom Street #9)(95)

Phillip reached for his wineglass. “I don’t have to go back to the yarn store, do I?”

“Would that be such a sacrifice?” She looked up at him and smiled beguilingly, or as close as she could get to beguiling.

“No, I guess not.”

He didn’t look or sound convinced.

“It would help if you chose the yarn, too.”

Phillip folded the dishcloth and set it aside. “I hate to tell you this, but I know next to nothing about yarn.”

“The color, sweetheart. I know you’re partial to blue.”

“I am.” He frowned, bunching his brows together in a single jagged line. “How’d you know that?”

“You’re not serious, are you? Nearly all your shirts are blue.”

“They are?” He seemed shocked.

“Yes, and the color goes very nicely with your eyes.”

He grinned then, accepting the compliment with ease. “Lots of women tell me so.”

She jabbed his arm and he pretended to be hurt. “Come over here and sit down with me and we can look through a few patterns.”

He dutifully followed Libby into the living room. She brought out the pattern book she’d bought and handed it to Phillip. It took him all of five minutes to choose a V-neck sweater.

“Now, about this sweater you’re knitting for me.”

“Yes?” She looked up and blinked at him several times, flirting outrageously. She felt better when she was with Phillip; the ache in her heart hurt less when he was at her side, and for a while she was able to forget.

“It seems to me knitting a sweater involves a lot of work.”

“It is a huge undertaking. Margaret actually suggested I should have an engagement ring on my finger before I purchase the yarn. It’s an investment, you know.”

“The ring or the yarn?” he asked, and his eyes danced with merriment.

She smiled. “Both, actually.”

Phillip exhaled as though giving the matter serious consideration. “It’s a little soon for you to think about dragging me to the altar, don’t you think?”

“Drag you to the altar? Oh, honestly, that’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever said.”

“Okay, okay. I just want to be sure we understand each other. Is this sweater your way of saying our relationship shows … promise?” He cocked his eyebrows with the question.

“Well,” she murmured, hesitating. “Truth be told, I could easily see the two of us making a life together. We aren’t kids. We both know what we want in life. Right?”

Phillip responded with an agreeable nod. “I definitely know what I want.”

She waited for him to continue and when he hesitated, she prodded. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense.”

Smiling, he gathered her into his arms. “It should be obvious by now, Libby Morgan. I want you.”

Chapter 36

The next day, Libby was busy at her desk when her receptionist announced that Hershel Burkhart was on the line for her. Straightening, Libby stared down at the phone, hardly able to think. Well, there was no time like the present to find out what he wanted. Libby reached for the phone. “This is Libby Morgan.”

“Libby.” Hershel greeted her warmly. “How good to hear your voice. I’m checking in to see how everything is going for you.”

Though their last two conversations had been strained, at best, Libby still felt plenty of respect for this man who’d mentored her. After a brief hesitation on her part, she updated him on recent events. She felt proud to be able to mention the two new clients she had recently acquired. She didn’t mention anything about the failed adoption.

“I’m so pleased to hear how well you’re doing,” he continued. “Martha Reed was in recently and she told us how very proud of you she is.”

Libby hadn’t always thought kindly of her time with her former firm, but she was getting beyond the disappointment and bitterness she’d experienced when Hershel had reluctantly let her go. For one thing, she was a survivor. The last six months had proved as much. And for now, she had plenty of work and more coming in every day. Already she had retainer clients and more were sure to follow. Word of mouth had spread quickly. Her rates were more reasonable than those of the larger law firms with higher overhead. If she continued to take on new clients, then she would need to think about hiring a paralegal.

Knowing Hershel hadn’t phoned to exchange chitchat, she asked, “What can I do for you?”

“Would it be convenient for you to stop by the office one day this week?”

This was getting all the more intriguing.

“For?”

“The other partners and I would like to have a chat with you.”

Libby sat up straighter. “About?”

“I’d rather not do business over the phone. I think you’ll be pleased, Libby. Now what day would be convenient?”

Libby hesitated and then, smiling to herself, she said, “Let me check my schedule.” She placed him on hold and kept him waiting for a couple of moments. When she reconnected she said, “I could stop by Friday, say around five.” She’d made it deliberately late in the afternoon so she could work for as long as possible.

“We’ll see you Friday at five,” he repeated. “As I said, I think you’ll be pleased.”