The Wife Stalker(5)

“I understand. Would you like to join me for some lunch here before you go? After all, you’ve already paid for it.”

He tilted his head. “Tell you what, tofu and green drinks are not really my thing. Why don’t you let me buy you lunch at the Spotted Horse? You do eat regular food, right?”

She laughed. “That I do. I’d love to. Let me just tell Zodiac that I’m leaving.”

He raised his eyebrows. “That’s a made-up name, right?”

She shrugged. “Probably. Good one for a meditation instructor, don’t you think? Meet you in the parking lot.”

Piper stopped by her office for her purse and to freshen up, and when she exited the building, he was waiting for her by his Mercedes. When she approached, he walked to the passenger’s side and opened the door for her. She slid into the supple leather seat and felt butterflies taking flight in her stomach again. She hadn’t been this attracted to someone since Matthew. Her eyes were drawn to his hands on the steering wheel, his long and elegant fingers, and she found herself imagining what they would feel like on her body. Stop it, she scolded herself.

They sat at an outside table, under the orange awnings. Piper looked at the menu, but her stomach was in such a flutter she wasn’t sure she could eat anything. “I think I’ll just have one of the small plates,” she said.

“Really? I’m starving. All that meditating made me work up an appetite.” They both laughed.

“I’m sorry you didn’t like the class,” she said after they’d ordered. “Have you ever done meditation on your own?”

“No. I have to say I don’t see the point of it.”

She nodded. “I think many people feel that way until they try it. I’m sorry this wasn’t a good experience for you today. What were you hoping for?”

He looked away for a moment and then turned his eyes back to her. “I guess I was hoping for some relief.” He paused. “I’ve gone through a rough patch the last few months. But I’m feeling hopeful again.”

“I’m glad. Fred is lucky to have you as his attorney.”

“I’m going to do everything in my power to live up to his faith in me.”

She wanted to offer him a word of encouragement but didn’t want to seem condescending. Instead, she said, “I’m a great listener. If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m just a phone call away.”

Leo smiled at her. “Thank you.”

The waiter brought their lunches, the roasted eggplant for Piper and a Reuben for Leo.

“I feel bad that you wasted your money on the workshop lunch. You must let me pay for this to make up for it,” Piper said.

“Absolutely not,” Leo said. “I invited you.”

Piper took a taste of eggplant and watched Leo take a big bite of his sandwich. “How is it?”

He nodded his head. “Delicious.”

She leaned back in her chair. “I know you practice law, and you don’t like meditation,” she said, “but what are some things you do like? What’s your favorite book?”

“That’s easy. The Count of Monte Cristo. Yours?”

“The Alchemist,” she said without hesitation. “Your favorite song?”

“Hmm, that’s a little tougher. Let’s see. Hard to pick one, but if I have to, I guess it would be ‘Black’ by Pearl Jam.”

“Oh, that’s a great one. Mine would be ‘Moon River,’” Piper said. He looked a little taken aback, and she laughed. “What can I say? I was born in the wrong decade.”

“A classic,” Leo said. “Movie?”

“I’m a big fan of old movies. I’ve probably seen every black-and-white film there is, and love them all, but if I had to pick a favorite, it’d be Brief Encounter.”

Leo frowned. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.”

“It’s about two married strangers who meet in a train station and fall in love. Very passionate and very sad. And the music! I still get goose bumps every time I hear Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto Number Two.”

He was staring at her with those dark eyes, and she shifted in her chair. “You?”

“Me?” he said.

“Your movie.”

“The Godfather, without question.”

They sat that way, chatting, for over an hour, long after they’d finished eating, and she’d perked up even further when Leo mentioned that he’d become involved with the Save the Sound Foundation in Westport. The organization was now lobbying for a bill that would prevent people from using pesticides on their lawns if they lived within a thousand feet of any waterway.

“It’s infuriating when I’m walking in the beach neighborhoods and I see those little yellow signs on lawns. Don’t they realize that poison runs right into the water? The same water my children swim in.” He shook his head.

“I completely agree. Pesticides are one of the reasons I buy only organic produce. And I never use that poison on my lawn, especially since I’m near the water.”

“A local business owner and a waterfront property holder? We could use another voice like yours at our meetings.”

“When’s the next one?”

“It’s in two weeks. Thursday at seven at the Town Hall.”