Ready for Marriage

Mary Jo wished she could believe that, but it was too late for her and Evan now. Whatever chance they’d had as a couple had been destroyed long ago.

By her own hand.

Her reasons for breaking off the relationship hadn’t changed. She’d done it because she had to, and she’d done it in such a way that Evan would never forgive her. That was part of her plan—for his own sake.

“In some ways I think Evan hates me,” she murmured. Speaking was almost painful; there was a catch in her voice.

“Nonsense,” Jessica insisted. “I don’t believe that for a moment.”

Mary Jo wished she could accept her friend’s words, but Jessica hadn’t been there when Evan suggested she hire another attorney. She hadn’t seen the look in Evan’s eyes when she’d confronted him in the hallway of her family home. Nor had she been there when Mary Jo had introduced him to Gary.

He despised her, and the ironic thing was she couldn’t blame him.

“Just remember what I said,” Jessica urged. “Be patient with Evan, and with yourself. But most of all, don’t give up, not until you’re convinced it’ll never work. I speak from experience, Mary Jo—the rewards are well worth whatever it costs your pride. I can’t imagine my life without Damian and Andy.”

After a brief silence, Mary Jo resolutely changed the subject, and the two women settled down to their meal. Conversation was lighthearted—books and movies they’d both enjoyed, anecdotes about friends and family, opinions about various public figures.

They were continuing a good-natured disagreement over one of the Red Sox pitchers as they carried their plates back inside. Just as they reached the kitchen, the doorbell chimed.

“I’ll get that,” Jessica said.

Smiling, Mary Jo rinsed off the plates and placed them in the dishwasher. She liked Jessica very much. Damian’s wife was open and natural and had a wonderful sense of humor. She was also deeply in love with her husband.

“It’s Evan,” Jessica said, returning to the kitchen. Her voice was strained and tense. Evan stood stiffly behind his sister-in-law. “He dropped off some papers for Damian.”

“Uh, hello, Evan,” Mary Jo said awkwardly.

Jessica’s gaze pleaded with her to believe she hadn’t arranged this accidental meeting.

Andy let out a piercing cry, and Mary Jo decided the toddler had the worst sense of timing of any baby she’d ever known.

Jessica excused herself, and Mary Jo was left standing next to the dishwasher, wishing she were anyplace else in the world.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded the minute Jessica was out of earshot.

“You showed up at my family’s home. Why is it so shocking that I’m at your brother’s house?”

“I was invited,” he reminded her fiercely.

“So was I.”

He looked for a moment as if he didn’t believe her. “Fine. I suppose you and Jessica have decided to become bosom buddies. That sounds like something you’d do.”

Mary Jo didn’t have a response to such a patently unfair remark.

“As it happens,” Evan said in a clear effort to put his anger behind him, “I was meaning to call you this afternoon, anyway.”

“About my parents’ case?” she asked anxiously.

“I’ve talked with my colleague about Adison Investments, and it looks as if it’ll involve some lengthy litigation.”

Mary Jo leaned against the kitchen counter. “Lengthy is another word for expensive, right?”

“I was prepared to discuss my fee with you at the same time,” he continued in a businesslike tone.

“All right,” she said, tensing.

“I can’t see this costing anything less than six or seven thousand.”

She couldn’t help a sharp intake of breath. That amount of money was a fortune to her parents. To her, too.

“It could go even higher.”

Which was another way of saying he wasn’t willing to handle the case. Mary Jo felt the sudden need to sit down. She walked over to the table, pulled out a chair and plunked herself down.

“I’d be willing to do what I can, but—”

“Don’t lie to me, Evan,” she said, fighting back her hurt and frustration. She’d come to him because he had the clout and the influence to help her family. Because he was a damn good attorney. Because she’d trusted him to be honest and ethical.

“I’m not lying.”

“Six or seven thousand dollars is far beyond what my parents or I can afford. That may not be a lot of money to you or your family, but there’s no way we could hope to raise that much in a short amount of time.”

“I’m willing to take payments.”

How very generous of him, she mused sarcastically.

“There might be another way,” he said.

“What?”

“If you agree, of course.”

Mary Jo wasn’t sure she liked the sound of this.

“A summer job. You’re out of school, aren’t you?”

She nodded.

“My secretary, Mrs. Sterling, is taking an extended European vacation this summer. I’d intended to hire a replacement, but as I recall your typing and dictation skills are excellent.”

“My typing skills are minimal and I never took shorthand.”

He grinned as if that didn’t matter. Obviously, what did matter was making her miserable for the next two months.

“But you’re a fast learner. Am I right or wrong?” he pressed.

“Well…I do pick up things up fairly easily.”