Falling for the Lawyer - By Anna Clifton Page 0,36
her blush to her hairline.
“I think this is a subject for another day,” Mary Farrer announced in a commanding, no-nonsense voice and JP suspected that when Alex’s mother put her foot down, no one crossed her.
The conversation moved on to safer subjects but JP couldn’t deny the relief he felt when he finally got to his feet after coffee and explained he would have to head off.
He farewelled everyone, trying to catch Alex’s eye, but it was useless. She was determined not to look at him. Out of courtesy he asked if he could drive anyone home. There was a silence as everyone looked at each other.
“I said I’d drop Monique home,” Simon explained awkwardly, looking at Alex with an odd mixture of desire and uncertainty.
“No Simon, you take Alex home. I’ll get a cab,” Monique offered
“No Monique, you’re on the way home to Simon’s in the south. I’ll get a cab,” Alex interjected.
“I’ll take everyone home!” Peter Farrer dropped in.
“No old man, you’ll do no such thing,” Mary Farrer protested. “You’ve had too many scotches.”
“Look,” JP stepped in, sensing an opportunity, “This is silly. Alex and I are going north and Simon and Monique are going south. I’ll drop Alex home. That’s the only sensible thing to do.”
The debate raged for another minute but then everyone accepted that JP’s suggestion was the right one. Goodbyes were said and JP was left smouldering with a rare attack of jealousy as Simon took Alex in his arms.
“Can we talk tomorrow?” JP heard Simon ask her, more conciliatory now than when he’d first heard her news about the paralegal program.
“Of course,” Alex replied as she appeared to be trying to placate him with her eyes.
But there was nothing placatory about Alex in his car. She sat rigid and angry—so furious she was unable to speak. JP was unwilling to broach any subject either and the entire journey was undertaken in a heavy silence.
In monosyllables Alex directed him to her home and he complied without response. When finally he slid the car into the kerb he turned off the engine and swung around in her direction.
“Okay. Get it off your chest,” he commanded in a bland voice. “You’ve obviously got something to say.”
She turned to face him, her eyes huge in the dim light of the car, her voice shaking with anger.
“I do have some things I want to say. I want to tell you exactly how I’m feeling and what I’m thinking and then I never want to have another conversation like this ever again. I want you to stay out of my private life. What you said tonight at the dinner table about the paralegal program was more damaging than you can ever begin to imagine. Are you trying to emasculate my fiancé in front of everyone he loves? Simon and I have made our own plans for the future and you shouldn’t interfere with them. I like … no, I’m going to be dead honest with you tonight on every level. I love working with you JP. You make me feel as though I can do anything—be anybody. I don’t want to leave you … I mean my job, but … whenever you’re around I can’t think straight … I have to stop that happening …”
“Alex …” JP interrupted as he reached out a hand to touch her cheek as the fiercest, most compelling desire he’d ever felt for a woman raged within him, but she switched back as though avoiding a slap.
“No! That’s what I mean. That’s the second time tonight something like that has happened. We mustn’t ever touch each other again.”
JP watched her in the half-light. He was losing her again. The brick wall was going up; just as it had the evening he’d offered her the paralegal job.
“Is there a point coming anytime soon?” he demanded in frustration.
“The point is that if we can’t keep a formal distance from one another then I’ll have to go. If you’ve got to get rid of a PA then I understand it has to be me. Don’t put this paralegal thing in place just to fix the surplus staff problem you have.”
“That’s not what it’s about. Do you think I’d cook that up at the expense of my own firm, just to soothe my guilt about getting rid of a PA? You’ve got the makings of a great lawyer Alex, and that’s the bottom line.”
“If I asked for a transfer to another partner but still wanted to take up