Falling for the Lawyer - By Anna Clifton Page 0,52
looks ordinary?
JP noticed Alex and an unreadable expression crossed his face. There was a hesitation in his gait momentarily but he then changed direction to move towards her and her father. At that point Peter Farrer saw him too and Alex noticed the delighted smile that spread across her father’s face.
JP held out his hand and shook Peter’s warmly, keeping his look well averted from Alex’s. It was a stab in the heart but she knew JP would be true to his word of the night before: she was history and he didn’t care if she knew it.
“Are you going to charge me for that handshake?” Peter Farrer asked, his eyes shining teasingly.
“Aye, but don’t worry. Family of staff are entitled to a discount,” JP quipped back quickly, his mouth playing with a smirk before adding, “Four hundred an hour for you.”
“Oh no!” Alex’s father responded, laughing brightly.
“I didn’t think you’d be back until lunchtime,” Alex broke in, her voice barely concealing its nervous tremor.
JP turned towards her slowly as though reluctant to expend the effort on the movement, his cutting look finally slashing a swathe of agony through her insides. “I saw the client again early this morning. I can do the rest from here. How’s Mrs Farrer?” JP turned back to Alex’s father.
“She’s well. She would have liked to have seen Alex too but she’s in the dentist’s chair.”
“Why don’t you bring her here afterwards? Have you seen where Alex works, through those doors?”
“No we haven’t but we’d better not today. We have a train to catch.”
“Maybe some other time then.”
“That would be terrific,” Peter replied before changing tack and asking whether JP had seen the soccer on the TV late the night before, a mutual passion they’d discovered when JP had been at his home.
JP flashed the briefest of blue-eyed looks at Alex who could feel the blush spreading up her neck, through her cheeks and into the roots of her hair. “Ah … no,” he began hesitantly. “It wasn’t on until after midnight and I was … fully occupied at that time.”
“You missed a great game. A great game.” Peter Farrer effused.
JP and Peter chatted for a few minutes about the respective strengths and weaknesses of various football teams. Meanwhile, Alex began to fidget and glance around; JP had an office to run and yet he seemed completely comfortable about whiling away his time with his PA’s father so that he could discuss football!
“Hang on, I’ve just remembered something,” JP declared and reached into his suit jacket for his wallet. After fishing around within it he took out two tickets of some kind and thrust them into Peter Farrer’s hand.
“What are these?”
“They’re for the A-league match at the stadium on Saturday night,” JP explained.
“I can’t accept them,,” Peter protested. “That’s far too generous.”
Alex could tell her father was bowled over by the gesture.
“Of course you can take them,” JP insisted. “They’re corporate box seats so you’ll have a great view. Do you know anyone who’d like the second ticket?”
“Of course, but I can’t …”
“Peter, take them. Please. I’d like you to have them.”
Alex watched as her father gave JP a short, sharp male nod conveying all the gratitude and delight he was feeling. But then JP was excusing himself and without looking at Alex again he disappeared through the door behind them to the back offices beyond reception.
“At the ripe old age of seventy I may have to take back all the things I’ve said about lawyers.” Peter Farrer then turned to Alex and added, “Particularly if my daughter is going to be one.”
Alex looked long and hard at her father. Was this why he’d arrived in her office that morning—to let her know she had his support?
“Nothing’s settled yet, Dad. It may not happen.”
“Well that’s all right, too,” he replied simply. “So long as you know you have your mother and me behind you, no matter what you decide … and that goes for any part of your life.”
“Thank you,” Alex whispered croakily, guessing he was referring to more than just her career choices.
“Your mother told me you’re unhappy. She said you feel we’ve pushed you into certain things,” Peter explained uncertainly. He wasn’t adept at heart to hearts, particularly with his daughter.
“I was unfair to Mum on the phone yesterday,” Alex confessed as she wiped away tears that had sprung up from nowhere. “It isn’t her fault. None of this is her fault, or yours. You and Mum …”
“Alexandra, let me say my bit,”