find Ken staring at her when he thought he was unobserved, and there was an expression on his face that Jennifer found hard to define. She knew Ken was lonely, although he never talked about any of his friends and never discussed his personal life. She could not forget what Otto had told her, and she wondered whether Ken himself knew what he wanted out of life. She wished that there were some way she could help him.
It seemed to Jennifer that Friday was never going to arrive. As her dinner date with Adam Warner drew closer, Jennifer found it more and more difficult to concentrate on business. She found herself thinking about Adam constantly. She knew she was being ridiculous. She had seen the man only once in her life, and yet she was unable to get him out of her mind. She tried to rationalize by telling herself that it was because he had saved her when she was facing disbarment proceedings, and then had sent her clients. That was true, but Jennifer knew it was more than that. It was something she could not explain, even to herself. It was a feeling she had never had before, an attraction she had never felt for any other man. She wondered what Adam Warner’s wife was like. She was undoubtedly one of the chosen women who, every Wednesday, walked through the red door at Elizabeth Arden’s for a day of head-to-toe pampering. She would be sleek and sophisticated, with the polished aura of the wealthy socialite.
On the magic Friday morning at ten o’clock, Jennifer made an appointment with a new Italian hairdresser Cynthia had told her all the models were going to. At ten-thirty, Jennifer called to cancel it. At eleven, she rescheduled the appointment.
Ken Bailey invited Jennifer to lunch, but she was too nervous to eat anything. Instead, she went shopping at Bendel’s, where she bought a short, dark green chiffon dress that matched her eyes, a pair of slender brown pumps and a matching purse. She knew she was far over her budget, but she could not seem to stop herself.
She passed the perfume department on the way out, and on an insane impulse bought a bottle of Joy perfume. It was insane because the man was married.
Jennifer left the office at five o’clock and went home to change. She spent two hours bathing and dressing for Adam, and when she was finished she studied herself critically in the mirror. Then she defiantly combed out her carefully coiffured hair and tied it back with a green ribbon. That’s better, she thought. I’m a lawyer going to have dinner with another lawyer. But when she closed the door she left behind a faint fragrance of rose and jasmine.
Lutèce was nothing like what Jennifer had expected. A French tricolor flew above the entrance of the small town house. Inside, a narrow hall led to a small bar and beyond was a sunroom, bright and gay, with porch wicker and plaid tablecloths. Jennifer was met at the door by the owner, André Soltner.
“May I help you?”
“I’m meeting Mr. Adam Warner. I think I’m a little early.”
He waved Jennifer toward the small bar. “Would you care for a drink while you are waiting, Miss Parker?”
“That would be nice,” Jennifer said. “Thank you.”
“I’ll send a waiter over.”
Jennifer took a seat and amused herself watching the bejeweled and mink-draped women arriving with their escorts. Jennifer had read and heard about Lutèce. It was reputed to be Jacqueline Kennedy’s favorite restaurant and to have excellent food.
A distinguished-looking gray-haired man walked up to Jennifer and said, “Mind if I join you for a moment?”
Jennifer stiffened. “I’m waiting for someone,” she began. “He should be here—”
He smiled and sat down. “This isn’t a pickup, Miss Parker.” Jennifer looked at him in surprise, unable to place him. “I’m Lee Browning, of Holland and Browning.” It was one of the most prestigious law firms in New York. “I just wanted to congratulate you on the way you handled the Wilson trial.”
“Thank you, Mr. Browning.”
“You took a big chance. It was a no-win case.” He studied her a moment. “The rule is, when you’re on the wrong side of a no-win case, make sure it’s one where there’s no publicity involved. The trick is to spotlight the winners and kick the losers under the rug. You fooled a lot of us. Have you ordered a drink yet?”
“No—”
“May I—?” He beckoned to a waiter. “Victor, bring us a bottle of