by Candy Caine
* * *
Driving home from Flavor of the Week, Raven’s cell phone rang. An unfamiliar number appeared on her screen along with a name she didn’t recognize. Leery that it was a telemarketer calling, Raven nearly didn’t answer.
When she picked up, a pleasant-sounding woman spoke. “Hello, Raven. Most likely you don’t remember me, because you were a small child when we first met. My name is Valerie Straub, I’m an attorney, and I once worked with your father.”
“How can I help you, Valerie?”
“I want you to come to work for me.”
There was a pregnant pause as Valerie’s words were processed by Raven’s mind. “You know I’m not practicing law right now?” Raven said tentatively.
“Actually, I do know. You sent my firm your resume. Straub, Rose, Gottlieb & Price. I’m Straub.”
“Ouch! I really stepped into that, didn’t I?”
“Relax. It’s tough to remember the names of law firms. My guess is you probably sent out resumes to a lot of them.”
“Guilty! But I should have caught the name,” Raven said, relieved that the lawyer wasn’t insulted.
“I figured. When your resume crossed my desk and I realized who you were, I was delighted—to say the least. I did some checking and discovered that you’re very much like your father. He was one helluva litigator.”
“That’s quite a compliment. Thank you.”
“Look, I’m in town and would like to meet you. I haven’t had dinner yet, and when I called your home and spoke to your aunt, she told me she burnt yours—”
Raven began to laugh. “My aunt would do or say anything to get me to practice law again.”
“So does that mean you’ll meet me for dinner tonight?” Valerie asked.
“Well, now that I know there’s no dinner waiting for me at home, your offer sounds like the wiser choice. Did you have a particular place in mind?”
“How’s about eating at the nice restaurant at The Inn?”
“The restaurant in the hotel where my aunt works?”
“Yes. I’m staying in town overnight. I have a deposition in Mineola tomorrow morning.”
“All right. I can be there in about fifteen minutes,” Raven said, curious to meet the woman who’d worked with her father. However, she was even more intrigued by the fact she wanted to hire her.
“I’ll be waiting for you. I’m the tall brunette in a light gray suit with the famished look.”
A law professor had once told Raven that timing was everything, though picking Valerie Straub’s firm out of dozens in Manhattan had to be Providence. It had to be Fate bringing them together. Her dad had hired Valerie, and now she wanted Raven to work for her.
* * *
Valerie Straub was waiting for Raven in the hotel lobby. She was an attractive woman of medium height with straight brown hair that came down to her shoulders. On the tall side, dressed in the gray suit that flattered her curves, she wore low heels and greeted Raven with a warm smile. Large blue eyes peered at her through stylish glasses.
“You made great time,” Valerie said, approaching Raven and shaking her hand. “I’m so thrilled to meet you. The last time we met, you were an adorable little girl with braids.”
Raven smiled at the reference. “So you worked with my dad. You’ve got to tell me all about it,” Raven said.
“I’m starving. Let’s sit down at the table and order first. Then I promise to tell you everything I can recall.” Valerie gave Raven another warm smile and then led the way to the restaurant.
After they were seated and had ordered salads and the prime rib special, Valerie ordered a bottle of wine. When both their glasses were filled, she offered a toast. “To the man who brought us both together.” The two women clinked their glasses before sipping their wine.
The waiter brought their salads and Valerie began to speak. “You know you have your father’s eyes and your mother’s smile. Deanna was such a classy woman. Always knew what to say and what to wear.” Her eyes misted over as she began to speak about Philip Gould.
“Your dad hired me fresh out of law school. Obviously he saw something in me and decided to take the chance on an unknown entity. He became my mentor, and I never knew a finer lawyer. Sharp and always had a strong comeback. But above all, he was truly a gentleman and a kind human being. He possessed an abundance of passion for the law, but was able to temper it with compassion. No one could deliver a closing argument like he. He should have been an actor. Lord knows, he had the looks.
“I learned a great deal from your father. When he died, a part of the firm died with him. I worked hard and eventually made partner, but I needed to branch out on my own. Fighting the “good old boy network” and having to constantly assert myself was wearing thin. Another partner, also a woman, felt the same way. We started our own firm and, fortunately, it has grown. Frankly, I’m surprised you stuck it out so long at Behr, Stern & West.”
Raven looked at Valerie. “I’m curious, why do you say that?”
Valerie took a sip of wine. “The world is not as large as it once was, thanks to social media and lawyers changing firms constantly. Having said that, Greg Behr’s reputation as a sleaze ball is well known. One of the interns working for your firm had the misfortune of being targeted by him. She now works for me. I’m assuming with you being as attractive as you are, Behr might’ve also set his sights on you, making your job more stressful.”
“You got that right. He was one of the straws that broke the proverbial camel’s back.”
Their food arrived and they both began to eat. Valerie broke the silence. “May I ask you a question?”
Raven put her silverware down and looked directly at Valerie. “Certainly.”
“How did you end up working in an ice cream parlor of all places?”
“I take it my aunt told you all about that. She nearly went bonkers when I left my job at Behr, Stern & West.”
Valerie grinned. “She told me all about it, but not why.”
“The ice cream parlor is located on the corner of Northern Blvd., where there is a very long light. I kept getting stuck at that light and noticed there was a Help Wanted sign in the window. One day I went inside and asked for the job.”
“Just like that?” Valerie cocked her head as if waiting for a punch line.
“Yup. Just like that,” Raven replied.
Valerie chuckled. “Well, Raven, I truly would love you to come to work for me. I think you’ll be a lot happier litigating than scooping ice cream.”
“I hope my resume and not my bloodline was the deciding factor in this job offer.”
Smiling, Valerie replied, “Both. To be honest, I did do a little checking. Some of the cases you’ve won were mighty impressive.”
“I’ve got a load of questions,” Raven said.
“And hopefully I have all the answers. First off, you’d be on the fast-track for partner. So ask away.”
“Can you tell me more about your firm?”
“We’re located on Broadway. Most of our clients are large corporations. Like I said, my firm—Straub, Rose, Gottlieb & Price—has grown a great deal. You don’t have to give me an answer right away, if you’d like to check out our specs first.”
“No need for that. My dad already did the vetting.”
A wistful expression fleeted across Valerie’s face. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I’d like to give the owner of the ice cream parlor time to replace me. I don’t want to leave her high and dry.”
“That’s understandable. Take whatever time you need. I’d also like you to come into the city to meet the other partners. They can hardly wait to meet you.”
“I hope I can live up to the hype,” Raven said.
“I have no worries,” Valerie said, buttering a dinner roll.
* * *
Driving home from dinner with Valerie Straub, Raven thought about her generous offer to join her law firm. Excitement percolated inside her as Valerie’s words, “fast-t
rack to partner” reverberated in her head. Raven hadn’t felt as wonderful as she had since passing the bar and getting offered a job the same week. Of course, every law position came with intensive work, but after talking with Valerie, she had the feeling she wouldn’t have to deal with unnecessary crap.
If her father had mentored Valerie, she had to be special. Raven smiled as she recalled what Valerie had said about her father and how she spoke with such reverence. Valerie didn’t have to remind Raven what a compassionate man her father had been. He’d worked tirelessly for civil rights in this country and elsewhere. Aunt Dottie had told Raven, “Your father may have had white skin, but his heart was biracial.” Raven was well aware that such a comment hadn’t come easily from her aunt, who’d seen her share of intolerance growing up in Georgia.
* * *
After a night of hallelujahs and thank-God-you’ve-come-to-your-senses comments from her aunt Dottie, Raven drove to Flavor of the Week the following morning. Telling Marge of her decision to leave was going to be a difficult one. In the short time Raven had been working at the ice cream parlor, she’d grown to admire the self-sufficient, hard-working owner.
Marge, being as perceptive, as she was, made things easier for Raven. “Judging by that look on your face, you’re here to tell me that you’re getting married and moving to New Jersey.”
“Not quite, but I am leaving.”
“When I hired you, I knew that this day would come. Though to be truthful, I hoped it would be later rather than sooner,” Marge replied.
“I truly love working here, but I received a job offer I simply can’t refuse. But I won’t leave until you have a replacement for me,” Raven said earnestly.
“Don’t be silly. That isn’t necessary, Raven. We’re coming into the cooler months when business slows.”
Raven shook her head. “I feel it’s a necessity. You invested your time training me.”
Marge nodded. “Going back to being a lawyer again?”
Raven broke into a wide smile and nodded.
“Good. Everyone should do what they love.”
“I honestly loved working here—”
“But it lacked excitement and the passion a woman like you needs. I can definitely relate to that,” Marge said.
Raven hugged Marge. “I’m going to miss you.”
“No you won’t. Especially if you come in for ice cream every now and then. And bring Mr. Vanilla with you.”
Raven felt her face heat with embarrassment. “Before I go, I promise to find you a replacement who’ll make you forget all about me.”
“I doubt that’ll happen, but right now, we’ve got a store to open.”
And Raven kept her promise to Marge. She went down to the local college and found a young woman who needed a job. She trained her herself. There was no way she’d leave that lovely, caring woman in the lurch.
* * *
Susan Smith followed Lucas into his office and took her usual seat. She crossed one of her legs and straightened out her skirt. Lucas took his seat and opened the conversation.
“How are you feeling?” Lucas asked.
Susan shrugged. “I guess the usual.”
“Which is?” Lucas prompted.
“You know.”
“Tell me what you mean. A lot could’ve happened since the last time we met.”
“Well I’m here and not dead, so I guess that’s a good thing.”
Susan never made things easy for Lucas. He had to practically pry everything out of her. This was her fifth session with him and he felt as if they’d made no progress. She was right about one thing, though. She hadn’t taken her life as she told him she’d wanted to on several occasions. Despite that, each time she came to a session it was as if they were meeting for the first time. He never got past a certain point. And sometimes he felt as if she were playing him.
On several occasions she began to babble about how she wanted to hurt someone from her past. No matter how Lucas tried to question her, she would never elaborate. If she had been a victim of abuse or witnessed another’s, he had to get her to talk about it.
He decided to try a new approach.
Chapter Eleven
Lucas generally called during the week to firm up their plans for Saturday night. Raven found herself looking forward to those phone calls and the usual excitement bubbled to the surface when her cell phone rang and she saw his name on the screen.
“Did I catch you at a bad moment?” Lucas asked.
She nearly said that no moment could be bad, but kept that thought to herself. Instead, smiling, she replied, “No. What’s going on?”
“Gee. I was going to ask you that. Now I have nothing to say.”
Nearly laughing, Raven replied, “So it’s goodbye then, huh?”
“Not quite, funny girl. Especially not before I ask how my favorite soda jerk is doing?”
“I’m not certain whether or not you just insulted me,” Raven replied, still smiling. She loved to yank his chain.
“I’m too nice a guy, remember?”
“Only kidding.”
“I know. Say, what do you think about catching some dinner and then coming back to my place for wine and music on Saturday?” Lucas asked.
“Sounds like a great idea to me. I’ll bring the cast recording from the show.”
“You can also listen to some of my mother’s recordings.”
“I’d like that very much,” Raven replied. “What time will you pick me up?”
“Around six-thirty.”
“No problem. I’ll be ready,” Raven said.
They said goodbye. Raven was looking forward to being with him, despite her previous reservations about men and prejudices against psychologists. And yet, a tiny little voice in the back of her head kept whispering that Lucas was just too good to be true. Yes, he was everything she ever desired in a man. He was handsome and attentive on the one hand, smart and quick-witted on the other. Not a day went by when she didn’t think of him. Her whole being seemed to be filled with waiting for him to touch her. She fantasized making love to him in her daydreams as well as her nightly ones. So why was the little voice in her head telling her that the minute she let him under her skin, she was a goner?
It had been more than a month since he’d walked into Flavor of the Week and a little less time since they began to date, but Lucas had been a gentleman. From her experience, most of the guys she dated were all over her by the second date and she had to fend them off. However, they’d taken things slow, even after the night they nearly made love right outside her door, even though all she thought and cared about was making love with him. How she wished she had her own place so they wouldn’t be exhibitionists putting a show on for any passerby. Then she remembered they’d had the proper time and place that same night and probably would have slept together, but she had to go and spoil things by falling asleep.
Then again, despite the fact she’d convinced herself that she’d finally found the man of her dreams, the dumb, pesky, little pain-in-the-ass cautionary voice inside her head squealed, reminding her it was all too good to be true. It filled her head with terrible thoughts—he was secretly married, bisexual, or a womanizer. But Raven had grown tired of that little voice of doom and decided not to allow it to ruin things for her. Try as it may, that little voice couldn’t stop her from running her hands through his hair or squeezing those tight buns that filled his jeans so perfectly. Or prevent her from jumping his bones every night in her dreams. Hell, she’d made love to him so many times in those dreams that just thinking about them could bring on an orgasm.
On first glance, her wanton yearnings appeared to be the result of not having been with a man for so long, but taking another look, it was definitely much more than that. Lucas Lusk had somehow pierced her armor and gotten under her skin. Now every time his gaze met hers, her heart turned over in response. Nor was she blind to his attraction. There were times when she noticed him watching her intently, causing her insides to melt as the
anticipation of making love with him built and built.
Saturday night she intended to learn everything there was to know about Lucas Lusk.
* * *
Lucas had noticed the lightness in Raven’s voice. He knew the reason why because Dottie had called him earlier that morning to tell him that her niece had regained her senses and had taken a job at another law firm. The joy in Dottie’s voice was unmistakable. Happily, the job had come along sooner rather than later.
Raven. All Lucas thought about whenever his mind wandered—and it wandered a great deal—was Raven. It had been a colossal struggle for Lucas to refrain from touching Raven. From the moment he first saw her picture, he’d known he wanted her. He hadn’t thought it possible for him ever to desire another woman as much as he’d once desired Heather. The replay of having his heart ripped out of his chest and trampled on had prevented him from making any such overtures. By dating mainly for sex or the relief from boredom, he’d protected his heart. If he kept his feelings to himself and didn’t bare his soul, he felt he could never be hurt again. Unfortunately, it was a lonely way to live. And definitely not the kind of life he wanted to continue.
Lucas had come from a loving family and desired to have one of his own. This love was able to sustain itself even after the trauma of his brother’s death in an auto accident. Instead of tearing them apart, the loss brought him and his parents even closer. This was what life was all about. He’d wanted that house in the suburbs surrounded by the white picket fence with the barbecue and the swing set filled with happy children. Watching his children grow alongside the woman he loved. It was the life he once thought he’d have with Heather, but she’d nearly destroyed him with her promiscuous lifestyle. The things she did that he found out about later made him sick. His friends had thought it best to shield him. Too bad they hadn’t told him sooner—especially before the endless parade of men and women she’d brought into their bed.
Raven appeared to be different, but he was still a little apprehensive to let his entire guard down, just the same. It became an epic struggle, though. He found her charming and irresistible. Just touching her hand proved to be electric, causing his heart to beat erratically. Her kisses weren’t enough any longer, and he needed more. But one question always remained. How far should he go? Could he trust her to be true to him?