“Well, I can’t get into it too much.” His smiled was dripping with a smug arrogance that made her miss John. What is John up to tonight? And where in the hell is Dad? “But you’re just a teacher, so I don’t think you’re gonna blab to the papers.”

“Mmh?” She was half listening.

“Some Podunk town, somewhere downstate, is suing one of my clients for negligence. I’m sure we’ll settle out of court. I don’t expect it to last longer than a few months. Besides, they can’t prove that my client’s medical device is giving them cancer.”

Victoria heard that part. “What?”

He shrugged. “There’s no causation that my client’s inaction caused them bodily harm...or cancer.”

Jesus Christ, who was this maniac Mom set me up with?

“Well, I guess that’s good for your client?” Victoria said, searching for the words to disguise her disgust.

“And good for my bottom line. I’m thinking about taking a trip with my bros to Bali after it’s over. Have you ever been to Bali in March?”

She shook her head. “I’ve never been to Bali ever.”

“You gotta go right after the winter to score those off-season deals. I’ve been twice.”

Victoria blinked. “I don’t really have time for vacations these days.”

He laughed. “Really? You guys get the whole summer off. What are you doing with your time?”

“Scholarship and course prep,” she said through a clenched jaw. “If I’m lucky, I’m able to attend a couple conferences. I don’t think any teacher, k-12 or professor, gets the summer vacation people think we do.”

“Easy, tiger,” Matthew held his hands up in defense. “People make plenty of assumptions about me too. Have you ever heard of lawyer jokes?”

Victoria, who was officially drunk and now past the point of caring, rolled her eyes and made a face. “I’m sure they make you laugh all the way to the bank.”

He shrugged easily. “I am pretty rich.”

“Lovely,” she replied.

“Let’s continue this cross-examination on the dance floor,” Matthew said. “I’m also a fantastic dancer.”

“Uh...”

Without waiting for her answer, he took her hand and dragged her to the dance floor where the smooth jazz had changed to a light bossa nova. Victoria followed because he was actually helping her to stay upright. Her head spun as he pulled her close to his body. One of his hands held hers aloft while the other rested on the small of her back, dangerously close to her ass.

“I don’t think I know this dance,” she said, clinging to his shoulder. The room tilted slightly as they swayed around the other dancers.

“Just follow me,” he whispered in her ear.