He smiled and sipped his beer, his gaze meeting hers as his lips touched the rim of the bottle. Her pulse quickened. He asked, “So, you may have met him?”

“This feels like a cross-examination. Are you a lawyer?”

“God, no. Can’t stand lawyers.”

“Lovely.” Just her luck to have an attractive, competent, self-confident neighbor—who hated lawyers.

“Don’t tell me you like lawyers?” he asked in a tone of mock disbelief.

“I am a lawyer.”

He looked surprised, but recovered quickly. “My dad’s a lawyer, so I’ve some exceptions. Do you like being a lawyer?”

“I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t like it.” She crossed her arms. She’d met so many people who hated lawyers on principle, and she’d made it a personal mission to prove them wrong.

“Not doing it just to pay the bills while you plan your escape to something more creative?”

“No.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “And being a lawyer is very creative. What type of lawyer is your dad?”

“He sees himself as the creative type as well,” he said. “He’s a partner at White & Gilman.”

She nodded, acknowledging knowing the firm. She’d been offered a position there but had chosen its competitor, Howard, Parker & Smith, instead. The best of the best.

“Are you trying to make partner?” he asked.

“Yes. Six months until the decision.”

Jake stepped back. “Law firm partner. That’s quite a commitment.” He looked over her shoulder, focusing on something happening in the party. More guests were arriving.

Not wanting to be the one left, she said, “I should continue circulating—with no phone, see!”

“It’s not in your purse?”

“I left it at home.”

“You took my advice?”

“No. Please, I just met you,” she said dryly. After Eve’s rebuke, it had seemed wise to leave her phone at home. And her dress didn’t have pockets.

“Well done, anyway,” he said. A man in a Nirvana t-shirt elbowed Jake gently and asked him the title of a song playing and if he had any details on the artist. Leaving her, Jake said, “Sorry, party duty calls.”

Audrey joined the conversation between Rafael and Eve. They had met before—at a cooking course. Audrey teased Rafael that he must have lots of women after him if he was a good cook. As she talked with them, she couldn’t stop her gaze from following Jake, who was chatting with one of the bartenders by the surfboard. When a striking blond woman in a purple mini dress and gray strappy platform heels came up to talk to him, he looked over at Audrey and winked. She blushed at being caught watching. She turned back to join the conversation with Eve and Rafael, determined to ignore him.

“So, how do you know Jake?” Eve asked Rafael. He explained that they played soccer together on weekends.