“That looks like my handwriting, but maybe it’s my wife’s. After a while, when you’re married, your handwriting looks the same.”

“Your wife wrote this note about investing in internet stocks, citing this Business Week article?”

“My wife is a brilliant woman.” He winked at her. “But I think I wrote that particular note.”

“Is this your handwriting and your note?” she asked. His foot was tickling her leg. Playing dirty. So distracting. More distracting than I would’ve thought possible. She looked away from his face and at the painting on the wall to collect her thoughts.

“Yes.”

“There are pages of notes, aren’t there?” She took more napkins from the coffee table and showed them to him. He examined the napkins seriously.

“Yes.” He shuffled the napkins, took one out, and peered at it closely. “But those are my notes from listening to the investment advisor. I just wrote down what he said.”

“Really? It doesn’t look like that. It looks like these are your own research. See this notation here.”

“Yes, I did research that.”

“And did you invest in all the stocks the investment advisor recommended?” she asked.

“I think I did.”

“It looks like he recommended some energy stocks, and you didn’t invest in those.”

“I didn’t?”

“No, you didn’t,” she said.

“Oh yes, I thought that energy was not going to do well. And I was right.”

“So, you made your own decisions?”

“Yes, sometimes.”

“And you decided to invest in Popflicks, right?” she asked.

He hesitated.

She said sternly, “Remember, you’re under oath.”

“Yes,” he said.

“No further questions.”

“Great job.” He pulled her onto his lap and she leaned against him.

“That was a good twist with your saying his notes were just his investor’s recommendations. I wasn’t expecting that,” she said.

“Keeping you on your feet. Could he say that?”

“I don’t think so. It’s pretty clear that his notes are his own research. I don’t get the impression he used his investment advisor much. But I should have been more ruthless. I had you in several lies. I need to milk that and stretch it out so the jury doesn’t miss that you are lying. I should ask Mohan to practice with me. Thanks.” She kissed him. “Are you sure you’re not a lawyer?”

“Positive. Just seem to like to hang out with them.” He nuzzled her neck. It tickled and she shivered. “Mmm, I missed you. I enjoyed skiing with the guys, but I hope next time you can come.”

She lifted her face up to his and looked into his eyes. Jake ran his hand through her hair. She could feel herself relax. She caressed his cheek, feeling the little bristles of his five o’clock shadow.

“I can’t wait until we can go away after your trial.”

“I can’t wait either. And Costa Rica will be warmer.”