1. THE LAWYER

�Richard, you do remember our dinner appointment at seven?�

Her voice came from the inner room as she strode purposefully through it, rippling across the hardwood floor to the ear of her husband, who stood fastidiously straightening his tie in the entry hall mirror. Tranquil blue eyes sought her reflection as she paused in the doorway, dressed in a simple black suit, hair swept back from a face composed into an expression of knowing impatience. Turning down the last of his collar, his hand dropped to the top of the briefcase standing on the side table and he turned.

�How could I forget?� he inquired.

�Don�t be saucy. You know how important it is to me for you to meet him.�

�I�ve managed to go five years without meeting him. It hasn�t made a bit of difference.� Richard had, in fact, been in Europe during his wife�s best friend�s wedding. He remembered it all too well, the case that had taken him beyond international borders. His business took him around the world, contributing to the aristocratic mannerisms that had encouraged many to believe he was downright snobbish. It was more of a reserved nature than genuine snobbery, a fact that only the rare individual perceived.

Charity granted him one of those knowing smiles that always preceded an argument. �Which is precisely why you should make his acquaintance now. You cannot go an entire lifetime without meeting my best friend�s husband.�

�Other husbands do,� he remarked, knowing it was a lost battle. He was right, for she approached and rested a perfectly manicured hand on his chest, sliding it up to tighten his tie expertly.

�But not you,� she replied. Her hand halted on the side of his face and was then removed as she picked up her car keys from the shallow dish on the entry table. The house was large and silent, tranquil beneath the soft heating system and the snow falling outside the window. It was all in cool colors with the occasional dramatic flourish, an ideal depiction of their life together, one of mutual understanding and brief but powerful bursts of energy. He was rarely in it, his work in the DA�s office preventing lengthy times at home, and for the most part she kept to the upper quarters and her writing nook, cluttered with scraps of paper with scribbled ideas on them and notes from her editors.

Richard looked at her concernedly. �I just don�t want you to be disappointed if we don�t get on. It�s not as if we share anything in common.�

�I don�t care about that,� she quipped as he assisted her with her coat. �I cannot wait to see how well you disguise detesting one another: the British implant and the All-American boy. Like oil and water. I�m going to enjoy this.�

�Oh, that makes me feel much more at ease.� Richard gathered up his briefcase and followed her down the long corridor to the garage, checking the front door to make certain it was locked.

�Look on the bright side,� she replied, her hand on the garage door. �It cannot be any more painful than facing Judge McFadden in court.� She entered the garage, flipping on the light and starting up the double doors. Richard locked the house door after them, then walked over to the expensive European car parked beside her sporty two-door.

�I�ll meet you there,� she said, throwing her things inside. �I have to run some errands after my meeting. You did call and make reservations?�

�Our usual table. Do be careful driving today. The sleet may be bad on the highway. I want you to show up at dinner in one piece. I would hate to suffer through it without you.�

�I�ll be careful.� Charity slipped behind the wheel, put it in reverse, and waved as she drove down the snow-coated street. Richard stared after her, shook his head, and wondered what she had gotten him into.