The old boys’ club. Elite athletes had a bond. Their sense of brotherhood lasted a lifetime. If Law chose Zen over her, so be it. She had other clients, including Randall Burton Lawless.
The thought of the older man drew her smile as she sipped her espresso, strong, hot, restorative. A bite of muffin, and she moaned. There were magic ingredients in Jacy’s recipes. Cat soon felt herself again.
Wide windows allowed her to catch the action on the street. Things started jumping when James Lawless left Driscoll Financial with Bouncer at his side. Law’s strides were athletic, long, and purposeful. The sun glistened all around him, marking him a golden boy. Justin Strumm lagged behind, appearing rushed and harried.
“You’re staring a hole through my window.” Jacy Kincaid crossed the shop to chat with Cat. She leaned an elbow on the window frame of the Roadster and winked. “Bouncer’s one fine-looking dog, don’t you agree?” she asked, tongue in cheek.
“If you’re into muscle and attitude.”
“The total package can frustrate a woman.”
“Frustrate and hurt,” Cat admitted.
Jacy’s eyes widened. “What’s Law done?”
Cat seldom shared confidences outside her family, but Jacy was here now, and she was known to keep a secret. “He wants to work with Zen or another male associate over me.”
Jacy looked confused. “Zen, I can understand. Ballplayers are often as close as brothers. But another male associate? Totally insane. You’re the whiz kid at the firm. Zen talks you up every chance he gets.”
Cat was as puzzled as Jacy. “I officially met Law yesterday, and we got along well. This morning, he dumped me. I heard Law request a new associate from behind Zen’s office door.”
“You were spying?” asked Jacy.
“Walking by. Their conversation slipped through the cracks.” She worked her bottom lip. “I played my hand first. I gave him Justin Strumm.”
“Justin?” Jacy covered her mouth, fighting a grin. “The man’s inflated with his own importance. He and Law will butt heads.”
“I hadn’t meant for there to be conflict,” Cat said. “Justin gets along well with older clients. He was the only one in the office not in a meeting.”
Jacy scrunched her nose. “Law’s an enigma,” she confided. “He’s gorgeous, generous, and women love him. The man’s got edge.”
Edge? Cat blinked. Randall had used the same word to describe her. Maybe she and Law were more alike than either of them thought.
“Law gets down and dirty playing ball, then slips into a tux for social galas,” Jacy continued. “He doesn’t get serious or share confidences. Most people like to talk about themselves, whereas Law is very private. According to Risk, Law’s past is totally off-limits.”
Cat took a sip of her espresso. Their discussion of Clone Man had opened Law’s childhood wounds. The tragedy remained as raw and painful for the man as it had for the eight-year-old boy. Cat wondered if he’d ever fully coped with the loss of his parents and friends. Or if the pain was so deep it suffocated him. She felt compassion for the man. She also knew he’d never accept her sympathy.
Turning back to the window, she saw Law loading Bouncer into a Mercedes GL. The insignia on the front plate read RG-3. Richmond Grace. The SUV belonged to the hotel.
Law lifted the big dog as if he weighed no more than a Chihuahua. The boxer bounced on the backseat, excited to go for a ride. Law soon settled behind the wheel, and Justin retreated half a block and got into a second vehicle.
“They’re taking separate cars?” Jacy questioned.
“They should be riding together,” Cat said. “Dialogue is important. Otherwise Justin won’t close the deals.”
“It appears Law would rather talk to Bouncer,” Jacy observed.
The men pulled their vehicles into traffic. Justin drove a Toyota Corolla and tried to stay on the SUV’s bumper, only to have two cars cut him off. Justin stopped for a yellow light at the corner, and Law continued on.
Justin hit the gas pedal the moment the light turned green. Catherine had never seen a Corolla take the busy corner on two wheels.
Jacy squeezed Cat’s shoulder. “Law’s going to realize that choosing a man over you was a big mistake. And by then you’ll be busy with other investors.”
Jacy soon headed back to the counter. A steady stream of customers were in need of their midmorning caffeine fix.
Cat finished off her muffin and settled deeper in the rumble seat. She’d give herself ten more minutes, then head back to the office. It was time she faced Zen. She’d disappointed him and needed to make amends. She was more than a little irritated with Law for putting her in this position. They’d had no formal closure.
Vintage magazines, newspapers, and journals cluttered the coffee table. She selected Woman’s Home Companion. The laminated vintage pages of the magazine dealt with family meals. Cat took a quiet moment to read the recipes for chicken à la king and Minute Tapioca.
Her contentment lasted only so long. It broke when the Mercedes returned. Catherine strained her neck, but there was no sign of the Corolla. Law parallel parked, then hopped out. Bouncer followed. She wondered what Law might have forgotten in Zen’s office.
He wasn’t after file folders, she soon realized. The man was after coffee. Cat dipped her head and fought for control as Law and his boxer strolled into Jacy’s Java. Cat swore the dog had the athletic strut of his owner. Given Bouncer’s underbite, the dog’s jaw appeared as locked as Law’s own. The man looked ticked.
Cat was in no mood for a confrontation, but neither did she have a means of escape. She’d only draw attention to herself if she tried to leave. Law was too close to the front door for her to make a clean exit.
“My coffee shop has gone to the dogs,” she heard Jacy say as Law neared the counter. “I adore Bouncer, but he can’t stay. Coffee to go?”
Law ordered the Gambler, a black coffee. To-go cup in hand, he turned and scanned the crowd. Foxie took that moment to bark, and Law located Cat. The 1920s recording of “When My Baby Smiles at Me” played softly in the background. A corner of Law’s mouth curved, but he wasn’t glad to see her. The man was all snarl.
Jacy Kincaid looked from Law to Cat, then raised her voice. “Take it outside, you two. No dogs and no arguing in Java.”