“Sure. At first I was shocked, which I shouldn’t have been. Then I was hurt. Then I was depressed. And finally I was pissed off.”

“But were you tempted for a while? Even a little while?”

“No. Because she tried to get my business. Half of it, anyway. That just crushed me. And then it really pissed me off.”

“We’re a pair,” Adele said, sipping her wine.

“Tomorrow’s Sunday, not a workday for you. I go in for a while in the afternoon. I have an idea. Why don’t I meet you for your beach walk then take you to brunch? How’s that sound?”

“That sounds very nice, thanks.”

“Now tell me about Justine. Tell me why you were crying. I haven’t seen you cry in so long, I don’t know when. There were times I wished you would just cry. I cry easier than you do.”

“The Descaro women came without tear ducts,” she said.

Adele talked for a while about how fun and yet overwhelming her house was. She loved not being alone all the time, felt she was developing a real relationship with Justine, but at the same time she was crowded, things were always put away where she couldn’t find them, there was never complete quiet and they were four women in a two-bathroom house. Sometimes she thought she would explode. And other times she felt she was finally a part of a family. It was very frustrating and confusing.

She had a second glass of wine and Jake pulled a deli prepared chicken parmigiana dish from the refrigerator to warm it up.

“Is it expired?” she asked.

“Only by a day. Or so. Don’t worry, I have good insurance.”

By the time she was ready to leave, it was getting late. She had walked over so Jake drove her the few blocks home. He jumped out of his truck and went around to open the door for her.

“I had a really nice time. I can’t believe it took me so long to see the inside of your house.”

“Well, you were pretty occupied...”

“Now that I know the way, I may need to escape to your house regularly.”

“I’d like that.” Then he cupped her jaw gently with one of his big hands and brought his lips down on hers. This was not his usual chaste kiss on the forehead or peck on the cheek. This was the real deal. His kiss was powerful and delicious. All of him was. Had it been at any other time in her life, surely she’d have fallen in love with him.

But for a long time she’d been stripped of emotion. She didn’t know if she was ready for this. Before she could truly respond, he pulled away.

“I’ll see you on the beach at sunrise,” he said.

Chapter Fourteen

There was a place just up the coast from Half Moon Bay with an outstanding restaurant. Justine had made reservations for two for dinner. Adele was spending at least part of the evening with Jake, Amber was spending the night in San Jose at a girlfriend’s house where they were double dating to a school football game and then out for pizza or something. Livvie’s boyfriend was coming over to the house, and they planned to watch a movie.

Justine was having her own date, yet another date she didn’t tell anyone about. Having arrived at the restaurant a little early, she went to the patio to take in the nice ocean view. She chose a bench facing the ocean, and the moon cast a lovely glow on the water. The waitress asked her if she’d like anything, and she ordered a glass of pinot noir.

Logan came up from behind and put his hands on her shoulders. He leaned down and gave her a brief kiss on the head. “What are your roommates doing tonight?” he asked.

She gave him a quick rundown as he took the seat beside her.

“You still haven’t told anyone about us, have you?”

“I haven’t been specific,” she said. “I will soon.”

“I don’t think we’re doing anything we should be secretive about, do you? I’ve been single for years. You’re divorced now, and it’s been final for months. We’ve known each other over six months. We’ve actually been talking almost daily for that long. Doesn’t anyone in that house ask you who you’re talking to at night?”

“They might think it’s the TV. But I’m surprised none of them have asked any questions. I think they’re all too busy figuring out their own lives. Does it bother you that I haven’t announced that we’re dating?”

“I just don’t like the idea of being kept a secret,” he said.

“I’m not exactly doing that. It’s just... Well, this is my first rodeo.”

“You’re doing very well,” he said. “I look forward to each conversation, each date. Tell me about your day. Or your daughters. Or anything you feel like talking about.”

“I have an interesting case—estate work for a family with a complicated will and a charitable foundation. The patriarch changes the will about every six months, and the matriarch just trundles along without argument. They spend a lot of time in the office. It appears they’re a little uncomfortable about giving up control and keep coming up with ideas to manage their estate from the grave. Or maybe they just like to talk about it a lot.”

“Clients like that must be like having an annuity,” he said.

“Do you have any frequent flyers?”

“Oh yeah. Mostly jealous spouses. That’s pretty depressing work.”

“So, is everybody cheating?”

“That’s not the depressing part. People are usually jealous for a reason. That’s depressing. If you have a strong instinct telling you something is wrong, usually something is wrong. Or maybe you’re in the wrong relationship.”

“I guess I was too busy to be jealous,” Justine said. “How’s your new place?”

“I like it,” he said. “It’s smaller than I’m used to, but it has a partial ocean view from the back patio. The neighbors are nice, and the town is busy every weekend. I can’t wait to show you. It’s kind of a typical bachelor pad—small kitchen, big TV, leather furniture that can be wiped down easily. Carmel is pricey. I don’t buy my groceries there.”

The waitress brought Justine her wine and told them their table was ready when they were. They entered a casual but well-appointed dining room, nearly every table taken, and settled in to study menus. They ordered then talked about their families, their childhoods, their college years. He told her a lot of cop stories, but she didn’t tell a lot of lawyer stories because corporate law wasn’t a fun topic of conversation. But they agreed on a lot of things, especially the big ones—religion (none) and politics (they had many views in common) and finally books and movies. They enjoyed a delicious steak dinner, shared a couple of sides and nearly finished a bottle of wine.

“It’s kind of amazing to me that we don’t run out of things to talk about,” she said. “We’ve spent hours on the phone and still haven’t covered everything.”

“Now that I’m in Carmel, hopefully we’ll spend more time face-to-face. If your daughters will let you.”

“I don’t think they’d be upset at the idea of me dating. They knew about it when I went to Carmel with you in the summer.”

“But then I was someone you had worked with,” he said.

“I don’t think it would be wise to ever tell them I hired you to investigate their father,” she said.

“It’s irrelevant, if you think about it. I didn’t find out much you didn’t already know. And I’m not pressing to meet them or get their blessing or anything like that. I just think it’s a good idea that your family know where you are and who you’re with. It’s safe.”

“You’re right,” she said. “I’ll bring it up. I’ll tell them I met you through a friend at the Silicon Valley office, which is true. I’ll mention that we’ve been talking and have gone out a few times.”

“Eleven times,” he said. “And I’m starting to wonder what I’d do if I didn’t have more of you to look forward to. I’m also thinking about all the fun things we can do together once your family signs off on me.”

She leaned toward him, her arms resting on the table. “I’m sure they’ll like you, but it doesn’t matter whether they do or not. I get to pick my own boyfriend. I can’t wait to hear what fun things.”

“We might try concerts in the city—the Bay Area books some great musicians. I have a few friends who work security for special events, and I can let them know I’m interested in tickets. We could hit a hockey game in San Jose. They have a great team. Lake Tahoe isn’t far. We might spend a day or two there. And just on the off chance you’re ready...” He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a key card. “No pressure. But I’m crazy about you. I won’t elaborate because I don’t want to scare you.”

“I don’t know how I would have gotten through this madness without our long talks, our eleven dates,” she said. “But it’s not that I’m just grateful, Logan. It’s like I was dragged kicking and screaming into a new life, and largely because of you, I’m growing to love my new life. I never thought I was unhappy, but I recognize I really am happy now. It’s a new state of being.”

“I’m proud of you, Justine,” he said. “I’ve been there. The betrayal and rejection is a terrible ordeal, and you’ve been brave. And strong.”

“I’ve complained a lot,” she said. “I’ve had some dark days. But my new home and new job are just right for me.”

“I wasn’t calling you to help you,” he said. “I’m glad if it did. But I was on those calls and dates because I’m attracted to you. Because I wanted to talk to you, get to know you, spend time with you.”

“I know,” she said. “This can’t be real, can it? That I would fall for the detective I hired to get the dirt on my cheating husband?”

“Stranger things have happened. What should we do now?”