Read Online Balancing Act (The Santa Monica Trilogy Book 3) by Jill Blake - Free Book Online
Authors: Jill Blake
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of their lunch from the table. “Let’s get back to work, shall we? We can have this conversation again after you become a parent.”
Though the tone was light, the words still stung. Angie tried to shrug them off as she dumped empty takeout containers in the trash.
Sure, she herself had often commented that she was happy to be the fun auntie. She got to spend time with the kids without having to take ultimate responsibility for their well-being, or giving up her own independence. The best of both worlds.
And there was no question she enjoyed the freedom that came with being a young, single professional. She liked the fact that she could come and go at will, without having to be accountable to anyone for her time. Other than her clients, of course.
But that didn’t mean she wanted to be single and unencumbered forever.
Just for now. Just until she’d gotten a certain arrogant, sexier-than-sin attorney out of her system.
Then she could get back to her real life: working, enjoying her family, and maybe even looking for a man who was interested in settling down and making babies.
“About this plan you have…”
Angie started, then relaxed when she realized that Naomi was talking about the settlement proposal they’d been discussing before lunch.
“What about it?”
“It seems…I don’t know…a little tame.”
“Tame,” Angie repeated, as if she’d never heard the concept. “How do you mean, tame?”
Naomi thumbed through the pages, then stopped to read a particular clause out loud.
When she finished and looked up, waiting for a response, Angie frowned. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing. It’s quite restrained,” Naomi said. “But—correct me if I’m wrong—I thought you were determined to squeeze as much as you could out of S&L.”
Angie skimmed through the list of conditions she’d drafted. “You think I’m going too easy on them?”
“Not necessarily. You’re still asking for some hefty concessions. But you could have asked for more.”
“I want to settle this, Naomi. Not drag it out in perpetuity.”
“Honey, at the rate you’re going, it’ll be the shortest lawsuit in the history of man.”
“If you’re worried about the bottom line…”
Naomi snorted. “Considering we’re just three years out of the starting gate, I think we’re doing pretty well.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“No problem. As long as this—” she tapped the draft proposal “—isn’t your sexual frustration talking.”
“My what ?”
“Oh, was that too blunt?”
“I am not sexually frustrated.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
“I think this is a reasonable compromise for everyone, including Mrs. Callahan.”
“You’re sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Fine. Then let’s set up a meeting and see what the client says.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Even though the day had been warm, with temperatures topping eighty, there was a nip in the evening air that made Angie grateful for the embroidered Pashmina shawl she’d grabbed as an afterthought. Her legs might freeze, but at least the rest of her would be protected.
She smiled and nodded at familiar faces in the crowd as she made her way past the open bar. Across the terrace, she saw her sister-in-law Grace flitting from group to group, exchanging air kisses and no doubt drumming up support for the non-profit clinics that were the beneficiaries of tonight’s fundraiser. Grace’s grandmother, who was hosting the event, presided over an older group of guests seated near the entrance.
Heat lamps and fairy lights lit up the terrace and extensive grounds that overlooked the golf course behind the house. Waitstaff in white jackets and black pants circulated with trays of goat cheese crostini, bacon-wrapped figs, spanakopita, and crab-stuffed mushrooms. In the background, hidden speakers played music from the band she’d seen setting up earlier in the ballroom.
“Having fun yet?”
Angie turned at her sister’s voice and
Though the tone was light, the words still stung. Angie tried to shrug them off as she dumped empty takeout containers in the trash.
Sure, she herself had often commented that she was happy to be the fun auntie. She got to spend time with the kids without having to take ultimate responsibility for their well-being, or giving up her own independence. The best of both worlds.
And there was no question she enjoyed the freedom that came with being a young, single professional. She liked the fact that she could come and go at will, without having to be accountable to anyone for her time. Other than her clients, of course.
But that didn’t mean she wanted to be single and unencumbered forever.
Just for now. Just until she’d gotten a certain arrogant, sexier-than-sin attorney out of her system.
Then she could get back to her real life: working, enjoying her family, and maybe even looking for a man who was interested in settling down and making babies.
“About this plan you have…”
Angie started, then relaxed when she realized that Naomi was talking about the settlement proposal they’d been discussing before lunch.
“What about it?”
“It seems…I don’t know…a little tame.”
“Tame,” Angie repeated, as if she’d never heard the concept. “How do you mean, tame?”
Naomi thumbed through the pages, then stopped to read a particular clause out loud.
When she finished and looked up, waiting for a response, Angie frowned. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing. It’s quite restrained,” Naomi said. “But—correct me if I’m wrong—I thought you were determined to squeeze as much as you could out of S&L.”
Angie skimmed through the list of conditions she’d drafted. “You think I’m going too easy on them?”
“Not necessarily. You’re still asking for some hefty concessions. But you could have asked for more.”
“I want to settle this, Naomi. Not drag it out in perpetuity.”
“Honey, at the rate you’re going, it’ll be the shortest lawsuit in the history of man.”
“If you’re worried about the bottom line…”
Naomi snorted. “Considering we’re just three years out of the starting gate, I think we’re doing pretty well.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“No problem. As long as this—” she tapped the draft proposal “—isn’t your sexual frustration talking.”
“My what ?”
“Oh, was that too blunt?”
“I am not sexually frustrated.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
“I think this is a reasonable compromise for everyone, including Mrs. Callahan.”
“You’re sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Fine. Then let’s set up a meeting and see what the client says.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Even though the day had been warm, with temperatures topping eighty, there was a nip in the evening air that made Angie grateful for the embroidered Pashmina shawl she’d grabbed as an afterthought. Her legs might freeze, but at least the rest of her would be protected.
She smiled and nodded at familiar faces in the crowd as she made her way past the open bar. Across the terrace, she saw her sister-in-law Grace flitting from group to group, exchanging air kisses and no doubt drumming up support for the non-profit clinics that were the beneficiaries of tonight’s fundraiser. Grace’s grandmother, who was hosting the event, presided over an older group of guests seated near the entrance.
Heat lamps and fairy lights lit up the terrace and extensive grounds that overlooked the golf course behind the house. Waitstaff in white jackets and black pants circulated with trays of goat cheese crostini, bacon-wrapped figs, spanakopita, and crab-stuffed mushrooms. In the background, hidden speakers played music from the band she’d seen setting up earlier in the ballroom.
“Having fun yet?”
Angie turned at her sister’s voice and
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