Read Online Balancing Act (The Santa Monica Trilogy Book 3) by Jill Blake - Free Book Online Page B

around her shoulders. “I’m representing a client in a case against the company.”
    “You’re suing Tom?”
    “I’m sure I mentioned it.”
    “You didn’t.” Eva frowned. “I would have remembered.”
    “You’ve been somewhat preoccupied lately.”
    “I can’t believe you’re suing Tom. He’s practically family.”
    “No he isn’t.”
    “Well, maybe not technically,” Eva conceded. “But he and Roger were like brothers.”
    “Roger’s been dead for six years. Don’t you think it’s time you moved on?”
    Eva’s expression softened. “I have. But you don’t write people off, out of your life, just because the original connection is gone. Tom’s a good man.”
    “Yes.”
    “Then why are you suing him?”
    “I’m not suing him per se . I’m suing the company.”
    “Don’t split hairs with me, Ang. I thought you were done taking on cases you don’t believe in. Wasn’t that the whole point of starting your own practice?”
    “Who says I don’t believe in this? Not everything is black and white, Eva. You, of all people, should know that.”
    Eva inhaled sharply and glanced away.
    Angie bit her lip. Eva didn’t deserve her sarcasm. She lowered her voice. “You know I can’t discuss details of an active case with you.”
    “Give me a break, Ang. Whatever you file in court is no longer confidential.”
    “You want the basics? Fine,” Angie said, annoyed enough to put the worst possible spin on it. “S&L is trying to force a little old lady and her dying husband out of a rent-controlled apartment they’ve lived in for thirty-two years.”
    “Really? Why?”
    “They’re clearing an entire block in order to build a new development.”
    “And you’re suing to stop them?”
    “Environmental law is on our side, Eva. Which is a good thing, given what’s going on with the real estate market in Santa Monica. Big developers like S&L are turning the entire Westside into a playground for the über-rich, and people who are on a fixed income, who’ve lived here their entire lives, are getting squeezed out.”
    “What about Prop 13?”
    “It may protect homeowners, but it does nothing for renters like my client.”
    “But wasn’t that her choice, to remain a renter for so long?”
    “It’s not a choice if there’s no affordable housing for sale. You came up against that yourself not too long ago, remember?”
    Eva sighed. “So you’ve decided to fix the problem by going to court.”
    “Gotta start somewhere.”
    “I guess.” Eva scanned the crowd. Her lips quirked. “Let me ask you this. If you and Zach are on opposite sides of the case, why is he looking at you like you’re his favorite flavor of ice cream?”
    “What?” Angie sneaked a peek and swallowed when she saw Zach heading their way. “You’re imagining things.”
    “Really?”
    Instead of replying, Angie grabbed Eva’s arm and pulled her toward the nearby stairs that led down to the lawn. They were nearly at the bottom when a deep voice said from behind, “Good evening, ladies. Mind if I join you?”
    Angie stumbled. A firm hand closed around her upper arm. “You should get rid of the Jimmy Choos, Angel, before you break your neck.”
    “Actually,” she said, with all the dignity of head of state taking the oath of office, “these are Manolo Blahniks, and they’re very comfortable.”
    Eva, the traitor, laughed and leaned around Angie to greet him. “Glad you could make it, Zach.”
    “Eva. You look ravishing as always.”
    “Thank you. Is your dad here?”
    “Not tonight. He asked me to convey his apologies.” He tightened his fingers, preventing Angie from pulling away. “Do you mind if I steal your sister for a moment?”
    Angie glared at Eva, who raised her brows and gave her a tiny shrug. “I have to check on the caterers, anyway. Say hi to your dad for me. I’ll catch up with you later, Ang.”
    With that, she was gone.
    Zach’s thumb brushed the bare skin beneath her shawl. Angie shivered.