“You should go. The food is really authentic – my mom still cooks a lot of it herself – and the place is always packed.”
“If I mention your name, will I get a discount?”
“Do you need a discount?”
“Not really. I’m just wondering how far we’ve progressed.”
“I’ll see what I can do. I’m sure I’d be able to pull some strings.”
By then, they were over the sand and headed for the stairs. He followed as she bounded gracefully down the steps.
“Do you want me to walk you to your car?” he asked, meeting her gaze.
“I’ll be okay,” she demurred. “It’s not far.”
He moved the rod from one shoulder to the other, reluctant for the evening to end.
“If Serena’s going out with her friends, what were your plans for the rest of the night?”
“Nothing, really. Why?”
“Do you want to listen to some music? Since we’re already here? It’s not that late yet.”
His question seemed to take her by surprise, and for a moment, he thought she might say no. She adjusted her purse strap, fidgeting with the buckle. While he waited, he thought again that she was beautiful, her long, dark lashes shrouding her thoughts.
“I thought you didn’t go to bars.”
“I don’t. But we could walk the beach for a bit, listen for something good, and enjoy it where we are.”
“Are any of the bands any good?”
“I have no idea.”
Uncertainty was written on her face before he saw something finally give way. “All right. But I don’t want to stay long. Maybe just a walk on the beach, okay? I don’t want to be down here when the crowds descend.”
He smiled, feeling something unwind within him, and raised the tackle box. “Let me just drop this off, all right? I’d rather not carry it the whole time.”
They backtracked to the restaurant, and once he stowed his things in the employee area, they wandered back down to the sand. The stars were beginning to emerge, brilliant pinpricks in the velvety sky. The waves continued their steady roll and the warm breeze was like a quiet exhale. As they strolled, he was conscious of the fact that she was close enough to touch, but he pushed the realization away.
“What kind of law do you practice?”
“Mainly insurance defense work. Research and depositions, negotiation, and as a final resort, litigation.”
“And you defend insurance companies?”
“For the most part. Every now and then, we’re on the plaintiff’s side, but it’s not that common.”
“Does it keep you busy?”
“Very.” She nodded. “There’s a policy for everything, and as much as the policy tries to anticipate every possibility, there are always gray areas. Let’s say someone slips in your store and he sues, or an employee sues after getting fired, or maybe you’re throwing a birthday party for your son and one of his friends gets hurt in your swimming pool. The insurance company is responsible for paying the claim, but sometimes they decide to fight the claim. That’s where we step in. Because the other side always has lawyers.”
“Do you ever go to court?”
“I haven’t yet. Not for this job, anyway. I’m still learning. The partner I do most of my work for goes to court quite a bit, but truthfully most of our cases are settled before they go to trial. In the end, it’s cheaper and less hassle for everyone involved.”
“I’ll bet you hear a lot of lawyer jokes.”
“Not too many,” she said. “Why? Do you have one?”
He took a couple of steps. “How does a lawyer sleep?” At her shrug, he said, “First he lies on one side, then he lies on the other.”
“Ha, ha.”
“I’m kidding. I’m the first to appreciate good lawyers. I had some brilliant ones.”
“And you needed them?”
“Yes,” he answered. He knew that would trigger even more questions, but he continued on, nodding toward the ocean. “I love walking the beach at night.”
“Why?”
“It’s different than it is during the day, especially when the moon is out… I like the mystery of thinking that anything could be out there, swimming just beneath the surface.”