Jack with a Twist by Brenda Janowitz Read Free Book Online

child.
    “Well, there’s that,” Vanessa said, “but I meant more like the fact that he’s never home. He’s never there.”
    “Well, yeah,” I said, “and the whole doctor-in-the-house thing.”
    So, Vanessa’s really going through with the divorce. And now the only person she can depend on is me.
    “You can do this,” I say and Vanessa nods unconvincingly back. “Want me to come in with you?”
    “No,” she says quietly, “I think I have to do this part on my own.”
    “Well, I’ll be sitting right here,” I say. “So just let me know if you need me.”
    “Okay.” Vanessa squeezes my hand and I watch her as she walks into her attorney’s office.
    Should I have insisted that I go in there? Vanessa’s been my best friend since our first year of law school and I hate that she’s going through something so painful right now. I should have just insisted that I go in with her. I consider for a second whether I should just walk back there and insist on sitting in on Vanessa’s meeting. But having your best friend bum-rush your first visit to your divorce attorney probably doesn’t set the best tone for an attorney-client relationship, so I opt to stay out in the reception area, like Vanessa’s asked me to.
    As the door shuts with barely a sound, I sit back down and take out some work that I brought with me to do while I wait for Vanessa. I look at my research on dissolution of partnership. My initial research revealed that this was a fairly straightforward case, and I realized why Noah must have assumed that I could take the matter on by myself. Monique’s partnership agreement is well-written and clear—its elegant language should make this matter go smoothly and easily. This research shouldn’t really take very long at all.
    Which really frees me up to do some more thinking about my bridal party: Vanessa will lead the charge as my matron/maid of honor, with the rest of the party rounded out with Jack’s three older sisters. Even though I haven’t met Jack’s older sisters yet, I just know that when our families meet, they are all going to love each other immediately and Jack’s sisters will be my new best friends.
    I walk to the other side of the reception area to get myself a cup of coffee—after all, in one short afternoon, I’ve figured out my entire case and planned out my wedding party. Surely I deserve a snack.
    “It will be easier to start getting over him once you take that ring off,” a strange voice whispers to me as I’m pouring my coffee. I turn around to see the epitome of tall, dark and handsome leaning over my shoulder. As I melt into his hazel-green eyes, it takes me a second to realize that I’m still pouring the coffee. And that I’m engaged. I look down to see that I’ve spilled my coffee all over the countertop.
    What is it with me and coffee lately? I just got this skirt back from the dry cleaners after my last run-in with an errant cup of joe.
    “Me? Oh, no, I’m not getting a divorce,” I say, “I haven’t even gotten married yet! I’m just here to support my friend who’s going through a divorce.”
    “Oh,” he says, already turning to walk away from me, his broad shoulders sinking just the tiniest bit, “sorry about that.”
    That guy was really hot! I think. I guess I’ve still got it! Off the market and still a little heartbreaker….
    I immediately e-mail Jack a message from my BlackBerry to tell him how I get hit on left and right when he’s not around. He e-mails back a very detailed message that explains all of the things he plans to do to me later to ensure that I never ever ever stray from him, not even for one minute.
    I put my BlackBerry away with a smile and scan the room. (What can I say? Some single girl habits die hard….) The guy who approached me isn’t the only hot guy in the room. Everyone in this office is pretty hot, including Vanessa’s divorce lawyer herself, Stephanie Cohen. This would be a great place to meet someone, I