P: Waiting on you, Pretty Boy...
C: Heading home from golf now. How’s three o’clock at Palmetto Coffee?
P: You know my price of admission. One dick pic, please.
C: You owe me some answers first.
P: I know your full set of terms and as discussed, I have agreed. Proceed with your questions and I shall provide you with answers. Then you’re gonna send me a you-know-what of your you-know-who.
C: Unlimited questions?
P: I’ll give you three.
C: Deal. But you have to be honest. I’m almost back.
Perdie rubbed her hands together in anticipation, and looked up to see both Lucille and Noah staring at her. “What?”
Lucille nodded. “This is about Carter. She’s got it bad.”
Perdie’s jaw dropped. “Lucille.”
Noah was unperturbed. “He’s assigned to my case as well, correct?”
Lucille slapped him on the arm. “That’s right. It’s like one of those legal dramas where everyone is super sexy.”
Noah nodded sagely. “He does indeed look like a movie star.”
On a reflex, Perdie snapped, “Oh fuck off.” Then her eyes went wide. Noah was her friend, but she would be wise not to push the boundaries of civility directly after he had signed on as her client.
But Noah wasn’t offended. In fact, he laughed, shaking his head. “Can I confess something to you both?” The color in his cheeks was high from the liquor, and merriment danced in his eyes.
Perdie shrugged. “Of course. Just nothing illegal, okay? I can’t know about that stuff. I’m not that kind of lawyer.”
Noah leaned back in his chair, setting down his utensils. “You’re the first friends I’ve made since I moved here two years ago.”
Perdie’s face softened. Noah was kind of a teddy bear deep down.
Lucille reached out to rub his arm. “Aww, sweetie, that’s so nice. But sad. But nice.” Her hand went from rubbing to squeezing in a matter of seconds. “Wow, do you work out?”
Perdie shook her head at her friend’s shamelessness. “You don’t have roommates or anything, huh? Why’d you buy such an enormous house?”
Noah glanced down, blushing, as he rubbed his eyebrows. “Call it optimism. I’ve always wanted a big family.”
Perdie raised a brow. “In like a culty way?”
“No, in an I’ve always wanted to be a dad kind of way.”
Lucille was staring at Noah with an inscrutable expression now, but she quickly turned her gaze, grabbing a drink menu. “Another round?” she asked, her voice high.
Perdie’s phone lit up. She pushed out her chair, grabbing the phone. “If you don’t mind, I have to check something for work. Going to run to my car for a few. Order as much as you want...on me. Get the banana pudding, you won’t regret it.”
Perdie shuffled off through the gravel parking lot to wait on Carter. Ridiculous to sneak away but also she was grateful she’d parked in a lonely corner facing a wall, so no one could see her.
Why are you so concerned about being seen, P?
She blushed as she seated herself in the driver’s seat. What kind of salacious things would he ask her? He had a penchant and, let’s be honest, talent for dirty talk. Her stomach flipped in anticipation, and she retrieved her phone from her bag to text him.
C: You there?
P: Waiting...
Her phone lit up. A video call. Again she panicked. A regular phone call she had come to terms with, but now a video call?
Something new every damn time.
She checked herself in the rearview mirror first. Her hair had dried in natural dark waves and she’d donned a tight, thin turtleneck tucked into a pair of black skinny jeans.
With a big inhale, she accepted the call and had to blink twice when the sight of a live action Carter appeared on her screen.
“Are you in a parking lot?” he asked as he made his way through a modern apartment, opening the door to an enormous white bathroom.
“Are you in a bathroom?”
“I’m all sweaty.” He reached behind his head and pulled off his long-sleeve shirt, his broad but sculpted chest completely bare. She could see him working off his out-of-picture pants as well.
“Oh my god, we’re getting right down to business aren’t we?”
He flashed a smile, speaking casually. “So, I used to surf a lot...”
