Reasonable Doubt Read Free Page B

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    Ignoring the sexual undertone, Ellery handed April a bowl and pointed her in the direction of the large pot of chili. The family recipe was designed to feed a mob, and she’d made enough for a dozen dates, figuring she’d freeze whatever they didn’t eat. As April dished chili into her bowl, Ellery pointed out a line of small serving dishes. “Cheese, sour cream, cilantro, jalapeños. Have some or all.”
    April held the bowl to her nose. “This smells divine. You never said you could cook. Your list of talents seems to be never-ending.”
    “Hardly. I’ve always liked to cook, but I haven’t had time until recently.”
    April ate a spoonful and groaned. “Cooking is all you should do. Seriously, this is amazing.”
    “I’m glad you like it.” Ellery smiled at April’s unabashed enthusiasm. She hadn’t really picked April as the chili type. Ellery had been selling her furniture from a pop-up shop when her friend and former colleague, Meg, stopped by with April in tow. They’d been checking out a fresh juice vendor a few booths down. April, looking like she’d stepped from the pages of a fashion magazine, seemed completely out of place at the outdoor market, but that night Meg called to say that April had asked for her number and she figured what the hell. They’d been on two dates, both of them the kind of dates she’d used to have—high end, high energy, and high profile. Sushi, steaks, champagne, and clubbing. Tonight was designed to see if April would fit into her new life where things were much more low-key. So far, she measured up.
    They sat at a low table by the roaring fire and devoured the chili. April, a cardiologist with a thriving Dallas practice, was keyed up, and she dominated the conversation with stories about her hectic week. Ellery leaned back into the large cushions she’d propped up around the table, letting the heat of the fire and the flood of words flow around her. It wasn’t that April’s tales weren’t interesting, but she feared if she listened too closely, she’d get swept back into the frantic style of life she used to lead as a high profile criminal defense attorney. Too much OPD, other people’s drama, had consumed her every waking moment. For years, she thought she thrived on the constant frenetic energy of her busy practice, but over the course of the past year, the pace had culminated into a series of incidents that convinced her to make a break or lose her sanity.
    Her former law partner, Meg, hadn’t believed her when she said she was walking away, even went so far as to have a new firm logo designed with both of their names and ordered a boatload of new stationary. But Ellery had ignored Meg’s attempts to get her to stay on, paid the cost of the new stationary, and taken the necessary steps to dissolve the partnership. So far, she hadn’t regretted the move for a second.
    “And that’s when I told her no way would I sign off on that kind of procedure,” April said.
    Ellery looked up, oblivious to the subject of April’s diatribe, but certain she was supposed to offer some affirmation. Luckily, the phone rang. April looked toward her cell phone, but Ellery pointed toward the kitchen.
    “It’s the house phone,” Ellery said.
    “Go on and get it. I can check in with my service.”
    Ellery picked up the extension and looked at the caller ID. She didn’t recognize the number, but very few people had her home number so she answered the call. “Hello?”
    “It’s Meg. You throw your cell phone away with the rest of your life?”
    Ellery laughed at the gruff sound of her former law partner’s voice. “No, I’m just not tethered to it anymore. You should give it a try. Might stop you from having to pop antacids like they’re candy.”
    “What, and give up all this glory? Not a chance.”
    “Suit yourself. I’m on a date, so make it quick.”
    “A date? At your house? Wow, you have changed. How will you get her to leave when you’re ready for