The Law of Attraction Read Free

would be interested in you. You’re very pretty and smart.”
    â€œAnd a redhead,” Joe added. “Men like redheads. A lot of mystery there. You know, about whether they’re natural redheads or not.”
    â€œWe’re not going to discuss that, Joseph,” Julie said.
    He gave his wife a whipped-dog look. “Sorry, but it’s true. Anyway…” He looked back at Alisha. “You should do him. If I were a woman, I would.”
    Alisha rolled her eyes. “I’m sure Julie loves hearing that.”
    Joe aimed his grin on his wife. “She’d do him, too. Wouldn’t you, sweetheart?”
    Julie batted her eyelashes. “Why would I want to when I have you, honey?”
    â€œOkay, let’s say you didn’t have me.”
    Julie shrugged. “Yeah, I’d do him. In a heartbeat.”
    Joe turned his attention back to Alisha. “See?”
    Time to quell the conversation before Alisha seriously considered the suggestion. “I don’t do prosecutors, okay?”
    Joe looked somewhat frustrated. “You don’t do anyone, Hart, and that’s your problem. You might be in a better mood if you got laid now and then.”
    â€œAnd you need to lay off her, Joe.” Julie smiled, exposing perfect white teeth to match her perfectly lined lips. “When she’s ready, she will.”
    Alisha wasn’t ready to do anything other than get out of there. But politeness dictated she hang around, at least for a while longer. Yet she found herself enduring the couple mooning over each other like two besotted teenagers, so obviously in love that only a fool couldn’t see it. Even their names sounded perfect—Joe and Julie, lovers extraordinaire. They did include her in general conversation a few times, but only to be nice, Alisha decided. She suspected they’d really like to be home and in bed, carrying on like most happy husbands and wives. That was so far out of the realm of Alisha’s comprehension that she found herself growing suddenly melancholy.
    Everyone in the world, or at least in the bar, had seemed to pair off. Even Billy Wade, who’d latched on to some big-haired blonde. He was singing “Auld Lang Syne” off-key and the woman didn’t even seem to mind. Alisha minded. He was definitely one acquaintance she’d rather forget. In fact, she wanted to forget this whole scene and go back to her apartment. At least there she wouldn’t have to tolerate watching everyone engaged in the traditional midnight kiss when a partial glass of warm champagne was the only thing available to wrap her lips around.
    She pushed her chair back from the table and stood. “Listen, guys, I’m out of here. I’ll see you on Monday, Joe. Bright and early.”
    â€œDo you really have to go?” Julie asked.
    Alisha slipped her coat on and grabbed her purse from the empty chair beside her. “Yeah, I do. I’m tired.”
    â€œI understand.” Julie’s knowing expression said she did. Only a woman could appreciate another woman’s plight of being all alone during a party. “Why don’t you have dinner with us tomorrow? It’s just going to be the two of us.”
    â€œI’ll think about it,” Alisha said, knowing full well she’d already made her decision. As much as she loved being around the Alvarados, she hated being a third wheel more. “I’ll call you tomorrow morning and let you know.”
    â€œBe careful, Hart,” Joe said. “Lots of crazies on the streets tonight. But God forbid, if you are involved in an accident—”he hooked a thumb over his shoulder “—I’ll be sure to call Billy Wade’s number. One-eight-hundred-bad-legal-advice.”
    â€œYou do that,” Alisha said, leaving them with a fake smile before elbowing her way through the milling crowd. Although she shouldn’t do it, she couldn’t help but scan