Driven to Date Read Online Free PDF Page A

for you.”
    “I appreciate the thought.” I turned back to my yellow pad, dismissing my colleague. Valerie was a good attorney, but she was an avid gossiper and I wasn’t about to give her any ammunition.
    “Ten minutes until we meet Jim’s nephew.” Valerie sighed. “I hope he’s as easy to work for as Charlie.”
    I doubted it. “We’ll find out shortly.”
    “Again, real sorry about the non-promotion.” Valerie fluttered her manicured nails in my direction. “Toodles.”
    I dropped my pencil on the desk. Valerie was the fourth person in under an hour to come by my office and extend their condolences for my dead career. One more sympathy crack and I’d scream. It ranked as fun as attending my own wake.
    Sarah Carlton strode purposefully into my office, dropped the weekend mail into my in-box, then her face brightened. “Love your new ‘do!”
    “Thanks.” I’d spent an hour in front of the mirror this morning, experimenting with my short, blunt cut before settling on wearing my hair down with a zig-zag part. A major difference from the one-minute knot I usually wore at the nape of my neck.
    “The highlights give a nice lift to your eyes.” Sarah ran a hand through her silky brown locks as if considering adding highlights herself.
    I tucked my hair behind my ear, suppressing a smile. A compliment from Sarah was a major coup. Not only was she the world’s best assistant, but she also had impeccable taste. My career may be in the toilet, but at least I looked good.
    Sarah turned to leave.
    “Can you shut the door on your way out?” I picked up the black receiver, ready to punch in my parents’ phone number, and deliver the awful news: Your daughter got hosed.
    “Sure thing.” But Sarah backed away from the door, turned, then leaned over my desk. She looked at me conspiratorially. “Can I just tell you how awful I think it is that they didn’t promote you? It’s obvious to everyone and their mother you deserved that position.”
    “Thanks,” I said, pressing my lips together. I appreciated the loyalty, but each sympathetic remark stung like a dagger stabbing my heart. “I’ll see you in the conference room.”
    Where we’d get to meet the new Managing Attorney. Talk about painful.
    When Sarah closed the door, I set the receiver back down, then stared at the bronzed Lady on my desk, who held the Scales of Justice. I fingered the eight-inch statue—my most treasured possession. It had been a gift from my mom and dad when I’d graduated law school. I’d been so proud at achieving my goal.
    Friday was the first time I’d failed.
    Your life is as you make it. Ryan’s words from Saturday night echoed through my head, and I couldn’t help wishing they were actually true. His passionate kiss had replayed in my mind repeatedly, as well. A delicious moment, but indulging again would not be helpful to my current situation. I’d proved to Madison that I had her vision of the perfect personal life, and she’d told me she’d call me this week. End of story.
    So why couldn’t I stop thinking about him? Remembering the feel of his hot mouth against mine, I shivered. A man never occupied my thoughts like this, and it was more than a little disconcerting. My cataclysmic career failure was clearly wreaking havoc on my emotions.
    Turning my attention back to the Lady, I dropped several paper clips onto the left scale she held. One, lost promotion. Clank . Two, five wasted years. Clank. Three, thinking about sexy Ryan and his kisses. Clank. As the left plate descended, the right side rose—totally symbolic of my life since Friday. Wasted time weighing heavily on the left. This was a visual of what Kristen had said: My life was completely unbalanced.
    What else had Kristen said? Oh, right. I needed to get a life. What did that mean anyway?
    I sighed. Wanting to scratch something off my list before the big meeting, I dialed my parents’ house. The phone rang, then clicked, and my stomach knotted.
    “Ted