A Good Kind of Trouble (A Trouble in Twin Rivers Novel Book 1) by Ellie Ashe

mostly his past mistakes. He had never felt more like a heel for not returning a phone call. Christ, why hadn't he just called and said he accepted her apology, that he knew she hadn't Maced him on purpose. Maybe things would have been different.  
    The dinner tonight—take-out Chinese eaten among stacks of contracts—was more fun than their night out at the fancy Italian restaurant. Lindsey was smart and fun, though a little rattled by the day's events. But who wouldn't be rattled by a crazed stalker who had tracked her down twice in the same day?  
    She grabbed her overnight bag after dinner and went to take a shower. Ben tried to put the contracts in some sort of order. The chronology didn't make sense. The city was promising to refinance in five years, but the more recent revision of the contract would have the city refinance in three years—and at a higher commission. The first contract was the better deal for the city, but the city had revised the terms in the latest version—yet the city didn't gain any advantage with the new conditions.  
    The shower turned off, leaving the apartment silent. Why was he putting himself out for her? They’d certainly gotten off to a bad start on their date, but at the Hogans’ party he’d enjoyed her company. She was smart and fun and, man, he really blew it with her. There wasn't much he could do about that now. All he had to offer was his ability to decipher a long string of legalese.  
    He looked up from the stack of contracts and found Lindsey, freshly showered and wearing a t-shirt and pair of shorts. His gaze was drawn to her legs. They were long and tan, and he tried in vain to seem unaffected by the sight, struggling to draw his eyes north to safer territory. Lindsey was watching him, her head tilted and an inquisitive look on her face.
    "I'm sorry, what did you say?" he asked, realizing that he hadn't heard the question she'd asked him.  
    "Is this what you do? Do you write these types of contracts?" She sat next to him and picked up the contract he'd just put down. He could smell the clean scent of soap and a hint of vanilla from her lotion.  
    "No, not really. When I started at Stanton & Lowe, I was in the transactional department, which meant I drafted or reviewed contracts for corporate clients. We've done some work on municipal projects involving bonds, so I sort of speak the language."  
    "So what do you do now? If you're not in the transactional department."
    "I moved to litigation a year ago so I could get more time in court," he said.  
    It had been a move born out of desperation. He so hated the work he did at Stanton & Lowe, he would have taken any lateral move just to get out of his department. The partners he worked with were assholes, and because that was considered a prized personality trait in the firm, they were richly rewarded for their antisocial behavior. But they weren't just assholes to the opposing counsel, they also yelled at their staff, their co-workers, and pretty much anyone who wasn't on the receiving end of a monthly billing statement. It was a toxic environment, but Ben was close to making partner. Once he did, he'd be able to pay off the rest of his student loans in a few years and then reassess his career options.  
    "Do you still hate your job?" Lindsey asked, her voice sweet and sincere.  
    "What?" Ben asked, startled by the question. "I mean, yes. But how did you know I hate my job?"
    "You mentioned it on our date," she said.  
    "I did?" He didn't have any recollection of complaining about Stanton & Lowe at dinner with her, but remembered that the date had come during a particularly stressful time at the firm. He’d also been distracted by Lindsey’s looks and disturbed by the fact that she was paying more attention to the two men at the table behind her than to him.  
    "Yes, you mentioned it a few times."  
    From the way she said it, he gathered that he hadn't only "mentioned" how he felt about work, but had probably