Friends With Benefits by Kelly Jamieson Page A

she tried her new massage oil on you?”
    “No…I don’t think so.”
    Kerri nodded thoughtfully. “Probably too feminine a fragrance for you. You’ll have to check with her about some of the other oils she has.”
    Mitch wrinkled his forehead. What the hell was she talking about? Oils?
    “So,” Jack said, turning to Mitch. “I hear you’re trying some different things in your divorce work.”
    “Like what?” Kerri asked, brows raised, looking from Jack to Mitch.
    Mitch sighed. “I’ve been doing more and more dispute resolution work for couples that are divorcing.”
    “Oh. But do they still get divorced?”
    He laughed. “Well, yeah. I’m not a marriage counselor. I was getting frustrated at all the animosity and ugliness so I started trying to use some conflict resolution stuff to help them work things out. Not resolve their marital issues, although I have to say it has happened a couple of times. Mostly I just try to help work out how to divide assets, custody, stuff like that.”
    “Oh. That’s what you were talking to my dad about last weekend.” He nodded. “I know you were getting a reputation as someone who could work any kind of deal out, no matter how bitter the couple was. So you’re actually doing more of that.”
    He nodded again, her words warming him, and she met his eyes.
    “Wow,” she said. “That’s really different for you. I thought all lawyers wanted to drag things out as long as possible so they could make as much money as they could.”
    He let his breath out in a deflated whoosh. “You have such a high opinion of me.”
    “So, what would be your advice to couples?” Jack asked. “Litigation? Mediation?”
    “My advice would be to not get married,” Mitch said dryly, and everybody laughed. “Seriously. If they could only hear the horror stories of the hatred and destruction divorcing couples inflict on each other, they might think twice about getting married. They think they love each other and they don’t believe that in a few years, they’ll be emotionally and physically beating each other up, spending thousands of dollars fighting over a five-hundred-dollar painting or a dog, or accusing the other of child molestation or being a drunken slut.”
    He felt Kerri’s eyes on him and glanced at her. She’d heard this stuff before, no surprise to her. But her eyes flashed and the corners of her mouth tipped down.
    “You’re so cynical,” she said, everyone standing there listening. “You shouldn’t be talking like that in front of Hailey and Miguel. They’re getting married in two weeks. We should all be happy for them. So listen. Why does California have the most lawyers in the country while New Jersey has the most toxic waste sites?” She waited a beat.
    No, Kerri, not now. He sighed inwardly.
    “New Jersey got first choice.”
    Everyone laughed.
    “What’s the difference between lawyers and accountants?”
    The others all grinned. “At least accountants know they’re boring.” They laughed again, except Mitch, who grimaced. She looked at him, shaking her head, a little smile playing on her pretty mouth. She continued, “What’s wrong with lawyer jokes?” She paused. “Lawyers don't think they’re funny and no one else thinks they’re jokes.”
    More laughter followed, and now Mitch shook his head, trying to be a good sport, but damn, these lawyer jokes were getting to him. It was fine when he knew she was just teasing him, but lately she’d been so cool to him it was tough to take it in a light-hearted vein. Sparks shot between them as they exchanged a glare.
    “Would you two just stop it!” Hailey burst out. The group grew quiet. Kerri and Mitch both looked at her, startled.
    “Uh…stop what?” Kerri asked, glancing at Mitch.
    “What is with you two?” Hailey looked from one to the other. “Last night you two just kept at each other, pushing each other’s buttons, and tonight it’s even worse.”
    “That’s how we talk to each