The Lion Killer (The Dark Continent Chronicles) by James S. Gardner Page B

guests at the top of the gangway. There were handshakes for the men and cheek-kissing for the ladies. The young wives of the junior partners flirted with Max. The older wives of the senior partners whispered to each other about the flirtations. Over the years, some of them had been intimate with Max in an effort to propel their husband's careers, but the passage of time played tricks on their memories.
    Jesse Spooner straightened the lapels on his new Armani suit. Max said something to a man that produced disingenuous laughing. Finally, Max motioned him up the gangway.
    “Jesse, I've got someone I'd like you to meet,” he said, putting his hand under Jesse's elbow. He walked him over to the railing where a woman stood looking out at the nightlights. When she turned around, Jesse felt his pulse quicken.
    “Savanna, I'd like you to meet our newest addition, Mr. Jesse Spooner. Jesse, I must warn you, Miss Williams is one of the brightest legal minds we've ever hired at Turner and Turner. If you'll excuse me, I should get back to my other guests. Why don't you two get acquainted?” Max waved to a couple, indicating he would be with them momentarily. “What's wrong, Jesse, cat got your tongue? Lawyers should never be without words, it's our stock-in-trade. We'll visit later. Savanna, be a dear and look after Jesse.”
    Spooner waited until Max was out of hearing range. His nervousness made the words slippery in his mouth. When he spoke, she started to speak at the same time. “Sorry, you were saying?” he said.
    “I was going to ask you why you decided on personal-injury law. There are more lofty legal careers. Remember, I never said that,” Savanna said, smiling at Spooner.
    “I could ask you the same question. As for me, I turned down the NFL for law-school. I need to take care of my mother before she works herself to death. We were so, as they say in the South, ‘po,' we couldn't afford the ‘or.' When Savanna laughed at his joke, Jesse seemed more self-assured as he continued. “As you know, Max's lifestyle can be very seductive. You sound like you're not happy working for Turner.”
     “I'm happy enough.” Savanna was smiling when she answered him. “I have college loans to pay back. As far as working for Turner, well, let me see. I've been working for the firm for two years, so I guess I've become a regular. Most of the new attorneys don't make it through the first year. I guess it all boils down to if you don't mind being despised by just about everyone in the world, personal injury law is great.” Savanna stopped suddenly. “Jesse, what is it about you? You've got me telling you all kinds of personal stuff.”
    Savanna's skin was black-satin smooth and her eyes were almond-shaped. She wore her hair pulled back in a professional bun, but it didn't detract from her good looks. “You stay put. I'll be right back.” He couldn't take his eyes off of her spherical bottom as she walked away in a self-confident glide.
    Jesse lived with one underlying fear: The fear of losing his mother. As the man-child of the house, he would sneak into her bedroom at night to check on her. This is not the time to get involved, he thought. You've got a job to do.
    “Have you seen enough of the sideshow?” Savanna asked Jesse.
    “Will Max get pissed if we split?”
    “Not really. His show-and-tell is over. You'll get used to these affairs. Say, why don't we have dinner? It'll be my treat. I'd like to do my part in helping your mother.”
    “I'd love to have dinner, but I'm buying. You pick the restaurant. Better make it a cheap one. The new suit cleaned me out.”
    “Where did you grow up, Jesse?”
    “Fifty miles west of here in a town called Belle Glade. I'm afraid I've still got Okeechobee muck between my toes. When I was in high school I drove to Palm Beach with some friends. The cops pulled us over the minute they saw us.”
    “Probably arrested you for having dirty feet,” she said, grinning.
    ***
    Despite the