“Caitlin’s the one who said she wants to keep her options open,” he all but snarled. “She’s considering a job interview with some high-profile law firm in California.”
“It must be quite flattering for her to think a fancy firm like that would be interested in her.”
He snorted. “Much more flattering, I suppose, than having a simple country lawyer interested in her.”
“I didn’t say that. Nor would anyone ever call you simple.”
Nathan pushed a hand through his hair and cleared his throat, suddenly embarrassed to be discussing his personal life with his housekeeper. “It’s up to Caitlin to decide what she wants. I can’t find the answers for her.”
“No. But you can tell her what you want. Might be the answers aren’t all that different.” Fayrene reached for her purse. “Guess I’d better go before I push my nose any deeper into your business. But what’s the benefit of having the wisdom of age if you can’t share it with a couple of confused young people?”
“Now you sound like my mother.”
She smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Good night, Mr. McCloud. I’ll see you Monday, unless you need me beforehand.”
“Thanks, Mrs. T. I’ll…consider your words of wisdom.”
She left him standing in the kitchen wondering just how far apart his and Caitlin’s desires really were.
Lindsey studied Caitlin from across the restaurant table. “Have you decided what you’re going to do?”
Caitlin frowned intently at the menu in front of her. “I’m trying to decide what to order for dinner. I think I’ll have the veal.”
“You know I wasn’t talking about food.”
“That’s all I want to talk about right now. I’m starving.” It was a lie, of course. She hadn’t been hungry since Nathan had stormed out of her office, but she was determined to at least give the appearance of normality this evening.
Lindsey glanced up at the server who approached their table, order pad in hand. “I’ll have the scampi.”
Caitlin felt her throat tighten. She wasn’t sure she would be able to eat a bite. Lindsey hadn’t intentionally tried to upset her, of course, by ordering Nathan’s favorite food. She didn’t even know the choice would remind Caitlin of Nathan. But then, just about everything did.
She placed her own order mechanically, unable to force a smile.
“You look like someone’s twisting a knife in your gut,” Lindsey said inelegantly when the server had moved away. “Are you going to talk to me or not?”
“What do you want me to say? That you were right? I should have told Nathan about Tom’s offer before Nathan found out for himself? Okay, I’ll say it. You were right.”
“He was pretty mad that you hadn’t told him, huh?”
“He was livid that I would even consider looking at another firm.”
“Did you talk to him about it?”
“He didn’t give me a chance.” Caitlin rather viciously tore into a crusty breadstick, scattering crumbs on her bread plate. “He acted like a betrayed lover who’d overheard me setting up a tryst with another man.”
“Interesting. You think he’s jealous of Tom?”
“I don’t know. Like I said, he didn’t give me a chance to explain anything.”
“Well then, you have to make him listen,” Lindsey pronounced matter-of-factly. “Tell him how you feel. About everything. The job. Him.”
“I can’t make him listen to me.”
“Sure you can. Tell him to put his butt in a chair and don’t let him get up until you’ve had your say. Men are like children, you know. If you don’t lay down the law at times, they’ll walk all over you.”
Rolling her eyes, Caitlin muttered, “Since when are you suddenly an expert on men?”
Lindsey grinned. “Four brothers, remember? And every one of them thick as stumps. If they hadn’t all married well, heaven knows what would have become of them.”