Judy Christenberry - The Last Crawford Bachelor

When Abby called on Friday to extend another invitation, she was harder to resist.

“Have you found a place to stay yet?”

Initially Dani hadn’t intended to tell anyone she was going to stay at the hotel. Unfortunately, Ned had found out about her quarters. He’d shown up last night about nine with a bottle of wine in his arms, wanting to “talk.”

She never answered his knock. Nor did she answer his call when the phone rang a few minutes later.

“Um, I’ve decided to stay at the hotel—”

“Oh, no!” Abby interrupted. “That’s impossible. We have a spare bedroom. You’ll stay with us.”

“No, Abby, I can’t do that,” Dani said, even as she recognized it as a perfect answer to her problem. But she didn’t know Abby and it wouldn’t be fair to ask the woman to shoulder her problems.

“Would you at least come out Saturday? We’re having a workday with everyone pitching in. We could use some extra hands. We’ll swap a good lunch for all your help.”

That sounded so appealing. She’d made no friends because the men in the office were standoffish, understandable under the circumstances. And one didn’t make friends in a hotel.

“Could I really be of some help?” she asked.

“Oh, yes. It’s not skilled jobs. We’re talking cleaning and maybe some painting.”

“All right. What time Saturday morning?”

“Anytime it’s convenient,” Abby told her.

When she hung up the phone, Ned entered her office. “Was that a personal call?”

“Yes, it was.” She didn’t apologize. She already knew he’d use any excuse to put her on the defensive.

“I’ve been waiting for you to be free. We’re going to lunch today with one of the top defense lawyers in the city. I’m sure you’ll like him.”

Dani was sure the man would cancel and Ned wouldn’t tell her until they’d reached the restaurant. He’d already done that once this week.

“I appreciate the invitation, but I’m afraid I can’t do that. I already accepted an invitation to lunch.” She didn’t explain it was for lunch on Saturday.

Ned stiffened. “In the future, you should clear your invitations with my schedule before you accept.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought an hour for lunch was part of my job.”

Ned put his hands on her desk and leaned toward her. “Don’t get sassy with me, Ms. Langston. You won’t have a job if you don’t cooperate.”

“I have every intention of cooperating, Ned. About work. But I do not intend to have a personal relationship with you.”

He glared at her. “We’ll see about that.”

She leaned back in her chair, drawing a deep breath as he stormed out of her office. So much for her new job. Her fingers shook as she carefully straightened every piece of paper on her desk. Good thing she hadn’t found a place to live.

After a moment she got up and went to the law library they had on the premises. She hadn’t so much as smelled a legal question this entire week, much less actually worked on anything.

“There’s got to be a good case for this, but I can’t think of one,” Dick Stanton was saying. He and Michael were sitting at a table in the law library, open books scattered around them.

Michael suggested several cases.

Dick said no, he didn’t think they were right.

Dani stepped forward. “There’s a case one of my law professors argued a couple of years ago. I think it’d help if I can find it.”

Dick and Michael both seemed doubtful, but they nodded. She scanned the shelves, pulled down a recent book and turned right to the case. She’d never forget it. Her professor had spent an entire week on this one case because of his star appearance.

After reading the case, Dick looked at her with more respect. “Thanks, Dani. This is perfect.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Michael offered.

She shrugged her shoulders. She knew not to make too much of their appreciation.

“Are you looking up something for Ned?” Dick asked.

“No, I think he’s going out to lunch.”

Dick laughed. “Oh. Then you’ll be free for two or three hours. Want to do some work?”

“I’d love to,” she agreed, enthusiasm coloring her voice.

“This is a sexual harassment case and we could use the female perspective.”

How ironic. She was about ready to file suit against Ned. Maybe she’d put together her own case while she worked on theirs.

She spent the afternoon in the library, looking up cases and discussing issues with the two men. It was the first enjoyable hours she’d had at work.

Ned stepped in a few hours later and told her to come along to his office. The anger in his voice warned her it would be even more unpleasant than usual.

Michael hurried to her defense. “Dani’s being very helpful to us. You know, you need a female perspective for these harassment suits. Could we borrow her for a little longer?”

Ned’s anger rose. “Yes, fine. Use her for the rest of the day!” Then he stormed out of the library.

No one spoke or moved for what seemed an eternity.

Finally Michael said, “Believe it or not, I was only trying to help.”

“And I appreciate it. Do you mind if I stay?” she asked Dick.

“I don’t mind, but you might not have a job on Monday morning. He’s rather difficult that way.”

“Then maybe I’ll file a harassment suit against him.”

Dick looked alarmed. He excused himself and followed Ned out of the room.

“Careful about throwing out threats,” Michael warned. “You’re not exactly in a position of strength.”

“How do you know?”

“Just because the guy is making life easy for you, it doesn’t mean he’s harassing you.”

“Why, thank you, o learned comrade. I’m glad you understand my position so well.” She began to put away the law books she’d been using.

“Not interested in good, hard work?”

As much as she hated to admit it, he’d pointed out an important fact. This was the first work she’d been given in the entire week. If she threw a tantrum and ran away, she would never establish herself here. She quietly opened the books again and began writing on her legal pad.

When Dick came back, he seemed nervous, watching Dani out of the corner of his eye. She continued to work quietly, addressing any comments or questions she had to Michael. He gradually relaxed again.

When the afternoon ended, Dick actually thanked her for her hard work. “I’m not sure Michael and I could’ve gotten this far alone. We go to trial on Tuesday. Could you help us prep our witness on Monday?”

“I’d be delighted to.”

“Ned said you could work with us. It’s an election year and he said it would look good to win a harassment suit.”

Dani smiled, glad to understand what was going on. “Yes, I guess it would, to win the female vote.”

“Uh, yes. Well, good working with you. See you Monday.” He got up and started out of the room. Then he paused. “Coming, Michael?”

“Yeah, I’ll be right there.”

After Dick had left the room, Michael whispered, “Don’t let this go to your head.”

Then he was gone.

Dani stared after him. What did he mean? The compliment from Dick? The success in avoiding Ned? She didn’t know. But she was enjoying the moment, whatever Mr. Michael Crawford thought!

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