Page 4 of Lawson & Jill

He gave her his first real smile. Oh God, he has two dimples. “So, how much should I believe?”

“Two-thirds is a good amount.”

Everyone in the room laughed.

“And on that note, I think it’s a good time to say good evening. I’ll see you all back here next week,” Lesley said as she bent down to grab her notepad and purse. Jill watched as Lesley went to talk to Ned. She was a good woman, probably trying to suggest he get more professional help. She was going to be there for a while.

As Jill stood up, so did Lawson.

“I have a friend named Cullen Lyons. If I have to believe two-thirds of everything he has to say about Florida, then it’s probably a good thing you got out of there.”

“I might have lied,” she smiled up at him. “It might be three-quarters. But I need to stick up for where I was born—it’s been the butt of enough punchlines.”

“So, are you going to check your messages?” he asked as she bent to pick up her purse.

Jill bit her lip, debating how to answer.

“If it’s work, it’s just going to make me grumpy. However, if it’s an offer for a Tahiti timeshare, I might be tempted to sign up, and that would be bad.”

She sighed at the sight of his dimples reappearing.

“Yeah, that would be bad. A friend of mine signed up for one of those, God knows why since he was in the Navy and they promised him he would see the world.”

“Did he?”

Lawson grimaced. “Oh, yeah.”

“Tahiti?” Jill teased.

“Well, maybe not Tahiti,” Lawson acquiesced. “But he only ever used the timeshare once. He ended up paying for it while just his family used it.”

Jill sighed again. That wouldn’t happen in her case. Lawson picked up on her mood change. Who would’ve guessed a Marine would be so perceptive that way?

“Tonight was kind of a bust, but I’m thinking that some coffee and something sweet might be a good way to end the evening. You game?” he asked.

Jill thought about her yoga class. That was how she usually ended her Thursday evenings, and immediately decided to give it a pass.

“That sounds good.”

Lawson gave a slow smile. “I know just the place.”