Free Free Falling by Debra Webb

“Don’t feel too badly. I’ve got the same problem
myself.”
    Mac stopped pacing and stared at Jake. “What
do you mean?” Had Free drawn Jake under her spell as well? When had
the two of them been together other than at the jail that one time?
Jealousy flowed swift and hot through his veins. Mac scrutinized
Jake’s lean, rugged appearance. He supposed that women would find a
guy like that appealing. His heart pounded in time with the anger
that crashed against his skull.
    “Alex,” Jake told him to answer the question
Mac refused to ask. “She’s been driving me crazy for months. Her
father hired me last year when the partner he’d had for thirty
years retired. Alex graduated from law school right after that and
came to work for the firm, expecting to fill her father’s shoes
eventually. Things had been going great until then.” Jake shrugged
as if he didn’t care. “She hates me. The woman lives to make my
life miserable. She’s all but begged her father to get rid of me.
In three more months my name is supposed to go on the office
stationary right next to Carlisle. Making partner in this firm has
been my dream for a long time. Alex is trying every angle to make
sure it doesn’t happen.”
    “What does her father say?”
    “He pretends the situation doesn’t exist. To
him everything at the office is just hunky-dory.” Jake sighed.
“Since he was diagnosed with cancer, I’ve been pretty much running
the office.” His gaze connected with Mac’s. “The cancer’s terminal.
Alex will be hell to live with when he’s gone. Mr. Carlisle is the
only person who can keep her in line.”
    Mac leaned against the credenza and crossed
his legs at his ankles. “Sounds like a tough situation.”
    “It is, but I can handle it. The only reason
I shared this unsavory business with you is because I thought maybe
you could use some advice on how to handle your situation with
Free.”
    Mac eyed Jake warily. “I don’t see the
connection.”
    “Well, let me spell it out for you,” Jake
said patiently. “Although Alex and I fight constantly and, to all
appearances, hate each other’s guts, the sexual attraction between
us is mind-boggling.”
    “So, how are you handling that?”
    “I’ve decided to take an alternate approach.”
He rocked back on his heels and grinned. “Instead of fighting her,
I’m going to keep her happy. I agree with everything she says, and
I’m so nice she can’t possibly find any fault with me. When I’m
finished, she’ll be following me around like a long-last pal.”
    Puzzled, Mac asked, “You want her to follow
you around like that?”
    “Just until the partnership contracts are
signed. Then she’ll have to learn to live with the real me
again.”
    Mac shook his head. “What’s the moral of this
story for me?”
    “You’re only going to be in Huntsville for a
short time. Why not make the most of it? If Free sends your libido
into warp speed, why not get to know the lady better? That way you
can stay on top of her work schedule if you’re worried about her
getting behind on the salvaging. Plus, you won’t have to worry
about any more feuds with your neighbor.” He shrugged. “She’s
beautiful and she’s nice. A little romance might make your stay in
Alabama a lot more pleasant. Besides, if you’re going to be mooning
over her all the time, you might as well do something about
it.”
    Mac bit back the colorful phrase he wanted to
hurl at Jake. “I don’t want to have an affair with the woman. I
want to forget about her,” he said harshly. “Hell, I can’t sleep at
night for thinking about her. I can’t concentrate on my work. I
can’t even eat without remembering how she tastes.”
    Jake looked surprised. “It’s worse than I
thought. You’re already infatuated, huh?”
    “I kissed her,” Mac hissed through clenched
teeth.
    “Just once?”
    Mac gripped the edge of the credenza with
both hands. “No—twice.”
    “That settles it then.” Jake crossed