Someone Like You by Susan Mallery Page A

told herself, then laughed. “I appreciate the advice and I’ll be sure to be out when he calls. But I have to tell you, I’m tempted by a client willing to steal my car.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    J ILL ARRIVED home shortly after five. As she was used to working until at least eight or nine every night she wasn’t cooking for Lyle, she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do with an entire evening. What did people who worked regular hours do with their lives? Was this why they had hobbies? Would she like a hobby?
    â€œHow was your day?” Bev asked as Jill walked through the front door. “Any dents on Lyle’s car?”
    â€œI didn’t go by and check. I thought I’d do that in the morning.”
    She set her briefcase by the coatrack and wondered why she’d bothered to carry it home. There wasn’t any work inside.
    She leaned forward and kissed her aunt’s cheek. “I have high hopes, though. A nice high fly to the side door would make my heart beat with joy.”
    Her aunt smiled. “I’m so happy for you, dear. How was work?”
    Jill thought of Tina, the fish, and the hundred-year-old fence dispute. “You don’t want to know.”
    â€œThat bad?”
    â€œTechnically, there’s very little I can complain about, so I won’t.”
    â€œDinner will be ready in half an hour. You have time to change.”
    Jill hugged the woman who had always been there for her. “I love you taking care of me, but I didn’t come here to invade your life. I’m going to start looking for a place of my own tomorrow.”
    Bev shook her head so hard, her long red hair flew back and forth like a flag in the breeze. “Don’t you dare. I know you’re not moving back to Los Lobos permanently, but I want to be with you for the time you’re here.”
    â€œAre you sure? I’m not crimping your social life?”
    Bev rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You know I don’t date. I have to worry about the gift.”
    Ah, yes. The gift. Bev’s psychic connection with the universe that allowed her to see the future. As her aunt had explained many times, the gift came with responsibilities—one of which was to stay pure…sexually.
    â€œDon’t you ever get tired of being alone?” Jill asked, because whether or not she believed in her aunt’s gift, for the most part Bev lived as if she believed it. There had been very few men in her life and no long-term relationships.
    Bev smiled. “I’ve been rewarded for my sacrifice. Over the years I’ve helped many people and that’s a great feeling.”
    â€œSex can be a great feeling, too.” She thought about her own pathetic sex life with Lyle. “Or so I’ve heard.”
    â€œWe make choices in our world. Staying pure for the gift was mine.”
    Jill raised her eyebrows. “You mean semi-pure,” she teased.
    â€œWell, there were one or two occasions when things got a little out of hand, but as they weren’t my fault, they didn’t count.”
    Jill grinned. “I like your rules. I always have.”
    â€œGood. Now go get changed before dinner. Oh, Gracie phoned about an hour ago. I gave her the number at the law office. Did she catch you before you left?”
    â€œNo,” Jill said, disappointed to have missed the call. “I’ll try her right now.”
    She hurried up the stairs and into the airy guest bed room she’d claimed as her own. After peeling off her suit and pulling on shorts and a T-shirt, she flopped onto the bed and grabbed the phone.
    Thirty seconds later she heard Gracie’s answering machine and left a message. When she hung up, she closed her eyes for a second, wishing her friend had been home and they could have talked. She needed to connect. So much had changed in such a short period of time, it seemed as if her world had started spinning out of control. Gracie had a way of