Icebreaker by Deirdre Martin

set him straight.”
    Sinead laughed. “I’d pay to see that.”
    “Oh, it’d be ugly, believe me. Bye now.”
    “Bye, Ray.”
    The wind had died down to just a breeze. Sinead loved how fresh the air smelled, how pure the sun looked in the distant sky. Maybe she’d drive around for a while before going back to the hotel and reorganizing her materials.
    Sinead wasn’t a big believer in fate, but right now, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it had been fate she found out about Ray. Of course, Adam wouldn’t see it that way, the stubborn, uncooperative, maddening, caring, compassionate, handsome pain in the ass.
    Ray thought he’d be the one to set Adam straight if need be? Wrong: that was going to be Sinead’s first order of business Monday morning. And if her client didn’t like it, that was just too damn bad.

9

    “Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to meet with me.”
    Sinead tried not to sound too sarcastic as she motioned for Adam to sit. His expression matched his voice on the phone last night when she’d called to set up a meeting: wary and annoyed. Sinead knew Adam was hoping that when he said the only time he could meet was seven a.m., she’d back off. Clearly he’d yet to grasp how seriously she took her job. If he’d said two a.m., she’d have been here. The sooner he figured out she was the one calling the shots, and that he couldn’t keep her at arm’s length any longer, the better.
    Sinead had carefully applied her makeup to cover the dark circles under her eyes before leaving her apartment. She’d spent the night tossing and turning, worrying about slamming against a wall of resistance and resentfulness when she met with Adam. She also realized, as she watched the hours tick by, that Oliver had been right all along: she wanted Adam to like her. This new, somewhat unnerving realization at three a.m. ruined any chance of sleep. Sometimes Oliver took a nap in the middle of the day after a sleepless night. Sinead decided that if she was still drooping after lunch, she might try it to see if it worked. In the meantime, she’d rely on her old faithful friend, caffeine.
    Adam sat down. “How did your fact-finding mission go?” he asked. The displeasure in his voice was unnerving. Do your job. Focus on the job.
    “Things went well.”
    Adam didn’t respond.
    “I didn’t realize Claresholm was so small,” Sinead continued conversationally.
    “Mmm.”
    No chatting today, Sinead thought. Not encouraging . She sat down, crossing her legs. “We need to talk about my visit.”
    Adam waved a hand disdainfully. “Talk away.”
    “Let’s start with Rick.”
    “Who you could have easily talked to over the phone.”
    “But then I’d never have learned you were helping pay his bills or that you were the one who footed the bill for the town’s new ice rink.”
    Adam scowled. “Rick told you that?”
    “No, his wife did.”
    “Shit.”
    “This info could be important to making your case, Adam.”
    “It’s irrelevant.”
    “No, it’s very relevant. Why didn’t you tell me about the rink, at least? Everyone in Claresholm knows you’re the one who paid for it. And while we’re at it, why did you pay for it anonymously?”
    “I did it because I wanted the focus on the rink, not on me as some big philanthropist. End of story.”
    “It shows you have a big heart. That you care about community.” Adam gave her a dirty look, but Sinead continued, undeterred. “I don’t care how much you hate it. I’m using the info.”
    Adam looked angry. “Even if I don’t want you to.”
    “Even if you don’t want me to,” replied Sinead, holding her ground. “I’m building this case to win , and if you don’t want to help me, fine. Why you’re cutting off your nose to spite your face is beyond me. You are, without a doubt, the most uncooperative client I’ve ever had in my life.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Yes. And I don’t appreciate it.”
    Adam actually looked embarrassed.