family man myself. I love kids. I've been through a divorce. I'm not afraid of a few complications."
Carla thought about it for a moment. On the one hand, there was Daniel, but since finding out about Brooke, Carla had kept clear of him in terms of any sexual involvement and he had not made any advances towards her.
Things had settled between them and as much as she still felt the chemistry and had come to admire him as a lawyer and as a man, and even more so as a friend, she couldn't hedge her bets on the off-chance that he'd give up playing the field and settle down with her. He just didn't seem the type and Carla had to admit to herself that being a single mother would not help her find a man.
Daniel had once told her that circumstances sometimes find you dating someone just like yourself, because it makes life easier than trying to find someone who might bring surprises and that's where Carla felt she was.
Daniel was no safe bet, but a nice single father who understood her troubles and spent his afternoons in stroller shops might be just what she needed right now to get her life back on track. Despite the fears that remained, Carla nodded. In her position, she couldn't afford to turn down any offers.
"Wonderful!" Michael said enthusiastically. "Could I please have your number?"
Carla programmed her digits into his cell and smiled at the big, goofy grin it brought to Michael's face. It was clear that he did not have that confident streak that Daniel had, but maybe Carla needed someone a little less infallible.
Meanwhile, new paths were opening in Daniel's own life. Carla's due date was nearing and so was the court case, but now something else was brought to the table to make Daniel question everything.
Stephen Turner was a brilliant young lawyer with whom Daniel had studied at Harvard. They'd graduated the same year, but their paths had rarely crossed. Daniel had been the first in his year with Stephen just snapping at his heels.
Matthew Pike was an older gentleman with many years' experience in the law and very deep pockets. Daniel was surprised to get a call from Stephen one day, inviting him for drinks and even more surprised when he found the well-known Matthew Pike at his side.
Daniel recognized him as a guest speaker he had heard in his second year of college and when he entered the restaurant, he was quick to shake his hand in respect. Pike had been the one to win the infamous Preston vs. Dyke case and helped an underdog company overthrow a multi-million dollar corporation. He was legendary. Daniel shook Stephen's hand too, and the two lawyers invited him to take a seat at the table.
Stephen was a fair-haired young man who wore large, square glasses like Clark Kent and who had a habit of nervously drumming his fingers against any nearby surface. Matthew was a man in his mid-fifties with tightly curled black hair and a brooding expression. He had the same defiant spark in his eyes as Daniel and he set those eyes upon Daniel as Daniel took a seat opposite him and Stephen.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," Daniel said. "I must say, I'm curious as to why I'm here."
"You shouldn't be." Pike replied matter-of-factly. "You must have expected headhunters to come tracking you down eventually."
"Headhunters?" Daniel repeated uncertainly.
"We're starting a new firm,” Stephen told him pointedly, drumming his fingers against the pristine white tablecloth. "Pike's current partner passed away last year and he's decided it's the right time to make a break from Dunelm & Pike and start afresh."
" Dunelm & Pike is behind the times." Matthew told him. His voice was sharp and he spoke his words in short and pointed sentences which emerged like bullets from his mouth, clearly a habit born from years of stating facts in court rooms and using his tone for emphasis. He spoke as though he were the narrator for some very serious and intellectual film as he spoke about his own aspirations. "Ryder is gone, Dunelm is nearly dead and
Carla thought about it for a moment. On the one hand, there was Daniel, but since finding out about Brooke, Carla had kept clear of him in terms of any sexual involvement and he had not made any advances towards her.
Things had settled between them and as much as she still felt the chemistry and had come to admire him as a lawyer and as a man, and even more so as a friend, she couldn't hedge her bets on the off-chance that he'd give up playing the field and settle down with her. He just didn't seem the type and Carla had to admit to herself that being a single mother would not help her find a man.
Daniel had once told her that circumstances sometimes find you dating someone just like yourself, because it makes life easier than trying to find someone who might bring surprises and that's where Carla felt she was.
Daniel was no safe bet, but a nice single father who understood her troubles and spent his afternoons in stroller shops might be just what she needed right now to get her life back on track. Despite the fears that remained, Carla nodded. In her position, she couldn't afford to turn down any offers.
"Wonderful!" Michael said enthusiastically. "Could I please have your number?"
Carla programmed her digits into his cell and smiled at the big, goofy grin it brought to Michael's face. It was clear that he did not have that confident streak that Daniel had, but maybe Carla needed someone a little less infallible.
Meanwhile, new paths were opening in Daniel's own life. Carla's due date was nearing and so was the court case, but now something else was brought to the table to make Daniel question everything.
Stephen Turner was a brilliant young lawyer with whom Daniel had studied at Harvard. They'd graduated the same year, but their paths had rarely crossed. Daniel had been the first in his year with Stephen just snapping at his heels.
Matthew Pike was an older gentleman with many years' experience in the law and very deep pockets. Daniel was surprised to get a call from Stephen one day, inviting him for drinks and even more surprised when he found the well-known Matthew Pike at his side.
Daniel recognized him as a guest speaker he had heard in his second year of college and when he entered the restaurant, he was quick to shake his hand in respect. Pike had been the one to win the infamous Preston vs. Dyke case and helped an underdog company overthrow a multi-million dollar corporation. He was legendary. Daniel shook Stephen's hand too, and the two lawyers invited him to take a seat at the table.
Stephen was a fair-haired young man who wore large, square glasses like Clark Kent and who had a habit of nervously drumming his fingers against any nearby surface. Matthew was a man in his mid-fifties with tightly curled black hair and a brooding expression. He had the same defiant spark in his eyes as Daniel and he set those eyes upon Daniel as Daniel took a seat opposite him and Stephen.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," Daniel said. "I must say, I'm curious as to why I'm here."
"You shouldn't be." Pike replied matter-of-factly. "You must have expected headhunters to come tracking you down eventually."
"Headhunters?" Daniel repeated uncertainly.
"We're starting a new firm,” Stephen told him pointedly, drumming his fingers against the pristine white tablecloth. "Pike's current partner passed away last year and he's decided it's the right time to make a break from Dunelm & Pike and start afresh."
" Dunelm & Pike is behind the times." Matthew told him. His voice was sharp and he spoke his words in short and pointed sentences which emerged like bullets from his mouth, clearly a habit born from years of stating facts in court rooms and using his tone for emphasis. He spoke as though he were the narrator for some very serious and intellectual film as he spoke about his own aspirations. "Ryder is gone, Dunelm is nearly dead and
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