Ivy sighed as she popped in her ear buds. She should have gone to the law library, but the age appropriate law students made her feel old. Twenty-seven was vastly different from twenty-two. The younger students probably had more sex. Sex. Ivy used all her mental power to cram her brain with legal cases to squeeze out her memories of sex.

Ivy couldn't think about sex when she saw Tate later. She had forgotten to tell her mother she wouldn't be home for dinner, so she popped her ear buds out and groaned.

Her mother yelled, "Maybe if I didn't have to do all the work around here."

"I work on Saturdays, six days a week to support your spending."

"My spending!"

"I don't spend a hundred bucks at the craft store."

Their argument was like a recording played over and over for as long as Ivy could remember. She would rather stay single than have a marriage like theirs. Putting her buds in to drown them out, she texted her mother instead. Concentrate. Block it out. Did her parents ever have passion? Would Ivy ever feel it again?

The house was quiet when she set out to see Tate. Ivy had been to the Back Bay apartment twice before. It was supposed to be for the newly married couple to start their life together.

Tate greeted her with a quick hug. Ivy looked for signs of unhappiness. Her friend's skin glowed and her smile looked genuine. "Are you going to tell me how you really are?"

"It's weird. The embarrassment is tough to swallow, but I don't miss him. It's like the spell I was under wore off."

"I saw the tabloids. They did a number on him." It took close to two weeks after the wedding day, but the news leaked with photographs of Duncan and the girl.

"Someone who was in Vail leaked those photos, but I don't want to talk about it." She motioned toward the cream sofa. "Come in. Sit down."

Ivy kicked off her shoes. The decor was cream with splashes of color, but the rug matched the sofa.

Tate poured red wine at the counter. "Tell me, how was Aspen?"

"It was peaceful." Tate handed her a glass. At her house, their wine glasses were all one size and came from Walmart. The larger glass was like the ones she drank from with Baxter. "I'm afraid I'll spill." She froze as Tate swirled her glass and sniffed the wine before finally taking a sip. Memories of large hands holding the glass.

"Don't worry. The jerk would have stained the place in a week. I heard Baxter showed up at the house."

"About that, who has a five-bedroom ski house?"

"The Kane's do. My brother didn't say much about meeting you."

She felt her voice shake. "He drank scotch and worked the whole time."

"He said the same thing. You studied a lot."

Ivy focused on her friend. "How was the warmth? You have a nice tan."

Tate looked at her own arm. "I made it a spa week."

"Did you meet any men, um." Ivy coughed. "To get what's his name out of your system?"

Tate waved her perfectly manicured hand. "A girl doesn't kiss and tell."

Ivy laughed. That line could be her personal anthem.

"You flew home with Kasper and made an impression on him."

"He's too young for me. Besides, I'm not dating material for your brother."

"Just as well, Kasper doesn't date. He hooks up. You aren't that kind of girl."

Ivy busied herself drinking her wine. "This is good."

"It should be. It's two hundred a bottle."

"Seriously, I would be happy with three buck Chuck."

"I don't know what that is, but a three-dollar glass of wine is probably piss."

The entire bottle was three bucks. Ivy giggled. "You said piss!"

"Blame it on the jerk's influence. Oh God, why did I fall for him?"

"Because he treated you like his queen."

"Yeah, well, it was fake. Moving on. Order in or go out to eat?"

"Either is fine. I'm just glad to be away from my house."

"Hey, have you found an internship?"

"Not yet." She tried not to frown, but her graduation was in jeopardy of being pushed out further.

"Come work for me."

Ivy shook her head. "I don't want any favors."

"You would do me a favor. We're busy and need to hire. Try it for the summer."

"When was the last time you hired an intern?"

"Three years ago. Me."

Ivy shook her head. "Your brother knew about the class notes. I took advantage of your generosity by staying at your house and flying on your plane. I can't take a job from you. It will change our friendship."

"I won't let it change anything. Plus, no one in my family pays attention to the hiring of summer interns. My father and brother are both too important."

"It's hard to argue with a lawyer."

"Let me help you. I work with middle-aged men who look sideways at me because of my last name."

"Can I think about it?" Ivy imagined herself doing something other than reading contracts all day. The one she read for Baxter was fine, because she was doing it for him. He could never know she worked for him.

"Let's go out and get some food and have some fun."

They walked around the corner to a crowded pub. Tate wore a tight dress with three-inch heels while Ivy looked like the poor student in faded jeans and ballet flats. Only one would turn heads. They had to push their way up to the bar. Tate ordered and passed Ivy a pink drink.

"What's this?"

Tate hollered, "What?"

Ivy laughed and pointed to a small table in the corner. Someone left a full glass of beer behind, so Ivy pushed it aside. After a sip of the sweet drink, she took a sip. "What is this?"

"It's a Cosmo. How have you never had one?"

"I usually drink beer when I go out." It was cheaper than alcoholic drinks.

"Excuse me, ladies. I was sitting here."

They looked up at a smiling face. Tate didn't hesitate and pushed his glass towards him. "Join us."

"Thank you. I knew leaving an empty table was a risk. I'm glad I didn't come back to find two dudes here."

He smiled with his crooked smile and sparkling eyes. He was easy to look at, but wasn't as tall or as handsome as Baxter. His complexion was lighter, including his hair compared to Baxter's dark hair. Comparing him to Baxter was an exercise in futility.

"I'm Tate and this is Ivy." Tate reached out her hand.

"David." He shook Tate's hand. "Did I get the job?"

Both girls laughed. "Are you looking for one?" Ivy spoke for the first time.

He chuckled. "No. I'm a resident and I stopped in for a drink on my way home. I have to be back at Children's at six."

"Children's. My mother... I mean do you like kids."

"I do. I bet your mother does too."

Tate nodded. "She has four children. All adults now. Although two don't act like it."

Ivy laughed at Tate's rambling. Did she like him? She was on the rebound. Ivy sucked on her straw and looked around. There were couples sitting close and others flirting. She tried to imagine going home with someone in the bar or just kissing a guy, but couldn't. Did she fall for Baxter's charms because he was wealthy? Maybe it was the lure of the money. When she looked back at her friend, she felt like the third wheel. Tate's head was close to David's as they talked.

"Should we, um, order food?" Ivy picked up a menu. She needed to drive home and was on her second drink."

Tate said, "Join us. My treat. I'm celebrating."

"What are you celebrating?"

"My friend Ivy just got an internship."

He looked at Ivy. "What are you studying?"

"Law."

"Why is she celebrating?"

Ivy laughed. "She's very caring." More likely, she stopped from mentioning her real celebration.

"It's really because she'll work with me."

"Are you a lawyer?"

Tate nodded. "Corporate. Not very exciting, but the hours beat a big firm."

"My hours are awful."

Ivy might have to write a pros and cons list later. Would Baxter be a pro or a con?

They order nachos, grilled brussels sprouts, and truffle fries to share. David kept them laughing with stories from his residency.

"Aren't doctors and lawyers a contentious pair?" Ivy asked.

"As long as you aren't malpractice attorneys, I don't mind."

Ivy shook her head. "As a kid, I imagined myself in a courtroom, but I could never defend a guilty person."

"Ivy has more integrity than anyone I know. Have you ever lied?"

"Have you?"

"All the time. My brothers and sister don't need to know my business. I asked you first."

"I've lied. Everyone has."

"I lied to a police officer once when I was pulled over for speeding and said I was rushing to an emergency at the hospital. I even showed him my badge."

"What did he do?"

"Let me go. I was driving home."

Ivy's biggest lie was her biggest secret. She let a man think she was a hooker.

Tate was distracted with her phone. "My brother texted me. I told him where I am. He might stop by."

Ivy's mouth went dry, so she took a long sip, hitting bottom. "Which one?"

"Baxter. He doesn't go out much. I think he likes to check up on me after you know."

"I don't." David leaned over.

"My last relationship ended badly."

Ivy felt antsy as she tried to think of an excuse to leave. Another round appeared thanks to David. She took a sip, but when Tate's drink was low, she pushed hers over. "I'm going to go."

"No! You can't! Stay."

Ivy didn't need to turn around, because she felt his presence. He appeared with a glass. She watched as he took a chair from another table and forced it between Tate and David. She wanted to giggle, but felt slighted he was avoiding her.

"Bax! Don't be a prick."

"Who's your friend, Tate?"

"David. He's a doctor."

David stuck out his hand. "A resident."

"You know Ivy."

Baxter nodded without looking at her. She took a moment to feast on his face while he and Tate argued. Her memory hadn't enhanced a thing. Still gorgeous. He sat with his legs spread. She looked at his faded jeans and pressed her thighs together remembering the feel of him inside her.

"Seriously, switch seats. David and I are talking." Tate had almost finished her third Cosmo.

Ivy stood. "I was just leaving."

Tate grabbed her arm. "Stay. Baxter, Ivy's going to be my intern this summer. You don't mind."

Baxter finally looked at her. Panic gripped her as she plopped back into her chair. Her legs were too weak to walk. "I haven't said yes!"

Baxter stood, and Tate slid into his seat. When he sat, he drew the chair over towards Ivy. "Do you have another offer Ms. Krasinski?"

"No," she squeaked. He remembered her last name. His tone was the same as when he demanded things during sex.

"Then it would be a good career decision."

She turned to look at him. "I like to earn my opportunities." Tate and David went back to the bar.

"I think you've earned it."

His words gave her goosebumps. His familiar scent was more intoxicating than the cosmos. "I thought you wouldn't want me to."

"I saw your work. Why would I stand in the way of your career?"

She shrugged. With his thigh touching hers, she couldn't think. The others returned with four drinks. "We got you beers."

Although she wanted to watch Baxter drink a beer, Ivy shook her head. "I'm driving."

"Stay at Tate's." Baxter glared at David.

"I'm done drinking. I have to be up at five-thirty and should be home already." He leaned over to Tate and whispered in her ear. Then they bumped their phones.

Ivy snorted. Baxter looked at her. "She's so cool. I've never done that in a bar." He frowned, before shaking David's hand.

The minute he left Tate sat down with a huff. Baxter ignored her, as he drank his beer. Tate seethed while Ivy found his aloofness hot. She smiled. "So you like him."

Tate smiled. "He's nice. Don't worry big brother, I wouldn't invite him over. He doesn't know our last name."

"Respect yourself. Just because you were hurt doesn't mean you should look for sex. Any guy who has sex with you while you're vulnerable is a jerk."

"Whatever. Maybe if you ever had good sex, you would understand."

Ivy clamped her mouth shut. Her first thought was he definitely had and her second was Tate told her Duncan wasn't like the movie. Ivy was wrong, it could be better than the movies.

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