Page 60 of A Legal Affair

“Please,” Caleb scoffed. “You wanted the smoke.”

Robinette laughed, wagging her head at them. “I’ve seen y’all in the ring. If I didn’t know you were best friends, I would think you wanted to murk each other,” she joked, her East Baltimore accent seeping through her words.

“Nah,” Evander said. “I’m telling you, babe, Caleb was a menace today. Something’s up with him.”

“Yeah?” Robinette’s concerned gaze searched Caleb’s face. “Everything okay?”

He forced a chuckle. “I’m fine, Nette. It’s just been a long week.”

“It’s only Tuesday.” She poked him in the ribs with a freshly manicured finger. “Evander and I aren’t the only ones who need a better work-life balance, you know. The pact included you, too.”

“Hold up,” Evander protested, tugging his wife to his side. “That wasourthing, baby. You can’t be bringing third parties into our arrangement.”

“Arrangement?” Robinette echoed with lifted brows. “You act like I just invited him for a threesome.”

“What? Oh, hell nah.” Evander scowled menacingly at Caleb. “Don’t get any ideas.”

Caleb held up his hands. “I didn’t say a word.”

Robinette giggled. “Aww. Look at my man getting all possessive,” she teased, looping her arms around Evander’s neck and nibbling his jaw. “I love it when you’re like this, all hot and sweaty and oozing testosterone. Makes my kitty-cat purr.”

Caleb groaned in disgust. “Can you two get a room? Damn.”

The couple shared a diabolical laugh. They’d always gotten a kick out of messing with Caleb, who was the best man at their wedding and had been named godfather of any hypothetical future offspring.

“I’m glad I caught you guys before you left.” Robinette leaned into Evander, her head resting against his shoulder as she traced the curve of his bicep and hummed appreciatively. He lowered his chin, whispering something in her ear that made her throw back her head and laugh. She playfully shoved his chest, but her body remained glued to his.

As Caleb watched them, an unexpected pang of envy twisted in his gut. These two were the real deal. Their connection was palpable, honest. Untainted by secrets or the threat of scandal. Being around them sometimes made it difficult not to want what they had, or at least wonder what it would feel like.

Robinette looked at Caleb, her lips pursed thoughtfully.

Uh-oh. He recognized that gleam in her eyes.

“So, Caleb, are you free this weekend? I want to introduce you to someone. She?—”

Caleb was already shaking his head. “Nah, I’m good.”

“What? You didn’t even let me finish,” Robinette protested.

“No need. I’m not interested.”

“Oh, come on, Caleb,” she whined. “Just hear me out.”

“Yeah, no.”

Evander snickered. “Can’t say I blame him, babe. You’ve been trying to fix him up for years, and your track record ain’t too great. Remember Stacey the Stalker?”

Robinette blinked. “I don’t know her.”

“Yeah, right,” Evander guffawed. “What about Harlow? The crazy chick who keyed Caleb’s Porsche and smashed the windshield just because he told her they weren’t compatible after their second date. I know damn well you remember that shitshow. You literally cussed her ass out and got her fired from her job.”

Robinette cringed, mortified at the memory. “Okay, so my matchmaking efforts have been epic fails. All that means is Caleb hasn’t met the right one yet. But I’m not giving up.”

“You should.” Caleb swigged his water, looking down at her as he added, “You really should.”

“Just let me set up an introduction,” she pleaded, grabbing his free arm. “Karina is super nice and seems perfectly sane. If you guys hit it off, maybe you can take her to dinner on Saturday.Or we could do a double date,” she quickly amended when Caleb frowned. “That should take some of the pressure off.”

Caleb had no interest in subjecting himself to another one of Robinette’s matchmaking schemes, but he knew she’d keep pestering him until he gave in.