Simply Being Belle Read online

  Chapter Three

  Belle headed to her garden the next morning. It was Monday and she felt so odd being off work, as if she were truant and the work police might suddenly show up with sirens blaring and haul her back to her desk at Legal Aid. If only they would…

  With a sigh, she scanned her garden, noting the weeds had virtually taken over. She hurried to retrieve gloves from a nearby shed and then spent several hours pulling the tangled, leafy invaders off of her tender plants. She finally took a break when Tri bounded over to her with a ball in his mouth. “Okay, boy,” she said agreeably, “I could use a fiver, too.”

  She took the ball from him and tossed it across the lawn. He dashed after it, barking gleefully with Cy on his heels. “Give Cy a go,” she said when he dropped the ball at her feet. She picked it up and reared back to throw.

  Tri obediently stepped aside to give Cy a turn, and then barked at his heels as the smaller dog hurried after the ball. It wasn’t long before Cy grew bored of fetching, though Belle knew Tri could go on all day. Finally, she gave the dog a pat on the head and headed inside her house for a glass of lemonade. She startled when the phone rang.

  “Hey, Belle, it’s me, Steven.”

  “Hello. How’s it going at work?”

  “Fine. Hey, I wanted to let you know Rosaria Rodriguez came in for her appointment today.”

  “How’d it go? Should I give her a call?”

  “Actually, that won’t be necessary. The boss has assigned Dare the case, since you’ll be out for so long. Turns out he’s fluent in Spanish, and has a good deal of experience with landlord-tenant cases.”

  Belle experienced a pique of annoyance. Millicent had given her case to Dare? She had worked long and hard on that case and was gearing up for a veritable head-on collision with Jacob Biggs. He owned the building Rosario resided in—a building with so many defects its tenants often feared for their safety.

  “What do you mean Millicent has reassigned my case? She can’t do that. I’ll be in first thing tomorrow,” she said in a clipped voice.

  “Oh, uh, hold on, Belle…” Steven’s words trailed off.

  Suddenly, her boss’s voice exploded in her ear. “I can and will reassign the case! You, my friend, will take your six weeks off if I have to change the locks here.”

  “Millicent,” Belle said reasonably, “it’s my case. Really, I’d planned to avail myself to Brad and Steven…”

  “Listen, I’ve decided to reject your offer to consult on the case during your time off.”

  “Why?” she boldly asked.

  “It’s simple. You need a vacation,” she said, emphasizing the word. “You can plan on picking up where Dare leaves off when you get back, should there be a need. In the meantime, Belle, I don’t want to see you anywhere near Legal Aid. You need a break whether you know it or not.”

  “Six weeks is such a long time…”

  “You’ll take your six weeks off,” she said crisply, “and you’ll thank me for it when you get back.”

  Thank her? She doubted it.

  She couldn’t help worrying how Rosaria would react to the news that the case had been reassigned. She had earned her trust, and feared she might lose it if she didn’t remain close. The fact that Rosaria was willing to be the face of an entire building of tenants, to lead the charge against a man who so blatantly put his tenants at risk with his disregard for their safety, was a testament to her will and character.

  “Belle,” Millicent prompted, drawing her out of her reverie. “Do we understand one another?”

  She sighed. “Yes.”

  After signing off the phone, she dropped into a chair at her kitchen table. Should she call Rosaria? she wondered. When she had told her about her upcoming vacation, she had assured her she would remain on the case, perhaps working it from home. She had really believed Millicent would see things her way. But now…

  With a sigh, she stood up and walked outside. The sun shone brightly and the air felt moist and humid. When had it become so muggy? She tucked a stand of hair behind her ear and turned her attention to her garden once again. She attacked the overgrown plot of soil for several hours, and finally stood, arching her back slightly and stretching from side to side. Physical labor felt good, though it hadn’t taken her mind off her case. Her case.

  She finally decided to pack it in for the day, but first picked a couple squash from the garden. As she approached the back porch steps, she spotted the newest addition to her family peering at her from behind Tri’s back leg. The kitten had already bonded with the huge dog. Belle smiled and scooped her into her arms. She sat down, setting the kitten on its feet, and then tickling her ears. Tri bounded over and she watched the kitten swipe at Tri’s inquisitive snout with a tiny paw.

  Suddenly, he rose up and began barking. Cy scurried from his house on the back porch and joined in. Belle stood up, glancing around, careful not to step on the kitten. The dogs were clearly sounding an alarm. She wondered why.

  She had her answer when Dare strode around the corner of the house. He smiled apologetically when he noted her surprised expression. “Hello! I rang the bell. Steven told me if you didn’t answer, to try out back.”

  Belle watched him uncertainly.

  “I hope I didn’t alarm you,” he said with concern.

  Tri and Cy began barking loudly again, warning him off. “Tri, Cy,” she said sternly, “Enough!”

  They twosome quieted down and Dare eyed them curiously. “Tripod and Cyclops,” he said with a chuckle as understanding dawned. “Very appropriate.”

  Belle met his gaze. “Perhaps appropriate, but not the names I would have chosen. If they hadn’t already known their names so well when I adopted them, I would have changed them.”

  Dare considered her words. “I suppose if I didn’t have a right arm, I might not appreciate being called ‘Lefty.’ What happened to them?” he asked curiously, eyeing the dogs with compassion. When he glanced back at Belle, she watched him with an expression he wouldn’t quite call hostile…

  “The vet suspects Tri was hit by a car, but Cy… I don’t know how he lost his eye. Frankly, I don’t want to know,” she said as she laid a gentle hand on the dog’s head.

  Dare nodded with understanding, and then spied the kitten, circling his feet. “What’s wrong with it?” he asked.

  Belle shot him a quizzical glance. “What?”

  “The kitten. What’s wrong with it?”

  “Nothing,” she said, unable to conceal the flash of annoyance on her face.

  “Oh,” he said with a wince, “sorry.” He scooped up the kitten and stroked its tiny head. “Sorry, guy.”

  “Girl. The kitten is female.”

  He gave a self deprecating laugh and held the kitten at eye-level. “Oh, sorry girl.”

  Belle took her from him and eyed him warily. While she stood several steps higher than the one he stood on, he was still taller than her. Dressed in dark slacks and a white dress shirt, having presumably shed his tie, he reminded her of the male models on the covers of fashion magazines. He stood with the same casual confidence, but was perhaps a bit more muscular. As she absently scrutinized him, she was unaware he studied her right back.

  When she did notice, she reddened, finding his intense scrutiny unnerving. She took another step up and back. Now she stood slightly taller than he did, and felt better for it. “What can I do for you?”

  He cocked his head slightly, eyeing her curiously. He smiled. “I’m wondering if I could talk to you about the Rodriguez case?”

  “My case,” she responded flatly.

  He glanced at the ground, smiled, and then looked up and snared her gaze. “I’m working it until you return to work. And … I get that you’re not too happy about it.”

  Belle took a deep breath and considered her response. It wasn’t his fault Millicent had given him her case, but… “It’s not that I’m unhappy you’re working it.”

  “You’re unhappy anybody is working it, other than you.”r />
  “Yes.”

  He nodded. “Frankly, I was hoping you could get me up to speed. I spoke to Rosaria today. Nice woman, by the way.”

  “She is,” Belle agreed.

  He nodded again, and then spotted the squash Belle had set on the porch. “From your garden?”

  “Yes.”

  He grinned. “You missed a great dinner last night. I tried a steak recipe that came with my new grill. Who knew I could cook?” he added incredulously.

  “Sorry I … missed it,” Belle said without enthusiasm.

  “There’s nothing better than a good steak,” he observed. When she didn’t respond, her violet eyes narrowed slightly and fixed on his face, he chuckled lightly. “Right. So … I’m wondering if you’d consider joining me for dinner tonight to discuss the case.”

  Belle glanced down at her clothing. She was a sweaty, soiled mess. She ran a nervous hand through her stringy hair. Although she didn’t particularly feel up to dinner with the attorney who had stolen her case, she realized she might be able to wield some influence with him if she played her cards right. At the very least, if she remained on good terms with him, he might keep her apprised of case-related developments.

  “What do you say?” he prompted.

  “I guess that would be okay. Do you mind if I clean up first?”

  “Oh, sure. Take your time,” he said obligingly. “We’ll make our plans when you’re done.”

  She hurried away and to the upstairs bathroom. She desperately needed a shower. She checked her face in the mirror before stepping under the stream of water. She grimaced. Had she really just conversed with Dare wearing a smudge of dirt across her nose? Her hair, usually sleek and shiny, was a mess. She grimaced when she noticed her sunscreen had apparently petered out long before the bottle indicated it would.

  After showering, she dressed in clean shorts and a knit top. She wasn’t sure what Dare had in mind for dinner, but figured her attire would inspire an outing to a casual dining restaurant. She just wasn’t in the mood for anything more formal.

  She quickly ran a comb through her hair, and applied a touch of mascara to her lashes. Lipstick came next, however blush wasn’t necessary, courtesy of her sunburn.

  She hurried downstairs, slipped into a pair of strappy sandals, and dashed out the back door. She found Dare engaged in a rousing game of fetch with Tri and Cy. The tiny kitten was firmly attached to the front of his shirt, but his hand hovered beneath her should she decide to disengage from the fabric. Belle winced, wondering if her claws had snagged his shirt. If so, he didn’t seem to mind.

  Dare heard the back door close with a bang and spun around. “That was quick!” he said approvingly. “I expected you’d be at least forty-five minutes.”

  “Really? Why?”

  He shrugged, smiled widely, and absently removed the ball from Tri’s mouth. “Well, past experience has shown me that women typically take a while to get ready. A long while,” he added with a shrug.

  Belle leveled a gaze at him. “Huh? Is that right?”

  He paused mid-throw. “Yep. But I do believe you’ve set a land speed record for readiness. I’m impressed.”

  “Why?”

  Tri barked, urging Dare to throw the ball. He did, and turned back to her.

  He flashed a quick grin. “You’re obviously a wash and go kind of girl … er … woman. Rare these days.”

  “Is that good or bad?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest. She was curious to know the answer. She’d noticed many men seemed to show a definite preference for high-maintenance types.

  “I think it’s good,” he said. “Are you hungry?”

  Belle realized she was hungry. “Yes. I’ve worked in the garden all day.”

  “Shall we go out? Or we could eat at my place,” he suggested.

  “Why don’t we eat here? I imagine you’re tired after a day at a new job, and I’m a bit worn out from toiling in the garden. I could cook up the squash…”

  “And I can run home and grab a couple steaks,” he said obligingly.

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “I’ll be back in a flash.” He tossed the ball one more time for the dogs, removed the kitten from his shirt and passed her to Belle, and then strode to the front of the house and to his car, all the while whistling a happy tune.

  ***

  Belle carried the kitten and the squash inside. She gently put the kitten on the floor and began preparations for dinner. She startled when the phone rang. It was Lacey.

  “How was your second day of vacation?” she asked.

  “Fine. I spent it weeding the garden.”

  “Sounds scintillating,” she said in a flat tone.

  “Hey, it feels great to get outside and get a little work done around this place. Weeding is one thing I’ll soon be able to cross off my list.”

  “You have a list? Of course, you have a list. Hey, Steven tells me Dare made quite an impression at work today.”

  “How so?” she asked with interest as she chopped up the squash.

  “I understand he pitched right in with a cheery, gung ho attitude. Steven says he’s brilliant, by the way. Took right to your landlord-tenant case. Really knows the law,” she added. “Oh, and I guess Rosaria Rodriguez was quite taken with him, too. After her appointment, she returned with a bag of freshly cooked tortilla chips and homemade salsa. Steven said both were delicious.”

  Belle felt a flash of annoyance at that bit of information. So much for worrying that a change in representation might upset Rosaria. The woman had never brought her gifts of food.

  She sighed.

  “What?” Lacey said.

  “Who knew I was so … expendable?”

  “You are not expendable. Everybody misses you!” she cried. “In fact, Steven said the coffee in the break room tasted positively awful today.”

  Belle shook her head. What? And then it dawned on her. She always made the coffee at work, since she was always the first to arrive each morning. “Great. They miss my coffee brewing prowess. I graduated from Harvard Law and the only thing they miss about me is my coffee.”

  Lacey chuckled. “You’re missed!” she assured her. “Hey, what are you doing tonight? I suppose you have toilets to scrub, or something equally entertaining on the agenda.”

  “Dare is coming over,” she said absently.

  “What?” Lacey shrieked. “You’re just happening to mention that bit of pertinent information now?”

  “What’s pertinent about it? He wants to discuss the case with me. He asked if I’d help him get up to speed.”

  “Like he needs help getting up to speed,” Lacey said, and chuckled suggestively. “I know exactly what he’s hoping to get up to speed. Or, should I say who.”

  “Who?”

  “You!”

  “Oh, Lacey!”

  “Oh, Belle!”

  “Lacey,” she said sternly, “he wants to review the case. Frankly, it makes sense, considering he’s come into it at this late juncture.”

  “Right,” her friend muttered, still dubious.

  “He wants to review the case,” she insisted for the umpteenth time.

  “No, he has a case on you, and it’s you he wants to review.”

  “Would you stop with the innuendos already? You’re incorrigible!” Belle cried.

  “I’m right,” Lacey said succinctly. “Mark my words, I’m right.”

  Chapter Four

  When Dare arrived back at Belle’s house, he came leaden with groceries. As she opened the front door, her eyes widened. Obviously, his refrigerator was far better stocked than hers.

  “I went shopping yesterday,” he told her, “since my refrigerator was bare. I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I brought …” He scanned the groceries in his arms and grinned wanly. “…My entire fridge.”

  She acknowledged his words with a smile, and then relieved his load by taking several items from him and carrying them into the kitchen. “Something smells good,” he com
mented.

  Belle had already begun cooking the squash, and had fired up the grill outside. Dare put the groceries onto the table and Belle spied the steaks. “Shall I get them ready?”

  “I’ll do it.” He pulled them from their packaging, along with several jars of seasonings from a small bag. Quickly, he prepared them. “Shall I put the steaks on now?”

  “Uh, sure.” She passed him a plate and cooking utensils.

  He strode outside and Belle heard him talking to the dogs as he cooked. She smiled when she heard Cy bark in response. Dare was back in a flash. “Are the steaks safe with the dogs?” he asked with a grin. “Cy is salivating, and from the look in Tri’s eyes, I’d say he’s planning a heist.”

  “I’d better bring them onto the porch.” She hurried outside and called the dogs in. “To your rooms,” she told them, and they obediently trotted into their respective dog houses.

  “Wow,” Dare said admiringly, “they’re well trained.”

  “They didn’t come that way,” she admitted with a smile. “They were a couple of rowdy pups when I took them in.”

  He chuckled, and then surveyed the kitchen. “Need any help?”

  “No, I’ve got it under control.”

  “Then I’ll go mind the grill,” he said.

  After sautéing the squash, Belle hurriedly cut into a watermelon Dare had brought along. Next she spooned the squash onto two plates, and then pulled a pitcher of freshly made lemonade from the refrigerator. She was pouring the lemonade into glasses when Dare sauntered into the kitchen, carrying the steaks, grilled to perfection. He dropped one onto each plate.

  “Looks good,” he said, and Belle nodded in agreement. “Shall we eat outside? I noticed your picnic table under the apple tree out back.”

  “Oh, sure.”

  Dare picked up both plates, and Belle retrieved the necessary utensils, along with their beverages, and followed him outside.

  Belle hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she cut into the steak. She took a bite, and her eyes widened appreciatively. “Excellent!” she declared.

  “Glad you like it,” he said with a smile. He turned briefly when he heard the dogs whining from the porch. “The dogs definitely approve of the aroma.”