Courting Death - Carol Stephenson [31]
Carling wore a pained expression. “Never. Have you ever seen anyone who smiles while they run? It’s called masochism.”
She tied her running shoe and re-directed the conversation. She excelled at such maneuvers.
“You also forget.”
“Forget what?”
“This run is twice as long for me than you.”
Astounded, I stopped stretching. “It’s a five mile run. Last time I checked, we were all running the same route.”
Carling smirked.
“Your legs are twice as long as mine. That means for every step you take, I have to take two.”
Laughing, I reached out to help her up. “Only your warped mind would think of something as ridiculous as that at seven forty-five on a Saturday morning.”
Carling calmly accepted the assist. “It’s not ridiculous. Think about it.”
“I’m glad to see the two prettiest women here can think, laugh and run all at the same time.”
I stilled at the gruff voice. My heart pounding, I pivoted, forcing a bright smile. “Good morning, Detective.”
Carling hurled by me, flinging her arms around his neck. “Save me, save me, Sam, from this fiend. She and Kate coerced me into running.” She moaned tragically and burrowed her head against his shoulder.
I fought back a tinge of jealousy at my friend’s easy physical contact with Sam. I flushed as his gleaming eyes stared at me over Carling’s head and then slowly traveled up and down my body. Although I wore a zip-up sweatshirt over the firm’s T-shirt to guard against the November chill, my leggings, while practical for running, fit like a glove.
He righted Carling and then affectionately fluffed her black cap of hair. “I like the firm’s logo on the shirts.”
She tilted her face for his kiss on her cheek. “My idea of course.”
Sam cocked a brow at me. “Didn’t think the warm and fuzzy motto would be your partner’s idea.”
“Smart ass.” Carling released him. “Are you running today?”
He slowly shook his head. “No, I got stuck coordinating the damn thing again this year so I’m relegated to the sidelines.”
It was time to insert myself into the conversation. It was either talk or become hypnotized by the sight of Sam in his white regulation T-shirt and black jogging shorts. The man was all bronzed muscular arms and long, sinewy legs. His powerful chest tapered down to a narrow waist and hips. In the crowd of male participants, Sam was the essence of virility. He wore his prized Florida Gators cap tipped back on his head.
“Bull. The drug prevention program has always been your baby. You probably stood first in line with your hand raised for this race.”
The crevices lining the sides of his mouth deepened into a sheepish grin. “You’ve got me there, Red.”
Carling’s cell rang. She glanced at the display. “It’s Jared. He’s preparing a big trial for Monday. Hey, honey, how’s it going?”
Sam raised his voice. “Tell him to get his sorry ass over here.”
She held out the phone, and Jared’s sonorous voice succinctly told Sam what he could do with himself. Carling grinned, put the phone to her ear and turned away. I still couldn’t get used to my sharp-tongue friend practically cooing whenever she spoke to her boyfriend.
From the staging area I spotted Kate and Gabe, carrying bottles of water, pause and grab a lingering kiss. A sharp tinge squeezed my heart.
I was happy for the two women who had been my closest friends since law school, but at times I missed the close comradery we’d once shared. After all, we first hatched the idea of running a law firm together over dinner at the pub across from campus, although then we’d sarcastically dubbed it Debt, Default and Miscarriage Law Firm.
Now we were Dent, Rochelle and Sterling, P.A. We’d come a long way, but our paths were now branching out in different directions. That’s what grown women did, and yet I sensed I was the one getting left behind, at times in a cloud of dust.
A shadow fell over me and I realized with a start that Sam was so close his breath feathered my face. “What’s this about you getting flowers from a strange man?”
My partners hadn’t wasted any time. I kept an innocent look on my face. “A friend of a client