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Tilly
I look over to where Sebastian is sitting with a few of the detectives he works with, including the groom.
They gathered together after dinner to share stories about Samuel Brant. They all burst into laughter over and over again.
“I had no idea you were the woman Sebastian told me about last week.”
I smile at Darrell. He took the seat next to me after Sebastian vacated it. We’ve chatted for a few minutes about the weather and his new job as an assistant district attorney.
It makes sense now that he knows Sebastian.
As tempted as I am to ask him what exactly Sebastian said about me last week, I’d much rather hear those words from Sebastian’s lips.
“Is he easy to work with?” I laugh.
“Is he easy to live with?” he counters.
I take a small sip of the red wine that was served with dinner. “Very easy to live with.”
He purses his lips. “Very hard to work with.”
I can’t read his expression. “Seriously?”
He picks up the bottle of beer he brought with him when he came to talk to me. He takes a pull. “He takes me to task on a weekly basis. There isn’t another detective who does that.”
That surprises me. The Sebastian I’ve come to know is caring and kind. He’s considerate of others, but I’ve never seen him at work, so it’s impossible for me to understand what he’s like when he’s there.
“He knows the law better than most of the assistant district attorneys.” He puts the beer bottle down. “He’s not afraid to speak his mind.”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” I feel the need to defend Sebastian even though Darrell hasn’t said anything other than that he’s passionate about his job.
“It’s a frustrating thing, Tilly.” He glances over to where Sebastian is still sitting. “He takes every case he’s assigned to heart. If I can’t deliver the outcome he wants, I hear about it.”
“Some people would call that a passion for the job.” I lean back in the chair I’m sitting in. “I can tell that his job weighs on him. I’m sure he just wants justice for the victims.”
Darrell scratches his chin. “You’re right, but his talents would be better suited working for the district attorney.”
I cock my head. “You think he should be a lawyer?”
“I know he should be a lawyer,” he corrects me. “He was accepted to NYU Law School years ago and passed on it.”
“I didn’t know that.”
I’m surprised by his admission. I knew Sebastian had an interest in becoming a lawyer, but I had no idea it had progressed to the point of him applying and being accepted into law school.
“I told him the other day that I had a friend who is connected to the Dean of Admissions at NYU Law. I offered to put in a good word for him.”
I furrow my brow. “Are you talking about Ronald Dixon?”
Ronald is another client I met through the clinic. His cat was brought in late one night after being hit by a car. I just happened to be the vet assistant on call. I comforted him in the waiting room while Dr. Hunt performed surgery on its broken leg.
During the procedure, Ronald told me all about his life, including his job at NYU Law School.
“Let me guess?” Darrell chuckles. “He has a pet who is a friend of yours.”
I smile. “You know it.”
“You should work your magic and convince Sebastian to apply again.” He reaches for his beer. “He passed on his dream job to fulfill a duty to his father and grandfather.”
“You don’t think he wanted to be a police officer?”
His gaze sweeps over Sebastian and the other detectives. “I think he did what he felt he needed to for his family. He put their dreams before his own.”
“He wouldn’t still be talking about becoming a lawyer if it wasn’t in his blood,” he goes on as he pushes back from the table. “He’s got a brilliant legal mind, Tilly. He’d be a remarkable lawyer.”
My chin lifts. “I’m glad we ran into each other today.”
“Me too. Can I ask a favor?” he asks with a grin as he stands.
I narrow my eyes. ”What would that be?”
“You must know a lot of people in this town. Do you know any intelligent, kind and fun single women who might be interested in getting to know a newly-single assistant district attorney?”
I lift my hand to my chin as I consider his request and then it hits me. “I do know someone. I’ll talk to her next week and if she’s interested I’ll get her to call you.”
“You still have my number on file at the clinic, right?”
I nod. “I do.”
“I hope I’ll hear from her.”
He will. Once I tell Carolyn about Darrell, I think she’ll realize that waiting around for the man she had dinner with to call for a second date is nothing but a waste of her time.
I may have just found the next match made in heaven.
“Are you smiling like that because of me?” Sebastian asks from where he’s now standing next to me. “I’m ready to leave if you are, Matilda.”
I look into his eyes. “What about that after dinner dance you promised me?”
He bends down to kiss my forehead. “I have something else in mind that I think you’ll like even more.”
