Sam and Camilla's house really was where everyone gathered, Caylee realized, as she almost drifted to sleep then was startled awake by a sudden and large splash of water as Tito and Maria's brother Joey, and Camilla and Sam's son JD both cannonballed into the pool at the same time, hooting and laughing. Camilla's younger sister Olivia and several of her teenage friends were stretched out on chaises on the other side of the pool, soaking up the sun.

Caylee preferred to sit on a chaise under the shade of an awning that extended from the pool house with a tall cold drink, and read on her phone. And, okay, drift off to sleep now and again.

Her first week at the law firm had been exciting but exhausting, running back and forth to depositions and hearings with first one partner and then another, and trying to get up to speed on each of the cases she was working on with them. Plus, the negligence law they practiced in personal injury and products liability cases was completely different from all the security regulations and caselaw she was familiar with from her previous job. Not that she was complaining. In one week she'd already seen more courtroom and deposition action than she had in her entire year at the New York firm.

What intrigued her the most, though, was the special assignment Jack had given her.  The first part was easy enough and, in a way, would be her cover for the more difficult part. She had been assigned as pro bono legal counsel to OFC, and her job was to review all their contracts, release forms, waivers of liability, and other day-to-day legal documents, as well as create any new contracts and forms that were needed. She also had to make sure they strictly complied with all IRS guidelines to maintain their nonprofit status. It was the second part of her assignment that would be a little trickier to pull off.

Apparently there was a cookout planned here this afternoon, and she wondered if Tito would be coming over.  Camilla and Maria had been in kitchen earlier when she stopped in the main house, putting together a large bowl of potato salad to chill, and baking cookies with little Sophia, while Maria's baby napped in one of those sling contraptions mothers wore. Caylee had never given much thought to having kids herself. Her own family life hadn't been a very good example, and kids didn't actually fit with a high powered law career at the competitive elite law firm where she'd started her career - well, at least they didn't fit  for women lawyers. The male partners at that firm had seemed to have no problem displaying photos of their wives and kids on their desks, but never actually spending any time with them since they were always at the office.

But she had to admit, she was already getting a slightly different look at work-life balance from what she'd seen of how Jack and his partners managed to work hard, win cases, and still make time for family. She was sure there'd be a lot of "shop talk" today, but the backdrop of families enjoying themselves together was kind of nice.

She'd offered to help in the kitchen, but they'd shooed her out, telling her that after her first week on the job they were sure she'd appreciate some time to just relax. So that's what she was doing.

Caylee had just settled back into her book when she saw Jack and Bailey coming through the side gate. Marriage certainly suited Jack, Caylee decided. He was still a killer in the courtroom, and had that edge that made opponents not want to mess with him. But on a personal level, he'd lost that playboy vibe that had once made him the most eligible bachelor in Miami, according to some magazine article. She liked seeing the way he looked at Bailey, like she was everything that mattered.

"Hey!" Bailey said as they approached her. Bailey was carrying a tray covered in aluminum foil and she set it down on the chaise next to Caylee and lifted the edge of the foil.

"Sample one of these and tell me what you think. I tried out a new recipe."

Caylee sat up straighter and studied the tray, which was piled with triangle shaped pastries.

"This side is my mom's receipt for spanakopita, so that's tried and true. But the new one is my first attempt at sambusa."

"I love Ethiopian food," Caylee warned, "so I'm a tough critic."

"Go ahead," Bailey urged. "I can take it."

Caylee lifted one and bit into the delicate crust. Felt the explosion of flavor in her mouth as she tasted the lentil and onion filling that was rich with spices. She looked up.

"This is really good.  I mean, really really good."

Bailey breathed an audible sigh of relief. "I wasn't sure. I saw a recipe that used filo dough and baked it instead of frying, so I thought I'd give it a shot."

"I think it's a success," Caylee said, and grabbed another one, along with one of the spanakopita triangles.

"Ok, that settles it," Bailey said. "Since you went back for seconds I know you weren't just being polite."

Jack snorted out a laugh. "Oh don't worry about that. Caylee would be the first to tell you if it wasn't any good. Being polite is not exactly her forte."

Caylee sent him a narrow eyed glare.

Bailey either didn't notice or pretended not to. She picked up the tray. "I'm going to take these in and see what Camilla and Maria are up to. Do you want anything to drink?"

"I'll take a beer when you come out again," Jack said, settling into the seat next to Caylee.

"Ok. Caylee?"

She held up her half full glass of iced tea. "I'm fine for now, but thanks."

"Seems polite enough to me," Bailey said with a laugh, and left them there.

"So," Caylee said, turning to Jack. "If I'm so rude, then maybe I'm not the person you need for your special little assignment after all."

"Hey." Jack extended his hands. "I never said rude. I just meant you won't substitute politeness for truth. Although," he said, leaning back and swinging his legs onto the chaise and giving her a sidelong glance, "maybe rude is what it's going to take to get the job done. God knows he hasn't responded to subtle."

"I'm still not sure exactly what it is you want me to 'fix' about Tito." She took a long drink and set her glass back on the little table between them. She couldn't wait to hear Jack elaborate on their previous awkward conversation.

Jack shook his head as if he was trying to figure out the best way to say it. It was amusing to Caylee that her normally glib-tongued sort-of-cousin was having so much trouble getting his point across.

"He's just a little bit - okay, a lot - rough around the edges," Jack finally said.

I know, Caylee thought to herself, and I like it.

Out loud, she said, "So what exactly do you want me to do to smooth him out?"

"Well, you could start by taking him shopping for a tux. And a couple of suits he didn't just pick up off the rack."

"So you want me to give Tito Martinez a makeover. Why don't you just talk to his sister, Maria? Or better yet, put your wife Bailey on it. For heavens sake, they work together."

"Bailey works for Tito. I am not going to ask her to school her boss on social graces."

She raised an eyebrow. "But you don't have any problem asking me to do it."

"You're outside counsel. Your role is to advise him."

"On legal matters."

"A good lawyer advises their client on all matters that relate to business. And with a little more finesse Tito could raise a lot more money for OFC. He just doesn't know how to play the game."

"The game." Caylee was liking this conversation even less the more Jack explained. Especially since it was sounding more and more like the kind of thing she hoped to leave behind when she moved to Miami and out of the reach of her mother's social maneuverings.

"I get him entree into all kinds of social events here in Miami where he could make valuable connections," Jack continued, looking frustrated. "He shows up, but he never even brings a date. And he approaches people too directly. He skips the socializing part and gets right down to business. People with big fat trust funds don't respond to that. They want to be wooed. He needs to work the room better, network. Make a connection, then follow up with a lunch invitation. You know how the game is played."

"I know it very well," Caylee said, thinking about how many people in social settings had sought an introduction to her, hoping it would lead to a conversation with her mother or stepfather and access to the charitable trust they controlled. Worse yet, the hopeful bachelors who were looking to increase their own social standing by dating or even marrying a woman whose father's side of the family was connected, however remotely, to royalty. She considered it, and them, tedious.

"I told him he should go to more of these events, and you know what he said?"

"I can't imagine."

"He said he's done attending any dinner where you have to think about what the hell fork to use for your salad."

Caylee couldn't help herself. She knew she was grinning now, and tried to smother a laugh with a giant gulp of iced tea.

"I'm glad you think it's amusing." Jack's voice took on that edge that meant he was trying hard to stay calm.

She contained herself with an effort. "I don't. I mean, what fork to use? Does it occur to you that a lack of proper etiquette instruction might just be because Tito was sitting in a prison cell when he was 18, whereas you were dancing at some Cotillion?"

"Yes. Of course I realize that. I'm not criticizing him for heaven's sake. I just want to help."

"No," Caylee corrected, "you want me to help."

"Well I can hardly be his date for a charity ball."

"I see. So what you actually want is for me, the newest lawyer at the firm, to date one of the law firm's clients.  Isn't that a form of sexual harassment, Jack? How far do you want me to actually go on these dates?"

Jack threw up his hands. "You know what, forget it. Just forget I ever said anything, okay?"

Caylee couldn't hold it in any longer. The laughter just bubbled up out of her.

"Oh my God," Jack said. "You really haven't changed."

"Had you going there, though, didn't I?" Caylee smiled sweetly. "Seriously, Jack, I'll be happy to be Tito's plus one at any galas. I've decided to take a break from dating anyway, but I do love a good party."

"Anyone who would call one of those charity dinners 'a good party' is seriously twisted."

Maybe she was a little twisted, Caylee thought, but not in the way Jack meant. The last somewhat serious relationship she'd had was with a man who definitely knew what fork to use, but was boringly predictable in bed. She had a pretty idea Tito Martinez wouldn't be - if things got that far.

Jack stood up. "I think I'll go in and grab that beer myself. You," he added, "can get to work right now."

"What?"

Jack turned to the side, raised a hand in greeting. "Hey, Tito, I'm getting a beer - you want?"

"Sure."

There it was. That low voice that in one casual word managed to make her skin tingle. Jack moved aside to head into the house, and Tito was walking toward her, then stopping to take her in with those intense eyes. He was wearing dark swim trunks, some kind of slip on shoes, and a t-shirt that hugged his muscled body. And showed off the tattoos on his arms.

And it looked like he was appraising her as much as she was him. She could feel his gaze her, taking in the gauzy cover-up that parted to show off the exquisite  designer bikini that hadn't seen the sun since her tour through the Greek Isles on a friend's yacht last summer. Caylee had a good body and she knew it. She took care of it with regular exercise, a healthy diet, and a faithfully followed skin care regimen that was the only thing of value she'd learned from her mother.

She had no problem with Tito appreciating it. After all, wasn't she doing exactly the same thing staring at him and imagining what it might feel like to slide her hands up under that t-shirt?

She could feel the electricity between them and wondered who would break their gaze - and the silence - first.

Until a pool volleyball came flying through the air and stuck him on the side of the head, followed by a shout from Joey in the pool that was almost drowned out by laughter.

"Sorry, Tito!" Joey yelled. "That was an accident."

Tito turned slowly, stripping off the t-shirt and stepping out of his shoes, while Caylee just stared at the ink on his smooth, muscled back and thought Oh my. "This won't be," he told Joey.

"Oh shit!" Joey yelled, taking off for the other side of the pool as Tito took a couple steps forward then dived in and, after a few smooth strokes, pulled both Joey and JD under the water. When they resurfaced, sputtering and laughing, Tito still had his hands on them.

And Caylee wondered what it might be like, sleek and wet from the water, to have those hands on her.

Author's Note: What do you think about Jack's plan? Is Caylee going to go along with it?

Is Tito going to keep his promise to himself to stay hands-off with Caylee?