Out of Practice Read online

  Attorney Abby Keane’s vacation is perfect, especially her steamy interlude with a beautiful stranger. But her newfound zen crumbles when her biggest client, a chain of bridal stores, leaves hundreds of brides without dresses. As if reentry isn’t bad enough, a new wedding blogger is doing her best to stoke the anger of the already unhappy brides, and has chosen Abby as the villain.

  Roxanne Daly’s blog has finally hit the sweet spot, and her popularity is soaring. With a regular TV spot on the line, she’ll do whatever it takes to impress the network producers. Running point for a horde of angry brides against a hotshot lawyer seems like the perfect plan until her crusade collides with Abby, the woman she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about since she left her in a tropical paradise.

  Legal Affairs: one law firm, three best friends, three chances to fall in love.

  What Reviewers Say About Carsen Taite’s Work

  Leading the Witness

  “…a very enjoyable lesbian crime investigation drama book with a romance on the side. 4.5 stars.”—LezReviewBooks.com

  “Riveting. …The character of Catherine Landauer is absolutely fascinating and Taite does a phenomenal job of drawing her out.…Definitely recommend.”—C-Spot Reviews

  Practice Makes Perfect

  “This book has two fantastic leads, an attention-grabbing plot and that sizzling chemistry that great authors can make jump off the page. While all of Taite’s books are fantastic, this one is on that next level. This is a damn good book and I cannot wait to see what is next in this series.”—Romantic Reader Blog

  “This is possibly the funniest of Taite’s books with good use of banter and witty dialogues. The main characters are well portrayed and even though the romance is very slow-burn, it’s realistic and angst-free. The chemistry is sizzling and the intimate scenes are well written. …Overall, a very good start of a series full of fun, romance, and donuts. 4 stars.”—LezReviewBooks.com

  Pursuit of Happiness

  “I like Taite’s style of writing. She is consistent in terms of quality and always writes strong female characters that are as intelligent as they are beautiful.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think Meredith and Stevie are my new favourite couple that Taite’s written. …They’re brilliant, funny, and the chemistry between them is out of control.”—Lesbian Review

  Love’s Verdict

  “Carsen Taite excels at writing legal thrillers with lesbian main characters using her experience as a criminal defense attorney.”—Lez Review Books

  Outside the Law

  “[A] fabulous closing to the Lone Star Law Series. …Tanner and Sydney’s journey back to each other is sweet, sexy and sure to keep you entertained.”—Romantic Reader Blog

  A More Perfect Union

  “Readers looking for a mix of intrigue and romance set against a political backdrop will want to pick up Taite’s latest novel.”—RT Book Reviews

  “A sexy soldier. …Yes, please!!! …Character chemistry was excellent, and I think with such an intricate background story going on, it was remarkable that Carsen Taite didn’t lose the characters’ romance in that and still kept it at the front and centre of the storyline.”—Les Rêveur

  Sidebar

  “Sidebar is a sexy, fun, interesting book that’s sure to delight, whether you’re a longtime fan or this is your first time reading something by Carsen Taite. I definitely recommend it!”—Lesbian Review

  Letter of the Law

  “Fiery clashes and lots of chemistry, you betcha!”—Romantic Reader Blog

  Without Justice

  “Another pretty awesome lesbian mystery thriller by Carsen Taite.”—Danielle Kimerer, Librarian, Nevins Memorial Library (MA)

  “All in all a fantastic novel. …Unequivocally 5 Stars.”—Les Rêveur

  Above the Law

  “…readers who enjoyed the first installment will find this a worthy second act.”—Publishers Weekly

  “Ms. Taite delivered and then some, all the while adding more questions, Tease!! I like the mystery and intrigue in this story. It has many ‘sit on the edge of your seat’ scenes of excitement and dread (like watch out kind of thing) and drama…well done indeed!”—Prism Book Alliance

  Reasonable Doubt

  “Another Carsen Taite novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. …[A]n interesting plot with lots of mystery and a bit of thriller as well. The characters were great.”—Danielle Kimerer, Librarian, Reading Public Library

  “Sarah and Ellery are very likeable. Sarah’s conflict between job and happiness is well portrayed. I felt so sorry for Ellery’s total upheaval of her life. …I loved the chase to find the truth while they tried to keep their growing feelings for each other at bay. When they couldn’t, the tale was even better.”—Prism Book Alliance

  Lay Down the Law

  “Recognized for the pithy realism of her characters and settings drawn from a Texas legal milieu, Taite pays homage to the prime-time soap opera Dallas in pairing a cartel-busting U.S. attorney, Peyton Davis, with a charity-minded oil heiress, Lily Gantry.”—Publishers Weekly

  “Suspenseful, intriguingly tense, and with a great developing love story, this book is delightfully solid on all fronts.”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  Courtship

  “Taite (Switchblade) keeps the stakes high as two beautiful and brilliant women fueled by professional ambitions face daunting emotional choices. …As backroom politics, secrets, betrayals, and threats race to be resolved without political damage to the president, the cat-and-mouse relationship game between Addison and Julia has the reader rooting for them. Taite prolongs the fever-pitch tension to the final pages. This pleasant read with intelligent heroines, snappy dialogue, and political suspense will satisfy Taite’s devoted fans and new readers alike.”—Publishers Weekly

  “Carsen Taite throws the reader head on into the murky world of the political system where there are no rights or wrongs, just players attempting to broker the best deals regardless of who gets hurt in the process. The book is extremely well written and makes compelling reading. With twist and turns throughout, the reader doesn’t know how the story will end.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  Switchblade

  “Dallas’s intrepid female bounty hunter, Luca Bennett, is back in another adventure. Fantastic! Between her many friends and lovers, her interesting family, her fly by the seat of her pants lifestyle, and a whole host of detractors there is rarely a dull moment.”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  Beyond Innocence

  “Taite keeps you guessing with delicious delay until the very last minute. …Taite’s time in the courtroom lends Beyond Innocence, a terrific verisimilitude someone not in the profession couldn’t impart. And damned if she doesn’t make practicing law interesting.”—Out in Print

  The Best Defense

  “Real Life defense attorney Carsen Taite polishes her fifth work of lesbian fiction, The Best Defense, with the realism she daily encounters in the office and in the courts. And that polish is something that makes The Best Defense shine as an excellent read.”—Out & About Newspaper

  Nothing but the Truth

  Author Taite is really a Dallas defense attorney herself, and it’s obvious her viewpoint adds considerable realism to her story, making it especially riveting as a mystery. I give it four stars out of five.”—Bob Lind, Echo Magazine

  Do Not Disturb

  “Taite’s tale of sexual tension is entertaining in itself, but a number of secondary characters…add substantial color to romantic inevitability”—Richard Labonte, Book Marks

  It Should be a Crime—Lammy Finalist

  “Taite, a criminal defense attorney herself, has given her readers a behind the scenes look at what goes on
during the days before a trial. Her descriptions of lawyer/client talks, investigations, police procedures, etc. are fascinating. Taite keeps the action moving, her characters clear, and never allows her story to get bogged down in paperwork. It Should Be a Crime has a fast-moving plot and some extraordinarily hot sex.”—Just About Write

  Out of Practice

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  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Out of Practice

  © 2020 By Carsen Taite. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-360-4

  This Electronic Original Is Published By

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: February 2020

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design By Jeanine Henning

  By the Author

  Truelesbianlove.com

  It Should be a Crime

  Do Not Disturb

  Nothing but the Truth

  The Best Defense

  Beyond Innocence

  Rush

  Courtship

  Reasonable Doubt

  Without Justice

  Sidebar

  A More Perfect Union

  Love’s Verdict

  Pursuit of Happiness

  Leading the Witness

  The Luca Bennett Mystery Series:

  Slingshot

  Battle Axe

  Switchblade

  Bow and Arrow (novella in Girls with Guns)

  Lone Star Law Series:

  Lay Down the Law

  Above the Law

  Letter of the Law

  Outside the Law

  Legal Affairs Romances:

  Practice Makes Perfect

  Out of Practice

  Acknowledgments

  I can write anywhere—coffee shop, car dealership, waiting in line at the DMV, but my favorite place to write is at my desk in my home office next to a cozy little dog bed where Lambchop and Chewbacca are nestled together waiting for their pet dog Mollie to come home. Unfortunately for us, Mollie is frolicking at the Rainbow Bridge and we who are left behind will have to make do without her until it’s our time to say good-bye to this mortal life. I discovered exactly how hard making do was while I was in the middle of writing this book. Mollie was at my side for every one of the books I’ve written, and it’s hard to comprehend doing this without my little superdog sitting on my shoulder, nestled at my side, or gnawing on the pages to remind me that a good dinner can be more important than a higher word count. I love you, Mollie, and I miss you every single day.

  Thanks always to Rad and Sandy for making this publishing house a home. To my intrepid editor, Cindy Cresap—thanks for all the work you do behind the scenes to make my work shine. Jeanine, thank you for the beautiful set of covers for this series. Ruth, your tireless efforts to make us all shine are most appreciated, and I treasure our friendship.

  I’ve made so many good friends during my writing journey. Georgia, I love our daily word count check-ins, but the thing I’m most grateful for is your friendship. Melissa, thanks for always being available to talk about all the things. Paula, thanks for being available whenever I needed to dish about all things bridal, legal mumbo jumbo, and everything else. And special thanks for reading all the versions of this story up until the day it was due. You’re one hundred percent the best pal ever!

  Thanks to my wife, Lainey, for always believing in my dreams even when they involve sacrificing our time together. That you are always available to brainstorm book ideas and plot points is a total bonus. I couldn’t do this without you and I wouldn’t want to.

  And to my loyal readership, thank you, thank you, thank you. Every time you purchase one of my stories, you give me the gift of allowing me to make a living doing what I love. Thanks for taking this journey with me.

  Dedication

  To Mollie, the fiercest, most devoted, loyal, loving little dog on the planet. We miss you big time.

  And to Lainey, the best dog mom ever.

  Chapter One

  “I’m not a hundred percent sure what’s in a mai tai, but I’m ordering five of them as soon as the plane touches down.” Abby Keane made the announcement to her law partners Campbell Clark and Grace Maldonado as she shoved her passport into her purse. “Are you sure you two are going to be okay on your own?”

  “Absolutely.” Campbell shooed Abby to the door. “Besides, we agreed—now that the firm is up and running, we all start taking vacations. Real ones. No phone, no computer. Lots of drinks. Although I have to say that if you come back all sugared up from drinking fruity beverages with tiny umbrellas, we might not be your friends anymore. What say you, Grace?”

  Grace cocked her head like she was giving the question serious thought. “We’ll take a vote when she gets back. I’ve had my eye on her office for a while.”

  Abby grinned at her friends, not at all worried they would ditch her under any circumstances. Early this year, they’d all reunited at their five-year law school reunion and, upon finding out they all hated the careers they’d chosen working for big law firms, decided to quit their jobs and form the law firm of Clark, Keane, and Maldonado. The transition had been challenging, but they were starting to see some success. In any case, they were having a much better time working for themselves than they had doing the bidding of irrational, egotistical big firm law partners.

  One of the conditions when they’d started the firm was that they each take actual vacations, not the poor stand-ins they’d had in their last jobs, where weekend getaways were guaranteed to be interrupted by sketchy emergencies designed to get them to feel indispensable and beholden all at the same time. No, they’d cover for each other to make sure that everything was handled while the others were gone so that when they returned, they wouldn’t face the usual nightmare of reentry. In deference to their equal partnership, they’d actually drawn straws to decide who would get to go first, and Abby had won. She’d spent two weeks scouring the internet for options and finally landed a resort that promised to be the perfect locale. Remote, yet devoted to providing their guests with every luxury. The reviews used words like lush, pampered, and lavish. She’d booked a first class ticket because she figured she’d earned it, and spent the last two weeks tying up loose ends.

  Abby’s phone buzzed to let her know the car service was almost there. “I left a list of pending matters with Graham,” Abby said, referring to their office manager. “And he knows how to get hold of me if there are any emergencies and you can’t reach me on my cell.”

  “Which there won’t be,” Grace said. “At least none that we can’t handle. Now go. You’re the first one of us to get one of these vacation thingies. We’re relying on you to report back and tell us what it’s all about.”

  Abby grabbed her bag. “There’s a tiny part of me that feels bad about leaving you alone, but the rest of me is dreaming of endless sun and lots of fruity drinks.” She gave them each a hug and headed to the door where Graham was waiting to say good-bye.

  “Ms. Keane, your chariot awaits,” he said with a flourish of his arm and a bow.

  She smiled. She’d miss his odd formality and she’d miss hanging with her friends, but it had been her decision to take this trip alone. She’d packed several books—real hold-in-your-hand-paperbacks�
��and magazines, and she was looking forward to turning her brain off for an entire week.

  Her ride was only a few minutes away from the airport when her phone rang and her mother’s picture appeared on the screen. For a moment, she considered not answering, but Donna Wheeler was a persistent woman and Abby didn’t want to be bothered once the vacation officially started. “Hey, Mom, I’m almost at the airport.”

  “Are you sure it’s safe for you to be traveling alone to such a remote place?”

  It was a constant wonder how she’d become so independent when she had a mother who would never imagine traveling alone or doing anything else for that matter without a partner by her side. Plus, she likely equated “remote” with some kind of jungle full of hungry wild animals. “I promise. I thoroughly researched this place and it’s loaded with security, and it’s only a couple of hours from Puerto Vallarta. Beyoncé stayed there just a few months ago,” she added, knowing the pop culture reference would be soothing to her TMZ-watching mother.