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“Okay.” She was almost shaking, her body primed and ready for something to happen. When clearly nothing was going to happen.

Not at nine o’clock in the morning in the file room of the office, when all Jake would ever be to her was her boss.

He turned abruptly and walked out, and Anne leaned back against the file cabinet and tried to pull herself together.

Could she be any more foolish?

She’d never thought she was weak and spineless, but maybe she really was.

Spending two years of her life wanting a man she could never have.

When she returned to her desk, Jake’s office door was closed. He closed his door when he was having a private conversation—either on the phone or in person—or when he was in a bad mood. He never closed it at any other time.

She wondered what he was doing in there.

She sat down in front of her computer and tried to make herself finish reviewing the marketing proposal.

No reason to think about Jake. He was nothing but her boss.

An hour later, her personal phone rang.

She’d gotten her dream job with that marketing firm.

Two

Later that day, Anne was running late for lunch with Meg and Ranie, her two best friends and roommates.

Jake had emerged from his office a couple of hours ago with half a dozen projects that needed to be completed today, so she’d been too busy to think much about the job offer or what she was going to do about it.

She also ended up fifteen minutes late for lunch.

“You look gorgeous,” Ranie said, when Anne finally collapsed in a chair at their favorite lunch bistro. “If Jake didn’t want to rip your clothes off in that skirt, then I don’t know what’s wrong with the man.”

Anne rolled her eyes. “He didn’t want to rip my clothes off.”

“How do you know? Maybe he was manfully hiding his raging desire.”

Anne couldn’t help but laugh at Ranie’s wry tone. “There was no sign of raging desire. I’ve pretty much given up on that, you know.”

“No, you haven’t,” Meg put in. “No use to lie to us.”

“Maybe not. But I should have. A long time ago.” She smiled at the server who came over with a glass of water for her, and then she ordered a Greek salad.

“Well, you have that date tonight. He sounded promising.” Ranie was pretty, blonde, and tiny. And the loudest person Anne had ever met. “Maybe he’ll sweep you off your feet so you forget all about Jake.”

“Well, he might not be sweeping me off my feet tonight. I might have to go to San Diego.”

“That’s ridiculous. You weren’t supposed to go out of town again until next week.” That was Ranie again, sounding outraged, although Meg was frowning at the news too.

“I know. But something came up, and we may have to go. It should just be for the night, but I’d have to reschedule the date. Anyway, that’s not even my biggest news.” She tried to sound excited rather than confused and overwhelmed, which was how she felt.

She obviously didn’t fool her friends. They looked at each other. Then Ranie asked slowly, “Is it bad news?”

“No. Good news. I got the job.”

“The marketing one?”

“Yeah. It sounds great, and the salary is good.”

Meg was giving her a narrow look. “Then why don’t you look happy about it?”

“I am happy.” Anne sighed. “I guess I have no reason not to take it.”

“Why wouldn’t you take it?” Ranie asked.

“I would. I’m going to.” As she said the words, she realized they were right. Of course, she needed to take the job. It would be absolutely ridiculous to not take the job she really wanted because she didn’t want to leave Jake.

“You can’t put your life on hold for him,” Meg murmured. “You never have before. The job was good for you before—with your mother and everything. But, if you don’t take this job now, then you’ll be putting your life on hold for him.”

“I know. I’m not going to do that. I’m going to take the job.” She straightened up, trying again to feel excited. “It’s just…it’s going to be hard to leave him.”

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