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meetings that wasted precious time. No more working her butt off trying to make partner.
    “I know you, Rose. You would love it out here. It’s just what you’re looking for.” His voice lowered. “And I miss you.”
    “Andy, that can’t be the reason that I—”
    “I know, I know.” He cut her off. “Just think about it, okay?”
    She swallowed down a fresh wave of guilt. Enticing as his offer might be, it definitely came with strings attached and she wasn’t about to lead him on just to land a job. She’d rather be stuck researching case law and writing briefs for the rest of her life than give Andy false hope. He wasn’t the man for her.
    No one was. Not anymore. That part of her life was over. Dead and buried.
    “I’ll wait to hear from you. Don’t forget, Rose, you’re the one that I want.”
    Lil’s emerald eyes gleamed with interest as Rose slipped back into the room and her chair. “Something serious?”
    “Andy’s just a friend,” she said in a lighthearted tone that she didn’t feel.
    “Isn’t it funny how some friends have a way of becoming much more than that? Especially friends of the opposite sex,” Lil purred. “So, tell me. What’s he like? Is he good-looking? Tall, dark and handsome?”
    “Very handsome,” Rose agreed, smothering a smile. Two out of three wasn’t bad. Andy, blessed with smooth Mediterranean looks courtesy of his Italian ancestors, barely met her nose to nose.
    “He treats you well?”
    “The best,” she affirmed.
    “Then I say go for it!” Lil sat back triumphantly. “Obviously he’s attracted or he wouldn’t be calling. What’s stopping you?”
    One thousand miles and a heart that wasn’t interested. “It’s rather complicated. We worked together…”
    “Ahh, an office romance.”
    “He’s no longer with the firm. He lives in Washington D.C.”
    Lil nodded sagely. “A long-distance romance.”
    “It’s not like that. Andy is… well, he’s…”
    “He’s…?” Lil prompted.
    Rose reluctantly nodded, hesitant to fill in the blank.
    He’s not Jeff. He never will be. No one will.
    “Say no more. I understand.” Lil cocked her head in tacit understanding. “He’s gay, am I right?”
    Rose started to speak, then quickly decided to keep her mouth shut. Let Lil think what she wanted. Too bad it wasn’t the truth. It certainly would make things simpler if Andy was gay. At least then if she eventually accepted his offer both of them would know there were no strings attached.
    Up until a few weeks ago, she’d thought things were going fine. She worked hard, put in long hours. The firm was happy with her performance. But the message from the senior partners had been clear, despite their approval of her request for six weeks of unpaid family medical leave. She was an integral part of their team, and team players didn’t walk away from their jobs. Team players found someone else to handle family emergencies. Team players stayed and worked their clients.
    Team players made partner.
    Rose sighed. This six-week sabbatical would probably mean at least another year grinding away for the firm. One more year of following the rules, schmoozing the clients and chaining herself to her desk. But how far could she push it? She was already working twelve-to-fourteen-hour days. Did she want to shoot for twenty? She’d already sunk pretty low. Pathetic, actually. A double espresso, comfy bathrobe and hefty Sunday newspaper now served as her regular weekend date.
    But try as she might, she couldn’t visualize Andy lounging in a bathrobe beside her. She doubted he could sit still long enough to read the Sunday paper. He’d have her out jogging at the crack of dawn.
    Lil patted her hand. “It just takes time, honey. Sooner or later, the right man will come along.”
    “I’m not worried.” And she wasn’t. When was the last time she’d met someone new? Men didn’t exactly stroll into her life. True, there had been that fireman from earlier today. But