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Chapters (68)
  1. Partner Pursuit
  2. Copyright
  3. Dedication
  4. Contents
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Chapter Six
  11. Chapter Seven
  12. Re: Whitaker retirement party
  13. Chapter Nine
  14. Chapter Ten
  15. Chapter Eleven
  16. Chapter Twelve
  17. Chapter Thirteen
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Chapter Fifteen
  20. Chapter Sixteen
  21. Chapter Seventeen
  22. Chapter Eighteen
  23. Chapter Nineteen
  24. Chapter Twenty
  25. Friday, New York City
  26. Chapter Twenty-Two
  27. Chapter Twenty-Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-Four
  29. Chapter Twenty-Five
  30. Chapter Twenty-Six
  31. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  32. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  33. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  34. Chapter Thirty
  35. Chapter Thirty-One
  36. Chapter Thirty-Two
  37. Chapter Thirty-Three
  38. Chapter Thirty-Four
  39. Chapter Thirty-Five
  40. Chapter Thirty-Six
  41. Subject: Deposition of Plaintiff in James case
  42. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  43. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  44. Subject: Mentors Found
  45. Chapter Forty-One
  46. Chapter Forty-Two
  47. Chapter Forty-Three
  48. Chapter Forty-Four
  49. Jake: While you’re stuck at work, think about this: I thought you might want to do a yoga session while I’m surfing in Santa Teresa. Should I book?
  50. Chapter Forty-Six
  51. Chapter Forty-Seven
  52. Chapter Forty-Eight
  53. Chapter Forty-Nine
  54. Chapter Fifty
  55. Chapter Fifty-One
  56. Chapter Fifty-Two
  57. Chapter Fifty-Three
  58. Chapter Fifty-Four
  59. Chapter Fifty-Five
  60. Chapter Fifty-Six
  61. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  62. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  63. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  64. Chapter Sixty
  65. Chapter Sixty-One
  66. About the Author
  67. Acknowledgements
  68. On any top-ten list of best Sunday plans, today’s brunch with my former crush and his new girlfriend would rank number eleven … hundred. Times five. But I couldn’t say no. We’re still friends.

A spark of electricity passed as their hands touched. She couldn’t tell if he felt it too. She turned away and shimmied back, and Jake did the same, their moves in perfect rhythm, their glances heated, his hand lingering at her hip as he spun her around. Is it just for the fun of the dance, or does it mean more?

A friend of Jake’s came to say goodbye, and Jake stopped to talk to him. She couldn’t hear what he said, but Jake leaned in to listen to him. They stepped away from the dance floor. As they did, Jake looked over briefly as if to excuse himself, and she nodded.

Winnie and Eve ventured over, and she danced with them. Max joined them.

Eve said, “Pete’s going to clean up.”

“Definitely a keeper,” Audrey said.

“No doubt.”

Colette came up to say that she was leaving, but she’d enjoyed the party and the food. A tall preppy guy was standing behind her. She introduced him to Audrey, saying that he was an old friend from college; neither had known the other was now living in the city. He put his arm around Colette as she talked and she glowed. Audrey watched them leave together. So, Colette was not dating Tim.

As Jake rejoined them, Pete appeared and scooped up Eve for some swing-dancing.

At midnight, Audrey shut down the music and most guests left. Max and Jake pulled the couches out along with the coffee table, and Eve and Winnie piled the remaining food on the coffee table. Jake briefly opened the door to let in the fresh cold night air and let out any smell of alcohol. Audrey sank gratefully into the soft cushions of the couch, Jake sitting next to her. The heat of his thigh against hers warmed her. As the crowd thinned, Tim appeared and perched on the edge of the couch. But seeming to note that Audrey was flanked by Max and Jake on the couch, he said his goodbyes.

The remaining close group of friends—with Jake and Winnie joining in easily—hung out, doing a party post-mortem analysis until the food was finished. Most of Eve’s business cards had been taken, so that seemed positive. Eve had landed three engagements, one with Colette. As the conversation wound down, Max and Winnie both said they had to leave, and Eve and Pete also stood up, saying they’d help with any remaining clean-up in the morning.

That left Jake.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Having said goodbye to her friends, Audrey bounced back to the living room where Jake remained on the couch. Finally! Max’s parting comment had been auspicious: “I want a full update in the morning.”