“Dan’s called a team meeting in an hour. I’d better go back. Do you want to walk with me?” He stood, picking up his coffee cup, his phone, and the file.

“Of course.” She grabbed her half-finished cup of tea.

“Have a good day,” she said to the woman as she left.

“You too dearie,” she called out after her, “Remember what I said!”

But she couldn’t think of how to flirt with Tim. As they walked back, Tim called his assistant and told her to print out various documents for his meeting. Her phone beeped. It was her best male friend, Max.

She texted back: Having coffee with Tim.

Max: Don’t let me interrupt. Go back to flirting!

She wasn’t flirting with Tim—not like with Jake; this couldn’t qualify as the same energy.

Tim was still talking to his assistant. Audrey whispered that she was going to stay outside and take a walk around the block. Tim nodded. She waved goodbye and called Max. She needed to talk about this with someone, and he was always good for the male perspective.

“That’s just the thing. I realized I can’t flirt with Tim,” she said.

“I never flirt at work. Too risky nowadays,” Max said.

“Maybe that’s it.” She frowned. The fact that he was a work colleague was definitely making it difficult, but it could also just be an excuse. Or maybe it was that any thoughts of romance between them were quickly dwindling with the cold reality that the partners were going to possibly choose only one of them for partner. And she wouldn’t take it well if he made it and she didn’t. She had worked as hard as him for the past seven years—if not even more.

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Audrey heard her name being called as she closed the door of the black sedan dropping her off at the curb of her street on Thursday night.

“Hey,” Jake said. He was walking Biscuit.

“Hey yourself.” She walked over. “Thanks for the beautiful flowers. Tulips are my favorite. I’m sorry my thank you is delayed …”

“Too busy with work?”

She petted Biscuit. “No, thinking of a worthy reply.”

Jake stepped closer. “You can always send over more home-baked cookies. Those were good.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, but I did think of something.” She grinned. “You’ll see it soon.”

Jake’s phone beeped. He read the text. “A bunch of friends and I are going to see a band play at Irving Plaza. Do you want to come? The show starts at ten. I came home to walk Biscuit and then head down.”