“Would you mind coming to my office today to get me for lunch?”

“I would love to.”

“I’m in office 322.”

“I know.”

Of course he did.

“Thank you for the mirror,” I said. “It’s pretty.”

“Like you,” he replied. “I’ll see you at twelve-thirty. Bye.”

I hung up the phone. “Fat and bald with ear hair,” I said.

Then I realized what I had done. He was going to meet perfect Zoey.

Nicholas was punctual. I heard Zoey greeting him with her come-hither voice. “Hi. May I help you?”

I waited inside my office, listening to the exchange. “I’m here for Elise,” he said.

“May I tell her who’s calling?”

“Nicholas,” he said.

Long pause. “You’re Nicholas?”

“You must be Zoey.”

“Yes. I am.” I had never heard her sound so awkward.

“It’s a pleasure meeting you,” he said.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Zoey said.

“I’m glad to hear that,” he said. “I assumed that I was just one of Elise’s many men.”

Zoey said nothing as I walked out. Nicholas looked over at me and smiled. He couldn’t have dressed better for his appearance. He looked gorgeous in an Armani suit with a crisp white silk shirt and crimson tie. “And there she is,” he said. He walked up to me and kissed me on the cheek. “I hope it’s okay I came by early.”

“It’s fine,” I said.

“Great. I was hoping you’d have time for me to take you to lunch. The owner of the New Yorker is a friend of mine, and he has a special table waiting for us. If you have time, that is.”

Just then Cathy walked out of her office. She stopped when she saw Nicholas. She didn’t have to say what she was thinking. “Hi.”

Nicholas stepped forward, offering his hand. “Hi, I’m Nicholas.”

“Cathy,” she said, sounding unsure of herself. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” he said. He turned back to me. “So the New Yorker is okay?”

“Of course,” I said, doing my best to sound magnanimous. “Let me get my coat.”

As I returned to my office I heard Nicholas say, “The table I can get with a phone call, but Elise, I have to pray she can fit me in.”

I walked back into the room, and he reached out his hand to me. “Come on, gorgeous.”

“Bye,” I said to Zoey. “I might be a few minutes late.”

“Take your time,” she said meekly.

As we walked out into the hallway, I just looked at him. He was smiling.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Is that what you wanted?”

“That was perfect. Are we really going to the New Yorker for lunch?”

“Of course. I told you I’d broaden your culinary horizons.”