Promises, Promises

“Thanks. I like it, too.”

Leaning forward, Gary placed his elbows on his desk and steepled his fingers. “Can I ask you something I’ve been wondering about, but never quite had the courage to ask?”

She shrugged. “Sure.”

“Why is it you had to come to me for advice on how to attract a man? Why didn’t you already know these things?”

It was a subject she’d given a lot of thought recently. “I was an only child. My parents were older when they had me, and they were very old-fashioned in their behavior and their dress. I guess it rubbed off on me.”

“You never rebelled? Not even as a teenager?”

“No. You see, I wore the label ‘smart’ all through school. It wouldn’t have mattered how I dressed or behaved. The popular kids just looked right through me. Besides, I was too busy studying and taking care of my mother when she got sick. Then, in college, when my dad got sick, I took care of him, too. It wasn’t that I was unaware of the way my peer group dressed and behaved. I just didn’t have time to join them.”

“Do you regret it?”

She thought for a minute. “No. The only thing I regret is that Jill didn’t have more time.”

“So, this is your time,” he said.

“Yes.” She smiled. “I plan on making the most of it.”

“Good to hear.” He drew a breath. “How’s the seduction campaign going?”

“Oh, that.” She waved a hand airily. “Dead in the water. He turned me down flat.”

Gary peered closely at her. “You don’t seem upset about it.”

“I’m not.”

“Why not?”

“Because I know now it wasn’t meant to be. Actually, that’s why I came to see you. I know it’s short notice, but I need to take next week off.”

“The whole week?”

She nodded. “Every single day.”

“I’m not sure we can spare you that long.”

“It’s not like it’s busy season, Gary. April fifteenth is still a whole eight and a half months away. The Harrison account will be wrapped up, and Laura and Jack will easily be able to take up the slack.”

“It’s that important to you?” he asked.

“It’s that important,” she confirmed. “You know I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“All the things I’ve never done.”

“All of them?”

“Well,” she amended, chuckling, “as many of them as I can cram into one week. The rest I’ll just have to get to as I can.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Rising, she headed for the door.

“Just because he turned you down, it doesn’t mean you have to give up,” Gary said.

She glanced at him over her shoulder. “I know. But you see, I realized something. I’m the one who’s not ready for a wild, crazy affair. Not yet. But I will be someday.”

“Maybe after the week off,” he said.

“Maybe. I’ll know when the time is right.”

“Have fun,” Gary said.

She flashed him a smile. “Thanks. I intend to.”

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