THE BATTLE FOR YOUR HEART

IA'S

siness Consulting. I named it after my father. A light wind ruffled the hem of my long gray

strong breeze. Going into the office on a weekend while everyone else was relaxing and en

on my shoulder, the waistband of my emerald pantsuit pinched my waist. Maybe I would just have the coffee. All of the food I had co

lege assistant, saluted me from across the open floor plan, he stood be

kitchen carrying a logoed cardboard coffee cup. His brown ankle boots thumped on the wood floor. The dark pants and the untucked whi

ning meeting with your clients from Oregon was canceled, but that worked out because someone else wants to see you. They'll be here in about

s in front of the TV would be treated to a white grainy screen."The cable guy should

him. You gave me Monday o

had just said required caffeine. I took a sip, barely suppressing a moan of gratefulness. Blac

fast. They kept insisting their feral cat sanctuary would merge seamlessly with their family-friendly lodging busine

getaway suites. Recently, they'd offered an add-on amenity called the Piña Colada Special that included umbrella-topped

to my bag and encouraged me to find someone to enjoy them with. Unfortunate

office in the loft. "Why don't we turn off the TV and put on s

British soul, would perk me up as long as it wasn't bone-jarr

usiness here, not pa

ed, "Definitely n

-making abilities-were a fair trade for his wry sense of humor. Too bad she couldn't keep him forever. Even though he'd faithfully w

Who's coming

yne Ma

e of the step. I grasped the railing. My ex mother-in-law? We had stopped speaki

why she wanted

Edward kept swiping his finger over his

about the rift between I and Evelyne, since I kept

speakers tucked in the corners of the ceiling. Edward glance

held her tongue through the separation and divorce between I and her son. Now

and side of her office space and stored my purse in the furniture's middle cabinet. I straight

elyne, I can handle it. The

white chairs over the light natural-fiber carpet, arr

pped into the black desk chair. I could barely refrain f