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smile. “I saw you getting hot and heavy with Ethan’s lawyer friend on the dance floor. Would you consider him an asset?”
    I shifted in my seat. Even though Sarah had already heard about the kiss, she didn’t know who it had been with, and I wanted to keep it that way. I rubbed my temple and considered whether Ryan could be a future asset, but I really didn’t know him more than a twirl and a kiss. And as the guy who wanted to micromanage me to death. “Definitely not an asset. More of an irritation, like Victor.”
    Ginger’s mouth dropped open. “Are you saying Ryan didn’t ask for your phone number?”
    My cheeks heated. “No, one dance was enough. Can we talk about something else?”
    Sarah’s mouth dropped open. “Ethan’s lawyer friend is Ryan Shaw?”
    Sarah was way too astute. Sigh.
    I threw my gaze toward the ceiling, hoping Kristen was happy on her honeymoon. Because, at the rate I was going, she was in for a long therapy session with me when she got back. “What happens at lunch, stays at lunch. Agreed?”
    Sarah bit her lip, obviously suppressing a smile, and nodded. “Val would die if she knew. All she talks about is Ryan’s hotness.”
    “Ryan works at your firm?” Ginger moved her hands to her lap as the server set down our salads. “That makes for convenient dating.”
    “Not even close.” I lifted my fork, squeezing the handle until my fingers hurt. “He is the partner’s nephew and they just hired him for the promotion that should’ve been mine. New subject? Please?”
    Ginger shook her head. “Now I get why you’re not seeing him again. There must be some way to resolve this, because I really saw you two as a couple.”
    Yeah, because I’d been acting. “Sarah, I’ll pay you a million dollars if you explain PML to Ginger right now and get her to dump Victor.”
    Sarah met my gaze, and I could see her wheels turning about the whole Ryan subject. Luckily, she showed mercy on me and engaged Ginger in a dialogue about pre-midlife.
    I eyed Sarah as she chatted with Ginger. Was Sarah PML?
    Ginger’s voice rose as she relayed one of Victor’s annoying traits, but then insisted that no man was perfect. Ginger was most definitely PML.
    After I finished my salad, I rubbed my temples—partly from Sarah learning about Ryan and me, but mostly because his kiss was circling my brain again. My cheeks heated and I hoped they hadn’t noticed. That kiss had meant nothing. Yes, absolutely nothing. But I didn’t want to explain that to my friends.
    I was having a hard enough time convincing myself.
    ****
    I spent all afternoon working on a new treat Ryan had requested—a special report on the Somerset file. Never mind that I’d settled multi-million-dollar cases without unnecessary reports. I tapped SEND on my email, getting the tedious overview off to him by his five o’clock deadline.
    Then I stared out my office window, and chewed viciously at my thumbnail. It was the lowest of the low that I’d started biting my usually manicured nails. I glanced at the time and it was 5:05 p.m. Time to go home. Since when had I become a clock-watcher like my colleague Troy?
    Whatever. If I couldn’t advance in my career, why stay late? But as I reached for my briefcase, I caught sight of the yellow paper Sarah had dropped in my in-box a few minutes ago. Memos were always in yellow. What if it was urgent? I willed myself to ignore the glowing piece of paper but my stubborn sense of duty won out.
    I snatched the yellow slip and scanned the first few black-typed lines. It was an announcement welcoming the arrival of Ryan Shaw. What the . . .? Everyone had celebrated already with his cake on Tuesday. I crumpled the wicked piece of paper, then hurled it into the wastebasket. I snagged my briefcase and bee-lined for the door.
    As I rounded my desk, Ryan sauntered in through the doorway blocking my exit. “We need a truce.”
    Our kiss flashed through my head, and my eyes narrowed. “I’m on my way