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middle of drafting a report on the health insurance the company provided for most of its employees when there was a knock on her door.
                  “Come in,” she called absently, expecting the mail clerk or one of the interns with a message from Kathleen. Instead, Mark poked his head into the room.
                  “You busy?”
                  Her chin jerked up at the sound of his voice and her hands automatically went to smooth the lines of her suit jacket. “No, not really.”
                  Mark walked into the room and held up a bag that released a delicious aroma as it moved through the air. “I thought maybe we could have lunch.”
                  “You want to have lunch with me?”
                  “Yeah,” Mark said, running his fingers through his hair in a nervous gesture. “After the way I took off Friday, I kind of wanted to make it up to you.”
                  “You don’t have to do that.”
                  “Yes, I do,” he insisted. “I was rude and I am really sorry.”
                  Jo stood and crossed in front of her desk. “I pushed you to talk about something you made it clear you did not want to talk about. So I figure I kind of deserved what I got.”
                  He shook his head. “No, no one deserves rudeness.” He held up the bag then, waving it gently between them. “So, I brought burritos from that place up the street. I hear they’re really good.”
                  “The best,” Jo said with a groan of pleasure. “And if you have the chicken and rice one in there, I will be your best friend for life.”
                  “Then I guess it’s both our lucky day.”
     
     

Chapter 9
     
                  They had lunch again on Thursday. The memory of the easy conversation between them helped make the rest of the afternoon pass with ease despite the long, uncomfortable meal with her mother and Emily she had to look forward to that night.
                  Jo finished up her work for the day and turned off the computer with an exhausted groan. She slipped into her shoes and stood, gathering her bag, her cell phone, and a few folders containing statistics and figures she wanted to go over that night before a meeting in the morning. She glanced out the window and watched the sun slide down in the sky behind the high rises scattered across downtown. Another long day finished.
                  At the elevator, Jo jabbed the down button and leaned against the wall as she waited. A voice behind her snickered.
                  “Hey, Jo.”
                  Jo turned and found herself face to face with Becca, another coworker. Jo forced a smile and wished the elevator would hurry.
                  “So, did you hear that Kathleen is thinking of promoting one of us?”
                  “Is that right?”
                  “Yeah. She needs someone to take over Kurt’s job.”
                  Suddenly interested, Jo straightened. “What happened to Kurt?”
                  “Didn’t you hear?” Becca asked with a false bit of contrition. “His wife left him, so he’s decided to move back home to Tennessee.”
                  “That’s too bad.”
                  Becca shrugged. “Things happen.” She reached over to the elevator buttons and pressed the down button even though it was already lit. “But that means his job is open and only you and I are qualified to fill it. And it comes with a healthy jump in pay and a bonus.”
                  “When will Kathleen make her choice?”
                  Becca gestured toward Kathleen’s office in the distant corner. “I hear she’s planning on making the announcement sometime next week. But you shouldn’t