When the call ended with Shaun, Josh sat lost in thought. He didn't think he was heading to heartbreak, but hated how Shaun still felt broken over the douchebag. After meeting the guy, Josh adopted Jimmy's nickname. Dumbass was too nice.

Ann had been too busy to ask about his weekend. One of her authors had a new release coming out and Ann had jumped in with both feet. He understood the business, but Ann's devotion over everything else bordered on unhealthy. For Josh to say that after growing up with his parents meant she needed balance.

If only she would take a weekend off. They could drive to Western Mass. and enjoy the country. Did she like the country? Not if it meant horses and barns.

He had his own problems. Contracts were piling up, which meant business, but the squeeze was on for authors and agents to take more revenue. Not every Roche-Sumner employee was as good at negotiating a deal as Kendall. Speaking of the fierce editor, Josh had walked by her desk and heard her yelling at poor Lillian. The girl ran off. He followed her until she disappeared into the public relations restroom one floor down. There was an artistic sign that said 'beware of tears'.

Nothing was as it seemed anymore. Lillian Caron, assistant extraordinaire, broke down regularly at work, and Shaun was on the verge of crying as they spoke. Josh wanted to help both.

First thing the following morning, he knocked on Oliver's office door. Oliver looked up. "It's too early for you to be wrangling a dinner invitation."

Josh chuckled. "I'll take one."

"Call Emma and ask. Are you okay?"

"I didn't sleep well. I had a lot on my mind."

"Are your problems about to become mine?"

Josh nodded. "Kendall."

"What did she say to you?"

"Me? Nothing."

"Is this about Ann? Have her go up to Dwyer, who can talk to my father or yours. She can't cut corners because she's your... What is she exactly?"

Josh sighed. "Who the hell knows? It's the poor girl she yells at."

Oliver sighed. "She hasn't complained."

"No, but there's a women's restroom in PR for her to cry in."

"I'll pay her a visit, but you owe me."

"What?"

"I'll let you know. How was your trip with Sinclair?"

"Good. His plane is amazing and his scotch is aged to perfection."

"What did you do together?"

"We went to support Shaun from the douche she married."

Oliver smiled. "She only bought one date."

"I know, but her life's a mess. The guy stole her savings. She needs friends."

"In Seattle."

"I know."

"Emma likes her better than Ann."

He stood. "I have work to do."

Oliver chuckled. Josh couldn't think about his remark. It was pointless; Shaun was across the country. Unsure if his visit achieved anything more than an IOU for a favor, he returned to his office. Authors loved Kendall, Agents and employees didn't.

Emma excitedly agreed to his request for a visit. "We don't see you enough. I'll be nice and won't blame your girlfriend."

It was true, but lately it was Shaun, more than Ann, keeping him away. Both women were important to him, although each fulfilled a different role. If only Ann would be a friend like Shaun was. The nagging in his gut warned him neither he nor Ann was in it for the long haul.

Within minutes of arriving, Emma peppered him with questions about Ann. The problem was he either didn't know the answers or like them.

"I don't know if she goes home for Christmas. It's months away... I never see her, because she works on weeknights."

"What do you know about her? Don't answer. You're like every male. You prioritize one thing."

Josh choked on his drink. "Oliver wasn't that way with you."

She laughed. "He seduced me the first chance he got. Not that I put up much of a fight."

Josh put his hands over his ears. "I don't need the details, Mom."

Oliver walked into the kitchen wearing shorts and adorned by Daphne. He looked so natural, as if the baby was an extension of him. Josh felt a longing which was growing stronger.

"Details about what?"

"She's talking about sex." He sounded like a sibling whining.

Oliver said, "You said Mom. We all know Jill and Stephen fight for the makeup sex."

"Seriously, she was talking about you two and you bring up my parents!"

Emma snickered as she took Daphne from Oliver and put her in the highchair. Josh watched with fascination as wordlessly, Emma handed Oliver a bowl and spoon. He spooned food into Daphne's mouth, which she opened like a baby bird. The small being fascinated him. He loved it when he called her name, and she turned and smiled at him.

Emma stared at him with her hand on her hip. "You know you aren't getting younger. You need to stop wasting time with sex only relationships and find the mother of your child."

"Em, leave him alone."

"Why? He needs to wake up."

He said, "I'm awake." But was he?

On Saturday night, they ordered Chinese food. Ann played along with reading the fortunes inside the cookie and adding 'in bed' to it. It was a tradition that Emma brought into the family. Family included the entire Sumner family because he witnessed Alicia playing along. Josh viewed himself as part of the large family, but also Oliver's new family, which suddenly felt very pathetic.

Ann read her fortune. "You are generous to an extreme and always think of the other fellow in bed."

Josh felt it in his pants, especially with her alluring tone. He laughed because Rex would love it and Ashton would complain the fortune had been meant for him, because he was more generous by nature. When he read his fortune to himself, his first thought was Ann. Then he focused on the meaning of the message.

Ann laughed. "I think they know you." He felt his blood flow south. Every guy wants to know he's doing things right in bed. "Read yours."

"Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now in bed."

Ann snorted as she laughed. "That might be the truest fortune I've ever heard. Can I keep it?"

Josh handed it to her. "But is it worth it?"

"What worth what?"

"It implies that anything short of hard work is laziness. When is it okay to live life?"

Ann slung her arms around his neck. "Tonight in bed with a very generous man."

"Hell!" The exclamation didn't cross his lips, but it filled his head. His dick would cause a mutiny if he tried to discuss work balance or their future after the words she purred at him.

He could be a generous man, but while he spooned her naked sleeping body, he wondered about things like love and the future. He would have to decide if he wanted to leave his blinders on or take them off.

After his run, he woke Ann for her coffee and sex. He felt his muscles relax as she reached for the Sunday paper. The comics reminded him of his childhood. His father used to read them to him even though he could read Magic Tree House books at age four. Sundays were family time in the Roche house. The memory painted a smile across his face.

Ann looked at him. "What are you smiling about? Don't answer. I was there too."

He chuckled as once again his little head took control. Forcing his cerebral to function, he shook his head.

"I remember as a kid, my dad always read the comics to me."

"That's sweet."

"Do you have memories like that?"

She looked at him and smiled. "Of course, I grew up with four siblings so we spent a lot of time trying to get noticed."

A clue to the mystery of Ann. "I bet they brag about you now." She shrugged. "What's your goal? When will you feel you've succeeded?"

"Besides having a client who is a household name like Patterson or King? New York. I want to be promoted to the New York office."

"That's ambitious." It also told him he didn't factor into her goals. It shouldn't be a revelation, but it left him feeling sad.

"I'm going to a conference, so you'll have Saturday night free the week after this."

Josh frowned. "I guess I'll skip the event for the arts."

Josh had only received an invitation, because Alicia Sumner was involved in the program to keep the arts funded for children's programs. He would rather stay home than go alone. He had a girlfriend, but she had implied, or rather stated, he wasn't part of her future goals. No reason to consider if love was at play.

"Sorry." Damn if she didn't help him forget everything again.