Josh woke and rolled over and studied Ann asleep across his large bed. In the morning light, she looked younger. With her natural beauty, even dressed in her corporate garb, she had a girl next door look.

Ann apologized repeatedly for abandoning him at
the auction. He had waited until they were in the car before he asked the one burning question. "What was so important for you to miss the entire auction? I was last."

"Anita wanted to hear about my authors. You know, she wields a lot of influence at Dwyer-Mitchell. I didn't realize we talked so long. I hadn't told her I needed to buy you."

"Why not? And don't say conflict of interest. Anita Browning attended Oliver's wedding."

Ann shook her head. "She disapproves of women buying men. It's..."

"It would be worse if the women paraded in front of a bunch of men."

"I would protest. The whole thing sends the wrong message. Women should be independent with or without a man. Careers should be valued more."

Josh laughed. "No one is giving up their career for a date. It's not an arranged marriage."

Ann frowned. "That's a big leap."

Josh laughed. "I agree. It's not like I'm marrying my old school friend."

He would have found it harder to accept if he had dinner with an old lady on his calendar. The woman who bid on JJ looked like she might be a cougar. Josh smiled, because she was under sixty, and he had four extra twenties in his wallet.

His Jewish guilt settled in. He owed Shaun McManus for saving him. He wasn't one to go out with a married woman, but she paid for a date.

Quietly climbing out of bed, he put on running clothes. He'd return with Ann's coffee before she stirred. Josh couldn't sleep late on weekends. His body clock woke him at the same time every day without an alarm. Quietly letting himself out of his condo, he rode the elevator twenty-eight floors to the decedent lobby of the forty-story building.

The air was crisp for the spring morning as he took in the sea breeze. He lived at the harbor with views of boats of all sizes moored to wharfs. He started slowly down the street to the two-mile Greenway. The city towered around the narrow length of green parks. He loved the convenience of the city. For best friends, he and Oliver chose opposite homes. Towering views of the harbor in a one-bedroom offered a fraction of the square footage of his friend's large traditional home.

He couldn't afford the time to run every morning, but a weekend run was set in stone. The four miles round trip was just the right length as he stopped at Dunkin. Ann loved their coffee. He preferred to make coffee with his fancy machine at home, but he bought a Boston cream donut as a reward for his run.

When he entered his bedroom, she was still asleep. He showered before he woke her. It didn't take him long to shower, and he avoided shaving whenever possible on Sundays. With a plush towel around his hips, he leaned over Ann.

"I have your caffeine."

She groaned and swatted at him, backhanding his cheek.

"Ouch!"

Her eyes popped open. "What?" He stood, rubbing his cheek. "No! That wasn't a dream?"

"You dreamed you hit me?"

She sat up, bringing the sheet with her to cover her breasts and causing Josh to frown.

"No. I was having an action dream. I just finished reading a client's new thriller."

Continuing to rub his cheek, he hoped to garner sympathy. "Are we the publisher?"

"No, Harper."

"Ow, double punch and last night."

He sat next to her and leaned in for a kiss. She turned her head.

"I have brunch with a client."

He nuzzled her neck. "On Sunday?"

"I have to get home to get ready."

"But I'm naked for you."

She brushed his lips so quickly he was like a fish with a mouth open.

"So tempting." She smiled.

"Fine, but you owe me. Too bad you're busy. Alicia's having brunch. Dwyer's been invited."

"Now you tell me."

Josh shrugged. "I wasn't going to go. My parents will be there."

Ann busied herself getting dressed. Wasn't it the undressing that was supposed to excite men? Too bad his dick didn't realize it had been shut down.

"I know you introduced me last night, but are we really at the 'socializing with your parents' stage in our relationship?"

"How about the 'getting together with my best friend' stage?"

She sighed. "Fine. Drinks?"

He smiled. "Next Saturday?"

She nodded. "They probably have plans."

He smiled. "They won't."

Emma never went out two Saturdays in a row. Those love birds would rather stay home.

When Ann disappeared into the bathroom, he stood and dressed before she emerged. Feeling generous, he offered to drop her home.

She said, "I can order a ride."

"It's not out of my way." She frowned. "I'll put a good word in for you."

"Just reign in the dragon lady."

"I've tried. Believe me."

When he pulled his car to the curb in front of her building, she leaned over and lingered on his lips slightly longer than earlier on the bed. "Bye. I'll talk to you from the trenches."

He pouted. "Can I still hold a grudge about the auction?"

"No, because no old ladies and you don't even have to go on a date. Win-win."

With her gown over her arm, she waved and walked away. He took the on-ramp for Storrow Drive west and headed to brunch. Josh entered the Sumner home like it was his own. More than one voice called out to Dex. Alicia approached and kissed his cheek.

"Where's your date?"

He shrugged. "She has plans."

"Too bad. Is she... Are you serious?"

He wished the answer was yes. He shook his head. "We're still casual."

Oliver appeared with Daphne in his arms. She smiled at Josh. The round-faced baby liked to laugh at him. Oliver gave Josh's shoulder a push. "I know what that means."

Josh shook his head. "Not my choice. Next Saturday? She agreed to get together with you and Emma."

Oliver leaned in. "My wife isn't happy she left you to the gray-haired wolves."

Josh said, "Thanks to salons, none of them are gray."

Alicia snickered. "A few have blue hair. When are you seeing Shaun? She's a nice girl."

It sounded like something she would have said when he was tutoring Shaun. It had been years, but he still remembered expecting a boy only to find the gorgeous redhead. He wondered if she had just transferred in, having never seen her before until the next day when he saw her sitting in the corner trying to look invisible. It was a mystery how she had succeeded for so long.

JJ walked by and glared at his brother. Joshua smirked. The younger brother turned from pouring his coffee. "It's not funny. Any of you could have saved me. My brother, who bet on me. His wife. My mother or even a friend." He looked towards Anita.

Josh followed his gaze and glared slightly. "Anita's the reason my date left me high and dry."

Anita's hands went up. "I think the whole charade is demoralizing. As for your date, she's smart. I think I might make it my business to mentor her."

Josh smiled. Ann would be over the moon. Could he lure her out on a work night with that tidbit?

JJ continued to grumble about being bought by an older woman while Oliver laughed and teased his brother.

Oliver winked at Josh. "Do cougars roar or meow?"

Josh turned to his father who said, "Maybe she'll purr."

Both his mother and Alicia reacted. "Stephen!"

Alicia scowled, but Jill Roche went further. Josh left the room to avoid his mother's reprimand. He had heard it enough, but watching their friends squirm embarrassed him.

Oliver followed him onto the deck with Daphne. "So you forgave her?"

Thinking of his parents, he said, "I don't hold grudges."

Oliver smirked. "The way those two argue, I bet they have wild make up..."

Josh wanted to throw something at him, but he was holding a glass and couldn't risk hurting the baby. "Stop! They're my parents."

Oliver laughed. "You tutored bio. How did you get here?"

"That was a long time ago. I am an only child."

Oliver laughed louder as Daphne looked up at him. "You sound thirteen. Seriously, you think those married couples don't..."

"What's so funny out here?" Daphne lifted her arms and lunged at Emma when she sat down.

Josh cut off Oliver. "Nothing. He was distracting me from the WWE match."

"They stopped bickering. Sorry Joshy, it must be hard to listen to."

He shrugged. It was tiresome. Growing up, he feared his parents would divorce, so he took shelter at the Sumners. It was because of their fighting that he spent an entire summer in Newport at twelve. That memorable summer, they met Nolan at the country club. They took lessons with him, and after the first day, they each had their nickname.

As an adult, who no longer lived with his parents, he didn't care if they divorced. In fact, it surprised him they didn't when he went off to college.

Oliver read his mind. "There must be some affection or they would have split for good years ago."

Instead of responding, he changed the subject. "Emma, can I bring Ann to get to know you better on Saturday."

Emma knitted her brows. "I'll call the boys and Brynn. We can have a party."

It wasn't what Josh had in mind, but he nodded anyway. Emma had tried to fix him up with her former roommate, but she was on the long list of women not interested in him. She was dating a guy at her law firm.

Emma said, "Don't worry. Brynn's engaged."

Another reality check. Thirty-four and still single.