A Sure Thing?

striving for. 'My boss, Adam, has arranged for me to spend time with ARC's CEO this weekend at-guess where?'

'Hmm… obviously somewhere good. Maui?'

Jilly laughed. 'Not quite that good. Chateau Fontaine.'

'Oohh. I'm green with envy. Ben and I spent a weekend there last summer and we loved it.'

Jilly noted how Kate's eyes lit up when she mentioned her fiance. 'I'm hoping I'll have enough down time to squeeze in a facial.'

'Oh, yeah, I'm feeling your pain,' Kate said with dry humor. 'I just hate it when I have to schmooze clients at Chateau Fontaine. When are you going?'

'Tomorrow after work. I won't be back until Monday night. As much as I hate to cut our 'date' short, I need to go home right after dinner. I only have tonight to prepare some sort of presentation. Doesn't give me much time to be brilliant.'

'That's fine. I have some briefs to go over for a meeting tomorrow.'

The waiter arrived, and they gave their selections-a no-brainer as they ordered the same thing every week.

'So, what else is going on?' Kate asked. 'How's your social life?'

'You mean besides my weekly date with you? Nonexistent. What about you?' Her gaze flicked down to the two-carat sparkler adorning Kate's left hand. 'Judging from that neon glow emanating from you, things are going well with Ben.'

'Things are going very well with Ben. The wedding plans are progressing nicely. I highly recommend falling in love.'

'Of course you do. That's because you managed to find the last decent, honest, financially secure, emotionally stable, unmarried, heterosexual man in New York.'

'I found him because I was looking.'

'Actually, you weren't looking at all. As I recall, you were totally focused on your career.'

'I was only ninety percent focused on my career,' Kate corrected, shifting into lawyer mode. 'I kept ten percent of myself open to dating and searching for Mr. Right. Unlike you. You are one hundred percent work, one hundred percent of the time.'

'That's not true. I've jumped on the relationship bandwagon more times than I care to remember. And I've fallen off that wagon every time-with varying degrees of injuries.'

'Uh-huh. And when's the last time you took that leap?' Kate asked, moving in for the kill.

'Okay, okay, it's been a while.' Yeah, like nine months, three weeks and seventeen days. 'But I can sum up my lack of interest in two words: Aaron Winston.'

'That was months ago. And just because your last boyfriend turned out to have major control issues, doesn't mean that would happen with your next boyfriend.'

'Sure, Aaron was the last one, but what about his predecessors Carl, Mike, Kevin, Rob… the list goes on. It seems as if every man I date has control issues. It's like I'm this big magnet-' she spread her arms to demonstrate '-that only attracts men who want to smother, change and control me. Well, that type and gay men. Unfortunately neither one works for me.' When Kate appeared about to argue, Jilly plunged on, 'Look, I'll admit I'm paranoid, but given my track record with men can you blame me?'

Kate heaved out a sigh. 'I suppose not.'

'Believe me, I'd love to have the sort of relationship that you share with Ben.'

'And if the right guy came along…?'

'I'd grab him like that.' She snapped her fingers. 'But I'm not holding my breath for Mr. Fabulous to walk by. And besides, I'm way too busy at work to spend time looking for this fictitious man.'

'Excellent. That means you'll find him soon. The right guy always comes along when you're not looking.'

'Sure. If you say so.'

'I do. Believe me, when you least anticipate it, something unexpected will happen and-poof! -your world will be turned upside down.'

Their waiter delivered their food, and having skipped lunch, Jilly immediately applied her chopsticks to her sauteed shrimp and broccoli.

'I wish there was someone at my office I could introduce you to,' Kate said, filling their small, white, porcelain teacups with fragrant brew, 'but they're all either married, gay, nearing retirement age or as mature as preschoolers.'

'Hmmm. I thought all men fell into one of those categories.'

Kate laughed. 'Only ninety-nine percent. It's trying to find that elusive one percent that's the challenge. But Ben is proof that they're out there.'

'Well, I don't have the time right now to devote to searching out the one remaining good apple in the barrel. Men require too much time and attention, both of which I'm currently out of.' She shook her head. 'Whoever said women were high maintenance was definitely a man. Where are all the guys I read about in Cosmo who like independent women who don't cling to them like vines? I certainly haven't met any.' She stabbed a shrimp with the end of her chopstick. 'Sure, they say that's what they want, but after a few dates, it seems as if guys develop expectations-like that I'll be at their beck and call, and that they can take charge of my life. Then they get testy if I need to cancel plans because of work.'

'Amen, sister,' Kate said. 'The majority of men I met before Ben required nonstop ego stroking, and seemed to crave almost slavish devotion-not that they necessarily planned to return that slavish devotion, and not that I'd wanted them to, anyway-but they wanted it just the same.'

'Yup. And the minute they realize my job is my top priority and I'm not willing to rearrange my entire schedule, or change my hair or fashion preferences or political beliefs or whatever to suit their every need, interest fizzles-on both sides. I don't want or need a man to take care of me, and I sure don't want a man who thinks he should be in charge all the time. I don't want the mess my mom found herself in to ever happen to me, which is why it's so scary that I almost fell into that trap with Aaron. I've worked too long and hard to make certain I can take care of myself-financially and emotionally.'

'Oh, I agree,' Kate said, popping a water chestnut into her mouth. 'But-trust me on this-it's very nice to have someone else take care of you physically for a change.'

Jilly shook her head at Kate's devilish grin. 'You're killing me, you know that? Good grief, you practically have little bluebirds of happiness encircling your head like a wreath. If I didn't love you so much and weren't so happy for you, I'd have to bring you outside and slap the crap out of you for being so content and in love and sexually satisfied.'

Kate laughed. 'Well, maybe you'll meet the man of your dreams at Chateau Fontaine this weekend.'

'Not likely. This is going to be strictly business.'

'Just keep an open mind-in case Mr. Right happens to knock on your door.' She raised her porcelain cup and fixed Jilly with a no-nonsense stare. 'Promise?'

Jilly briefly looked toward the ceiling, but tapped the rim of her cup against Kate's. 'All right, I promise. But the problem here is that because you're in love, you think everyone should be in love.'

'Everyone should be,' Kate agreed without hesitation. 'Falling in love doesn't mean you're relinquishing all control or losing your independence.' She reached out and squeezed Jilly's hand. 'It doesn't have to be that way, Jilly. I used to think that, too-until I met Ben. There's a big difference between compromising your dreams and ambitions, and sharing them with someone. You'll understand when you meet the right guy.'

Looking at Kate's earnest expression, at the happiness that shone from her in almost visible rays, Jilly felt a pang of something resonate through her that she couldn't put a name to. Envy? Want? Probably. Who wouldn't want the sort of love Kate had with Ben?

'Well, until the right guy toddles along, my time and energy are focused on my career. And winning the ARC account would be a major coup.'

'Speaking of which,' Kate said, scooping more fried rice onto her plate, 'I wonder what Matt Davidson will say when you land the account.'

An odd tingle, no doubt indigestion brought on by the mention of Matt's name, fluttered through Jilly. 'He'll