Chapter Two


Rose glanced at the clock hanging above Mr. Peterson's desk. Just after eleven.

She pushed her work to the side and got to her feet, grabbing her purse and coat.

Rose paused at the office door. "Mr. Peterson?"

Her boss glanced up from his own work, long enough to let Rose know he was listening.

"I'm off to pick up lunch. Your usual all right?"

He gave her a distracted nod.

"Want me to stop by the bakery and see if they have any of those muffins you like?"

He stopped for a moment, considering it. "No thank you, Ms. Alvarez."

"Be back soon, then."

"Uh huh," Mr. Peterson murmured, immersed in his work once more.

Rose smiled to herself as she turned and closed the office door behind her. She stopped at the company's reception desk on her way out.

"You ready, Mary?"

The receptionist nodded, pulling her purse out from under the desk and hurrying to her feet to join Rose.

"Are we going to that cafe that sells cups of soup? With the really good breadsticks?"

Rose laughed. "Yes, Mary. I'm picking up for Mr. Peterson again, and that's where he usually gets his lunch."

The two women talked work for a block or two; until Mary decided she'd rather have girl talk than office talk.

"So, Rose. Are you seeing anyone right now?"

Rose gave Mary a look before rolling her eyes.

"Mary, you know I don't have time to be seeing anyone. Besides, there isn't anyone I'm particularly interested in anyway."

"What about Mr. Peterson?" she asked with a mischievous grin.

"What about Mr. Peterson?"

"You could start seeing him!" Mary suggested.

Rose gave Mary a sideways glance. "Start seeing Mr. Peterson? Don't be ridiculous!"

"Well, why not?" Mary asked.

Rose let out a frustrated huff of breath. "I don't know, he's... he's so awkward! And shy. Half the time he doesn't even look me in the eyes when he's talking to me!"

Mary frowned. "Really? Huh."

"What?" Rose said.

"Nothing."

Neither spoke for a moment.

"So, you're really not interested in–"

"No!" Rose laughed. "Mr. Peterson is attractive, yes–"

Mary grinned.

"But like I said before. He's awkward, and shy... and don't even get me started on his mother!"

Mary laughed out loud at that. "The woman is a nightmare!" she agreed. Rose smiled.

"Besides, Mare, we work together. He's my boss, I'm his secretary, we could never–"

She shook her head. "He keeps me busy enough that I don't have time to be seeing anyone anyway. I'm perfectly happy to maintain a professional relationship with Mr. Peterson."

Mary gave Rose a slight shrug. "All right, Rose. If you say so."