Three months later

"How's life in the 'burbs?" Philly asked as he collected the cards from the table and passed the deck to Tony. "You seeing anyone?"

"Yeah, haven't heard your name linked with any particular ladies in quite a while," Tiny piped up with his typical lack of subtlety.

And thus began the first trial, Tony thought wryly. If he was looking for an opportunity to gauge reactions to him and Angela dating, he couldn't ask for a clearer one.

"Actually, believe it or not, Angela and I have kind of been seeing each other recently," he revealed with a casual note to his voice that probably didn't fool anyone. This was big news, and everyone knew it as their eyes shifted in his direction.

"'Seeing each other'? Like dating? Since when?" Tiny asked.

"Couple months," Tony answered.

"What - you two just woke up one morning and finally admitted you got the hots for each other?" This came from Eddie.

"No," Tony denied, then amended, "Well, kind of. But it's more than that."

"Wait a sec, the guy who lectured us about lines and boundaries a few years ago is now dating his boss? How did that happen?" Philly asked.

It was a fair question. After all, it was only two years ago they'd sat around Angela's table playing poker while Tony let them all know she was nothing more than his boss and friend.

"I know, and I still believe that. I mean, we got two kids in the house we gotta think about. But things change, right? And things were changing between us, so we figured it was time to give it a shot."

"Wow, talk about perks of the job!" Leave it to Joey to respond like a randy teenager. "You got a house, a Jag, and a hot babe in your bed to pay for it all."

Tony was willing to take some ribbing, but Joey crossed a line, and Tony didn't hesitate to tell him so. He pushed back from his chair and leaned across the table, "Cut it out right there, Joey. Angela's good people who invited you into her home more than once. Don't you dare insult her with cheap talk like that, you hear me?"

If the heat in Tony' voice wasn't enough, the steel in his eyes left no doubt he was dead serious. And Joey, for all his immaturity, knew when to back off. "Yeah, of course, Tony. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I was just messing with you."

Tony nodded, knowing twenty-five years of friendship deserved a second chance. "Just see to it you're a little more respectful."

Joey nodded as Tony resumed his seat, and the tension in the room diffused.

Finally, Eddie said what they were all thinking. "So, this is pretty serious, then, huh, Ton." It wasn't a question.

Tony looked at the guys seated around the table and said as much as he could. "It's definitely more than a fling, but it's also complicated. Joey might have been joking, but other people aren't, and I gotta figure out how to be okay with that – and with her success. I don't always fit in her world, and that's a hard road to navigate."

It was quite a speech, especially for a poker game, but the guys seemed to get it.

"Yeah, just don't be like Jimmy Morelli," Philly chimed in, "His wife inherited some serious moula from an uncle in Vegas last year, and instead of planning a big-time vacation to Hawaii or moving to a nicer place, he's whining that he feels 'inadequate.' He wants Joannie to put the money in a separate account and just live on his salary like they never got it."

"The male ego is a fragile thing," Tiny opined with a rare burst of wisdom.

All the guys nodded in agreement in light of the evidence.

"The point is, don't be stupid," Philly advised, "You got yourself a first-rate, classy woman. Don't let your pride ruin that."

"I don't plan to," Tony said, more than half to himself.

"Good, now whose turn is it to deal," Tiny said, figuring his friend had enough third degree for one night.

"Mine," Tony said, taking the deck as everyone turned their attention back to the game.

The next morning

Angela wasn't surprised Tony wasn't up when she crept out of the house to meet Isabel for a Sunday morning jog. He still hadn't gotten in from his poker night with the guys when she'd fallen asleep around midnight.

As usual, Isabel was waiting for her at the corner. "How is it you live farther away, but you always seem to beat me here?"

"I leave ten minutes early to catch the Sigma Chi Run Club heading back to campus," she said with a sly grin.

Angela just shot her an amused grin and turned toward the start of the hike and bike path at the end of the block.

"So," Isabel began, "speaking of good-looking athletes, how's Tony?"

"Fine," Angela replied automatically, "he's doing fine."

This was going to be a long run if she had to pry out every word with a crowbar, Isabel thought to herself.

"Let's try that again, shall we? How are you and Tony doing?"

Angela glanced at her friend as they kept an easy pace, using the run as an excuse to talk more than work out. Isabel's meaning was unmistakable, and Angela knew when she agreed to this outing that her and Tony's relationship would be a topic of conversation. So, she relented. After all, Isabel had been the first person outside the family she had told. Of all her friends, she knew Isabel and Paul were the least judgmental about perceived propriety or social status. Paul hadn't given a second thought to asking a housekeeper to be his best man when he'd married Isabel, in stark contrast to the snake pit of judgement they'd endured during dinner at the reception.

So, Angela let go of her hesitation and admitted freely, "It's going well – like really, really well. Kind of amazing, actually," she confessed with a broad smile as she said the words aloud.

"That's great! But why the initial hedging?"

Angela used the exertion of climbing a small incline on the path to consider her answer. When her breathing steadied, she said, "I think I'm afraid of jinxing it," she offered thoughtfully.

"How so?"

"Nothing about this makes sense on paper," Angela exclaimed, "I'm dating my live-in housekeeper for heaven sakes, and there is nothing about our upbringing or life experience that explains why I'm happier with him than I've been with every Ivy-educated, successful executive I've ever had drinks with."

But Isabel had a theory or two about that. "Maybe because he's genuine and real and doesn't hide behind some polished facade. He's a good man, Angela. Who cares that he's your housekeeper if you're happy together?"

"That's the problem, Isabel, I think he cares. I think he really struggles with what people think about his job now, like he's some kind of 'kept man.'"

A part of Isabel wanted to dismiss such thoughts as ridiculous, but, like Angela, she knew all too well how cruel people could be when judging other's lives. As professional women in male-dominated fields, they both fell victim to stereotypes about being controlling and high maintenance, and worse. So, Isabel knew it wasn't unreasonable that Tony might feel insecure about his role.

"Have you two talked about this at all?" Isabel ventured.

"A little, at first. But nothing really in depth. Everything has just been so good between us. We've had fun going out to dinner or the movies. Last weekend we drove up the coast for a night away, and I've even gone grocery shopping with him."

"Wow, then it must be love!" Isabel exclaimed with a laugh, knowing her friend's aversion to all things domestic.

"It is," Angela replied solemnly, causing Isabel to skitter to a halt.

"Oh." A beat, and then, "I see."

"I've known it for a while," Angela acknowledged.

"But you're not 'living together' in the truest sense of the term?"

Angela shook her head emphatically. "We diligently go to our very separate rooms every night and make sure the kids know there's no 'sneaking around' going on."

Isabel caught the undertone in Angela's voice. "But you kind of wish there was some 'sneaking around' going on, don't you?" she asked with a sympathetic smile.

Angela nodded. "I agree a hundred percent with why we're doing it, but sometimes it just feels so juvenile."

As they made their way along the path, Isabel prodded further, "I know it's only been a few months, Angela, but you and Tony have more history than most new couples. Maybe it's time to move things along a little bit, take the next step."

"You're kidding, right?" Angela said bluntly. "It took us nearly four years to get this far. Jonathan will probably be in college before we change the status quo again."

But Isabel persisted, "I wouldn't be so sure about that. Relationships can be a little like snowballs once they get rolling, and it sounds like you two picked up a whole lot of momentum recently."

Angela couldn't deny that. After all, one afternoon had changed everything between them – not that she minded in the least. Being with Tony was proving well worth the risk they took by crossing the all-important line that had existed between them for so long.

Rather than dig in further, Angela opted to shift the conversation to other topics and asked Isabel about work.

"Hint taken," her friend mumbled grudgingly, and commenced to fill Angela in on recent events in the ER.

Two miles later, they arrived back at the corner of Oak Hills Drive, where they needed to part ways. Too sweaty to hug, Angela settled for squeezing Isabel's hand and offering a very sincere "Thank you."

"For what?"

"You got me thinking, and I needed that. If this is going to work, Tony and I need to be open with each other."

Isabel smiled in support, "It's a good policy. Works for Paul and me," she added sagely. "Call me if you need anything."

Angela nodded and turned down her street toward home. She couldn't wait to see Tony.