I lean forward in the leather chair in Paul’s office before quitting time. He’s been in meetings for two straight days, and while I’ve been dying to talk to him, this is the first chance I’ve gotten, having practically jumped on him the second he stepped out of his office.

“All right, Dixon, what’s so important that you’re keeping me from dinner?” Paul adjusts his paisley tie, loosening the neck.

“It’s about Aria Carmichael.”

“Terri told me she’s accepted a position as his managing editor. Good for her.” He neatens a stack of papers on his desk. “Is that all?”

I haven’t even asked him anything yet. “No, sir, it’s not.”

Paul raises his eyes from the papers and leans back in his chair. He rests one hand on the armrest of his almost throne-style chair. “All right. What’s the problem?”

“Aria is a great editor. I know she hasn’t been doing it for very long, but you have to see the way she is with people.”

He holds a hand up to stop me. “I interviewed Aria. I know she’s great. Terri wouldn’t hire her again if she wasn’t one of the best, but my editorial positions are full. I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.” He starts to stand as if the conversation is over.

“What if I resign?”

His eyes widen, and he sits back down. “You’d throw away a great opportunity like this for a woman?” He steeples his fingers in front of his face, drumming them in thought. “Let me explain something, Dixon. Aria is a beautiful woman. She is. But you’re young and have a bright future ahead of you. A move like this will get you a reputation. You don’t want to blackball yourself at twenty-six. Do you understand what I’m saying? Women come and go. Opportunities like this don’t.”

Aria isn’t just any woman. She’s the only woman I care about. “She deserves this job. Everything I did to win over the staff, that was all her. She showed up at my place Monday night and coached me through it all. She researched the staff. She tutored me on everyone. It’s her you want. I’m sure of it.”

“I see.” He sits back and huffs. “You’re in love with her. Does she know?”

God, is everyone going to ask me that? “It’s not about my relationship with her.”

His expressions screams, “Don’t bullshit me.”

“Fine. Yes, I’m in love with her, but she doesn’t know and she doesn’t need to.”

“So you’re going through all this for a woman you aren’t even involved with...” I can see him mentally figuring out the best way to phrase it. “That way?”

“I was never comfortable with the way I got this promotion.” I don’t want to throw Monohan under the bus, telling Paul he let slip more than he should have about the interview process, but I’m running out of options. “If you truly hired the more deserving person, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. Aria would.”

“No doubt lobbying for you to be hired instead of her.”

“What?” I ask, finally sitting back in the seat.

Paul stands and walks to the window. “You two had a lot in common. You both spoke more for each other than yourselves.” He turns his head to face me. “Why is it everyone around you two can see what you both can’t?”

Relationship advice from my boss. I’ve sunk to an all-time low. “All I’m asking is that you give her a fair shot. Interview her again. She’s between jobs while Monohan gets his paper on its feet. It’s the perfect time to bring her in.”

“Bring her in to interview for a position I’ve already filled? Dixon, this is insanity. It’s a waste of everyone’s time.” He moves toward his desk, opens the top drawer, and removes his wallet and phone. “I’m sorry, but my decision is final. If you don’t feel you can handle this position, let me know. But even if you leave, I won’t be filling your spot with Aria Carmichael. She doesn’t have the experience I need. Now”—he motions for the door—“if I don’t leave this instant, my wife will have my head for letting dinner get cold.”

He can’t dismiss this. If Aria doesn’t come to work here... I stand up, but I make no move for the door. Taking a deep breath, I extend my hand to him, which he takes. “Thank you for the wonderful opportunity, but I’m afraid I’m not your man. I’ll send you my official resignation, effective immediately.”

Paul’s brows pull together, deep lines creasing his forehead. “Nate.” It’s the first time he’s called me anything but Dixon. “Are you sure about this? I meant it when I said I wouldn’t hire Aria.”

I nod. “I understand, but my place isn’t here. I’m sorry.”

“I guess I should have seen this coming. Perhaps I’ve been out of the field for too long and that’s why the clues evaded me.” He gives my hand another shake. “Good luck to you. I hope you get the girl after all this.”

“Thank you, sir.” I hope so, too.

I walk out, not bothering to grab anything from the office I occupied for such a short time. I have no personal effects there. My wallet and phone are on me. Paul hangs back, even though he’s in a hurry to get home, and I can’t help wondering if he’s waiting to see if I’ll change my mind and beg for my job back. I won’t. The elevator arrives with Doris on board. She smiles at me.

“My daughter had the baby early.” She’s beaming as she grabs my hands. She whips out her iPhone and pulls up a series of pictures. I’d be surprised if the baby wasn’t seeing spots for the next few hours after that many camera flashes.

“Congratulations, Grandma!” I say, giving her a hug.

She rushes off to show everyone else, and I call the elevator back. My eyes meet Paul’s as the doors begin to close. I give him a nod, which he returns. Maybe I am sacrificing my career, but jobs are replaceable. Aria isn’t.

I dial Monohan as soon as the elevator stops on the ground floor.

“Dixon, how the hell are you?”

“I’m surprised Paul didn’t call you already.” I thought he’d pick up the phone the second I was in the elevator.

“Oh boy. What did you do? Should I be sitting down?”

“First, I want to thank you for recommending me to Paul. Second, I want to apologize.”

“Good grief. You quit, didn’t you?”

Nothing gets past him. “It’s complicated.”

“No, it’s really not. Aria is coming to work for me and you two have always been a package deal, which means you want a job.”

“I know I’m putting you in a tough position since Paul is your friend.”

“You’re damn right!” He exhales loudly, surely for dramatic effect. “But what the hell? Paul can have his pick of great editors, and I need good people working for me. Aria’s taken the managing editor position, but the advertising manager is still left to fill. It’s yours if you want it.”

“I do. Thank you.”

“I’ll be in touch. But, Dixon?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Don’t mess this up. If I lose two of the best editors I’ve ever had because you screw things up with Aria... Well, let’s just say ‘pissed’ would be a major understatement for the way I’m going to react. Got it?”

“I hear you loud and clear. Thank you.”

“Go get her.” He hangs up.

The entire drive home, I’m smiling. It doesn’t matter that I don’t know how Aria will react. I’m relieved to finally come clean. To finally tell the woman I love how much she’s always meant to me.

I’m so excited I almost miss Aria’s form sitting on my front porch.