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that.”
    Gillian’s cheeks felt fiery. “I wasn’t thinking that . Maybe just someone to talk to when it’s too cold and blustery to go for a walk. That sort of thing.”
    “Expand your horizons, Gilly. Lots of people are finding their sweethearts online these days. You’ve been alone too long.”
    She shook her head. “Not that long. Quinn’s only been out of the house a few years.”
    “What you mean is, he’s not here to give you an excuse not to date. Admit it. After you gave Owen the heave-ho, you haven’t given any men a chance to get to know you. You’ve been alone a long time. You need to jump back into that particular swimming hole. You’re still young. Stop acting like you wouldn’t want a man to warm your toes at night.”
    “I’m not thirty anymore, Lauren.”
    “So what? You certainly don’t look old. You’ve still got a decent figure. Lots of women your age and older get out and about. And you might find someone you really like, maybe even love. ’Sides, you wouldn’t have to marry him. Lots of couples just bounce from his bed to her bed, enjoying each other’s company, having good sex, no strings attached.”
    “I’m not sure I could do that.”
    “I didn’t mean you shouldn’t be discriminating. I’ll bet Quinn would check out anyone you decided to date.”
    “He did say that.” Gillian squirmed in her seat. “If I’m not looking so old, why haven’t men asked me out already?” She gazed down at her left hand. No sign of her wedding ring there.
    “Maybe you were telling them you weren’t interested. Not so much with words. Your I’m-an-independent-woman-don’t-mess-with-me vibes. What man is going to try, if you’ve already implied you aren’t interested?”
    “Did I do that?”
    Lauren patted Gillian’s hand. “Just get on with it. It’s do-over time. Get back to those men on the singles site. Being there means you’re available. Knowing that, I’ll bet lots of men will come around.” Lauren refilled her cup. “You probably won’t have to say it. Just act it. You know, that you’re interested, open to possibilities.”
    Gillian slid her tongue against her teeth. “It’s been such a long time.”
    “Which means it’s time you took your life back, Gilly. What I said last night.”
    After Lauren left, Gillian finished the laundry, placed the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher and concentrated on picking up the rest of the house, continuing to muse on what Lauren had said. Had she really been so prickly no man who might have been interested even tried? That’s how she’d felt, right after the divorce. Maybe she had placed her son’s needs foremost.
    A male friend might be nice. Someone her own age, perhaps with similar interests. The “with privileges” part, she wasn’t so sure about, though the idea of someone like Matt Gordon as a friend sent a buzz of anticipation through her that she didn’t expect.
    But he was married. She’d seen the glint of gold on his left hand. No way was she going to encourage another man to do what Owen had done.
     
    Two days later Quinn hugged Gillian when he exited the airport security area. “Is it too late for dinner? My flight was delayed.”
    “No. I wasn’t sure when you’d be here, so I went with soup. It’s in the crockpot. I’ll start the muffins as soon as we get home.” They walked into the parking garage.
    “Nicholas Talmadge fired me,” she said before they’d driven ten minutes. So much for telling Quinn over an after-dinner drink.
    “What?” Her son star ed at her.
    “On Tuesday. After I questioned having to let more people go.” She glanced sidelong at Quinn before picking up speed again to stay with the traffic. “I’m kind of glad.”
    “You’ve worked there forever.”
    She nodded. “But he was becoming harder to deal with , and you know how I hate to fire people. It was so difficult going into the office every day these past few weeks, worried that he was going to give another