Free Love Letters, Inc. by Ec Sheedy

barely got started. At this rate it would take Rosie forever to finish this project, which was just fine with him. He'd take all the time with her he could get.
    "Yes, and I'm starved." She stood, then turned back to Susan and Marlene. "When I'm finished with the manual, we'll celebrate, okay? Have dinner at my place and finish dissecting the inner workings of the opposite sex."
    "We'll be there," Marlene said, answering for the always silent Susan.
    "Oh, and Marlene? I'll send the first pages of the manual through on Friday. Have a look and let me know what you think."
    * * *
    In the dining room, Kent pulled out Rosie's chair and she settled in, looking both preoccupied and pleased with herself.
    Within seconds Mae Smythe, Beachline's newest server, was at their table, smiling broadly, telling them the specials, and leaving menus. Inwardly, Kent groaned. If he'd hoped for privacy with Rosie, that hope was lost with Mae waiting their table. He knew from experience she'd be filling his water glass every five seconds.
    "Good meeting?" Kent asked, setting aside the menu he could have recited in his sleep.
    Rosie looked up. "Excellent. I like your people. Marlene's amazing. There isn't anything she doesn't know about this place. And Susan... Well, let's just say I think her DNA would show she's Jonesy's long-lost twin. Neat lady."
    "Yes, they're both valuable Beachline employees, very committed to their careers."
    Rosie lifted her eyes to meet his directly, their expression impish. "Not like some misguided women you know. Right, Summerton?"
    "That's not—"
    "May I take your order?"
    Mae, accompanied by the clinking ice cubes in her water pitcher, arrived to hover over Kent's shoulder. He put his hand over his glass and nodded in Rosie's direction. Mae gave her a bright smile. After Rosie had her explain the ingredients that made the chicken special so special, they ordered.
    "I'm not misguided, you know," Rosie said, turning her attention back to him. "I know exactly what I want, just as Marlene and Susan do. And I'm equally as committed to it."
    He loved her eyes, so wide and honest, not a hint of subterfuge or guile. He'd never looked into eyes so blue, so filled with humor. He noticed then.
    "Your glasses are fixed."
    She touched the lower rim, then shot him an irritated look. "You're not listening again, Summerton. I was talking about my commitment."
    "I know, but when did you get your glasses repaired?"
    She rolled her eyes. "Saturday. Hennessy came and took me to the optometrist." She pierced him with a look. "Happy now?"
    "You should have called me. I would have taken you."
    "Are you crazy? Why would I call you?"
    "Why did you call Hennessy?"
    "Because he's my friend."
    "So, what am I?"
    Her lips moved, but nothing came out. "Good question, Summerton. A very good question."
    "And one I'd like an answer to."
    "You're a recent acquaintance."
    "That's it?"
    She looked at him as though he were in full military gear with a sack of land mines strapped to his back. The lady was cautious.
    "Okay, let's see." She fiddled with her fork, then aligned it perfectly with her plate before looking at him. "You're an acquaintance, a customer of MooreWrite, a man I'm trying to extricate from an over-heated and over-avid woman's attentions, a single guy who'd love to have a no-strings affair, and a highly developed peptic ulcer waiting to perforate."
    He laughed. "I don't have an ulcer."
    She smiled serenely. "You will, Summerton. You will." Then she added, "I notice you didn't deny the 'no-strings affair' part of my description."
    "Can't."
    She sipped her water. "You're honest, anyway. I guess that's something." The way she said it, it didn't sound like much. Maybe on a par with putting the toilet seat down. But the damn truth was he didn't know what he wanted from Rosie—other than a repeat of that sizzling kitchen kiss.
    Mae brought their orders and for the remainder of their lunch, they stuck to neutral subjects. They weathered it with