Brett, a young woman from the suburbs, is an associate editor at a small New York publishing house hoping for a promotion. One day, she first meets literary lion Archie Knox, who's 50 and shows interest in her; then gets a new boss, a dolly-dolly Brit. Brett is soon dating Archie, then moves in with him. He's charming, attentive, and gives advice. He also has a history--ex-wives, a distant daughter, a couple of diseases, and a photo album of former girlfriends. It's no fairy tale: family issues (and more) intervene, and Brett faces decisions. Meanwhile, she's working with a writer who fears peanut butter sticking to the roof of his mouth. Is Archie dinner, an hors d'oeuvre, or a peanut-butter sandwich?