Better Than Before (RightMatch.com Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

actions. I think we’re past that by now, don’t you? Tell me.
    He pressed send and waited. No answer. He got up, went to the kitchen to pour more coffee and then came back to the computer and stared at it until her email appeared in his inbox.
    What the hell? Who did her ex-husband think he was? The bastard had embarrassed her. It was a good thing Spence didn’t know her last name, or he’d…
    He stopped himself mid-thought. Why was he so upset? This was just another woman with divorce woes. He wasn’t involved with her. Swearing at his conflicting emotions, he set down his coffee and, already in a sweat suit, decided to go for a run.
    The March morning was crisp, and he started out slowly. The rhythmic pounding of his feet on the jogging path of his gated community soothed him. His mind would go blank any minute, like it always did.
    Huh! Not this time. Instead, he kept thinking of some jerk cornering nice, sweet Annie in the coatroom of a restaurant, probably scaring her, certainly making her uncomfortable. He seethed about it for three miles. After he arrived home, he went to the computer and wrote back in the other Spence’s voice.
    I’m upset by what happened with your ex. It’s unconscionable. Is there anything I can do?
    Her reply came immediately, as if she’d been waiting this time.
    I was thinking—would you like to meet now? You said we were past keeping things from each other. My kids are home this weekend, but they’re going out for the afternoon on Sunday. I could meet for brunch. Are you free?
    Bingo! Spence sat back in his chair and steepled his hands, still staring at the screen. He’d won the bet with Cole! He’d told his brother as soon as six women wanted to meet, his online escapade was over. He should be elated…but he wasn’t. Staring at the computer, he ordered himself to end this thing with Annie. One simple email would do it. He’d implement the ploy he’d used with the others—let her down gently, say he wasn’t ready for a face-to-face because he was still mourning his dead wife. Annie would get the picture and wouldn’t email him again. She might be disappointed, but…
    Or, he could meet her once. What would that hurt?
    He checked his calendar; he was playing squash with a prospective client on Sunday. But they’d scheduled it early, so he could do both.
    Yes , he emailed back. I’d like to meet. And I can be free at noon. You should sleep as late as you can.
    Annie confirmed the details and then was off to get her kids to school. Edgy now at what he’d done, Spence decided to go to work. He walked into his room-size closet and studied the clothing racks. The Hugo Boss and Armani wouldn’t do at all when he met Annie. Neither would the tailor-made shirts and casual pants. He’d have to have something less expensive to wear. Hmm. He could borrow clothes from Joey, but maybe he’d invest in some Levis and a non-designer shirt. He was pretty sure he was going with the grieving widow tack, so he needed to keep up the ruse with his appearance.
    What if, once they met, he wanted to continue seeing her? More than likely, that wouldn’t happen. But if it did, he’d have to reveal his real persona. How would Annie react? Glancing around at the cadre of clothes, he told himself all women wanted a rich guy.
    Except Annie. She’d said so many times online. Well, the probability of this thing between them heading down that path was slim, so he’d go with the flow for now. Chances were Annie would remain Number Six on the list, so he had nothing to worry about.
     

 
    Chapter 2
    Annie dug out a heather-brown pantsuit from the back of the closet and turned to her mother, who was seated on the bed, leafing through a magazine.
    Thank God for Norma Hopkins. A single mom, deserted by a deadbeat husband, she’d raised Annie with as much love as she could squeeze in between jobs to support them. Every time Annie worked at the spa Lauren owned, or now at the café, and began to feel