Rest in Pieces Read Online Free PDF Page B

It’s obvious that you knew, but I don’t care.”
    And I kind of didn’t. If I was being honest, I hadn’t loved David in a very long time, but the embarrassment of being the victim of a cheating husband lived on forever. At least the whispering behind my back had stopped. Or I was pretty sure it had, but then I tend to ignore people, so it was hard to tell.
    “So we’re on for dinner?” Was it my imagination, or did his smile brighten a couple of degrees? “I’ll pick up food after work and head over to your place.”
    “You know where I live?” Of course I’d had to sell my house and find something I could afford on my salary. Unfortunately, the only thing I’d been able to find that would keep Max at the same school was the guesthouse of Lakeside’s most eccentric resident.
    Astrid Petrie was in her sixties, worth hundreds of millions, and spoke to the dead. She was equal parts Austen’s Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Hogwarts Divination Professor Trelawney. My rent was cheap, but I did have to attend the regularly scheduled Monday evening séance.
    “Astrid’s my aunt. She’s um …” Ben hunched his shoulders. “Well, let’s just say she makes the family Thanksgiving way more fun than it should be.”
    I’d forgotten that Ben was a trust fund baby who worked because he wanted to and not because he needed the money. It wasn’t his fault that he’d been born into a family full of oil billionaires.
    “I can see that about her.” I smiled and nodded. “Okay, dinner it is.”
    In two strides, he was at my side. “I’ll walk you out.”
    With his hand at the small of my back, he led me through the front office where I glared at Esther, and then we were out in the sunshine.
    “I’ve thought about you a lot these last six months.” He was so close that I could smell his aftershave, something exotic and woodsy. “I’ve almost called you so many times.”
    It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him why, but I just nodded. We reached my crappy Ford van—another tragedy of divorce, as I could no longer make the payments on my Ford Fusion. I went to open the door, but he opened it for me. My van didn’t lock, which was fine because I didn’t have anything anyone would want to steal.
    “I’ll see you tonight.” I was about to slide behind the wheel when he pulled me into a tight hug.
    “I can’t wait.” He finally let me go and stepped back. “See you soon.”
    I climbed into the driver’s seat, closed the door and waved goodbye.
    I turned the screwdriver sticking out of the ignition keyhole and started Bessie, my brown 1997 Ford Aerostar van. It had come with a screwdriver instead of a key and for the five hundred bucks I’d paid for her, I hadn’t asked any questions. It got me from point A to point B and with no car payment, who was I to complain?
    As I pulled out of the parking lot and onto Lakeside Drive, I glanced in the rear view mirror and saw Ben standing right where I’d left him, hands in his pockets, watching my car.
    It had been a long time since a man had flirted with me. As men went, Ben was pretty to look at, but I had Max to consider. Ben turned around and I caught a glimpse of his backside. Nice. Okay, there were worse things than a handsome man bringing me dinner.
    Damn, I forgot about the carbs. While he was hot, the carb–free thing could be a deal breaker.
    What did I love more, sex or pasta?
    That was a tough one.

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    Chapter 4
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    “I’m not taking no for an answer.” Haley’s voice was high–pitched and bossy. I rolled my eyes. I had Monica and Haley conferenced in on my way back to work. If only I could drive and Facetime them, they would feel the full force of my eye roll.
    “Both of you need to know how to handle yourselves. I’m taking you to the shooting range.” Haley was in mom mode and when she got like this, there was no shutting her down.
    I’d filled them in on what little I’d learned from Ben.
    “How about this afternoon?” Monica