The Girlfriend (Single Wide Female in Love, Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

think so.” He laughed. “I thought I should call first, but I left my phone at home.”  
    “Oops.” I grinned and kissed him. “I love it when you just drop by. As long as you don’t mind my pajamas.”  
    “Mind?” He kissed me again. “I adore your pajamas. However, if I want to take you out to lunch, you might want to change, because I’d be pretty jealous if someone else saw you in your pajamas.”  
    “Oh, would you now?” I wiggled my eyebrows. “A surprise lunch too?”  
    “I figured you’d tucked yourself inside your book and had likely forgotten to eat. Am I wrong?”  
    “No.” I shook my head. “I’ll just go get changed. You’re welcome to use the computer if you want to check your e-mail or anything.”  
    “Thanks.”  
    I ducked into my bedroom and changed as fast as I could. Max was right. I was very hungry. It amazed me how well he knew me. I reminded myself to add that to the list of good signs.
    As I headed back out into the living room I saw Max hunched over my computer.  
    “What’s this, Sammy?”  
    His question made my stomach lurch. In my mind I ran through all of the things he could potentially see on my computer.  
    “What’s what?” I stepped up behind him.
    On the screen was a photograph that must have been sent through while I was changing. It was from the photographer I’d hired to take pictures of the proposal that hadn’t happened. The expression on my face as I looked at the necklace was horrible. It was a mixture of disappointment and anger.  
    “Oh—uh, nothing.” I tried to reach past him to close the file.  
    “Wait a minute. Is this from that woman who took our picture at the restaurant the other night? I thought you said you didn’t know her.”  
    “I didn’t say that exactly.” Again I tried to close the picture.
    Max pushed my hand firmly away from the keyboard.  
    “Wait just a second. Obviously you knew about it, how else would she be able to send this to you? I thought we agreed that honesty is important in our relationship.”  
    “Of course it’s important.” My heart began pounding. It wasn’t often that Max’s voice had that slight quiver in it. From the relaxed muscles in his face I could tell that he wasn’t angry, but he wasn’t pleased either. “Why would you think it wasn’t?”  
    Max frowned as he looked back at the picture. “If you didn’t like the necklace, you should have just told me.”  
    I reached up to touch the necklace that still hung against my collarbone. “Max, I love the necklace.”  
    “Not from this picture, it seems. Why was someone taking pictures of us?”
    I opened my mouth to speak. I knew that if I told him the truth he’d understand. But I was too embarrassed to admit that I’d expected a proposal, not a necklace.  
    “See, you can’t even tell me.” He shook his head. “I don’t understand why you can’t just be straight with me about this.”  
    I started to feel very defensive. The way he was speaking to me made me feel as if I was a child.  
    “Well, I’m not the only one keeping secrets, am I?”  
    “What?” Max’s eyes widened. He stood up from the computer chair. “What is that supposed to mean? You think I’m keeping secrets from you?”  
    I’d already said it. There was no taking it back now. I realized that I had fanned the flames of a silly little spat and made it into a full-on fight. But now Max wouldn’t rest until I told him what I meant.  
    “I’m talking about Stephanie.”  
    “Stephanie?” Max shook his head, then stared at me. “What does she have to do with this?”  
    “At the garden, you two were getting pretty cozy and even whispering to each other.” Even as I spoke each word I could hear how ridiculous it sounded.  
    Max’s expression shifted from gritted teeth and narrowed eyes to a grimace. He looked away from me for a minute and then wiped his hand across his face.  
    “I can’t believe that you would even say