The One That I Want Read Online Free PDF Page B

me.”
    “I only wanted
you
,” I whispered, my anger fleeing and leaving me cold.
    “God, babe, I know. I hated keeping things from you but I had to be sure. I had to know if you were as genuine as I thought. That’s why I introduced you to my dad this morning.”
    “Why did you call him sir and not dad? I thought I was meeting your boss.”
    “I know and I’m sorry I deceived you. But there are two reasons. I always call him sir at work, never dad. It keeps a professional distance, especially during client meetings. Everyone knows I’m his son, but calling him dad in the office isn’t professional.”
    “Okay. What’s the other reason?”
    “Dad is good at reading people. That’s how he’s been able to build one of the most successful marketing companies in the US. Call it a sixth sense if you want, but he can pick up on people’s integrity and moral compass in an instant. He can also tell when people are trying to screw him over. He’s warned me about some of my boyfriends but I was too in lust to listen to him. It always came back to bite me on the ass.”
    “Did I pass his test?” My anger had dissipated, but I was still on edge.
    “With flying colors, babe. I knew you would.” Paul held his arms out for me to step into, but he dropped them when I didn’t move.
    “You don’t have a wife and kids tucked away somewhere?” I needed to know I was the only one and my heart stuttered in anticipation of the answer.
    Paul’s hesitant smile was small. “No wife or kids, although I do want kids someday.”
    “I knew you were keeping something from me, I just didn’t know what it was.” I had to ask all the questions I had, while he was being open and honest. “What do you see in me? I mean, look at you compared with me. I’m a nothing and you’re...” I made a sweeping gesture that encompassed the entirety of
him
.
    “How can you say that about yourself? You’re gorgeous. I love your small muscles and tight ass. You’re funny, even when you’re not trying to be. You’re strong and determined. You have more integrity in your big toe than all my previous boyfriends put together. You live life without worrying about what people think. Look at the way you danced during the Grease Dance Party. You danced with anyone and everyone and didn’t care one bit what people thought.”
    Huh. I never thought of myself that way. I saw only an awkward, skinny bore who got overly enthusiastic with some things. There was something else I had to ask.
    “Why do you fall asleep during the shows? You basically pass out fifteen minutes in and don’t wake until it’s over. Is it me, am I that boring a date?”
    “Oh God. You’re really pushing for all the secrets now, aren’t you?” Paul tried again to lighten the mood, but when I remained stony-faced, he sighed before continuing. “I... don’t like musicals. I’m sorry but they bore me to tears.” He held up his hand. “Before you get all angry and upset, let me explain. I wanted to impress you, and I wanted to spend time with you. I’d seen you in the elevator reading your
Encore
magazine and the more I saw you the more I wanted to get to know you. I planned my mornings so I could wait for you at the elevator, hoping you’d throw me a lifeline, but you never did. You barely looked at me so I had to try something.”
    “So you decided to scare the shit out of me in the stairwell?”
    He grinned. “It worked didn’t it?”
    I smiled. “Yes, but...”
    “No buts. I had to do something. I’d been stalking the elevator for months before I got up the courage to speak to you, then you shot me down. I was crushed.”
    “You... you were stalking me... for months?” This little piece of information blew my mind.
    “Yes. I wanted to get to know you, but you were making it very difficult.”
    “But you know so much about the plays, I thought you liked them as much as I do.”
    “I researched. Every time I got tickets, I researched the cast, the