Waiting for You (RightMatch.com Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

more now that she’d met him. In person, his appreciative glances made her aware of her femininity, her sexuality, which she’d suppressed for a very long time.
    “That’s enough for today, don’t you think? You have all the information you need to decide if you still want to see me.”
    He waited a beat. “There’s one thing I don’t understand. On your profile, you put down that you worked out with weights every day, you ran in marathons and took yoga. We even laughed that we were both pool sharks. Was that true?”
    “Yes. I do weight-bearing exercises daily to build my upper body strength because it’s crucial to living independently. I take a special yoga class for disabled people three times a week. And I never said I ran in marathons. I participate in wheelchair-racing contests occasionally. I have to work out aerobically to get in shape for those.”
    His expression was unreadable.
    “Oh, dear God, you think I lied to you? On purpose?” How had she missed the possibility that he might think she’d deceived him with her list of exercises? But she truly hadn’t considered his misinterpretation.
    “I don’t know, honestly. All this—” he gestured to the chair “—comes as more of a shock because you put all those activities on your profile.”
    “It never occurred to me. I was completely truthful, but I can see now how you’d feel betrayed.” Reaching out, she clasped his arm. “I’m sorry. I’d never lie to you, Joe, I promise you.”
    “I can accept your explanation. But in the end, you did lie, Dana. A lie of omission.”
    “Then I’m sorry for it.” Dana didn’t want to discuss her situation anymore. Baring her soul was exhausting and painful. “Let’s make a deal. You go home and think about what you’ve just found out. Maybe research my injury on the Net. Decide what you want to do.”
    “What’s your part in the deal?”
    “I’ll accept any decision you make without fuss. I don’t want a man who can’t accept me as I am. That would be devastating.” Earth-shattering, really, and it terrified her.
    “I understand.”
    Taking money from his pocket, Joe put it on the bill the waiter had brought. When the guy came back, he asked, “Need me to get the chair for you, Dana?”
    “No, I’ll do it.” Joe stood.
    Dana watched Joe retrieve her chair. He’d been charming and fun in person. More so, he’d been genuinely concerned about her. He also didn’t make rash statements about her condition not bothering him or offer any platitudes. Unfortunately, all that only made him more attractive to her.
    Her insecurities returned and she wondered if she’d made the right decision to meet him, to be honest and give their relationship a shot. There was a high probability he wouldn’t want to see her again, which meant on her very first foray into the social scene, she’d opened herself up to some big-time rejection. She hoped she hadn’t been a fool to test the dating world waters with a man like Joe Moretti.
     

 
    Chapter 3
    Dumfounded, Joe was totally off his game. It was an understatement to say he was shocked by Dana’s disclosure. She’d looked so fit in her online photo, and her profile had listed physical activities she enjoyed, the ones he’d asked about. Plus, she owned a freaking dance studio. How was he to be prepared for what she’d told him, for what he was witnessing right now?
    His emotions piled one on top of the other as she aligned the two chairs, braced a hand on the far side of the wheelchair and put the other on her right side. Then she inched herself over until she’d successfully transferred. Finally, she raised the arms. “Ready?” she asked. Her movements had been efficient and easily accomplished, but the strain around her eyes and mouth told Joe her confession had drained her.
    “Yeah, sure.” The chair was manual and, totally out of his depth, he asked, “Do you, um, want me to push you?”
    She shaded her eyes as she looked up at him.