Dating A Saint by Donna McDonald Read Free Book Online Page A

same possessiveness Jared had just demonstrated, but he couldn’t help it. Right or not, if Lauren had shown the slightest sign of distress over the discussion, her ex-husband would be sporting a bloody nose and black eye instead of a smug grin.
    Jim had been making damn good use of the weights Kaiser helped him pick out and would like nothing better than a real target to take out his frustration on.
    “What in the world did you ever see in that slimy piece of shit in a suit?” Jim growled the question when Jared was out of earshot.
    Lauren sighed, laughing a little. Jim’s description was right, but she hadn’t seen Jared that way when they were married.
    “He was never ugly to me before the divorce,” Lauren said easily. “In fact, he was very good to me. The problem was he was also very good to a lot of women. I honestly don’t think Jared has it in him to be faithful, but I got over him and his infidelity years ago.”
    Jim frowned at her statement. Lauren released his arm quickly when she realized she still held him.
    “I don’t really give a damn what Jared Smith does or thinks, but I do still care about you,” she told Jim firmly, “ and I know you know it . At least tell me why you’re staying away from me, when I know there’s been at least one other woman in your life who was not your wife. She told me herself. What is your problem with me?”
    Lauren was heartsick and deeply disappointed when Jim just looked at her, not saying a word in his defense. Eventually, he just sighed and dropped his gaze from hers to scan the rest of the room. It took just that long for her to realize Jim wasn’t going to answer her questions. It made her want to kick him, but also it made her want to cry. All the pain she’d suffered in her marriage hadn’t hurt nearly as much as Jim’s outright rejection of her feelings for him.
    “Fine. Keep your damn secrets. My instincts tell me you’re not a cheating bastard like Jared, even without you saying a damn word to prove it. Since it’s obvious you have nothing genuine to say to me, I believe I’ll just go look for a more interested man.” Lauren rose from the table and walked away to find Chad.
    Jim’s gaze followed Lauren across the floor, or at least it followed her legs. Her silver dress skimmed just a few inches above her knees and the heels elevated her to super model height. He could see Lauren’s hips moving seductively inside the silver sheath. He wondered what it would be like to have her long legs wrapped around him, to hold her hips as he made love to her, and hear her laugh against him.
    Torn between what was right to do and what he wanted to do, Jim stood and did what he’d taught himself to do in situations posing a moral dilemma about his sex life.
    He simply got up and left.
    *** *** ***
    At Lauren’s front door, Chad leaned into her, at first placing a chaste, grateful kiss on her mouth, before pressing a little more firmly against her when she remained pliant in his arms.
    “Thanks for the evening, Lauren. Maybe next time we’ll do something a little more private.”
    Lauren nodded as she watched Chad walk to his black Lexus CRV and climb inside. Then she sighed, finished unlocking her door, and went into her house.
    She was alone again. She hadn’t even been tempted for more with Chad, not even to prove to Jim she didn’t need him, or to prove to Jared she didn’t want him.
    She was so damn tired of kissing men who didn’t turn her on at all.
    No more random dating, she promised herself. Instead, she was going to find a way to meet someone who could stop her from longing so much for Jim.
    Maybe she’d sign up for one of those Internet dating services, let herself be matched with the perfect man. Regina had thought about doing that before she met Ben. Maybe she’d ask Regina to help.
    Lauren went upstairs and put on cropped yoga pants and a tank top. Feeling more normal after her change of clothes, she came back down to the kitchen and