Man of the Month (Willowdale Romance Novel) by Lisa Scott Read Free Book Online Page A

catering business with Brad, right?” he asked. “I guess you’d know what’s good to order here.” Another sneeze.
    “Bless you again. Are you sick?” If she ended up in bed with the flu for a week after this day, Brad really would get the potato peeler treatment.
    Michael shook his head and pulled out a handkerchief from his suit pocket. “Do you by any chance have a cat?”
    Heat warmed her cheeks. “Yes.” Along with cat fur on my coat.
    He nodded and sneezed. “Thought so. I’m allergic.” His eyes started watering. “Really allergic. Usually it doesn’t bother me this bad, unless I’m right in the same room with a cat.” Another sneeze. “I didn’t think it could possibly be a problem at a restaurant.”
    She could feel the blush spreading down her neck and looked away. “Maybe I have a few stray cat hairs on me  . . . ”
    He sneezed again. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”
    She downed her glass of wine and groaned. Why bother dating a guy who couldn’t be around cats? It’s not like she’d get rid of Scooter for a guy. No way. She’d been with Scooter longer than she’d ever lasted with any man. She dropped her head in her hands and thought about laughing. Or crying.
    Dina came over with her order pad ready. “Where’s your date? Do you need a few minutes?”
    Jeanne rested her chin in her hand and looked up. “I have a feeling we won’t be eating. Things aren’t going so hot. My date’s allergic to me. Or to my cat, anyway.”
    Dina’s eyes widened. “Never heard that one before. Sorry, Jeanne. He was cute.”
    Michael returned from the bathroom but stood a few feet away from the table. “I’m sorry, I’m going to have to call it a night. My medication is at home, and my throat is closing up. The closest ER is back in Whitesville. Should we try this another time?” His eyes were swollen.
    Jeanne tilted her head. “You seem like a real nice guy, but I don’t think so. I’m a confirmed cat girl, and it looks like dating me could kill you.”
    He laughed. “Sorry, Jeanne. I’ll get the check after you leave.” Another sneeze.
    She walked over to shake his hand goodbye, but he held up his hands telling her to stay back. “Right, sorry. Well, see you. I mean, bye. Have a good life.”
    She forgot her umbrella, but zipped out to the car through the rain anyway, so she wouldn’t have to go back in and face him again. She slid behind the steering wheel and started laughing and crying and feeling all around pathetic. That dinner had been quick enough to qualify for speed dating.
    Whose shoulder was she going to cry on? Tonya’s? Kate’s? She narrowed her eyes. Better yet, whose butt was she going to kick?

Chapter 6
     
    THE KITCHEN TIMER went off just as someone starting pounding on Brad’s front door.
    “Hang on!” He pulled the hors d’oeuvres out of the oven and dashed to the hall. There were a few more rapid-fire knocks before he could fling open the door. “What is it?” Jeanne was the last person he’d expected to see. “What are you doing here? Wait, he didn’t stand you up, did he?” He gritted his teeth.
    Pushing past him, she made her way to his couch and plopped down. “Oh no, he showed up. And then I almost killed him.”
    He scratched his head. “Huh?”
    “He’s allergic to cats, Brad. You were his college roommate. How could you not know that?”
    More head scratching. “No, I just lived next door to him. But I guess now that you mention it, I remember him being allergic to something. Like shrimp. Or shellfish.” Right?
    “Not exactly. A little bigger and a lot furrier. How could you confuse shellfish with a cat?” Jeanne’s eyes were bright beads of anger.
    “Well, it’s not like you brought the cat with you.”
    “No. But I might have had some fur on my coat,” she mumbled.
    “Man. Sorry. I thought I did good with this one.” Although that cat business did ring a bell. He wouldn’t have purposely done that