Missed Connections: Stepping Out by Marie Harte Read Free Book Online Page A

house and thought about the best way to deal with the woman. Work, fortunately, could wait.
    Snarky, obnoxious, beautiful, without artifice. The real Gwen Wilcox looked at him with eyes both laughing and vulnerable, hard yet soft when she thought he wasn’t watching. Knowing she’d had so much pleasure with him only added to her allure. Unlike Ally, Gwen hadn’t faked her orgasms.
    Conlan groaned and smoothed down his front. “Down, boy.” Stupid cock.
    He finished puttering around the house, unable to stand clutter of any kind. Granted, he’d been called obsessive-compulsive by a few friends, but he didn’t mind. Better that than a disorganized slob.
    His cell rang, and he reached for it only to see a number he could have gone a lifetime without seeing. Knowing he needed to answer, if only to stay a step ahead for Lisa, he hit Talk. “Yes?”
    “Oh, hey, Conlan. It’s Aaron.”
    “I know. Yet I answered anyway.”
    Aaron gave a weak laugh. Asshole . “Look, I know things are shaky with your sister, but—”
    “Shaky? You’re all moved out, aren’t you?”
    Silence, then a muttered “Yeah.”
    “So go fuck as many women as you want. You’re single now. Live long and prosper.” And hopefully catch some insidious venereal disease.
    “I miss her.”
    What sounded like the truth only came out as whiny and pathetic.
    “You know, I can’t believe we were once friends.”
    “Shit. I fucked up. I know it. But I swear, before the craigslist thing, it was only that one time you knew about. Then…I got scared. We are—we were —so close to commitment. It’s… Can you come talk to me? Please? You’re so good at listening and telling me how to deal. For old time’s sake. Hell, for Lisa’s sake. And the baby.”
    The poor, poor kid. One who had Aaron as his or her father. Shit . “Fuck. Fine. I’ll meet you at Drake’s at two. Don’t be late.” He disconnected before he changed his mind.
    One good thing about talking to Aaron, at least. The jackass had ruined any more thoughts of sex for the morning.
    After seeing to his house and doing a few more edits on an article Ted had returned, Conlan sent off his finished product. Then he remembered to check out the advice column Gwen had done for the Bend Voice . An early edition this week, since the paper normally arrived on Thursday.
    He scanned through to her section and read. And frowned, then reread it and gave an angry laugh.
    To a woman complaining about her man’s wandering attention, Gwen had this to say.
     
    Dear Wanderer’s Woman,
    It’s good that your man is only looking, not following. But something to remember—men are a lot like dogs. And I mean that in a nice way. Simple and direct. You want him to fetch you something, you yell fetch. He’s hungry, he eats. He’s angry, he barks. Men are pretty simple.
    You don’t like him looking at other women, tell him. He’s not a mind reader. And if he insists it’s only a one-time thing—don’t they all—carry a newspaper with you. Every time you catch him ogling other women, smack him on the nose. Trust me; he’ll learn the error of his ways. If he doesn’t, he’s not worth a neuter fee. Throw him back in the pound.
    To all those men out there who think it’s okay to step out on your girlfriends, fiancées, and wives, remember that what’s good for you is ideally great for us. You get what you give. While I’m on the subject, ladies, if your man is really acting like a dog, treat him like one. Buy him a collar and leash and don’t be afraid to use it. God knows the last man I went to dinner with could have used a good bit of neutering and a muzzle.
    Lady in a Rose-Print Dress
    She’d changed her signature from Gwen to Lady in a Rose-Print Dress, a deliberate slap back at him. He wondered if readers would notice. The Insider would find out tomorrow. Though annoyed at being compared to a dog, in Aaron’s case, the description fit.
    Gwen had written that article before last night. Would