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

she feel the same way when they met again? If they met again? To his chagrin, he realized she’d left so quickly that he hadn’t had time to do more than wave good-bye from the bed while she tore out the door.
    Or had she been running from him? “Hell.” His head hurt, trying to understand women. Sure, he might be like a dog. He was hungry, he ate. He was tired, he slept. At least he was understandable. Gwen had a habit of adding two plus two and getting five. Granted, their first misunderstanding had confused both of them. But at this stage in their quasi relationship, he wanted a straight-talking partner. They had to work together, after all.
    He glanced at his cell phone, dithering about what to do. Text her? Call her? Just tell her what he expected of her?
    Which was what, exactly? He wanted another go at her body, certainly. More than that…he wanted another date. More conversation. A chance to see her smile, watch her big blue eyes light up with amusement at something he said. To see her wear those sexy glasses and her hair in a loose bun and know he’d had the real her. Been inside her.
    “Oh man. This is going to seriously suck.” He stared down at yet another erection when he should have been exhausted from their night of fun. Though he’d been inside her without a condom that once, they’d reverted to protection for the other three times.
    Five times. One night. A personal record, made all the better because Gwen had come every time he had. “I might be a dog, but I’m an unselfish one.”
    Deciding to go for broke, he whipped out his phone and was about to ask her about her plans for the evening when a text interrupted.
    Nothing to do tonight. Mia is hanging with Trent. Want to come over for dinner?
    He smiled and immediately responded, “Yes. Dinner’s on you. I’ll bring dessert.”

Chapter Five
    Gwen stared at the text she’d just received and let the joy swamp her. Relieved Conlan didn’t appear to be playing games, she tucked the phone away and turned to see Mia staring at her from across the kitchen table.
    “You are such a whore.”
    Not having had a chance to shower and change since Mia had insisted on breakfast right away—no doubt to give Gwen less of a chance to make an excuse to put off their meeting—Gwen glanced down at herself, then at Mia, and rolled her eyes. “This from the woman who banged Trent on the first date?”
    “Hey, I’m easy. We all know that. But you… You’re made of sterner stuff. Men are dogs and all that.”
    “Liked the column, huh?”
    “Made me laugh. But I already had a leash for Trent.”
    “Mia, TMI.”
    Mia laughed. “It’s his dog’s, but sometimes I tease I’m going to use it on him. With the way his mind works, he needs it, believe me. But enough about him. Tell me all about the man you spent… The. Night. With.”
    Gwen sipped her coffee, glad she’d agreed to share breakfast with her cousin at home. Anticipating the inquisition, she’d wanted privacy for this particular conversation. “Yes, yes. I broke my man-hating celibate streak. With the alleged cheater, no less.”
    “Not a cheater. A good guy. We established that.”
    “Yes, we did.” She smiled, unable to resist. “And oh my God, he was fantastic in bed. I mean, we have some kind of chemistry.” Even better, her superexcited reaction hadn’t grossed him out. The one time it had happened with Perry, he’d been disgusted. Considering he’d been the one hitting that hot spot, she thought he could have taken some of the blame.
    Conlan had been fascinated, turned on, and had given her a night full of orgasms.
    “I’ve never seen that look on your face before,” Mia commented. “So tell me more.” As a bribe, she handed over her bacon.
    “If you insist.” Gwen gobbled up the salty meat, famished from her workout. “We had sex. Five times. I’ve never had that much sex in one night in my life.”
    Mia gaped.
    “You’ve seen him. He’s got stamina, I’ll say that