When We Met by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online

her.” His mouth curved up again. “The women on our block decided they were going to take her place. They were always looking out for me. It was like having twelve moms instead of one. Let me tell you, it was tough to be bad.”
    She laughed. “Which you wanted to be.”
    His gaze locked with hers. “Nearly all the time. But I learned patience. There were still opportunities, but I had to work for them.”
    A message? She held in a shiver and reminded herself he was good. Better than she was used to.
    â€œWhat about you?” he asked. “Suburbs? Two-point-four siblings and a white picket fence?”
    An easy question for most, she thought, the need to shiver fading as if it had never happened. Tension crept through her, but she ignored the tightening in her shoulders as she tried to calculate how much to tell. And how to tell it such that he didn’t know she was lying.
    â€œIt was my dad and me, just like you,” she said, confident their situations couldn’t have been more different. “My mom left when I was young.”
    â€œThat’s rough.”
    She shrugged because the truth—that her mother had walked away from her only child, as well as her husband—was bad enough. Worse was the fact that the man had regularly beaten them both and with his wife gone, he’d only had one place to turn.
    â€œIt was L.A.,” she said lightly. “I had distractions. And now we’re both here. The people are very welcoming, if a little too involved in each other’s lives.”
    â€œThe disadvantage of a small town. There aren’t a lot of secrets.”
    She relaxed as he accepted the change in topic. Every new relationship had to navigate through that rocky space. The exchange of past information. It was done and they would move on.
    â€œHow does that work for you?” she asked.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œYou’re a man of secrets.”
    He laughed. “Less than you would think. I go to work, hang out with my friends.” Humor warmed his eyes. “I do live with a woman.”
    â€œSo I’ve heard. Consuelo Ly. She’s engaged.”
    â€œDamn. And here I thought I was going to rile you.”
    â€œIt’s a little early to play the jealousy card. Besides, you don’t cheat.” She took a sip of her wine and wished they were sitting closer. The evening would be more interesting without this table between them.
    â€œHow do you know that?”
    â€œAm I wrong?”
    â€œNo.”
    She leaned closer. “You’re not the type. In my book, with cheating comes shame. You wouldn’t allow that emotion.” She smiled. “My business partners are guys. We spend a lot of time with each other. Let’s just say whatever I didn’t know about your gender before we went into business I’ve since learned.”
    â€œOkay,” he said slowly. “You’re right. I don’t cheat.”
    â€œHow long were you married?” Because she’d heard that he had been. Not that it was easy getting information on Angel without admitting her interest. Something she hadn’t been willing to do.
    â€œSixteen years.”
    Okay, that was unexpected. “A long time,” she admitted. “What happened?”
    â€œShe died. A car accident.”
    Five simple words spoken in a matter-of-fact tone. But Taryn heard the pain behind the sentences. Felt the wound as if it had been inflicted on her.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said automatically, even as she knew the phrase was ridiculous and unhelpful. “How long has it been?”
    â€œSix years.”
    The way he spoke the words told her there was still emotion there. Still caring. She liked that he hadn’t banished his wife to some back part of his memory.
    â€œWhat about you?” he asked.
    â€œI was married once. Briefly. To Jack.”
    One eyebrow rose. “Your business partner Jack?”
    She