The Almost Wives Club: Kate Read Free Page B

his own good. Or hers. But she chewed the beef and agreed that it was delicious.
    He nodded approvingly at her. “That’s better. My mother always says soup and salad is a lunch, not a dinner.”
    “My mother said it was thoughtless of me to lose weight before my wedding.” When he raised his eyebrows she explained, “They had to take in my wedding gown.”
    He leaned back and regarded her. “So, tell me your story.”
    She swallowed. She wasn’t the sort of person who joined a stranger for dinner, and she certainly wasn’t a person who told her story to someone she’d never met. “Why don’t you tell me yours?”
    He shrugged. “Not much to tell. I’m in town on business, but it’s a Friday night. I called an old friend and made a date for dinner. My friend didn’t show.”
    “A little black book kind of friend?”
    “Something like that.”
    “What kind of business are you in?” Not that she cared, but talking about him kept the conversation clear of revealing anything about her.
    “Insurance.”
    “Ah.” She’d assumed he had an angle. “I’m fully insured.”
    His eyes gleamed with mischief. “That’s excellent news, but I don’t handle individuals. I’m in the corporate end.”
    “Oh.” She could do easy small talk as well. “You said you’re from out of town. Where’s home?”
    He helped himself to a forkful of her salad without asking. “Seattle.”
    She wanted to ask him if he was married, but he wasn’t wearing a ring and it might seem as though she was interested. She wasn’t.
    “Your turn. What’s your story?”
    “Why would I tell you my story? You’re a complete stranger.”
    “That’s exactly why. Haven’t you ever told your deepest secrets to the person sitting beside you on an airplane? Knowing you’ll never see them again and they don’t even know your name?”
    “No.” Who swapped secrets at 30,000 feet? Did people do that?
    He shook his head. “For a woman getting married in a few weeks it seems to me you haven’t taken many risks.”
    “Because I don’t bore some poor person sitting beside me on a plane with my problems?”
    “No.” He settled back and looked at her. Really looked at her as though he wanted to see all the way inside her. A shiver of reaction disturbed the surface of her calmness. “In my business you need to understand people. What makes them tick? What are they afraid of? Do they take risks or avoid them? In my professional opinion, you avoid risk. I’m giving you a chance to unbutton a little.” He made a motion under his chin. “One button.”
    Clearly he was referring to the fact that her blouse was fastened to the very top. What he didn’t know was that she’d got a slight sunburn on her chest. After that awful dress fitting she’d needed to get out in the fresh air. She’d gone for a run without putting on enough sunscreen. If either Ted or her mother saw the burn she’d be lectured about carelessness, premature aging, skin cancer. It was easier to button up.
    But everything about Nick from Seattle, from his scrutiny to his confident assumption of Ted’s seat, his meal and his wine, appealed to something deep inside her— an imp of mischief she’d spent most of her life trying to quell.
    “Your story,” he prompted.
    Oh, and it was tempting. Maybe he was right and she should spill her secrets and fears, get them out of her system. But years of breeding couldn’t be overcome so easily. She said, “I work for a foundation that provides an after-school program for inner city girls. We try to teach them job skills, about birth control, provide mentors and a chance to choose the life they want.” She took a breath.
    He looked genuinely interested. “Wow. I’m impressed. I pictured you working part-time in an art gallery or something. Must be rewarding work.”
    Nobody ever asked her about her work. She felt as though it was slightly embarrassing to her friends and family. “It is.” She nodded. “Heartbreaking