Voluptuous Read Free Page B

the front door shut, I was so
angry. And scared.” She shuddered. “He came back a few minutes later. Said he
thought it was funny to pretend to leave. Obviously, I was not amused. I threw
his ass out and then was pissed at myself for letting myself get in that
situation.”
    He swept her hair back from her face. “You thought you could
trust him.”
    She nodded, her gaze bouncing all over the room. “My
mistake.”
    His fingers tangled in her hair and brought her eyes back to
him. “You can trust me, you know.”
    “I know.” She placed her hand over his. “Does this mean you
don’t object to a little adventure in the bedroom?”
    “In the bedroom. Out of the bedroom. I’m not picky.”
    There was that laugh again. “I like you, Sam.”
    “I like you too.”
    “You sure you wouldn’t rather be with one of those little
things over there?” She nodded over to the group of girls still flirting with
the bartender and a couple other guys nearby. He could detect vulnerability in
her eyes and he vowed right then to never hurt her. There might end up being
other reasons they wouldn’t stay together but he would never give her reason to
believe he thought she was too heavy.
    Sam turned to study the group at the end of the bar. “Why do
some women want to look the same as everyone else? There is nothing about those
women to make them stand out from each other.” He slipped his arm around
Meredith’s waist and pulled her closer. He nearly sighed as her warm, soft body
pressed up against his.
    “Look at them,” he went on. “They’re all dressed alike in
those short, tight skirts that barely cover their asses. And those skimpy tops.
I think I can even see their ribs. And hipbones. Do they think that’s
attractive?”
    Meredith didn’t say anything but she snuggled a little
closer against him.
    “They even wear their long, straight hair the same, sprayed
into place so not a strand could move. No man would risk his fingers trying to
comb through that.” He flashed her a grin and wrapped a finger around one of
her silky curls. “And look at their makeup. It’s so heavy a guy can’t even see
what they look like underneath.” He turned back to Meredith, with her tousled
curls and tasteful makeup and tempting flesh. He wrapped his arms around her.
“I don’t know why any man would want to hold anything but a soft, curvy woman.”
    She smiled but it appeared to be more indulgent than
accepting.
    “What are you thinking?” he asked with a frown.
    “That your words sound good but that hasn’t been my
experience.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Those bad dates? When they leave me, they go on to someone
who looks like them.” She shifted out of his arms. “And that sounds pitiful and
I don’t mean it to. It’s just life. I haven’t found any man who wants to hang
around with a big girl for long.”
    He hated all those men who’d hurt her. “Maybe you haven’t
found the right guy yet.”
    “Maybe so.” She shrugged, trying so hard to look as if she
didn’t care.
    Sam knew she did. Of course, she did.
    “Since I like you, Sam? I’ll admit I’m not sure I want to
risk our work relationship for what we’ve been headed toward tonight.”
    “I didn’t take you for a coward.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “It’s not cowardice. It’s reality. We
have to see each other every day at work. If we have a one-night stand, and I
don’t doubt it would be a really great one-night stand, I’ll have a problem
looking you in the eye on Monday morning. It would be too hard, too awkward.”
    “And if I want more than a one-night stand? If I want to see
you outside of work again?”
    “It’s nice of you to say that but—”
    He grabbed her shoulders again. “I’m not saying anything to
be nice. Fuck nice. I like you, Meredith. I’m attracted to you. I think you are
hot and sexy. I’ve already told you that. I don’t know why you won’t believe
me.”
    “Because I’ve heard it before,” she