05 Desperate Match Read Online Free

the tension. “Should we sit? Talk, get to know each other?”
    “Okay,” she said quietly and backed away to the corner of the couch putting up an invisible line that clearly said “come no closer.”
    He opted for the lone chair in the room and tried to make her more comfortable by scooting the chair back. When they were settled, he dug in his head for some conversation topics to put her at ease. “So where you from, Jill? Do I hear a little southern in your accent?” Bad question. What should’ve been a softball to hit had her looking panicked.
    “Um, yeah. I’m from southern Virginia. A real small town outside Farmville. ‘Bout three hours, depending on traffic.”
    “Or on foot.”
    “Pardon?” She looked at him curiously.
    “My commander said you got here on foot. No car. What’s up with that?” He looked down at her feet covered in old sneakers, not really meant for trekking through the cold.
    “I have a car. I didn’t park it here though.” She didn’t offer any more information and though he thought it odd she’d driven but parked off campus and walked, he let the subject die. Jill seemed skittish, and he thought she might bolt if he questioned her too hard. She didn’t seem inclined to ask him any questions, so he carried the conversation solo. “Never been to southern Virginia. Would’ve said Farmville was a made up place on a computer game. Guess I’m wrong. I’m from here, by the way.”
    She gave him a strange look, and he chuckled. “Oh, right. Of course I’m from here. But I meant I was born here, but I grew up in DC waaay inside the Beltway, if you know what I mean.” He could see by her face that she didn’t. “I just moved back here a few months ago. Long story.”
    Another uncomfortable silence. He didn’t know why he was giving this another second of his time. He and this Jill woman were never going to work, but something made him press on. “What about you? Have you always lived in your town?”
    She nodded.
    “What about for college? Did you get out for that?”
    “I…never went to college.” Her pale cheeks pinkened and he could see a hint of what she’d look like with a little makeup and a real hairstyle. Not as mousy as he’d first assessed.
    “Me neither. Not much for higher education.” Instead of relaxing her that he hadn’t gone to college either, she looked upset.
    “Ever travel? I took my first airplane ride a little while back. Went to London. I didn’t get to see much of it though. Another long story.”
    She didn’t respond with body language or verbal language.
    Finally he stood. “Look, Jill, this has been nice getting to know you, but I think we’re wasting our time. It’s clear I make you uncomfortable, so I’ll let you leave without forcing the issue.” He turned to go, telling himself not to let the disappointment crush him. Jill was only the first attempt. There’d be others. “Bye.”
    “Wait,” she said, and it was a cry so desperate it had him spinning back around. “Don’t go. I’ll do better.”
    He spun slowly back to face her. “It’s not a test. Well, it is, but it’s not one we control. Either we feel something or we don’t.”
    “And you don’t,” she said in a quiet tone he had to strain to hear.
    “I didn’t say that. You feel something, but it’s obvious it’s the opposite of what you should be feeling, which is turned on.”
    “That’s not true. I think you’re a very handsome man.” She started to unbutton the cardigan again, and he found himself helpless to stop her.
    She stripped off the cardigan, which was a shade between brown and vomit, revealing a thin pale pink T–shirt underneath. Thin enough he could see she wore no bra.
    “What are you doing, Jill?” He finally found his voice.
    “I did a little reading about this place,” she said. “Sex is the true test, right? We’ll know if we’re a match if we have sex.”
    Rowan glanced to the small table next to the couch. In addition to the