Berry Picking Read Online Free Page A

stop me from seeing the failings of our sex. If we're not indulging in unhealthy diets or falling for beauty fads we're choosing the wrong men.”
    “It's just coffee.”
    “For now,” Aunt Miriam said with a knowing look.
    ***
    Her date that evening was almost magical. Everything was perfect. Unlike Conrad, Andre arrived on time beautifully dressed carrying a single white rose. There were no awkward silences. The conversation was fascinating. Unlike Bennett, Andre was established, so he wasn't one of those high flying dreamers she used to attract; and, unlike Edwin, he listened to her. He was warm, funny and gracious. And she knew they looked wonderful together.
    “This was great. Let's make it dinner next time,” he said. He walked beside her as they navigated an uneven pavement outside the restaurant.
    A second date? Really? Before she could reply a metal construction sign dropped from its hold and struck her arm, tearing her sleeve and cutting her arm and hand.
    “Are you okay?” Andre asked.
    “Yes, I'm fine,” Paula said a little stunned.
    He looked at the cut and grimaced. “Oh that looks nasty. When you get home you'd better put some ice on that.”
    “I will,” she said, awkwardly adjusting her torn sleeve and moving her hand out of view. “Thanks for a great time.”
    He kissed her on the cheek then whispered, “Think about dinner.”
    “Yes.” Paula walked to her car, his warm breath still tingling her ear and the scent of his cologne lingering. She got inside her car, slammed the car door shut then swore. Now that she was alone she didn't have to pretend that her arm and hand didn't hurt like hell. Fortunately, her car was an automatic, not a stick shift. Once at home, Paula took off her torn blouse and cleaned her cuts with some hydrogen peroxide, put a bandage on both, then grabbed a drink from her fridge and noticed Conrad's birthday circled on her calendar. Treating a friend for his birthday wasn't wrong. She'd gotten him tickets to a 3D feature at a small obscure theatre she knew he liked. She decided to call him. It had only been a week, yet she'd started to miss his voice. “Do you have any plans for Saturday?” she asked once he'd picked up.
    “I'll be in Maui with my model girlfriend.”
    She chuckled. “Before you go I have a treat for you.”
    “Okay.”
    ***
    It had been a couple weeks since she had been with him at the networking party, and a lot had happened. The contact Conrad had given her from the networking event had come through; he had signed a lucrative contract with her company and she had been nominated for an award recognizing young business professionals. They were two things she was surprisingly eager to tell him about. That evening, Paula took her time getting dressed. She wasn’t sure why, then just figured it was because it was his birthday and she wanted it to be special. When he opened the door she waved the tickets and smiled. “Happy Birthday.”
    He frowned. “What happened to your hand?”
    Paula glanced down. She'd forgotten about her injury. “I was attacked by a road sign,” she said with a laugh. “The wind knocked it over and it tore my blouse cutting my arm and hand. Are you sure you didn't organize it?” she asked trying to lighten his intense expression.
    “Me?”
    “Yes, I was out with Andre and I know you didn't want me to be.” She'd meant it as a joke, but Conrad didn't smile.
    “Did he take you to the hospital get checked?”
    “I didn't need to get checked. It was just a cut.”
    “By a large metal object. Did he apply antiseptic?”
    “He didn't do anything.”
    “Except drive you home?”
    “Why would he drive me home when we both came in separate cars?”
    “Has he called you?”
    “For another date?” she asked surprised by the change in topic. Conrad looked angry, she'd never seen him like this. “No, not yet.”
    His jaw twitched. “I meant did he call to see if you were okay.”
    “You're getting upset. Come on, let's