Irresistible? Read Online Free Page A

buddy?” he asked the boy.
    â€œOkay,” the child ventured, half hiding behind his father.
    â€œSay, Mark,” Patrick said, “Lucy and I would love to have you over for dinner sometime. Do you have a lady friend?”
    â€œYou sound like my mother,” Mark said. “Are you two in on a conspiracy to get me settled down?”
    Patrick laughed. “No, but I must admit it helps to have someone presentable when socializing with the other partners and clients. I’ll warn you—Ivan kind of expects it.”
    Mark felt a sudden swell of anger that anything would be expected of him other than top-notch work. “I like being unattached,” he said evenly.
    â€œSo did I,” Patrick admitted. “But there comes a time when we all have to grow up. Luckily for me, Lucy was there when I came to my senses.” He swung the little boy into his arms. “Just food for thought, friend,” he said absently, tickling the little boy until he squealed. “Don’t work all night, and let me know about dinner, okay?”
    â€œSure,” Mark said. “Sounds great.”
    Mark listened to the footsteps fading down the hall, and pounded his fist lightly on his desk in frustration. What idiot had said behind every successful man was a good woman? He’d made it this far on his own, and he wasn’t about to share the fruits of his labor with some money-hungry man-eater. He’d seen the way women’s eyes lit up when they discovered he practiced law. He’d seen them peruse every stick of furniture in his home as if assessing its worth. He bought nice things because it made him happy, not to impress women. And he resented the females who thought he’d be all too eager to turn over his possessions to their care. Demanding, all of them. Take that little chiseler in the deli the other day—seventy-five bucks for a scrap of fabric!
    Where could he find a woman who’d settle for a no-strings-attached arrangement to be his escort, in return for a few nights on the town and an occasional romp? Oh, sure, they all said they weren’t looking for a commitment, but after a few dates, whammo! Feminine toiletries and articles of clothing started to appear in his house, and every jewelry commercial seemed too clever for her to let pass without a remark. Where was it written every man was supposed to settle down with one woman and be content for the remainder of his days?
    He resumed his propped position and nodded his head in silent determination. Bully for the poor schmucks who fall for it, but count me out.

2
    â€œW HAT DO YOU THINK?” Ellie asked, peering at the two shell-pink tablets in her palm.
    Manny leaned forward, sniffed at the pills, then said, “I think if these little pills can make you irresistible to men, then I want in on the action.”
    Ellie scoffed. Manny was tall and slim, with a handsome face. On more than one occasion, female acquaintances of Ellie’s had offered to try to “convert” him. “Manny, you’ve got more dates now than you know what to do with.”
    â€œBut none of them are keepers,” he said, sighing dramatically.
    â€œWhat do you consider a keeper?”
    â€œAnything below eight inches gets thrown back,” he declared, making an over-the-shoulder motion.
    Ellie shook her head, grinning, and pulled a clean glass from the dishwasher.
    Manny’s forehead knitted. “This is what—the fourth day you’ve been taking those things?”
    â€œUh-huh,” she said, tossing the pills into her mouth and downing them with a swallow of fruit juice.
    â€œShouldn’t something be happening by now?” he asked, watching her face carefully. Suddenly his eyes widened, and he covered his mouth to muffle a scream.
    â€œWhat?” Ellie yelled, shoving past him to run to the hall mirror.
    â€œGotcha,” he called, doubled over laughing.
    â€œOh, very funny,” she