Mr. Wonderful Lies Read Online Free Page A

whirlwind of awareness. I suspected he had that affect on everyone. There’s something very strong and certain about Jared Walker that makes the feminine portion of my brain start thinking about long-term relationships, babies, and forever. But isn’t the essence of what makes a player effective the ability to tweak a woman’s thoughts and emotions and then use those very things to accomplish some secret guy agenda that generally involves getting into our pants?
    “Is he dating anyone right now?” I asked curiously. “I don’t remember seeing him with anyone for awhile.”
    Anna finished off her martini as we watched Jared push through the front door of Cheeky’s. “Jared has his own issues, Megan. But we’re not talking about Jared tonight.”
    I sighed. “Do we really have to do this? I’m getting tired.”
    “You told me you never wanted to date again after Professor Jackass,” she reminded me. “I thought I was going to have to drag you kicking and screaming out of that hermit hole of yours. What happened?”
    I shrugged. What had happened? “I got lonely I guess.”
    “Keep going.”
    “I’m turning thirty-five?”
    “And?”
    “And nothing, Anna. That’s it. I had a plan. You know how I am about my plans. I’ve been living all alone in my house for long enough. I want to share my life with someone special. I think Ollie is that someone.”
    It was her turn to sigh. “Just don’t jump into something without looking first, okay? It always feels great in the beginning. That’s because you don’t have to forgive all of those little crappy habits that drive people crazy.”
    “You haven’t said anything that isn’t a risk with any new relationship,” I pointed out.
    “But it’s worse with this kind of a relationship. You guys are already too close, but it’s the kind of close that hasn’t required anyone to make any sort of compromise. How easy is it to be forgiving when it’s totally impersonal? When there’s no real risk?”
    “I thought you’d be happy for me, Anna,” I ventured softly.
    She shot me one of her frank, assessing looks. The ones that make other real estate agents and mortgage brokers run for cover. “No, you didn’t. Or you would’ve told me the minute you met him.”

 

Chapter Two
     
    My general response to nervousness is over-preparation, and my first date with Ollie was no exception. I started plowing through my wardrobe at about six a.m. and went through every possible outfit twice before settling on my favorite pair of worn, low-rise blue jeans. I donned a long sleeved gray shirt because there was still a damp spring chill in the air and then layered my favorite short sleeved dark green tee over that because green is lucky. After that I stepped into a pair of thick-soled Docs and grabbed my keys.
    I could have dressed up, but the only time I do that is when I meet new clients for the first time or when Jared, Anna, and I go someplace special. I’m not comfortable in dressy clothes. Anna’s the one with the great fashion sense. I prefer nice earth tones and simple clothing you can live in. Like I already said, I’m a big girl, big boned, solid, whatever you want to call it, but I’m happy with it. Sure, sometimes I get a little miffed when some twiggy bimbo makes a comment at the gym, but at least I don’t have to wear a training bra and buy underwear that makes up for the lack of an ass. So even though my clothes aren’t what most people would call sexy, I’m not afraid to wear a pair of snug jeans and a fitted T-shirt either.
    I experienced a moment of panic when I looked at my decidedly casual reflection in the full-length mirror before remembering that I’d already told Ollie I’m a pretty low-key girl. His response was that he adored low maintenance. I could have been offended by that, but it had been paired with an assurance that low maintenance was almost always coupled with inner beauty, so I’d let it go. After all, if he didn’t like what