The Almost Wives Club: Kate Read Online Free

sometimes, but oh, when you can see that a girl gets it. That she’s on the path and she’s willing to do the work? Yeah, then I feel like what I do really matters.”
    “Good for you.” He leaned back. “Are you one of the mentors?”
    “Yes, but my main job is fundraising. Not glamorous, but important.”
    “What else?”
    “And I’m getting married. That man I was with is my fiancé.”
    “As you keep reminding me,” he said, regarding her with amusement. “That’s not your story, it’s your resume. Who are you, Kate? Who are you when you’re not playing it safe?”
    “Who are you?” she challenged him right back. Playing it safe? Who was he to make judgments about a complete stranger?
    “Do you really want to know who I am?”
    On reflection, she found she did. “Yes.”
    “Okay. In no particular order. I’m a man who likes to see justice done. I think we should put all the money that’s being spent on space tourism into fixing the planet we’re on. I love Rocky Road ice cream and baseball and hockey but I cannot stand football. I believe in serving your country when called on and that apple pie should be served with ice cream, not cheese.” He swirled the wine in his glass, watching the red liquid. “I am always faithful to the woman I’m with, for however long it lasts. I believe in personal freedom, global warming, the right of every person to clean water and enough to eat. I believe every woman deserves an orgasm. Every time.”
    When he got to the orgasm part she felt a quick electric surge in her most secret parts. His gaze challenged her as though he somehow knew that Ted wasn’t quite as committed to that particular agenda item. And that made her irritable. Who was this complete stranger to make insinuations about her sex life?
    She said, “It’s like somebody shook up a box filled with ideas and you pulled out a handful at random.”
    He laughed. It was a low, sexy sound that made her want to join him. “Stream of consciousness; it’s what happens when you don’t plan what you’re going to say ahead of time. Try it.”
    She put down her knife and fork. “You want me to open my mouth and simply start talking?”
    “Sure. Why not?”
    She sipped her wine.
    The women at the table of fun suddenly laughed in unison, like someone had told a funny story and they were uninhibitedly enjoying it. Oh, why the hell shouldn’t she give up some of her rigid politeness for five minutes? What could happen?
    She pulled in a deep breath, as though she were about to dive underwater and might need to hold her breath for a long time. “Okay. I’ve never done this before so forgive me if I’m not as slick as you are.”
    “Let ‘er rip.”
    And so she did. She opened her mouth and started talking. “My life is ruled by politeness. Which is why I am currently sitting across from a man I do not know, letting him eat my boyfriend’s meal. I take good manners seriously and think the world would be a better place if everyone did.” She paused. She wasn’t as good at this stream of consciousness thing as her dinner companion. What more did she want to say?
    “I do not like my wedding dress.”
    She was shocked at her own admission and felt her eyes widen so she stared across the table. “I do not like my wedding dress,” she repeated. “It cost a fortune and the designer pretty much demanded I audition before she’d even design the dress. I had no say in the design. It’s not what I wanted and I don’t think it’s particularly flattering.” She didn’t tell him about the gel pads to plump up her boobs. Oddly, she also didn’t tell him about the curse. It was an amusing anecdote to tell Ted, but if she mentioned it to Nick, who didn’t know her, he might think she took it seriously. She was modern, American, she did not believe in curses.
    Nick sat listening as though she were fascinating. He was a good listener.
    She tapped her fingers on the table, feeling the words start to gather,