Read Online Cornered by Ariana Gael - Free Book Online Page B

woman’s question.
    “I’m curious. If you were able to proofread the catalog this weekend, does that mean you didn’t make any interesting plans?”
    “What kind of plans?” she asked, crinkling her eyebrows.
    “I don’t know, whatever people your age do. No outings, no parties? A date maybe?” Marjorie continued in a knowing voice, her voice echoing for a second while she retrieved a large crate of packaging supplies from a storage closet. Michelle shook her head before remembering her dinner the night before.
    “Not really, I just hung around my apartment. I usually go to my parents’ house in Vernon for lunch on Sundays, but I didn’t go this weekend. I did have lunch with someone yesterday, now that you mention it. Tell me something,” Michelle said, her tone showing a pinch of annoyance. “Is there any reason in particular you asked?”
    “I saw you!” Marjorie announced, clapping her hands once and laughing. “I love Greek food, and I called in an order to take home with me after finishing up some things here. Your date was a very handsome gentleman.” Her expression darkened for a moment and she spoke with a quiet authority. “I do hope he was not responsible for your...injuries?”
    “Oh no!” Michelle said, quick to correct Marjorie’s impression of Lars. “In fact, he was my rescuer! He even took me home later, and that’s how we actually ended up having dinner. When he returned the purse I’d left in his truck, my roommates decided to play a little Fiddler on the Roof with the whole situation. They practically forced me to give him my phone number, and when he called last night to ask if I wanted to go to lunch, I couldn’t think of a good excuse to tell him no. I even tried using your catalog as an excuse!”
    “My dear, why would you need an excuse? First of all, you’re perfectly entitled to inform a gentleman that you’re not interested in seeing him socially without having to make excuses. A firm but polite ‘No, thank you,’ is really all you’re required to give him in return. But more importantly, is there a reason you’re not interested?” Marjorie continued laying out the packaging supplies in a meticulous fashion, each item in turn on the counter in the order that they would be used.
    She had to pause to think about Marjorie’s question. She did have a reason, right? But now that she remembered the meal and the pleasant conversation, actual talk about actual important things and not just some stupid action movie followed by Neanderthal attempts at groping her like the few real dates she’d had with Daniel, Michelle was slowly forgetting why she wasn’t interested in seeing Lars again. And the warm kiss he’d timidly left lingering on her lips after she’d finally agreed to let him walk her home—even though she won out when it came to paying her share of the dinner tab—wasn’t doing anything to help her forget all about him.
    “I guess I just wasn’t thinking about getting involved with someone else,” she replied.
    “Well, in my experience, I’ve learned that the men worth getting involved with don’t usually require intense decision making. You simply realize you like being around them more than you like not being around them.” Marjorie smiled, before setting Michelle to the task of retrieving the books that were shipping out that day.
    After more than an hour of packaging four books in water-tight cushioned sleeves before repackaging them in wooden boxes which then had to go inside the required cardboard box, Marjorie declared that they were ready to leave.
    “Us?” Michelle asked, raising an eyebrow. “I thought I just had to drop these off.”
    “Oh no, dear, there is a lengthy process. You’ll see why I was eager to bring you on board and put this responsibility on your shoulders. I’m afraid it takes several hours altogether, and is possibly the least interesting part of what we do. I’m going to go with you this time and show you how