Read Online Ready to Fall by Daisy Prescott - Free Book Online Page A

to eat better and exercise. He tells them he fishes, but they don’t count sitting in a boat all day drinking beer as exercise.”
    “You’d tell me if anything serious was going on, right? You know how much I hate being kept out of things.” I gave her a pointed look which said everything I didn’t want to discuss.
    “I will. I promise. Don’t worry about us. Now you take your food and go. Invite your new friend to dinner sometime. Might be nice for her to meet some more people. Although heaven knows we aren’t very entertaining. Maybe bring her when your cousins will be here.”
    It took me a minute to realize she meant Diane. Bring Diane to meet my family?
    “I can see your mind trying to figure out a way to say no. What’s her name?”
    “Diane.”
    “Is she pretty?”
    Was Diane pretty? I hadn’t considered it. She was attractive, but so busy hiding it under thick gray wool and messy hair I hadn’t given it much thought.
    “Yeah, I guess she is. Dark hair, petite, but not a stick. She’s going through a divorce, too. Guy sounds like a royal asshole.”
    “John.”
    “Sorry about my language, but he is. Unlike Kelly, this divorce is almost done. He’s being an ass—jerk about alimony.”
    “Such a shame. Definitely bring her to dinner. She probably could use some family too.” She stretched to kiss me on my cheek. I had to bend for her to reach it. I gave her arm a squeeze before saying goodbye.
     

     
    Diane was perched on a stool at the end of the bar when I walked through the double doors at the Doghouse. Donnelly stood next to her, chatting her up and leaning a little too close. He didn’t give up. Her laughter assured me he wasn’t harassing her, but I still didn’t like it.
    I shed my coat and hung it on a peg in the hall leading toward the back room. My eyes stayed trained on Diane as I walked toward them while my aunt’s question echoed in my head.
    Was she pretty?
    I took in her dark hair, which she wore down tonight. It hung past her shoulders, not super straight, but not curly either. Pretty. She had a nice profile and her face lit up when she laughed, revealing straight, white teeth framed by plump lips. Lips made for kissing.
    I stopped myself. No one was kissing anyone. I wasn’t kissing Diane.
    Neither was Donnely.
    I couldn’t make out her body under the fleece jacket and jeans, but I remembered what she wore the night I ate dinner at her house. Nice tits, round ass, curvy hips and thighs. No bony girls for me. I liked somewhere to put my hands and something to hold onto that wouldn’t break.
    Yeah, I guess she was pretty. Very pretty, if I was being honest.
    Focusing my eyes, I caught Diane staring at me, which meant she caught me staring at her. I coughed and gave her a little wave. Like a kid waves, but less enthusiastically and more embarrassed.
    What was wrong with me?
    Tom turned and greeted me, “Hey, I wondered when you’d drag your sorry ass here. Not that I mind you being late and giving me the chance to catch up with Diane here. We were chatting about her yoga and pilots. Both of which are great for flexibility.” He winked at her.
    Rolling her eyes, she corrected him, “Pilates, not pilots.”
    “You didn’t deny the flexibility.” Tom grinned at her, draping his arm around her shoulders. “I like bendy.”
    Seeing him touching her caused me to grumble and it came out more as a growl. Diane faced me and quirked her eyebrow.
    I had growled. Like an animal. Next I would be beating my chest with my fists. I wasn’t the jealous type, not ever, but Donnely hanging all over Diane annoyed me. He didn’t know her backstory. He didn’t know her dislike of players.
    “Give the woman some room to breathe, Donnely,” I said.
    “Oh, he’s no problem. I can handle him,” Diane said, but subtly shifted away from his arm. “You two going to play pool tonight?”
    “That was the plan. Unless you want some company, sweetheart.” Donnely gave her what he called his