Read Online Speaking of Love (Perfect Kisses) by Ophelia London - Free Book Online

head.
    “He might not know about the Elm Street factory, Mac. It happened ages ago, and he didn’t grow up here in Franklin. His father’s probably closed down a lot of factories.”
    “Comforting,” Mac said, resting her chin in her hand.
    “What do you really know about Rick? All you guys do together is go to dinner parties with a hundred other people. How can you possibly get to know someone that way? Do you ever talk?”
    “Of course we talk. Do you think we just stand around gawking at each other like baboons?” Mac widened her eyes, let her jaw go slack, and stared into space.
    “Sexy,” Tess said, laughing. “Is that the face you make when he’s about to kiss you? No wonder you’re not getting any action.”
    “Ha ha. I need another drink.” Mac waved at a waiter whizzing by.
    “What I mean is,” Tess continued a moment later, “do you and Rick ever talk about anything important? He might not be like his father at all. How well do we know anyone at first? Maybe he’ll surprise you.”
    “Doubtful,” Mac said. “Anyway, it was glaringly obvious the other night that it’s time for me to move on.” She shrugged. “I think Brandy will be perfect for him.”
    Mac scooped up another chip, then washed it down with a long drink. She was a little amazed. The more she talked about it out loud, the more sense it made. And she felt nothing toward Rick but the desire to be his friend and to help him be happy. Yes, Brandy would be perfect for Rick. They might even fall in love.
    “She’d make good arm candy, at least,” Tess said. “When’s the date?”
    “Tomorrow. Lunch.” She sat back. “I invited Jeremy. It’ll feel more relaxed if there’s the illusion that it’s a double date. Less pressure for everyone.”
    “I forgot what an expert you are at matchmaking,” Tess conceded. “Which one is Jeremy?”
    “The bartender with the crazy ex-wife,” Mac said, pushing back the bowl of chips.
    “The one who looks like a younger but taller, floppy-haired Mark Wahlberg?”
    Mac took a moment to dissect the description. “That’s pretty spot-on.”
    “Isn’t he also kind of…”
    “Uncouth?”
    “I was going to say ape-like.”
    Mac snorted. “Kind of. I’ve known him forever, though. He used to play city league baseball with Greg. He’s always good for a lunch or something short notice.”
    “And did you two ever…?” Tess grinned at Mac over her glass.
    “Not even close. Jeremy is fun, but there’s no chemistry. We hang out sometimes, just as friends.”
    “Like you and Rick?”
    The question made Mac bite down on her tongue. “Um, sure,” she said, reaching for her glass. “Like me and Rick.”
    Except with Rick , she could have added, a lack of chemistry was never the problem .
    But Tess didn’t need to know that.
    It was hard to explain, even to her best friend, Mac’s need to keep extra emotionally sealed when it came to Rick. It wasn’t just that his father closing the Elm Street factory had basically been the catalyst to her parents breaking up. That was tragic enough. More than that, she and Rick were complete opposites. She didn’t have to know him for twenty years to understand that. Their upbringings, their backgrounds, even their basic concept about something as simple as Lincoln Park… She and Rick Duffy would never see eye to eye.
    They were just too different, and all the chemistry in the world wouldn’t change that.
    Tess lifted her glass and clinked it against Mac’s. “Well, your social life never ceases to amaze me.”
    The waiter appeared with their salads.
    “How’s Jack?” Mac asked, eager to steer the subject in another direction.
    Tess picked up her fork. “Amazing,” she said with a huge grin.
    Mac rolled her eyes to heaven. “I mean, how is he doing? I haven’t seen him at school very often this semester.”
    “With football season over, he mostly stays around the gym. Or drives out to my music studio for an extra-long