Read Online When We Met by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online Page A

he’s been burned a bunch of times. Now he refuses to get involved at all. His family doesn’t help.”
    â€œThey’re not into boundaries,” Taryn said simply, thinking it was time to change the subject. “So, what’s new in town? Any hot gossip?”
    Jo appeared with chips and salsa, along with a bowl of guacamole. “On the house,” she said with a smile. “Because of the new girl.”
    Larissa blinked at her. “Thank you. That’s so nice.”
    â€œYeah, I’m a nice person. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
    Taryn eyed the chips and felt her stomach growl. Fine. She would add fifteen minutes to her workout that afternoon. Fifteen ugly minutes of gross sweating would be worth it if she could indulge a little.
    â€œGossip,” Isabel said as she grabbed a chip. “Mayor Marsha’s assistant is leaving, so she’ll be hiring a new one. That is going to be so weird. Marjorie has worked for the mayor for years. Since maybe high school or something.”
    â€œI wonder who the new assistant will be,” Dellina said, then chuckled. “I’ll tell Fayrene. She’s the sister with the temp agency. I’m sure she’ll offer to fill in during the interview process.”
    â€œI need her number,” Taryn said. “We sometimes need help with big projects at Score.”
    â€œI have a card right here,” Dellina told her, and reached into her bag.
    â€œMayor Marsha is going on vacation,” Noelle said, scooping up guacamole. “She was in the other day and bought a couple of things for—”
    Both Isabel and Dellina stared at her.
    â€œWhat?” Noelle asked, visibly shrinking in her seat. “What did I say?”
    â€œThe mayor’s going on vacation?” Dellina demanded.
    â€œShe never goes on vacation,” Isabel added. “I mean never.”
    Taryn didn’t get the problem. “Isn’t she allowed? From what I’ve seen, she works pretty hard for the town. Going away might do her good.”
    Dellina and Isabel exchanged a look. “Maybe,” Isabel admitted. “But it’s weird. Like she might never come back.”
    Larissa looked as confused as Taryn felt. “Does she have a husband?”
    â€œShe’s a widow.”
    Taryn reached for another chip. “Maybe she has a mysterious, handsome man she travels with,” she teased.
    Isabel’s eyes widened. “Mayor Marsha with a secret lover?”
    Noelle shook her head. “Okay, I’m kind of with you on that one. While I want her to be happy, it’s kind of strange to think about.”
    â€œWe should all be so lucky when we’re her age,” Taryn said firmly. “I vote for the secret lover story. The mayor has earned it.”
    â€œTroublemaker,” Dellina grumbled.
    â€œYou know it.”
    * * *
    T ARYN WAS NAKED . Angel stared at her and felt the breath leave his body. Good thing because that made room for more hot blood to fill his groin. She was tall and leggy and totally naked, with her long hair covering her breasts and hard nipples playing peekaboo with him. And speaking of hard—
    â€œGet up.”
    â€œI am up,” he mumbled only to realize the slightly crabby voice wasn’t coming from the vision in front of him but was instead at the periphery of his consciousness. Nor was the voice in question talking about up in the sense that he meant it.
    He sat up instantly. But even in his newly awake state, he had the sense to make sure the sheets were covering his now painful erection.
    Consuelo stood in the doorway of his bedroom. The hall light was on and she was already dressed. He glanced at the clock and saw it was a few minutes to six.
    â€œWhy are you awake so early?” he asked.
    â€œWe have to be somewhere.”
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œA basketball game. At Score. It’s the PR agency with the football—”
    â€œI