Free Nothing Tastes As Good (Cupcake Goddess) by Shéa MacLeod Page B

possible, falling off the planet never to be heard from again. Sometimes the rejection was too much to take.
    Kate climbed out of the car, clenching her fingers around her purse straps until her fingers turned white. She could do this. She could. If she ditched this guy, she’d never hear the end of it from Tiffany.
    She managed to make it down the walk to Durty Nelly’s despite the shaking of her legs and the skyscraper high heels (something else Tiffany had insisted on). The Irish pub was heaving with tourists and locals alike, drinking cold beer and bobbing to the Irish rock music from the live band. Normally she’d love a place like this, but all Kate could see were all those eyes watching her, judging her.
    A couple of overly muscled guys near the door nudged each other so hard they nearly spilled their drinks on their too tight t-shirts. Their stares made it clear they thought she shouldn’t be here. She could almost hear them calling her a fat cow in their minds.
    Shame turned Kate’s cheeks bright red. This was why she didn’t go to bars; to avoid asshats like those two. It seemed she couldn’t go anywhere without someone making fun of her because of her weight.
    She struggled to hold her head up high and ignore them. She could do this. But Kate was this close to slipping back out the door when she caught sight of her date at one of the tables. Unfortunately he saw her too and waved her over, a broad smile on his face.
    Oh, God. Oh, God. He was going to see how fat she really was. He was going to be terribly polite and buy her a drink or two. Then he was going to make some excuse and duck out as quickly as he could. She just knew it.
    Think positive, Kate , she told herself sternly. That’s what Tiffany always said. Not that Tiffany needed any positive thinking. She was beautiful and skinny and had men salivating over her left, right, and center. Still, Kate would do her best. She plastered on a smile as she squeezed her way through the crowd and up to the table.
    The two muscle-heads behind her continued their mooing and laughter until the music finally swallowed the noise. Kate breathed a sigh of relief.
    Her date stood up revealing six feet of muscles and broad shoulders. Okay, so he had a tiny bit of a stomach and a touch of padding over those muscles, but guys could get away with that. He was still hot with a capital H; with dark hair that held just a slight wave and brilliant green eyes framed in ridiculously long lashes. If Kate could have made up her perfect dream guy, he’d probably be it.
    “Kate, it’s so good to finally meet you. Thanks for coming.” He held out his hand and Kate shook it politely.
    “Thanks for inviting me, Kyle.”
    He grinned again, flashing ridiculously straight white teeth, as he waved her to a seat opposite him. “Sorry, I’d do the gentlemanly thing and seat you, but…” he nodded to the crowd that was growing thicker by the minute. “I’d probably get trampled to death.”
    She laughed a little at that.
    “I took the liberty of ordering you a drink. I hope I got it right.”
    Kate took a small sip of her drink. Amaretto and cola. Her favorite. “You remembered.”
    “Of course. I remember everything we talked about. After all the online conversations we’ve had, I feel like we’ve known each other for ages.”
    Kate’s heart fluttered at the expression on his face. He was looking at her as if…as if she were…beautiful. “Um, excuse me for a moment, would you?”
    She practically bolted from the table, ducking through the crowd and into the ladies’ room. Locking herself inside one of the stalls, she focused on her breathing. In and out. In and out.
    Surely Kyle didn’t think she was beautiful? No way. He was faking it. Had to be.
    She let herself out of the stall and hurried to the mirror for a quick once-over. She was the same boring old Kate: pasty skin, plain brown hair, unremarkable features, and way too many “curves.” The only thing special