Free Naughty Little Secret by Shelley Bradley Page B

to do with her hands that didn’t involve ripping that pristine white shirt from his yummy chest.
    “You look tense, sugar. Relax and tell me what’s wrong.”
    “Um, worried about the outcome of the meeting,” she lied after swallowing her chip.
    “It’ll all come out in your favor. You watch.”
    Lauren suspected he was right, and she wasn’t one to count her chickens. But she had to say something appropriate to the man.
    Somehow, she didn’t think bringing up her midnight fantasies to him—
    about him—would be considered appropriate.
    “Hey, while I’ve got you out and away from the office, can I ask you a question?”
    She hesitated. “A question?”
    “Yeah. Something personal.”
    Oh, this subject sounded ripe with possibilities, none of them good…
    “Sure.” What else could she say?
    “I’m interested in this woman…”
    “There’s a shock.”
    Lauren winced as soon as she said it. Part pure sarcasm, part jealous annoyance, she hoped it hid her disappointment. This shouldn’t upset her. At all. Noah and his sluts de jour were nothing new. It wasn’t like she loved the man. Actually, she was more attached to him than was
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    wise for her sanity, so maybe his pursuit of another woman was for the best.
    Nice rationalization , she thought, restraining the urge to roll her eyes.
    He laughed at her. Actually laughed! Unbelievable.
    “I’m sure to you it looks like I’ve dated my fair share.”
    “Your share and half the male population in Texas’s share. But whatever.” She shrugged, pretending not to care.
    The waiter came by and slapped glasses of water on their table, took their orders, and fled as only a busy man trying to keep up with the lunch rush could.
    Once they were alone again, Noah continued, “This woman, she’s divorced. And she’s giving me the ‘get lost’ vibe. I’m not exactly sure why.
    Got any insider tips?”
    “What, on the mind of a divorced woman?”
    He nodded. “I mean, if you were her, why would you be blowing me off?”
    “That’s easy. Fear of pain. Divorce sucks. Relationships suck. They all end with someone hurting, and guys like you have no lasting power when it comes to matters of the heart, so she knows she’s likely to be the one to be sitting at home with a bottle of wine, listening to sad country songs when it’s all over. Given that fact, she’s not going to take a chance on you, especially if you’re still seeing Misty.”
    “Misty is out of the picture. She has been for a few weeks, actually.”
    Lauren was more pleased to hear that than she should be. “Still, your reputation proceeds you.”
    Noah hesitated, pretending to think. “But I don’t think it’s me she’s objecting to. I think it’s the idea of relationships in general. And I don’t get it.”
    “Because clearly, you’ve never had your heart broken.”
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    “I wouldn’t say that.”
    To say Lauren was shocked was a huge understatement. “You, broken-hearted? I can’t picture it.”
    “Try. I’m not impervious or immune. I’ve been hurt. Sometimes, it still hurts.” He glanced away for a second, then shrugged. “That’s never stopped me from dating and trying to move on. It’s frustrating that she won’t let her guard down with me. If you were her, what would be stopping you?”
    “Aside from your cheerleaders and your reputation?”
    Noah leaned forward, into her personal space, and directed her a stare that just about singed her toes. “Aside from that.”
    She tried to back away, but in a small restaurant booth, she really had no place to go. “I don’t know this woman…”
    “You’re a lot like her, I think. You have a lot in common.”
    Lord, Lauren wanted to know who this woman was. And where did he meet her? A bar? A business trip? A bus stop? No telling.
    “Look, I don’t know her situation, so I probably shouldn’t—”
    “Please. I need your help. I really… This means a lot to me. She