Free One Real Man (Entangled Bliss) ) by Coleen Kwan Page A

question.
    “He’ll get comfortable soon enough,” Nate answered for him.
    Ally still looked doubtful. “It’s a big house for just one person.”
    “My sister will be spending some of her weekends here,” Owen said.
    “Plus you need a place like this for impressing investors and businesspeople.” Nate waved his champagne glass around. “You’ll be doing a lot of entertaining if you want your Bandicoot Creek to succeed.”
    Owen couldn’t suppress a grimace. He already felt like a fraud holding a casual get-together for a few friends. How would he handle a crowd of rich, influential strangers all carrying a born-to-rule mentality? He’d feel like a phony, but he’d do it, if that was the only way to bring his dream to fruition.
    “You should ask Paige for a few tips on entertaining.” Ally flashed an impish grin at him.
    He stared at her. “Gee, and I always thought you were a sweetheart.”
    “She’s a sweetheart with a surprising kick from time to time,” Nate said, grinning, too. “I take it you won’t be asking Paige for tips on socializing?”
    “I’d rather have my chest waxed.”
    Nate chortled. “I’d like to see that. You could use a bit of manscaping.”
    “Manscaping! What the hell? I don’t have dirty fingernails or hairs sprouting from my nostrils.” He glanced at Ally. “Well, do I?”
    She just grinned at him. “Don’t worry,” Nate answered. “Everyone knows you’re a bloke’s bloke, no doubt about it.”
    Owen muttered beneath his breath. He could scrub up just as well as Nate, if he wanted to. But he didn’t.
    “Owen doesn’t need a makeover,” Ally declared.
    “Thank you.”
    “I like it that your success hasn’t gone to your head, like it did to Seth. He used to be the nice boy next door, and now he’s a first-class scumbag. I’m so glad he jilted me.”
    Owen made a sympathetic noise. “I heard about that. I’m sorry.”
    “I’m not. Seth did me a huge favor. I’m only sorry that Paige got caught by him.”
    Nate snorted. “Come on, don’t waste any sympathy on Paige. She wanted to marry a rich stockbroker she could boss around, and Seth fit the bill. She was so determined to have her big society wedding, she would’ve bulldozed anyone who got in her way. And remember what a cow her mother was to you about the flowers?” His face grew ruddy.
    Ally rubbed her husband’s shoulder. “You big galoot,” she said fondly. “I’ll admit I’m not especially fond of Paige. She’s so immaculate and standoffish. But it can’t be easy growing up with a mother like Crystal Kerrigan and having to live up to her standards. Maybe we should cut her some slack.”
    Owen rubbed his chin. If only he could be as magnanimous as Ally, but she didn’t know what he’d suffered at the careless, manicured hands of Paige. If she did, she might not be so ready to forgive.
    …
    Paige tensed as she heard someone approaching the kitchen. No doubt this was Owen come to chew her out some more for being rude to him in front of his friends. Her hands curled into fists at her sides, but instead of Owen, it was Ally who entered the kitchen.
    “Hi,” Ally said. “Hope you don’t mind me coming in here.”
    “Of course not,” Paige answered, the words coming out brittle. “You’re the guest.”
    Not wanting to look idle, Paige turned to the sink and picked up a kitchen towel. As she wiped a plate, she was all too aware of Ally’s presence, and the reversal of their fortunes stung her. Once upon a time she’d looked down on Ally with pity as the girl not good enough for Seth, the girl with nothing except a run-down gift store. But now she was the girl Seth didn’t care for; she was the girl with nothing except…except a suitcase full of designer clothes and a lowly job with a boss who despised her.
    “Did Owen send you to check up on me?” Paige demanded.
    Ally’s eyes widened. “No, he doesn’t even know I’m here. I think he feels a bit embarrassed after his