Free McFarlane's Perfect Bride by Christine Rimmer

anyway? I mean, come on. You talk about how you want to change things in your life, with your son. With your sister. Maybe being straight in your business dealings wouldn’t be such a bad idea, either. I’m not saying you have to tell me all the diabolical details of your takeover plan. I’m just saying why deny what you’re after when everyone knows your denial is a big, fat lie anyway?”
    He arched a brow. “Diabolical?”
    She waved a hand. “Sorry. That was a little over the top. But still, you know what I mean.”
    He refused to give in. “As a rule, it’s not a good idea to show your hand, even if the player across from you already knows you have aces.”
    â€œWe’re talking about people’s lives, Connor, not a card game.”
    He pushed back his chair and stood. “This conversation is going nowhere.”
    She knew he was right. They were arguing in circles. She said gently, “Yeah. I guess so.”
    â€œGood night.” His voice was soft, his eyes troubled.
    â€œGood night, Connor.”
    He went out through the great room. She heard the front door open and close. And a minute or two after that, she heard the SUV start up and drive away.
    She sat there at the table for a long time after he left her, feeling sad and weepy—but refusing to cry. Connor McFarlane was not the man for her. She had to accept that. It was better that he had left, that his thing between them went no further. Getting into it with him would only lead to hurt and heartbreak.
    Alone at the table, she nodded to herself and swallowed down the lump of tears that clogged her throat. Yes. Really. It was better that he was gone.

Chapter Five
    C onnor was halfway back to his rented house, feeling like crap, trying to come to grips with the fact that his enjoyable summer with Tori Jones was over before it had even begun, when he realized that he’d left her without canceling their plans for tomorrow.
    At the house, after spending a few minutes in CJ’s room, watching him play his endless video game, he went to his own room. He took a shower and sat in front of the television, channel-surfing with the sound down, paying very little attention to the images that flashed in front of his eyes.
    He kept reliving what it felt like to hold her in his arms. He’d been really looking forward to doing that again, and frequently. And he’d done some serious fantasizing over what it was going to be like the first timethey made love. It would probably be really good, if the chemistry between them was any indication.
    Maybe she would call and tell him formally that she wouldn’t be coming to the picnic tomorrow. Maybe he ought to call her.
    But the phone didn’t ring. And he decided it would be easier just to go ahead and proceed as planned tomorrow. At worst, she would call it off when he and CJ came to pick her and Jerilyn up. He could live with that.
    And if she decided to go through with it, well, he could stand that, too. It would be awkward, yes, but at least CJ would be happy to have some time with the girl he liked.
    In the morning, Connor had breakfast with CJ and then went to his study to look over some paperwork from the main office. The phone rang at eleven. He jumped at the sound.
    But it was only his father, making the usual demands, that he come back to Philly immediately, to stay. That, if he insisted on doing the resort deal, he get on it and get it over with.
    Connor made noncommittal noises and told his dad to give his mother his love.
    An hour later, he and CJ left the house.
    â€œYou okay, Dad?” CJ asked him as they drove the quiet Sunday streets on the way to Tori’s house.
    Connor almost ran a red light. It was the first time in the past year or so that his son had expressed the slightest interest in him or anything he might be doing or thinking.
    It was a clear sign that he was actually making progress with the boy. He should have been