Free Better Than Before (RightMatch.com Trilogy) by Kathryn Shay Page B

many more dates with this man who intrigued her.
    o0o
    Seated next to Spence at the theater, Annie sniffed back sappy tears at one of the romantic comedies that she loved. Keith would never go to this kind of film, but Spence had readily agreed. She was grateful they liked the same recreational activities. At first, she and Keith had taken pleasure in what they did together, but after a while, their interests had no longer coincided, and toward the end, they hadn’t had any fun as a couple.
    Sliding his arm around her, Spence bent to her ear. “You all right?” His tone was amused.
    “Yeah, I’m sentimental at movies.”
    “Now, why am I not surprised? I like that in you, though.”
    Once again, she basked in his approval. She’d never had unconditional acceptance from a man in her life, and it was heady.
    This was their first date after the sexual explosion in her car last weekend. The kids were with their grandmother, and though she and Spence had talked online, he’d been away at a contractor’s conference all week. Annie was supposed to work at the restaurant, but when he got back, Spence had wanted to see her and the café didn’t have many reservations, so she’d been able to take the night off to be with him. That she’d rearrange her life for him made her uncomfortable. He’d said more than once he wished they had more time together, but building her schedule around him disconcerted her. Oh, well, it was only one night.
    Though the movie plot was predictable, Annie enjoyed the storyline. The incredibly sexy Hugh Jackman screwed up, groveled with appropriate angst and the story ended on a high note, illustrating how redemption and forgiveness are possible.
    Spence was watching her as the lights went on.
    “What?”
    He angled his chin at the screen. “Pretty farfetched, I think.”
    “You don’t believe in happily-ever-after?”
    His lips thinned and she remembered that the last movie he’d seen was with his wife. “Not much, no.” He stood and followed her out of their row, then down the crowded aisle. In the lobby, he again slid his arm around her.
    “Did this bring back memories for you?” she asked. “Sad ones?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “You said you haven’t been to a movie since the last one you saw with your wife.”
    “You know what? It didn’t.” He tugged her to his side. “Must be the company was too distracting.”
    Annie noticed a man motioning them in the crowd. He called out, “Hey, Spence.”
    Suddenly, tension radiated throughout Spence’s whole body. He kept threading his way through the throng.
    Annie nudged him. “Spence, that man is waving to you.”
    “Ignore him. I—”
    But the couple caught up to them. “Hey, Spence,” the guy said again.
    “Hello, Michael.” Spence’s voice had gone flat.
    “You remember my wife, Karen. You met her at Harris’s party last year.”
    “Of course. Karen. This is Annie Hopkins.”
    “Interesting movie, wasn’t it?” Karen asked.
    Annie grinned. “I loved it.”
    Spence started to edge away. “If you’ll excuse us, we’re on to our next stop of the night.”
    That was odd. Spence was so formal and rude. When they got outside and walked toward the cars, he was silent, too.
    “Who were those people?” she asked.
    He took her hand. “Work related.”
    “Don’t you like them?”
    “I never liked Mike Williams. He’s a lawyer.”
    “Who’s Harris?”
    “A partner in his firm.”
    They reached Spence’s car and he peered down at her. “So, where to?”
    She wanted to continue the conversation, but could tell Spence didn’t. Keith said she never gave people room to have their own feelings, that she always pushed to know what they were thinking and why, so she answered his question. “I’m hungry.”
    Again, he seemed to relax. “No surprise, there. It’s amazing you don’t weigh two hundred pounds.”
    “Fast metabolism.”
    “And how you’re active every minute. Where would like to eat?”
    “How about