Better Than Before (RightMatch.com Trilogy) (4 page)

His genius brother, who looked a little Patrick Dempsey, dropped down on a stool as if he didn’t have the strength to keep himself upright.

“Hey, kid. You okay?”

“Punchy from lack of sleep.” Cole rubbed a hand over his scratchy jaw. “Thank God Mom took her namesake for the night. I should be home in the sack, but I haven’t been out in months and am going stir crazy.”

He clapped his brother on the back. “It’s worth it though, isn’t it?”

The expression on Cole’s face transformed into pure, unadulterated joy. “Yeah. I never knew I could love somebody so much.”

“I felt the same way when my girls were born. Think Spence will ever experience that?”

“Nope. He’s a lost cause in the husband and father department. Too bad his dad did such a number on him.”

Bradley Wickham had been an absent father, cold and shrewd, and had left their mother right after Spence had been born. In the years following, Spence spent some weekends with him and usually came home sullen. Joey thought those times had formed parts of his personality, and not for the good.

“How’s the online thing going with him?”

Cole rolled his eyes. When the bartender came over, he ordered a beer. “Five down, one to go. He swept them off their feet with little effort. I’m gonna lose the bet.”

“You know why he’s
really
doing this?”

“Not just to best me. Beneath his tough exterior, I think he feels bad about striking out in the relationship department. He’s never failed at anything else. Lying on the site, and being successful at it, vindicates his cynical outlook on true love.”

“Maybe. Man, I wish somebody would hook him. Make him fall hard and fast, and then have to grovel to get her.”

Chuckling, Cole knocked back a gulp of beer. “Don’t hold your breath. But I wish that would happen, too.”

From behind Cole, Joe saw two women approaching. “Hell,” he muttered as they descended on him and his brother.

“Hey, Joey,” the blonde in a skimpy-back T-shirt said. “Who’s your friend?”

“Hi, Stacey. This is my brother, Cole. Bro, this is Stacey and…?”

“KiKi.”

“You guys want some company?”

Joe caught Cole’s subtle shake of the head. “Nah, my brother here has a baby and is on one of his free nights out. We’re just hangin’, but thanks.”

After the women had left, Cole asked, “That happen to you often?”

“Yeah, I guess. I think it’s the cop thing. You sure you don’t want company?”

“God, no. Besides, what woman’s gonna want to spend time with me these days? An infant does serious damage to your love life.”

“You could blow off steam. Have a one-night stand.”

“I’m not into that, and neither are you.”

Joe directed his gaze to the TV. “No, not anymore, at least.”

After injuring his knee, Joey had screwed around with woman and booze. Finally, with the help of his brothers, he’d been able to clean up his act. “I do wish I could meet somebody, but bars like this aren’t the place.”

Cole swiveled on his stool, already looking more relaxed. “I know you said you didn’t like dating sites, but I think you should join RightMatch. We’ve taken precautions so it’s safer than the average service. You’re forty-four and single, so you qualify.” He chuckled. “If I could go on it, I would. I’ve seen some interesting profiles.”

“Aw, too bad you’re only thirty-three.” Joe shook his head. “I’m desperate enough to try the thing despite my reservations, but I can’t afford your fees. Child support and rent clean me out. The only other thing I spend money on is clothes.” He glanced down at the nice brown jeans and silk shirt he’d bought at the outlets.

“Gimme a break, I’d never make you pay the fee.”

“Seriously?”

“Joey, how can you even ask that, with all you’ve done for me and Ellie before and after she was born?”

 “It was a tough decision, Cole. But a good one.”

“You and the girls come over all the time, which makes a huge difference for me.”

“Leona used to say how hard it was staying at home with the kids alone. I never much listened to her.”

“Regretting the divorce?”

“I always regretted it. But we couldn’t live together anymore.”

Reaching across the bar, Cole snatched up a napkin and stray pencil. He scribbled something on the paper. “Here’s the address and acceptance code. Go on, write up your profile, give it a shot. You’ll be in the company of thousands.”

Sometimes Joe didn’t know what he’d do without his brothers. Though Spence could be a bastard, Cole always came through for people. “Hey, thanks. I mean it.”

“Just bring Kara and Kaelyn over soon to play with Ellie.

“You’re on.”

Joe stared at the napkin, sighing heavily. He’d never thought his life was going to come to this, but like everything else that happened to him, he’d do what he had to do!

o0o

Spence got home from his date with Marlena exhausted. Usually he had boundless energy, but for some reason, tonight he was drained. During dinner, he kept thinking about his conversations with Annie and with his mother, which made him irritable and edgy.

Purposely, he didn’t check his computer to see if there was an email from her. Instead, he switched on the news and dropped down on the couch in his home office. Like the other rooms in his end unit, it, too, faced the golf course. The condo would fit a family of five and was filled with costly antiques, paintings and furniture. The decorator had made it a showplace, but lately, Spence been vaguely dissatisfied with it and other trappings of wealth he used to enjoy so much. He’d first acknowledged the feeling three months ago, when he’d made the bet with Cole. This place, his material goods, didn’t seem to mean as much anymore. He didn’t know why, and he didn’t like the change in his attitude at all.

Hell, why was he ruminating about this? Because of Annie? If she’d just ask to meet him, he could get the bet over with and go back to the way he was. Maybe his call today had helped her decide.

He went to bed troubled and woke up thinking about her. Fuck! He’d dreamed of her, again, and now wondered how she was today, if work was tiring last night, how the dog had fared. So after he’d poured his morning coffee, he clicked into his email, and sure enough, there was a note from her.

He smiled as he opened it, but that disappeared when he read through her description of yesterday. Though she didn’t say so explicitly, something was wrong. He could sense it, and he responded immediately.

 
I read your chatty email and there’s something between the lines. What happened last night? When you get up, write and tell me the truth. You can confide in me about anything, Annie. I mean it.

Rising from the computer, Spence crossed to the huge window of his home office and watched the newly budding branches of several oak trees sway in the breeze. He glanced at the computer wondering how soon she’d write back.

The chime rang, indicating an incoming email, and like a teenage boy waiting for his girl to contact him, Spence hustled over to the machine.

It was indeed from Annie.

You are so smart and sensitive. I did have a bad experience last night, but we aren’t supposed to share baggage. Right?

Dropping down on the chair, he responded without considering his actions.
I think we’re past that by now, don’t you? Tell me.

He pressed send and waited. No answer. He got up, went to the kitchen to pour more coffee and then came back to the computer and stared at it until her email appeared in his inbox.

What the hell? Who did her ex-husband think he was? The bastard had embarrassed her. It was a good thing Spence didn’t know her last name, or he’d…

He stopped himself mid-thought. Why was he so upset? This was just another woman with divorce woes. He wasn’t involved with her. Swearing at his conflicting emotions, he set down his coffee and, already in a sweat suit, decided to go for a run.

The March morning was crisp, and he started out slowly. The rhythmic pounding of his feet on the jogging path of his gated community soothed him. His mind would go blank any minute, like it always did.

Huh! Not this time. Instead, he kept thinking of some jerk cornering nice, sweet Annie in the coatroom of a restaurant, probably scaring her, certainly making her uncomfortable. He seethed about it for three miles. After he arrived home, he went to the computer and wrote back in the other Spence’s voice.

I’m upset by what happened with your ex. It’s unconscionable. Is there anything I can do?

Her reply came immediately, as if
she’d
been waiting this time.

I was thinking—would you like to meet now? You said we were past keeping things from each other. My kids are home this weekend, but they’re going out for the afternoon on Sunday. I could meet for brunch. Are you free?

Bingo! Spence sat back in his chair and steepled his hands, still staring at the screen. He’d won the bet with Cole! He’d told his brother as soon as six women wanted to meet, his online escapade was over. He should be elated…but he wasn’t. Staring at the computer, he ordered himself to end this thing with Annie. One simple email would do it. He’d implement the ploy he’d used with the others—let her down gently, say he wasn’t ready for a face-to-face because he was still mourning his dead wife. Annie would get the picture and wouldn’t email him again. She might be disappointed, but…

Or, he could meet her once. What would that hurt?

He checked his calendar; he was playing squash with a prospective client on Sunday. But they’d scheduled it early, so he could do both.

Yes
, he emailed back.
I’d like to meet. And I can be free at noon. You should sleep as late as you can.

Annie confirmed the details and then was off to get her kids to school. Edgy now at what he’d done, Spence decided to go to work. He walked into his room-size closet and studied the clothing racks. The Hugo Boss and Armani wouldn’t do at all when he met Annie. Neither would the tailor-made shirts and casual pants. He’d have to have something less expensive to wear. Hmm. He could borrow clothes from Joey, but maybe he’d invest in some Levis and a non-designer shirt. He was pretty sure he was going with the grieving widow tack, so he needed to keep up the ruse with his appearance.

What if, once they met, he wanted to continue seeing her? More than likely, that wouldn’t happen. But if it did, he’d have to reveal his real persona. How would Annie react? Glancing around at the cadre of clothes, he told himself all women wanted a rich guy.

Except Annie. She’d said so many times online. Well, the probability of this thing between them heading down that path was slim, so he’d go with the flow for now. Chances were Annie would remain Number Six on the list, so he had nothing to worry about.

Chapter 2

Annie dug out a heather-brown pantsuit from the back of the closet and turned to her mother, who was seated on the bed, leafing through a magazine.

Thank God for Norma Hopkins. A single mom, deserted by a deadbeat husband, she’d raised Annie with as much love as she could squeeze in between jobs to support them. Every time Annie worked at the spa Lauren owned, or now at the café, and began to feel sorry for herself, she’d think about the sacrifices Norma had made.

“Do you like this one, Mom?”

Norma looked up. Annie had her coloring, but now her mom’s hair was shot with gray. “That one’s always flattered you.”

“I think it’s too formal for the restaurant.” Keith had insisted she buy the chic and pretty suit, but it was wrong for the occasion.

“Where are you going again?”

“Brunch downtown.”

“Well, you need to get out more. Are you meeting Julia and Lauren?”

“Um, no.”

 “Ah, a man.” Norma set aside the magazine.

The woman could read her like the proverbial book. It used to drive Annie crazy as a teenager, not that she had time for getting in trouble. Back at the closet, she said casually, “Someone from the online-dating service I told you about.”

“I worry those sites are dangerous.”

“The girls said this one would be safer because of the high fee, but in any case, I’m meeting him at a public place. He doesn’t know my last name or where I live. I’ve been really careful, Mom.”

She didn’t tell her mother Spence had her phone number. Maybe that hadn’t been the smartest safety move, but she’d succumbed to his charm and, okay, she wanted to talk to him!

“I guess it’s all right then.”

Hearing the concern in her mother’s voice, Annie crossed to the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. “Don’t worry, he couldn’t be any more different from Keith.”

“Thank the Lord for that.”

Keith had always been cold and distant to her mother. He was polite enough, but it was clear Norma was not one of his favorite people. Annie knew he thought of her as lower class. Much like he saw Annie, she’d admitted finally. Since Norma’s distaste was reciprocated, Annie had dealt with it as best she could. Then, of course, it had become moot after Keith left her. Still, she didn’t tell her mother about the unpleasant encounter with him last week.

Annie went back to the closet, hung the suit up on a padded hanger and stuffed it back where she kept her clothes from her life with Keith. In a delicate pink bra and panties, she studied the paltry selection of her current wardrobe hanging before her.

“Why don’t you wear those Liz Claiborne jeans you got on sale last week when we were shopping?” her mom suggested.

“Yeah, I forgot about them.” Tugging the denims off a hanger, she slipped them on. They fit pretty well. She hadn’t bought a new blouse to meet Spence because she didn’t make enough tips to afford it and this week’s groceries, so she picked out her favorite casual top, a soft pink, long-sleeved knit with a scoop neck.

After she’d dressed, she applied a bit of makeup and brushed her hair, then went to the window to call the kids, who were in the backyard trying to get Jake to play fetch with them. Instead, the dog lay on the ground with the sun slanting in on him through the trees. Poor baby.