When We Met Read Online Free

What if she started smiling at random strangers and saying cheerful things like “Have a nice day”? She shuddered. Being sarcastic and emotionally distant had always served her well. Why mess with success?
    â€œAre the guys settling in?” Larissa asked.
    â€œI guess. You know I try to avoid talking about their personal lives with them whenever possible, so my information may not be totally accurate. But as far as I know, Jack and Kenny seem bimbo-free for the moment, and Sam, well...” She grinned. “Poor Sam.”
    Larissa pressed her lips together. “We shouldn’t make fun of him.”
    â€œWhy not? It’s not like he can hear us.”
    â€œBut it’s so sad.”
    It kind of was, Taryn thought, but it was also really, really funny. Sam Ridge, all-star kicker and multimillionaire, had the worst luck when it came to women. If there was a femme fatale in a fifty-mile radius, Sam found her and fell for her. He’d experienced everything from a stalker to an ex-wife writing a near tell-all to having his girlfriend sleep with his best friends.
    â€œI’m waiting for him to fall for a transvestite,” Larissa said with a grin. “Poor Sam.”
    â€œI don’t get it,” Taryn admitted. “He’s smart and insightful. But when it comes to women, he can’t seem to find anyone normal.”
    â€œWhat about you?” Larissa asked, her tone teasing. “Met anyone tempting?”
    The question was meant as a joke. Taryn knew that. She rarely dated. She liked guys, she slept with them, but she didn’t get involved. There was no way she was trusting her heart or any part of her psyche to some man. Talk about stupid.
    Except when Larissa asked her question, Taryn immediately thought about Angel. And thinking about Angel meant she wasn’t thinking about anything else and she couldn’t seem to make her mouth move to form the words What? A guy? With me? No way.
    Larissa put down the frying pan she’d just unwrapped and stared at her friend. “Oh my God. What? You met someone? Who is he? Tell me everything.” Her big blue eyes widened. “Is he local? Like a single dad.” She sighed. “That would be so romantic. Some sweet guy with a couple of little kids. Like a car mechanic or maybe he owns a little grocery store and they live upstairs. He still misses his wife, but he’s ready to move on. Only I don’t know how you’re going to feel about the kids.”
    Taryn stared at her. “You don’t need me here for this conversation, do you? A widower with two kids and a grocery store? That is not happening.”
    Larissa’s shoulders slumped. “Why don’t you like him? He’s so nice.”
    Taryn held in a scream. “There is no grocery store guy. You made him up. What’s wrong with you? Jeez. The only guy I’m interested in is a former black ops sniper with a scar like somebody slit his throat.”
    Larissa handed her the frying pan. “I’d rather date the guy who owns the grocery store.”
    â€œThe one who isn’t real?”
    â€œYou always focus on the wrong stuff. So tell me about Sniper Man.”
    â€œThere’s not much to tell.”
    Taryn starting putting plates and bowls in the cupboards, knowing that wasn’t going to be close to enough to distract her friend.
    â€œThere’s something,” Larissa told her. “You’re attracted to him.”
    â€œMaybe. Yes. A little.” She sighed. “At least he’s a widower. That should make you happy.”
    She’d learned that much at least. But it was hard to get information without telling people why she wanted it, and she wasn’t ready to tell the world that she thought Angel was hot.
    â€œIt’s something. But he won’t buy a grocery store?”
    â€œLarissa, I beg you. Stop.”
    Larissa smiled. “Everyone thinks you’re tough, but you’re