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

“And…Oh, hell, I wanted to.”
    Cole waited before he answered, thinking through his reaction like he always did. “Forget about the bet. Is this a bad thing?”
    Spence felt his pulse speed up. “Of course it is. I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind. I was going to tell her Sunday what I’d told the others—the widowed Spence Brewer wasn’t ready to get serious and I didn’t want to hurt her, so we should stop our contact before our relationship went further.” He glanced up at the ceiling fans pushing the air around. “But then she kissed me and I…didn’t.”
    “Again, there’s nothing wrong with that, Spence.”
    “Of course there is. I wasn’t in control of myself and I don’t live my life that way. So I decided to break it off online, but instead, we’ve had an exchange of emails that have been…flirty.”
    “And fun.”
    “What?”
    “You’re having fun with her, aren’t you?”
    He nodded.
    “So go for it. As the real you, this time.”
    “That’ll never work. She thinks I’m a different kind of man.”
    “Maybe.” Again, his brother watched him. “But you could look at this in another way. Maybe the person you are with her is the real you, too. Maybe she’s brought out a side of you that you didn’t know existed.”
    “I doubt that.”
    “People change. Various aspects of our personality emerge as we get older. Hell, I didn’t even know how to change a diaper before I got Ellie. Fatherhood brought out a part of me I didn’t know was inside me.”
    Spence voiced more objections, Cole countered them, then finally stood. “I gotta get back. My next door neighbor’s with Ellie.” He crossed to Spence and socked him on the arm. “I’ll let you know when I need you to babysit. Maybe you can bring Annie.”
    Spence swore at him.
    “It’s not the end of the world. Grovel a bit, let her know you’re sincere now, and things will work out.”
    The kid was such a romantic, a male version of Pollyanna where love was concerned. He and Spence were so different they could have been from separate planets.
    After his brother had left, Spence poured himself a double shot of bourbon and stood by the window sipping the amber liquid, watching the sun set on the golf course, and considered following Cole’s advice. Fine, he’d admit to himself that something was missing in his life. But how important was it? And how the hell did he know if Annie could fill the gap?
    You won’t, unless you see her again.
    Well, he could try to do that. If she’d let him. Which she might not do if she knew the truth. On Sunday, she’d made it doubly clear she hated the kind of life he led.
    Don’t tell her yet.
    Mmm. That was an option. As he continued to stare out the window, it became more and more appealing. Why did he have to tell her he wasn’t the man he’d pretended to be? Chances were, given his track record with women, their relationship wouldn’t work out anyway. So what would be the use of hurting her now? He could see where things went, see how they got along, then readjust his plan if necessary.
    Back at the computer, Spence sat down and opened his email. Typed in Annie’s address. And wrote simply, How about a real date?
    And as soon as he sent it, he realized Cole was wrong. Spence hadn’t changed at all.
    o0o
    All night long, Annie struggled to refrain from asking Lauren if she could check her email on the computer at Simple Delights, the spa her friend owned. The establishment offered massages, facials, manicures and pedicures plus a variety of other services to pamper women. Since her divorce, Annie had been the receptionist when she was needed and Keith had the kids or Norma could babysit. She made terrific money because she shared in the staff’s tips by cleaning rooms, setting up for different services, welcoming guests and providing tea, juice or water. It was mindless work, but she didn’t care. The whole atmosphere of the place, with its sweet-scented air, its plush