Missed Connections: Stepping Out

Missed Connections:

STEPPING OUT

Marie Harte

www.loose-id.com

Stepping Out (A Missed Connections Story)

Copyright © March 2014 by Marie Harte

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eISBN 9781623007768

Editor: Ann M. Curtis

Cover Artist: Victoria Miller

Published in the United States of America

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This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Chapter One

Bend, Oregon

Saw you looking at me at Sam’s party. You were wearing a red dress, one with a rose print. I was the tall, dark, and handsome guy who winked at you over the dessert table. But you never came over. Call me. I have what you’re looking for. Something sweet.

A first date at Donton’s, an exclusive restaurant known for its five-star cuisine, all courtesy of a missed-connection ad online—chance bringing two souls together. What could be more romantic? Maybe if the two souls wanting a second chance had in fact met before? Being a stand-in for her cousin was playing havoc with Gwen’s romantic ideals. Especially considering the “prize” sitting across from her.

She forced a smile at the man across the table, wishing for the fiction of a happily ever after. Fate could at least be kind enough to give her an ugly companion for the evening. If only her date’s outward appearance matched his inner character. But no, Conlan—aka The Cheater—was no ugly troll. He had short dark hair, full lips, a square jaw, and a dimple when he smiled. His body was nothing short of a fitness miracle, and his dark brown eyes were just her type. Too bad he had a pregnant fiancée at home, waiting on his sorry ass, while he tried to wine and dine Gwen out of her dress.

“You really are beautiful.”

He’d been complimenting her in myriad ways while they drank the wine he’d ordered, setting the groundwork for seduction, no doubt. Apparently he didn’t mind that she’d arrived in place of the woman he
should
have been meeting tonight. A good thing she and her cousin looked a lot alike.

Only a chance perusal through craigslist’s Missed Connections had clued her in to the man who’d supposedly been struck dumb by her cousin at a party. That rose-print dress Mia had worn always garnered compliments. Last week, when Gwen had been trolling the web for blog content, she’d read about a man desperately searching for
her cousin
. What were the odds?

Good old Mia had explained about the dirtbag, his pregnant fiancée, and the way he’d leered at her at Sam’s party. Then she’d laughed off the chance to put the cheater in his place. Gwen had other plans. She’d get material for her relationship blog, a shot at justice, and, hell, exercise her need to stick up for cheated-on women everywhere—a topic near and dear to her heart.

“You look even better tonight than you did at the party, Gwen,” Conlan said with a smile. “I hated we never got to be introduced. I mean, you were hot then, but tonight…
wow
.”

“It’s the dress.” She smiled back, pleased he’d been a little bit drunk at the party and that he didn’t seem to know or care that she wasn’t Mia. She hadn’t had to work hard at all to make him accept her presence tonight. The guy obviously wanted to get laid.

Still, the dinner itself wouldn’t have been so bad if she weren’t so physically attracted to the jackass. Typical of Mia not to warn her that this guy was hot all the way to his toes.

Her phone buzzed against the clutch in her lap. Speak of the devil… She smiled at Conlan and pushed back her chair. “I need to use the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.”

The jerk stood when she did, showing a set of manners she wouldn’t have expected from a guy out to get some action on the side. Still aggravated by his questionable morals and more than ready to teach him a lesson, she put a hold on her temper, gave him a smile as she left, then hotfooted it to the bathroom. Once inside the lounge area, she pulled out her phone and looked at the text.

Gwen quickly called Mia back and blurted, “He’s here. And he’s really good-looking. You didn’t tell me that.” Not that being hot didn’t mean one couldn’t be a dick, but still… Forewarned was forearmed.

“He’s not bad,” Mia answered. “I can’t believe you went through with it. So what are you going to do?”

“I’ll stick to the plan. Make him buy me a totally expensive dinner, tease him at the end with the promise of a kiss and some more at my place, then ditch him after telling him what a lying, cheating scumbag he is.”

“Nice.” Mia paused. “So he had no problem meeting you instead of me?”

It had been Mia that Conlan had seen at Sam’s party last week. Mia he’d been making eyes at while his pregnant fiancée chatted with friends right freakin’ next to him over the buffet table.

“No problem at all. I can’t believe you didn’t tell him off at the party.”

“I’m not into confrontation. You know that. Just easier to ignore him and pretend he wasn’t there. Heck, I didn’t even catch his name. Just that he and his very pregnant lady friend are a couple.”

“Her being very pregnant didn’t seem to stop him from posting that ad on craigslist. I am
so
glad we ran that theme last week on the blog. Missed connection, my ass. Missed opportunity to kick him in the balls, I say. This guy needs a lesson in how to treat a woman.”

“Oh boy. Still not out of your man-hater phase, eh?” Mia sighed. “Seriously, Gwen. When are you going to let it go?”

“I’m not a man-hater. Exactly.” Catching her ex-boyfriend with her now ex-friend had been harsh, but not as harsh as realizing Perry had used her to finance his secret love life. Thank God Gwen hadn’t given him access to anything other than her low-limit card. And she’d been more than satisfied to put the police on his lying ass for taking the card without permission.

“Gwen? You there?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Gwen checked herself out in the mirror and fluffed her hair. She’d worn Mia’s rose-print dress, which looked painted on her, since she had a few extra curves her stick-thin cousin didn’t. The hooker heels added a nice touch, as did her huge cleavage, full head of teased hair, and caked-on makeup. Even Mia had admitted Gwen looked as if she should charge a hefty fee for sexual services rendered.

“I’m going back in. Time to milk this jerk for all he’s got.”

“Yep. There’s my girl. Once focused, you’re like a Doberman begging to be set loose,” Mia said drily. “Well, after you do your civic duty to wronged women everywhere, don’t forget to bring me a doggy bag.”

“No problem.”

“And don’t go anywhere private with him.”

“As if. I’m not stupid. Just angry.”

“That’s true.” Mia chuckled. “Good luck. See you at home.”

“Later.” Gwen disconnected and tucked her phone back in her clutch. She had no problem sticking it to this guy. In a weird way, he was providing a sense of closure she hadn’t been able to get with Perry, her ex. Though she’d gotten Perry in trouble with the law, he’d left quickly and quietly. No fussing or screaming for the sophisticated Perry Warrington.

In the five months since they’d broken up, she’d heard he was still seeing the tart he’d cheated on her with. Personally, she hoped they spent a long, miserable life together.

A glance at herself in the mirror made her pause. Beneath the bad hair, makeup, and painted-on dress, she looked…sad. “God. Maybe I am a bitter man-hater after all.” Not pleased at the revelation, she considered the situation and her feelings.

Five months was a long time to be so sour on men. Just because Perry had been a bastard, and okay, this Conlan guy wasn’t winning any points for loyalty, didn’t mean they were
all
bad. Mia had a steady guy who treated her right, and Gwen’s parents had been happily married for twenty-five years.

Mia had a point about letting go of her anger. Perhaps if Gwen hadn’t felt so torn by Perry’s betrayal, she might have moved on by now. But they’d been living together after a year of dating. She’d finally tried to commit, and he’d hurt her, badly.

Still, she’d do better to fix this jerk, then get back on the happy train. How could she honestly dispense advice in her relationship column and blog if she couldn’t take it when given?

She spent a few more minutes giving herself a pep talk, then left the bathroom ready to face Mr. Cheater. After tonight, she’d turn a new leaf. Be that happy, carefree, if a bit guarded, young woman ready to face having a social life again. Gwen tugged her bra and plumped her breasts a bit more. She just had to get through this dinner first.

CONLAN KEPT HIS smile in place, determined to fix the mess his dickhead of an almost brother-in-law had created. What the hell had Aaron been thinking to post that stupid notice online? Fortunately, Conlan had caught the rat bastard corresponding with the woman and stepped in to fix things. So while Aaron was working to salvage his relationship with Conlan’s sister—a relationship Conlan hoped to hell she’d end—Conlan planned to teach Aaron’s
date
how to respect another woman’s fiancé.

While he waited for her to return to the table, he had to admit Aaron had good taste. Though the woman’s makeup seemed a little heavy to him, he couldn’t fault her generous curves or the beauty underneath the eyeliner and lipstick. She had striking blue eyes, clear and bright against her black hair. Granted, she’d teased said hair into a rat’s nest, but the strands licking her neck tempted him to reach out and touch.

He hadn’t figured she’d be so tempting, assuming instead he’d be meeting a woman with loose morals who had no problem cheating with an engaged guy.

His blood pressure thundered when he thought of Aaron stepping out on Lisa.
Again
. Conlan should have told Lisa the first time the guy did it, but Aaron, once a friend, had begged him not to. Said it was a one-time mistake he’d never repeat.

Yeah, right.

Learning about Aaron’s attempted hookup had broken his silence once and for all. That particular tiger had no plans to change his stripes, and the sooner Lisa understood that, the happier she’d be. Baby or no baby, Aaron didn’t need to be in Lisa’s life. Period.

He heard some noise behind him and turned to see a couple arguing. The maître d’ stopped by to speak with them, and they toned it down. But he saw an unhappy man glaring at a frustrated woman. And beyond them, another couple frowning at each other.

It was like the entire restaurant seethed with negative emotion. Deciding to get at least something positive out of the evening, Conlan figured he’d write about tonight’s experience.
Con’s Concerns
, a featured segment in the local paper, had been growing in popularity—mostly due to Conlan’s honesty and bluntness when discussing topics that disturbed him. He knew both men and women had a lot to say when it came to relationships.