Page 41 of Deal Takers

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude,” she says. “I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”

“No biggie,” I say through a mouthful of cheeseburger.

She scrunches her nose when a piece of cheesy meat flies across the table, barely missing her arm. “Gross, Brody.”

I shrug. “Oops. Anyway…back to Riley. He?—”

“Brody, Idon’twant to talk about Riley. Please respect that.”

Well, shit. So much for that plan.

CHAPTER 28

Rainey

“So, Bryce, you said you were an architect?”

“Well, notexactly,” he hedges.

I narrow my eyes. “What does that mean?”

Bryce takes a drink from his coffee before answering. “It’s just a technicality, really. I work in an architecture firm. I just don’t exactly…have a degree in architecture. Or any skills related to it.”

I take a moment to chew on that and choose my next words carefully. “So, what is it,exactly, that you do at your firm? And to avoid any confusion, what is your actual job title?”

He clears his throat. “I’m a receptionist.”

My mouth falls open, stunned. How could I possibly be this unlucky in love? This is my third online date this month and my third strike. Why can’t people tell the truth on those match sites? I mean, seriously. The whole point is to meet up in person, right? Why would you lie when they’re bound touncover the truth? I wouldn’t care if this guy was a receptionist, or that he’s easily three inches shorter than what’s listed on his profile. Just tell the truth, people!

The guy before Bryce failed to mention he wasmarried. He claimed he had an open marriage, but I think we all know by now how I feel about dating a married man. The idiot before him was the biggest jerk of them all. He didn’t think it was necessary to put his real photo on his profile. Not even a ridiculously filtered one. I walked into the restaurant expecting a six-foot-tall, bearded man that defined lumbersexual. Imagine my surprise when a five-foot-six, balding man with a protruding stomach introduced himself as my date. When I told him I felt we should end the date before it began, the asshole started screaming at me in the middle of a restaurant. I tuned out his tirade after he called me, “just another shallow bitch,” and walked away. Um, hello, Liar McFibberpants! Maybe it’s too much to ask, but I’d expect the common courtesy of his beingthe person in the picture! How is it fair for him to judge me, when he’s the one who pulled a bait and switch?!

“Are you okay?” Bryce asks.

Damn, I must’ve been lost in my internal rant for too long. “Uh, yeah, just fine.” I look at my watch. “Oh, look at that, I really need to get going. Stuff to do and all.”

He eyes me skeptically. “I thought you said you had the day off.”

“Oh yeah, I do. But I’m really not feeling a spark so why draw it out?”

“But we just got here,” he says, frowning. “How could you possibly know that already?”

Um, because I have a serious problem with dishonesty? “I just do. It was nice meeting you, Bryce. Thanks for the latte.”

I swing my purse over my arm and get the hell out of the coffee shop before he has a chance to stop me. When I’ve rounded the corner, I pull my cell out of my purse and dial.

Devyn picks up on the first ring. “Hey, I thought you had a date right now.”

“I did,” I say. “But another one bit the dust.”

“I’m sorry. I know you had good vibes on this one. What happened?”

“Another liar. Why do I keep getting these assholes? That’s the sixth one since I joined SeattleSingles.com. I swear to you, Devyn, I’m about to give up men entirely. Can I interest you in switching teams?”

She laughs. “Oh, Rainey, we both know you love the D way too much for that to happen.”

“True,” I grudgingly admit. “I just don’t understand why it’s so hard. I haven’t had sex in eighteen months.A year-and-a-half, Devyn. I’ve never gone more than a few months since losing my virginity. I’m pretty sure Gina is riddled with cobwebs at this point.”

“I’m pretty sure Derek would beg to differ,” she retorts.

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