Maggie swallowed, understanding from her tone Susan still had reservations about her mystery lover. She bit back her flare of irritation, reminding herself her friend had suffered at the hands of her previous lover. It had colored her perceptions, so she’d cut Susan a break. She and Connor needed to take care or their friends would catch them. Then, there would be trouble.
“Yes, I did.”Keep it simple. No need to go into unnecessary details. “How about you?”
“I painted,” Susan said. “Look what I found in one of the ladies magazines. I thought I’d ask your opinions. I’m not sure if I should apply or not.” She handed over two loose pages for them to read.
Country Men Seek A Wife.
The Country Women’s Weekly is seeking a few good women for our lovely country bachelors. Our men are farmers, raised on the land and ready to settle with an adaptable woman.
All applicants must be single and provide a recent photo. They must also agree to take part in a reality show documentary for the duration of the contest. Complete the application form by 31 August. We will contact successful applicants with relevant details prior to 30 November, ready for filming to commence in late summer.
“Well, what do you think?” Susan demanded after a few minutes.
Julia laughed. “A reality show. I like it.”
“Give me a chance to read it first.” Connor drew the article closer and scanned it rapidly.
“You don’t like the country,” Christina said. “You hate getting your hands dirty.”
“It’s true I’m a city girl, but that doesn’t mean I can’t live in the country,” Susan said, her shoulders tensing in a combatant mode. ‘I can do anything I set my mind to. Besides, my speed dates were disasters. I met the last one for coffee at the weekend. I’m certain he wanted a mother figure—someone to boss him around and tell him what to do and when. Not my type.”
“I think you should go for it,” Maggie said. “There’s nothing in the rules to say you have to marry the guy.”
“It’s a chance to meet different men,” Christina said. “Maybe that’s what we both need. I’ll enter if you will. That’s if you’d like company.”
Susan beamed. “Deal. I’ll print out two application forms. Maybe we could get started on them tonight?”
“Come around to my place,” Julia said. “I’ll provide the wine.”
“I have rugby training,” Connor said. “If we win this week, we’re in the quarter-finals. Coach wants an extra session.”
“It was a great game on Saturday,” Maggie said. “I’m going to the next game cheering on the team. You guys should have been there. Connor had a great game and scored a try.”
“Why didn’t you ring me?” Julia asked. “I would have gone with you.”
Shoot. “I…um…was busy for most of Saturday. I needed fresh air and went for a drive. I ended up at the rugby…”Weak. The truth—Connor had dropped her off a block away and she’d walked across the park to the rugby grounds. They’d met up later at the hotel and ordered room service, not emerging from the hotel until their late checkout the next day.
“Can you come tonight?” Julia asked. “Or are you going to be busy?”
The girls stared at her, the silent accusation bringing a wave of guilt. She hated this part of her relationship with Connor, the secrecy and sneaking around.
“There’s some sort of family crisis about my father and stepmother’s upcoming anniversary. I promised my stepsister I’d be at home at nine so she could ring me. I can stay until about half eight. Is that okay?” Lies. Not good. She was getting good at them. Therewasa lot of discussion about the anniversary—namely her father didn’t want a big celebration and her stepmother did. She wasn’t lying about that. But she wasn’t telling the truth, either.
Susan smiled at her—genuine excitement lighting her face. “I’m not sure I should be so excited about this. I might not even get picked, but from the moment I saw the ad, I’ve had this feeling.”
“A question,” Connor said. “What’s wrong with meeting a man in the normal way?”
Christina blinked and Maggie bit back a smile when Susan’s mouth gaped. Julia’s eyes twinkled with suppressed laughter, and Maggie waited because Connor had just dug himself a hole. He hadn’t realized it yet.
“What normal ways?” Christina asked.
Maggie watched wariness creep over Connor’s face, saw the minute he realized his innocent question had peeled off scabs and released bad memories.
“At work or at the pub.” He offered a weak smile before he turned his gaze on Maggie and Julia with a silent plea for help.
“Men are pigs,” Susan said. “They only want one thing, and that’s to learn how fast they can get their dick in a girl’s panties. I’m tired of fending off drunken idiots only interested in sex. I want a man interested in a future with me, having a family. Is that so much to ask?” Her voice broke toward the end of her rant and tears shone in her eyes.
Maggie swallowed, trying to rid her throat of the lump of emotion Susan’s impassioned words had caused. She reached across the table for her friend’s hand and squeezed it. “You deserve happiness, Susan, and we’ll support you in this contest. Anything you need. We’ll be there for you. Right?” She glanced at her other friends.
