Kristen Proby the Beauty of Us Read Online

  Contents

Cover

Title Page

Affiliate One

Affiliate Two

Affiliate 3

Chapter Four

Affiliate Five

Chapter 6

Affiliate Vii

Chapter Eight

Affiliate Nine

Chapter 10

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Affiliate Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Xv

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Epilogue

Beauty of The states Bill of fare

Mia'southward Special Pizza

Carrot Cake

"If I Had Never Met You"

Declaration

About the Author

Besides by Kristen Proby

Copyright

About the Publisher

Chapter One

~Riley~

"I'm done," I announce every bit I stomp into the bar and see two of my four business concern partners backside it. Kat, the bar manager and maybe the coolest woman I know, has her flaming ruby pilus up in ringlets, and Mia, the main chef, has pulled off her chef hat and permit her long black hair downwardly around her shoulders.

They both wait every bit exhausted as I experience.

"What, exactly, are you done with?" Mia asks as she pours herself a glass of reddish wine, batting Kat'south hands out of the way. "I tin practise this myself."

"I take a organisation," Kat says, earning an eye roll from Mia, who passes the bottle to her, takes a sip from her glass, and walks effectually the bar to sit on a stool.

"Men," I say as I take the stool next to hers. The bar is pretty empty, equally it's nearing closing time in the centre of the week. There's just the three of us and a human being sitting at the far finish of the bar, nursing what looks to be a Jack and Coke.

And I'm not fifty-fifty going to remember well-nigh the fact that his profile is hot.

"You say that at least in one case a month," Mia says.

"I mean it," I reply, and nod when Kat offers me a drinking glass of Mia's vino. "Make full the glass to the top."

"Y'all're both killing me with your vino habits," Kat grumbles. "At that place's a correct way to cascade a glass of wine."

"We're not fancy like yous," I reply, and offer her a grin when she passes me my glass.

Kat only shrugs and goes to work washing the few glasses in her sink. "So why has the male species pissed you off this time?"

"Then, I went out last dark with this guy," I begin, and take a sip of my wine, gathering my thoughts. "Let'south say he was . . . non my type."

"In what ways?" Mia asks. "I mean, did he accept blond hair instead of dark? Or didn't drive the right machine?"

"You brand me audio shallow," I say with a pout. "Those things aren't the deal breakers."

"Nosotros don't call back you're shallow," Kat says. "What are the bargain breakers with this one?"

"Well, he was super sweaty. Like, but-walked-out-of-the-gym sweaty. And at commencement I thought, well, perhaps he's just nervous. I mean, we haven't gone out earlier, then that'due south pretty normal."

"Certain," Mia says with a nod.

"But, the longer we sit down in that location, the more he sweats. And I'm talking, he has to use his dinner napkin to keep wiping the sweat away the way Whitney Houston did when she was in concert."

"So, he's a sweater," Kat says, then grimaces. "Tin can yous imagine how much he probably sweats during sex?"

"Ew." I wrinkle my nose, most gagging at the thought. "No. No, I don't want to think about that. So, he'southward super sweaty and evil-smelling. And information technology's actually the smell that did us in."

The dude at the finish of the bar chuckles and takes a sip of his drink. I ignore him and keep talking.

"So, aside from the sweating and the stench, was he prissy?" Mia asks.

"I think so," I reply. "I feel like a horrible person, but I didn't hear much of what he said considering I was likewise distracted by the rivers of sweat on his confront, and the odour."

"Okay, that's pretty gross," Kat says with a nod. "I mean, in his defense, mayhap it'due south a glandular affair, or anxiety, or he has large pores or something, but I don't think I could get by the smell either."

"Exactly," I reply, holding my glass up in salute. "And the guy concluding week didn't smell or sweat, only I guess he assumed that if he bought me dinner he could get in my pants. Which he tin can't."

The guy down the bar from usa laughs again, and at present I can't ignore him anymore. I plough to face up him, and have to have a breath when I actually get a adept eyeful of him. He's tall, lean, and his forearms look fantastic in the rolled sleeves of his button-down shirt. His dark-brown hair is a bit messy, probably from shoving his fingers through information technology.

And he'southward wearing blackness-rimmed spectacles.

"Hi there," I say, getting his attending. He glances my mode with seriously sexy dark-green eyes and I have to remind myself that I am done with men. Because otherwise, I'd be tempted to enquire him out.

"Hello," he says.

"Did you want in on this conversation?" I ask, swirling my wine.

"I don't think I accept anything to add," he says with a shrug. "I'm just a guy."

"Maybe you can give me some insight into the brain of a homo," I answer thoughtfully. "Because I'one thousand stumped. Completely stumped."

"Well, I don't sweat like your final honey interest," he says with a cocky smiling, making me laugh.

"He was definitely non my love interest," I reply.

"And I'yard no doctor, and so I tin can't assume that he has a glandular issue like you lot suggest. Could take been nerves. I hateful, you're a beautiful woman. It makes sense that he might be a bit nervous. Doesn't mean a man tin can't use some deodorant, though."

"Yes. Exactly. But what is it with guys thinking they tin simply bound right into sex? I mean, I'm not a hooker."

"Whoa," he says, holding his hands upwards and grin. Damn him for having a killer smile. "No ane called y'all a hooker."

"Well, I recollect it's sort of unsaid that they think of me that manner when they take me out, buy dinner, and so become pissed when I don't put out. I'm way too picky for that. I accept standards."

"As y'all should," he says in all seriousness. "Maybe you're but meeting assholes."

"Well, that seems to exist all I come across," I reply, and sip my wine. "I mean, what do y'all have to say for the rest of your species? Because lesbihonest, this isn't worth a penis. None of this is."

He just tips his head back and laughs, long and loud, and information technology charms me. He throws back the concluding of his drink and turns in the stool to face up me caput-on. And and so those incredible green optics of his take me in from the tip of my Jimmy Choos to the height of my blond head.

"Maybe they're simply attracted to you."

"You don't get it," I respond with a sigh. "Attraction is fine. Flirting is fine. But since when has it been okay to not prove any respect for the person yous're with? I have so many doubts near the human race as a whole at this point. Sometimes I wish the Enterprise was real, and Chris Pine could sweep me abroad to the Death Star, and we could take a agglomeration of Jedi babies and stuff."

Mr. Man just stares at me for a moment, so scowls. "You've just combined Star Wars and Star Trek."

"Whatever," I say with a shrug. "Information technology's all the same thing."

"No," he says, and clears his throat. "No, information technology'southward not the aforementioned affair at all."

"Simply you understand what I'm saying."

"No, I don't understand because yous just combined Star Expedition and Star Wars. They're not the

same thing, so everything you just said is . . . incomprehensible."

I ringlet my eyes and wait to Kat and Mia for help, but they're just grin and watching me banter with the stranger.

"You lot guys are no help."

"He'south right," Kat says with a shrug. "And this is all fascinating."

"Non all men expect to have sex on a first engagement," he continues. "In fact, I would have to say that most men don't, unless they picked y'all up at a bar, and yous were grinding on them on the dance floor all night, and you lot're xx-two."

"None of those things happened," I reply.

"Well, then, I'd say he'due south just a jackass."

"In that location seems to be an explosion in the jackass population," I answer, and sigh, passing my glass to Kat for a refill.

"Where are you meeting them?" he asks, and I bite my lip.

"I don't want to tell you."

"Online," he says with a nod.

"I didn't say that!"

"Didn't take to. If you met him at the gym or the grocery shop, or somewhere else in person, you wouldn't be embarrassed."

"I'm not embarrassed."

"Yes, you are. Otherwise, you wouldn't mind telling me."

"Fine." I sigh and rub my brow with my fingertips. "I met them online."

"Stop that," he says.

"I don't know where else I'd meet people," I reply. "I'thousand at piece of work at least fifty hours a week. I don't do school or clubs or church building, and I rarely go to the grocery store because I always eat here."

"I could stop feeding you," Mia interjects and I toss her a glare.

"I'm just saying, if y'all always exercise what you've e'er done, y'all'll always get what you've e'er gotten."

"I don't empathise any of the words you just said." I squint at him, trying to process.

"Switch it up," he says with a grin. "Endeavour to meet people somewhere else. I mean, yous didn't come across me online, and I'grand not an asshole."

"Sure, you're beautiful, and yous look like yous take your shit together, only I suspect that once I got to know y'all I'd learn that you take mommy problems and 14 dogs."

"You lot might," he says with a thoughtful nod. "I do hibernate those things well. All I'one thousand saying is, stop using the dating sites and try meeting people in real life."

"Yeah. Easy for you to say." I pout into my wineglass. "Do I need to send y'all some money for this counseling session?"

"Nah, the commencement one's on me," he says, tossing that crazy-hot smile at me again. "Just don't combine Star Wars and Star Trek anymore and that's payment enough for me."

He pulls a few bills out of his wallet and tosses them on the bar, and so stands to leave.

"Have a proficient night, and good luck," he says.

"Cheers." Only as he's nigh out of view, I telephone call out, "Await! I didn't inquire your proper noun."

"Trevor," he says, and my stomach immediately does at least four cartwheels. "Trevor Cooper."

"You're early on," is all I tin can think to say. My cheeks are burning, my fingers immediately tremble. "You're not supposed to be here for ii more days."

"I like to come early. Get the lay of the land, that sort of affair." He smiles and waves. "Run across you in a couple of days."

He walks away, and equally presently every bit I hear the front door close, I turn to my friends and just stare at them in utter horror.

"Tell me that didn't just happen."

Kat snickers and Mia simply flat-out laughs, slapping the bar.

"This is hilarious," Mia says with glee.

"No, it's not," I answer. "I look horrible, I sound like a fucking teenager who can't go a swain. He's here on business."

I drag my fingers through my hair, then lean on the bar in despair.

"He wasn't hither on business tonight," Mia says, and pats my dorsum. "Besides, it's okay with me if he doesn't stay. I didn't want him hither in the first place."

"No, it'south not okay if he doesn't stay," I reply, and come up up for air. "The fact that Best Bites Telly wants to come here to film Seduction is a big deal, Mia."

"I know, you lot've told me."

"I hateful, this will put us on the map globally. And I know y'all don't love the idea of a camera coiffure being in the kitchen, only information technology won't exist forever."

"We've already had this chat," she says with a pout.

"Non that information technology matters because I was just a consummate ninny with the producer of the show right hither in the bar."

"A ninny?" Kat asks with a grin. "I like that discussion."

"Yep, well, information technology's not describing you right now," I reply with a sigh. "He must recall I'grand completely ridiculous."

"I don't think then," Mia replies. "He smiled at yous, and looked you up and down similar y'all're a heaping scoop of ice cream and he couldn't expect to consume yous up."

"Whatever," I reply, and roll my eyes. "Now I have to pull it together and have a professional relationship with him. I'm the one that has to work with him, non y'all guys."

Since I'g the marketing and publicity adept in our fivesome, working with Best Bites TV is all on my shoulders. Which is fine, and what I enjoy, but I've never failed so badly during the outset meeting with a professional.

"I'm mortified. I have to quit and motility to Mexico."

"Sun and drinks all day, Enrique on mitt to service your every whim?" Kat nods thoughtfully. "Doesn't audio as well bad, really."

"Perhaps we should all go," Mia says with a nod.

"You lot'd hate it," I reply, and nudge her with my shoulder. "You lot'd worm your mode back into the kitchen to accept over the place."

"True. I'd meliorate stay here."

"I don't think any of us needs to move abroad," Kat says as she stows away the terminal clean glass. "He didn't seem at all put off past your man crunch, Ri."

"Love sweet infant Jesus," I complain, and shake my caput. "What is wrong with me?"

"Yous're letting these men get in your head," Mia says. "Seriously, stop trying so hard. My mom always says that dearest will happen when you lot're not looking for information technology."

"That didn't work either." I dig my fingertips into the muscles of my neck, making a mental notation to call for an date for a massage. "I'm really not a desperate woman, you know. I don't need a man to complete me."

"You've never been desperate," Mia says. "It's non a bad matter to want someone special in your life."

"Exactly. That's a perfect way to phrase it." I catch my handbag and lean in to kiss each of them on the cheek earlier I walk away. "I'll encounter y'all guys tomorrow if I don't dice of embarrassment tonight."

"Sleep well!" Kat calls out.

It'south been a long day. Hell, it's been a long year. I can't complain, though, because the eatery isn't just thriving, it'south bursting at the seams. At the rate we're going, I can see united states of america expanding to other Pacific Northwest cities in the adjacent three years. We're always packed, and now that the television show is going to happen, we'll be turning people away.

It's something to be proud of, and maybe a picayune scared of besides. When Addie, Cami, Mia, Kat, and I opened less than 2 years ago, we didn't anticipate this at all.

We merely wanted the eating place to be successful, to support ourselves, and we did that and more in the first six months.

Only success is too exhausting, and that's exactly where I am tonight. Exhausted. Why am I using and so much energy on meeting men online when I should be focused on work?

I'm happy and independent. Only damn it, I come across Addie, Cami, and Kat with their men and I can't assist but be a tiny scrap envious at the bliss they've found. The guys don't pull them away from the business organisation; they support it likewise, and assistance in any manner they can.

It'south a team effort.

I want to exist a office of a team.

And, I really practice want to get laid on a regular ground. I mean, I'g a red-blooded woman, and I have needs.

And standards.

The drive to my house in Hillsboro doesn't accept long, and soon I've inverse into blue yoga pants and a coral tank top, sitting in my favorite chair in the corner of my sleeping room, my laptop in my lap.

I feel like I should send Trevor an eastward-mail service and apologize for this night. What he heard is the epitome of unprofessional, and that's not the way I want our professional relationship to begin.

Only I don't demand to dig the hole whatever deeper. Sometimes it's best to just go on your big mouth shut. I have a master's caste in marketing and publicity, and that would be my outset piece of advice to any client in this situation.

Less is more. End talking.

I nod, deciding to take my own advice, and open the laptop. I work my manner through four of the online dating sites that I've subscribed to. I have messages waiting in each of them, from men I've never seen before, and a few that I did proceed a date with, and it was definitely not a lucifer.

Including Sweaty Human being.

Hi Riley,

I had a keen time concluding night. Permit's do it again shortly!

Greg

No thanks. I type out my typical "it's non you, it's me" response and hit send, and then I shock the shit out of myself every bit I methodically unsubscribe from each site, erasing my profiles.

This isn't working.

Perchance Trevor was right. Merely stop it. Meet someone organically.

Or merely die an old maid. I'm certain there are worse means to become. Like, I could have a fatal pare disease or something.

Dying solitary doesn't seem quite as bad in comparison.

I'm only nigh to close the computer and head to bed when in that location's a notification that I have new e-mail.

I'yard about to ignore it for tonight, but the proper noun "Trevor Cooper" shows upwards in the sender'due south name, and I tin can't open it fast enough.

Riley,

I'm writing via my personal e-mail, as this doesn't pertain to our professional relationship. I wanted to repent for this evening. I should take introduced myself when you first came into the bar. I wasn't expecting the conversation that began upon your arrival. Please accept my apology. I look frontward to seeing you lot in a few days.

morillovareat1954.blogspot.com

Source: https://onlinereadfreenovel.com/kristen-proby/58480-the_beauty_of_us.html