Read The One Who Got Away for Free Online

asked if my mother had any ideas. She did, but she’s not sure what to make of it all. About six months ago, they had dinner together, and Steve got real maudlin talking about Dad. He was beating himself up over disappointing Dad by not taking over the business.”
    â€œYour dad didn’t care.”
    â€œI know. But obviously, Steve didn’t get it. I think going into business with Lisa’s dad is his way of making things right.”
    â€œIt can’t work.”
    â€œOf course not. But I don’t think Steve’s thinking too clearly about that.”
    Ben drank some more coffee, staring just past hershoulder while he thought. The waitress came by, and he ordered eggs and bacon. She chose a cheese omelet. After refilling their cups, they were alone again, but Ben didn’t say anything.
    She waited, not wanting to interrupt.
    Finally, he looked at her. “We need a plan. I don’t want to alienate Steve, and I don’t want to hurt Lisa. But we’ve got to do something.”
    She nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it all morning. What if we just talk to him? Tell him our concerns?”
    Ben nodded. “That’ll be me. Maybe give him a couple of beers to soften the blow.”
    â€œI’d like to talk to Lisa. Find out if she realizes what she’s getting into.”
    â€œThat should be fun.”
    â€œOh, yeah. A real walk in the park.”
    The food came, and for the first few minutes, it was all business. Ben liked his toast with jam, and his eggs over-medium. She watched him while she ate her omelet, liking the way he chewed. Amazed that he could even make that sexy.
    When he’d downed about half his breakfast, he smiled at her. “So talk to me.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œTalk. Tell me about your life in the city by the bay.”
    That caught her by surprise. She had to reshuffle the deck in her head, pull out the cards she wanted to play. “I like my job,” she said. “I’d thought about going back to school, getting my law degree, but honestly, I don’t want the headaches. I like the researcha lot, which I didn’t expect. I work for a major law firm. They pay me well to look up the right statutes, dig on the Internet. I imagine in that way, our jobs are similar.”
    â€œSounds like it. You hang out with attorneys?”
    â€œNot if I can help it. I have a small but eclectic group of friends. I play pool on Thursday nights.”
    His brows rose. “No kidding?”
    She grinned. “We got the league championship last year, and we’re gunning for it again. We have a good team.”
    â€œEight ball?”
    â€œYep. Sometimes nine ball. But mostly eight.”
    â€œMaybe we can find a pool hall somewhere nearby.”
    â€œActually, there’s a place across from the Rio. It’s called Pink-ees. Great place to play. Lots of tables.”
    â€œDid you bring your cue?”
    She shook her head. “Didn’t know if there’d be time.”
    â€œLet’s make time.”
    She took a bite of toast to hide her ridiculously happy grin. He liked pool. Excellent.
    â€œSo what else?” he asked. “Besides being a pool shark?”
    â€œI ride my bike on weekends a lot.”
    â€œYou said you have a Shadow, right?”
    She nodded.
    â€œWhat got you into that?”
    â€œA guy I went out with. He was kind of a dick, but he did turn me on to bikes. I got hooked immediately.”
    â€œNot afraid you’ll get hit?”
    â€œNope, not really. I operate on the principle that everyone’s trying to kill me.”
    He laughed, and she felt all squishy inside.
    â€œWhat about you?”
    â€œYeah, I think people are trying to kill me, too.”
    â€œNo, I meant what you do. When you aren’t being a private eye.”
    He frowned a little, two lines appearing on his forehead. “I read too much.”
    â€œHow can anyone read too