Read To Me (7 page)
“He mentioned his divorce.”
“Ah. Desi said he took it very hard.”
“Yes. I think he did.” So hard that he kept the ring, to remind himself never to make himself vulnerable again. To never again take a chance. Never again be hurt. She suddenly lifted her head. “You didn’t tell Desi anything, did you?”
“No. Knowing her, she’d probably try fixing you two up. She’s an incurable romantic.” Ashlynn frowned. “I can’t keep it from her forever, though.”
“No, of course not. Just wait a little, ’til the dust clears. You didn’t have a hard time getting away tonight?”
“No. It’s her night to work late in the salon, anyway. And she doesn’t begrudge me having dinner with my dear old mom.”
“Hmm.” Blaise gave her a sidelong look. “I wonder how she’d feel knowing her fiancée blackmailed her dear old mom.”
“Blackmail.” Ashlynn flicked her wrist, tossing the term aside with all the aplomb of a movie villain. “Such an ugly word.”
“Well, what do you call it? You wouldn’t give me Guy’s number unless I agreed to come here after I met with him.”
“I call it
quid pro quo
. Anyway, how else was I supposed to get all the deets?” She turned serious. “How else was I supposed to know if you were all right?”
“I’m fine,” Blaise said for the third time. She felt her daughter’s somber gaze but chose not to engage it. She’d spent half the week seething in a haze of resentment toward Guy, the married sleaze ball. Tonight, she was reacquainted with the charming man she remembered from the bookstore. The one she’d spent the night with.
“Uh-huh.” Ashlynn clearly didn’t believe it, but why should she? Blaise wasn’t sure she believed it herself. “Well, let’s get our table. I’m in the mood for some ravioli.”
“Sounds good. Ravioli makes everything better.”
****
Though she’d promised last week to clean out her purse, it was still a jumble when she boarded the bus home Friday afternoon. When Blaise finally found her pass to show Larry, his welcoming smile was much wider than usual.
“Hey, there, Blaise.” He waggled his eyebrows and jerked his head to the side as though he had some kind of tic.
“Hi, Larry.” Blaise eyed him warily until she realized the head-jerking thing was meant to alert her to something. Her head swiveled and she saw Guy. Sitting in her usual seat.
Time slowed, stretched like warm taffy. “Hi.”
He stood, a bouquet of gerbera daisies in one hand, his briefcase in the other. “Hello.”
She hesitated, aware of the gazes of Larry and the other passengers. Guy gestured to the seats in back. “Shall we—?”
“Sure.”
They moved to the rear of the bus and found an empty seat. Guy handed her the flowers. “For you.”
“Thank you.”
“They remind me of you. Colorful and bright. Cheerful.”
A thrill shot through her as she admired the splashes of red, pink, yellow, and orange in the bouquet. Some women might not care to be compared to gerbera daisies, but he understood her well enough to know she’d consider the unpretentious gift a compliment. But what did it mean? Why was he here?
Watch yourself, Blaise.
“They’re not just in apology. They’re in thanks. For helping me wake up to myself. You’ve got guts, Blaise. You’re much braver than I am.”
Brave? “I don’t think so.” Stubborn and mule-headed, maybe.
“Your hard times didn’t sour you on life. People let you down, but you didn’t let that stop you.”
“Don’t give me too much credit. I had Ashlynn. She’s the reason I couldn’t stop.”
“Whatever the reason, you didn’t shut down. The way I did after my divorce. I was a coward.”
She smiled skeptically. “A coward? You, a man who wrestles with the bureaucracy to help his clients? Who fights for people who can’t fight for themselves? No way.”
“Yes, way. I told myself keeping the wedding ring was smart. That it was there to keep me from making the mistake I’d made with my wife.”
Blaise understood. “The mistake of falling in love.”
He nodded. “But then I met you, and we connected. I felt something with you that I haven’t felt with anyone since my divorce. And I wasn’t worried about making mistakes. I just knew I wanted to spend time with you. I’d forgotten about the ring. Until it fell out of my wallet.”
A twinge of guilt made her grimace. “And I didn’t exactly give you a chance to explain. I’m sorry for that.”
“Considering the circumstances, I don’t blame you. But the ring’s gone now. I got rid of it. Sold it to a pawn shop.”
She was silent a moment as the magnitude of his confession sank in. He’d done more than let go of the ring. He’d let go of the past as well.
“And you’re all right with that?” She had to be sure.
“More than all right. I’d like us to start again. Or rather, take up where we left off.” He opened the briefcase and inside was the copy of
Cupid’s Delight
. “We still haven’t finished the book.”
As she caught the glimmer in his eye, heat unfurled in her belly and throbbed between her legs. But it was about more than sex. He was right. They had a connection. Could it flourish given the chance? There was only one way to find out. “I hate leaving a book unfinished.”
“So do I.” When he touched her hand, the heat became a flash fire. “There are a lot of things unfinished between us.”
She caressed his knuckles with her thumb, resisting the urge to brush them against her prickling nipples. This was not the place for that kind of PDA. “If we get off at the next stop, we can walk to the Hempstead.”
He smiled, and joy as radiant as sunlight filled her. “Then what are we waiting for?” He reached up and the pulled the cord.
About the Author
Nona Raines became hooked on romances when she first picked up
The Flame and the Flower
by Kathleen Woodiwiss (and she’s not telling how long ago that was). Romances may have changed since then, but her love for a good love story has not. She’s been writing off and on for years, but when she joined the Central New York Romance Writers Association, she finally gained the support and confidence she needed to complete a manuscript.
Nona lives in upstate New York with her many pets and is currently working on her next novel. She is thrilled to be among the Scarlet Rose authors.
Visit Nona at
http://www.nonaraines.com/
To chat with Nona Raines and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
Also Available
by
Nona Raines
Her Perfect Man
Book Three of The Man Series
Kim Hansen has terrible luck with men. When her sexy downstairs neighbor shows a more-than-neighborly interest in her, she’s suspicious. She’s been burned too many times, by too many guys. Charlie Keller is smart, hot, and successful—so what does he want with her besides a few nights of pleasure?
Though Kim does her best to shut him down, Charlie’s not put off by her attitude. He doesn’t scare easy. Kim thinks she’s clever, using sex to keep him off guard and to maintain her emotional distance. But Charlie sees through her prickly exterior to her tender heart beneath.
But Kim needs to be won over. Sure, their bedroom action is awesome, but given her past mistakes, she’s convinced that Charlie is too good to be true. Just too perfect. But if Charlie has his way, he’ll prove that he’s the perfect man for her.
Also Read
Getting Down To Business
by Ginger Ring
Tired of living life out of a suitcase, traveling auto parts sales representative Jessie Knutson jumps at the chance for a position close to home. When a flat tire keeps her from an interview appointment and the hot tow truck driver awakens her inner cougar, she realizes too much time away has done a number on her libido. Now the only position she wants involves being naked and pressed tightly against a hot, younger man whose eyes say she's more than a roadside pickup.
BJ Spencer has no time for love with an auto parts store to run, though he yearns to find the right woman someday. So when the smoking hot redhead he rescues alongside the road gives him a sexy smile, he remembers sometimes a man needs to enjoy the finer things in life. Long legs encased in thigh-highs are definitely fine, but Jessie seems to be total perfection in a tempting package. BJ just might be able to make both business and pleasure work for him this time.
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www.thewilderroses.com