Across Eternity by Aris Whittier Read Free Book Online Page A

to
know who I was. But that was only because I didn’t want you to hold
back."
    Under her breath she said softly, "I wouldn’t have held
back."
    "I didn’t know that." He paused. "I was thankful
when you didn’t recognize my name. You have to understand sometimes when
women meet me their intentions are influenced by my wealth. More often than
not, they are more interested in what I have in the bank than me."
    "So you wanted to talk first—to insure I was interested in you
and not your money?"
    "I wanted to see if there was a connection. Amber, I had to
know. And then when you first looked at me and I knew you felt it
too—"
    "I thought you were someone famous," she said indifferently.
    "You didn’t know what to think. Which is
exactly how I felt when I first saw you on the street. " He
searched her eyes. "Tell me I’m wrong?"
    With her elbows propped on the table, she dropped her head in her hands,
covered her eyes and sighed.
    "You can’t tell me, can you? You know I’m right.
You’re just as curious as I am." He reached for her fingers and
pulled them away. "We’ve come too far to deny this."
    "I’m not denying it," she said looking at him.
"I’m just trying to understand."
    "How do you understand something that is beyond words? I can’t
explain it though I’m trying desperately to." He stopped,
contemplated, and then took a slow drink of his coffee. "You don’t
understand it. You just go with it."
    "That’s what I was doing back at the restaurant until it all
fell apart."
    "Nothing has fallen apart. We just had a misunderstanding."
    "Did you set me up? Did Mr. Hendricks know you were coming? Did you
plan this whole evening?"
    "No. I knew you were working—that was it. Beyond that I had no
idea how things would play out. Mr. Hendricks is privy to nothing other than my
request for your file. I chose tonight simply because I couldn’t wait any
longer. "
    "One more question."
    "Anything. What is it?"
    "Have you done this with any of your other employees?"
    He shook his head. "I’ve never done this with anyone. No one has
ever made me feel like this."
    "Don’t look at me like I should be flattered," she said as
she reached for her tea.
    A smile crept across his lips. "You should be."
    "You’re too confident."
    "No one can ever be too confident. But it’s not confidence that
compels me. It’s an understanding that I was supposed to meet you."
For several moments he remained silent. "Can we please start over?
I’d like to pick up where we left off at the restaurant. Could we do
that?"
    She narrowed her eyes. "Do you own this café?"
    He shook his head enjoying her humor. He had been forgiven. "No.
However, I did have the chance to buy it but I turned it down."
    "You’re serious?"
    "Yes."
    She shook her head and laughed.
    And once again they were lost in deep conversation—talking about each
other’s lives like they had been doing it for years. The feeling was of
old, intimate friends who regularly sat down with each other and caught up on
lost time.
    They spoke openly and truthfully and encouraged each other to share their
interests and feelings. Pleasure and understanding were conveyed through words,
light touches, and soft smiles. All the previous anger was forgotten. There was
no room for it now. They each knew they would never be able to stay angry at
the other. It just wasn’t in them.
    It amazed Amber how intimate and honest their conversation was. She had
never spoken this deeply with anyone, not even her girlfriends. She found her
eyes drawn to his. They were deep and kind. There was a reason why eyes were
called the window to the soul and she was looking at it. Spots and blemishes
marred most people’s eyes, but not Logan’s. The fascinating blue
was surprisingly clear and held profound meaning. Behind his handsome and charismatic
presence was a man who was exuding with perception and she wanted nothing more
than to discover everything about him.
    "What are you thinking?" Logan asked