Almost Summer by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online

think if I fly out of San Francisco, I could get a
direct flight?” she asked.
    Alistair laughed and squeezed her fingers. “I knew you’d
understand. Let’s see what flights are available.”
    Over the next couple of hours, they looked at airlines and
itineraries. Paige knew she had to give her employers some notice before flying
off to Europe for several months. Finding someone to rent her house while she
was gone would help with expenses as well. But by the time she walked Alistair
to the door, she had a plan and a list of inexpensive hotels where she could
stay. She was giving herself four weeks to pull it all together and then she was
leaving. No matter what.
    Alistair reached for the door, then paused. He cupped her face
in his hand and bent down to kiss her. The soft touch healed and aroused in
equal measure, leaving her breathless. She wanted more, she thought, letting her
eyes drift closed. She wanted more than a few hours with the man who pressed his
lips to hers.
    What was it Aunt Sophia had always said? If wishes were horses
then beggars would ride. If…
    She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave herself over to
the kiss. If this wasn’t to be, then she would store memories and take them out
to savor later on. Like her first trip to Europe. When she was old, she would
sit in the sun with her friends and talk about the handsome, charming viscount
she’d once known.
    He moved his mouth against hers. He tasted of the wine they’d
shared and something slightly more tempting. His body was strong and hard
against hers. She leaned into him, letting her breasts nestle against his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close.
    When his tongue touched her bottom lip, she parted her lips for
him. The kiss deepened, grew more intimate. Need pulsed in time with her
heartbeat and she felt herself growing weak with longing. But before she could
decide if she wanted to take Alistair upstairs, he drew back.
    He pressed his mouth to her cheeks and her nose, then lightly
touched his lips to hers.
    “Good night, Paige,” he whispered, and then he was gone.
    * * *
    “You’re not listening.” Simon made the statement
conversationally.
    Alistair shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he said automatically. “I
was thinking.”
    “Not about work.”
    “How do you know?”
    “I’m not sure,” his friend admitted. “I’ve seen you when you’re
thinking about where you’re going next and you didn’t have that look.”
    They were in Simon’s study. It was late and Montana had gone to
bed hours ago. She was due in a few short weeks and her body needed the
rest.
    “We aren’t nearly as brave as the women in our lives,” Alistair
said. “What they do for us. Bearing children. I doubt that I could.”
    Simon grinned. “Excluding the biological issues.”
    Alistair laughed. “Yes. Of course. It’s a huge commitment of
resources. And yet they do it cheerfully, again and again.”
    Sara had been thrilled when she’d discovered that she was
pregnant. He had been happy as well, but unable to stay in England. He’d had
commitments. He’d wanted her to go with him, but she’d needed to be near her
family and her doctor. Perhaps when the baby was older, she’d said, but he’d
known even then that she had no intention of ever leaving the quiet village
where she’d always lived.
    He’d gone without her. He’d returned in time for the birth and
then had left again. Months later, mother and daughter had been killed. He’d had
no idea. No psychic sense of loss. Just a phone call in the middle of the day.
He hadn’t even been in surgery.
    He’d flown home immediately. His parents and in-laws had
handled the details, leaving him to mourn. Shock had settled in. He’d barely
known his darling little girl. Had planned on spending more time with her. But
he’d never had the chance. The fault was his.
    “Do you miss it?” he asked, shaking off the memories. “The
travel? The going from place to