Better Than Chocolate by Pat Amsden Read Free Book Online Page B

door.
          He stood there looking better than he had a right to she thought resentfully.
    Even as her heart seemed ready to burst out of her chest she was only too aware of his freshly washed hair, still wet from the shower. Of his eyes which searched hers looking for … she broke away from his gaze.
          “Come on in. Bente and Jim are just putting the children to bed. I’ll get you a cup of coffee. Did you want cream or sugar in it? Did you…” She broke off as his hand brushed along her shoulder, every nerve in her body aware of his presence.
          “It’s OK, I didn’t come for coffee.”    
          She turned to look at him then. “What did you come for?”
          The question hung in the air between them.
          “To see you,” he said simply. His eyes were dark with passion and she was unsure where things would’ve gone if Bente had not appeared at that moment.
          “That’s it then. They’re finally in bed, although Star did talk Jim into giving her one more story.”
          She wasn’t sure she was happy to see Bente or not.
          Brad seemed to take it in stride. “You must be Bente.”
          “I am. And you’re …”
          “I’m sorry. I should’ve introduced you,” Elena blurted out. “Brad this is Bente, my room-mate from university. At least for the first year. And then she married Jim.”
          “The rest as you say is history.”
          “And this is Brad Phillips. He’s been helping me with my business.”
          “It’s an ambitious undertaking,” Bente said. “It sounds like a wonderful opportunity but it’s miles away from anything you’ve done in the past.
          “Not that far off,” Elena said confidently. “Its art related. And if I can get the gallery/coffee shop going it’ll support me so that I can do my art.”
          “We all do what’s necessary to make our dreams come true. Why don’t you have a seat,” she said pointing Brad to a chair and taking a seat herself. “How do you fit in?” she said, looking at Brad, as she added cream and sugar to her coffee.
          “Business is what I do,” he said simply. Then he grinned and his dimples came out. “Someone sent me over as a birthday present. She knows the art end, I can supply the business expertise.”
          “I know, “Elena said. “You only got chocolates.”
          And Bente laughed the rich, throaty laugh Elena had grown so used to hearing when they were room-mates and still missed. “It’s a good present. It would’ve saved me a lot of heart-ache when I was starting up.”
          Brad gave her an I told you so look. Or maybe that was just how she chose to see it.
          “I never knew,” she said. “You make it look so easy.”
          “Catch me on a bad day,” she said laughing, as Jim joined them.
          “That’s it. They’re down for the count.”
          “But for how long,” Bente said laughing. “That’s the real question.” She surveyed them. “How I envy you …”
          “For what?” Elena said, shocked. “You’ve got it all.”
          Jim just laughed. “Yep. Mortgage, jobs, kids. Living the dream. Don’t get us wrong, we wouldn’t trade it for the world.” He looked at Bente with such love in his eyes Elena felt a lump in her throat.
          Bente just reached over and held his hand. “But new beginnings are such an exciting time.” She sighed dreamily and Elena had the uneasy feeling she wasn’t talking about her new business.
          She was aware with every fibre of her being of how Brad’s eyes followed her every move. She wanted nothing more than to be alone with him. And at the same time … What would it change?
          They were still two different people with different lives, different dreams. No matter how gorgeous he was it wouldn’t work. Especially when he worked so closely with