Bliss by Opal Carew Read Free Book Online

one-night thing—”

    He took her hand. “Kara, didn’t you think last night was special?”

    Her forehead furrowed. “Of course I did. I just . . . don’t want to get involved right now. I’m very interested in my career at this point, and the last thing I need is to get sucked into something that makes me feel . . . completely out of control.”

    “So what if you do?” he asked with a smile. “What if you just let yourself lose control?”

    It took Kara a moment to realize he was repeating what she’d said to him at the hotel. She smiled back but averted her gaze.

    The hum of machinery signaled the imminent arrival of their baggage. A big brown suitcase appeared on the moving ramp, making its way down to the conveyor belt. A few seconds later, a navy duffel bag appeared, followed by a red suitcase.

    Kara stepped toward him. “I’m sorry.”

    She tipped her head up and cupped his cheeks, then pressed her lips to his in a kiss. He wrapped his arms around her, savoring the feel of her body pressed the length of his. Their lips moved together in a passionate acknowledgment of their intense attraction.

    How could she ignore what they had together?

    She drew away, her sapphire eyes filled with sadness and, possibly, regret. She glanced at the luggage moving along the carousel behind her.

    “There’s my suitcase.” She turned toward the thick crowd.

    “Why don’t you wait here and I’ll grab it for you. Which one is it?”

    “Thanks. It’s the black one. Right beside those two burgundy ones.”

    He eased through the crowd toward the carousel, keeping ahead of the moving bag.

    What was he going to do? How could he let her just walk out of his life?

    He drew in a deep, calming breath. If it is meant to be, it will be. Spirit will find a way to make it work.

    He stepped to the side of the carousel and reached for the bag, then dragged it to the floor. He checked that her name was on the tag, then moved back through the crowd until he’d returned to her.

    “Thank you.” She pulled up the handle on the suitcase and set her carry-on on top. “I better get going.”

    He stroked her cheek, then drew her in for another kiss. She melted against him, her lips moving on his with a hunger that matched his own. Then she eased away.

    “Good-bye.” She grabbed the handle of her bag, turned around, and strode away without a backward glance.

    He watched his perfect woman walk calmly out of his life.

    “Good-bye, Kara Spencer from White Haven.”

    He grinned. Luggage tags were wonderful things.

    Kara tossed her bag into the cab and slumped back in the seat as the cabbie pulled onto the road. She stared out at the snowy landscape, glistening in the sunlight, and sighed.

    She’d never see J.M. again. Had she made the right decision? Her fists clenched in her lap. Damn it, she couldn’t go second-guessing herself now. Sure, the sex had been great, but she barely knew the guy. It had only been a one-night thing. The fact that he’d managed to throw her emotions into a state of chaos after a simple, ordinary fling just went to show that cutting and running was the smartest way to go. And if Kara was anything, she was a smart, independent woman.

    The cab pulled up in front of the hotel. She paid the driver and went inside. Twenty minutes later, she clicked open the door to her room on the seventeenth floor. After unpacking and relaxing for a bit, she decided she should go down and register for the conference. She grabbed her shoulder bag and headed out the door.

    A woman wearing a dove-gray skirt made of fine wool and a matching silk blouse walked along the hall in front of her. Her short, wavy, dark blond hair bounced softly as she walked. They both turned the corner toward the elevator and the other lady pushed the call button. She glanced at Kara and smiled. The color of the blouse set off the woman’s blue-gray eyes quite nicely.

    “Hi.” The stranger smiled at Kara. “You here for the