DivineWeekend by Francesca St. Claire Read Free Book Online Page A

could he have been so
deceitful? How could she have been so gullible? The magnitude of his betrayal
hit her hard. She gripped the kitchen counter. He was someone else’s husband.
That made her the other woman. Her legs caved in and she dropped to the floor
weeping as her heart shattered into a million pieces.
    * * * * *
    Ben sat on the plane in a state of anxiety he hadn’t
experienced in a long time, if ever. How he wished the week was over and he was
traveling back east to Julia. He closed his eyes at the strong tug he felt in
his chest as he recalled her that morning—her hair all mussed from the pillow,
eyes heavy with sleep, and her sexy mouth ready for their first kiss of the
day. He couldn’t help smiling remembering their parting. That had been some
send-off!
    Sex between them was hot. Red hot, in fact, and everything
about her turned him on. He could get high on her scent, taste, walk and even
on the way she talked—damn sexy when she role-played the teacher-student in the
bedroom…
    His cock swollen, he shifted in his seat. Jesus, he really
had it bad!
    A quick glance at the older woman sitting alongside
reassured him that she hadn’t noticed his hard-on. That was a relief, but he’d
better stop this train of thought before he embarrassed himself. He shifted his
gaze to the window, and damn if the shape of those white puffy clouds didn’t
remind him of Julia’s prize-winning breasts! He felt like a teenager in lust.
Yes, he had to admit he was obsessed with her body but he admired her mind too,
and that’s what made her so unique to him.
    For years he’d believed true love wasn’t for him—not
surprising, he was too cynical to believe in fairy tales. Besides, he’d
traveled the world, lived in a town full of good-looking women, had met a few
really interesting and intelligent ones along the way, but had never found
love. True love. Then out of the blue, in a place where he least expected—come
on, Mystic, seriously? Bam! Head over heels!
    And he couldn’t be happier.
    Hence his trip to L.A.—not on business as he’d told Julia,
but to end his marriage to Lindsay. Despite living apart for the best part of
eight years and not having felt married to her for a very long time, it was
time he ended his travesty of a marriage. He owed it to Julia. He owed it to
them.
    But he wasn’t exactly looking forward to their meeting—he
was almost sure there would be tears and pleas. All an act. A list of her
demands lay in his briefcase together with his private investigator’s report.
She hadn’t exactly been a nun in the last eight years, though she now claimed
she still loved him. He should have ended their marriage a long time ago, but
he hadn’t bothered to fight her in court as he had no intention to get married
ever again.
    His face closed up. Would she deny him the divorce again? He
had the means to force her to agree, but he’d rather not use it. He’d try to
settle out of court and hoped she’d be reasonable. He didn’t care about the
house or any monies he’d have to part with. All he wanted was his name back so
he could give it to Julia.
    What? Marry Julia?
    He waited for the delayed reaction to this outraged thought,
but to his surprise he felt nothing but elation. Incredible, unimaginable a
couple of months ago, but he had to admit he liked the thought of being married
to Julia. He liked it a lot, and he couldn’t wait to tell her that. His face
broke into a wide grin. Yes, he most definitely needed to settle things quickly
with Lindsay.
    * * * * *
    Ben showed up at her door looking quite sexy in all black
duds and a dark close-trimmed beard. The desire to throw herself in his arms
was so fierce she swayed a little and might have fallen if he hadn’t grabbed
her arm and steadied her. Sanity restored, she jumped back as if struck by
lightning.
    “Don’t touch me. Don’t you ever touch me again,” Julia spat
angrily.
    “What’s wrong?” he demanded forcefully.
    Her eyes widened, she