Heart Craving by Sandra Hill Read Free Book Online

evening gown, white, embroidered with pastel flowers along the bodice and the hem of the full, frothy skirt. In addition, the other boxes contained matching sling-back high heels, sheer silk stockings, and a corsage. A corsage?
    Paula knew, even before she read the enclosed card. Nick.
    Sighing, she sank into an easy chair and read. “Will you be my date for the prom tonight? Love, Nick.”
    Oh, what a low blow! Nick knew that she’d never gone to a dance in her high school days. She’d attended a private Catholic girls’ school in the suburbs, which held no such frivolous events. And she’d told him once that it was a part of growing up she’d wanted to experience, but had missed. And Nick had remembered that!
    Just then, she noticed the red light blinking on her answering machine.
    The first call was from her lawyer, reminding her of their court date next Wednesday. Oh, God! Only five days away. I feel like I have a time bomb ticking away inside my heart.
    Next, her mother invited her to use the beach house at Long Beach Island for the next few weeks. She and her dad planned to visit some friends in Florida.
    Finally, Nick’s voice came on.
    “Paula, don’t hang up. Just hear me out. Please, honey, go to the prom with me tonight. Captain O’Malley’s daughter is graduating, and they need extra chaperons.” She heard the chuckle in his voice. His deep, wonderful voice. The voice she might not be hearing again after this week. She closed her eyes briefly against the soul-searing pain.
    “I know it’s not the same, going as chaperons instead of high school seniors. But we could pretend. And, Paula”—his voice deepened with emotion—“I never told you . . . but I never went to a prom, either. And . . . and I really, really would like to experience it with you. It’s only one night, babe.”
    “Oh, Nick,” Paula murmured, pressing his note against her heart, “why can’t you just give it up? Our marriage is over.”
    “Honey, I know our marriage is over . . .” he said.
    She jerked to attention. Criminy, was he reading her mind now?
    “. . . but we can still be friends, can’t we? And I promise . . . I swear to God . . . I won’t jump your bones.”
    She smiled grimly. But how do I stop myself from jumping yours?
    “I’ll pick you up at eight. Okay?”
    Paula felt her resistance crumbling. She wanted to go to a prom. More important, she wanted to go to a prom with Nick. But she shouldn’t. If she were smart, she’d take this beautiful dress and send it back to the store. She’d call Nick and tell him she couldn’t go.
    “Don’t try to call me back, hon. I’m driving Skip down to the nightclub. He’s gonna teach me how to be an Indian strip dancer. You oughta see me swing my . . . uh, tomahawk.”
    Her mouth dropped open with incredulity.
    “And twerk.”
    “Whaaat? You?”
    “Just kidding.”
    She laughed, despite herself.
    “Bye, honey, see you later.”
    She heard him drop the phone with a loud clatter and a sharp expletive. Then, just before her answering machine clicked off, she thought he muttered something about heart cravings giving him heartburn.

Chapter Five
    You had to give the guy credit for trying . . .
    “THIS IS NOT a date, Nick,” she said that evening as they were driving to the Montclair high school.
    “Right,” he agreed, too readily.
    Nick flashed her a dazzling smile before turning his attention back to maneuvering the car through the busy parkway traffic.
    Just his nearness overwhelmed her. He looked so handsome. She’d never seen him in a tux before. She had to admit that accompanying him to this prom, no matter how foolish, was worth it, just to see him in formal attire. Forget about Playgirl centerfolds. Nick in a black tuxedo was sexier than any of the nude models, hands down.
    “And we’re not getting back together,” she asserted. “The divorce still goes through on Wednesday.”
    His strong hands, lean-fingered and capable,