Letting Go by Ann O'Leary Read Free Book Online Page B

sort of perspective, and despite the advice of her friend to give this woman a big miss, Kate had decided to take some control of the situation. She wanted Laura, and she was going to try everything she could to get 50
    her. If in the end she failed, she’d have to find a way to deal with that. But she had to try. So she was feeling refreshed and confident when Jodie rang.
    Just be cool , she told herself silently, don’t be a bumbling idiot .Laura put down the phone and looked up at Kate with a dazzling smile that almost undid Kate. Laura said, “You look relaxed. You’ve obviously had some time off while the rest of us have been slaving away. That’s a great tan.”
    Laura seemed slightly uneasy as Kate approached her with a confident smile. She senses there’s something different about me today, Kate thought. She didn’t take her eyes away from Laura’s. Laura explained the various jobs to be done, but she seemed distracted, as if Kate’s gaze was having an unsettling effect on her.
    “Have I made all this clear, Kate?” She was fidgeting with her ring, twisting it back and forth on her finger.
    “It’s all quite straightforward,” Kate replied. “I’ll have some layouts for you within a couple of days. But I do have one question, though.”
    “Yes?” Laura seemed grateful, as if the tension might ease if they had some discussion.
    “Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
    Laura looked completely thrown off balance, as if it was the last thing she expected Kate to come out with. Her usual poise left her momentarily. “Oh…aah…I don’t think I can,” she stuttered.
    “Why not?” Kate asked brazenly. She had nothing to lose.“Really, Kate, I don’t think it would be a good idea. I’m flattered, but there’s too great a difference in our ages, and well…it’s just not a good idea.” Laura was rotating the ring 51
    around and around, avoiding Kate’s eyes.
    Kate was emboldened now, and she was not going to let Laura off the hook. “Did you enjoy lunch with me that day? Did you enjoy being with me then? I think you did, Laura, and I think you liked kissing me too. I don’t think you’re the sort of woman to kiss anyone who comes on to you, but you did kiss me. Why?”
    Laura shook her head. Her tone of voice was casual, as if trying to make light of the incident. “Kate, that was just one of those things. You’re obviously very attractive and…
    well…I don’t know why I kissed you.”
    “Laura, I’ve been attracted to you since I first met you,”
    said Kate, determined to remain in control. “It increased enormously that day I was with you, and that kiss changed everything for me. I really wanted you then and I can’t stop thinking about you. Please have dinner with me.”
    Laura grimaced. She reached for a cigarette, lit it and inhaled deeply. She looked back at Kate. She appeared hesitant, unsure. She shook her head again. Was she going to change her mind? Kate wondered.
    “I guess dinner would be okay. You can tell me what’s happening with the gallery. But, Kate,” she added firmly,
    “anything else between us is out of the question. Just dinner, okay?”
    Kate felt a thrill of happiness. She had succeeded in getting Laura to go out with her, and she could hardly believe it. They agreed to meet at Laura’s apartment the next evening and walk to one of the many restaurants along the beach front, just near Laura’s home.
    Kate buzzed Laura’s intercom promptly at seventhirty the next evening. Laura looked beautiful, Kate thought. Laura was wearing simple black tailored pants 52
    and a matching jacket. The jacket was long and loose, with the sleeves pushed up. Underneath she had a white silk camisole. Laura managed to make this black and white outfit look casual yet elegant at the same time. Kate noticed that she was also wearing her few usual pieces of simple gold jewelry. Utterly sophisticated, Kate thought. She nearly had to pinch herself to believe she was