Midnight in Brussels by Rebecca Randolph Buckley Read Free Book Online Page A

together?”
    “Yes. I ain’t—I mean, I haven’t seen anything like this before. And the food, there’s so much of it.”
    “There’s another Basque house a block down the street called Noriega’s. We’ll go down there and have a drink afterwards so you can see it, too.”
    “Is it the same as this one?”
    “Pretty much. Only it has a handball court out back.”
    “You’re kidding me.”
    “No, I’m not. Anyone can play on it and when the Swiss Olympic team was touring they dropped by and played. It was quite an event for the regulars. There are a lot of Italian-Swiss residents in Bakersfield, too, who come to these places.”
    “I’d like to go to Italy and Switzerland some day. Have you been there?”
    “Yes, I have. Both are incredible. I prefer Switzerland, though … it has the Jung Frau which contains the highest peak in Europe. And then there’s Zurich, the lakes, the train rides up the mountains, cog trains—”
    “What’s a cog train?”
    A short, older man wearing a Christmas tie and white shirt and a white apron reached over Amanda’s shoulder. “Here you are, my friend. Your lamb chops, just as you like. Bon appetit!”
    “Joe, those look perfect! Thank you.” Richard reached for the platter and forked two of them onto Amanda’s plate. “Joe cooks these for me. They’re not on the regular menu, but I have to have them every time I come here. He makes a special garlic butter paste and smears it on them. Wait till you taste these, you won’t believe it.”
    “But I’ve had so much food already, and I don’t think I could eat lamb, really. They’re so cuddly.”
    Richard’s eyes were gleaming as he reached across and touched her hand that was resting on the table cloth by her wine glass. “Just try it. One bite. You don’t have to eat more of it if you don’t want to.”
    Richard decided at that very moment that he wanted to give Amanda every pleasure she could imagine. He wanted to show her the world. His feelings for her were overwhelming; he had never felt this way before. His heart felt as if it would burst, the love for her was exploding inside him, almost impossible to hide. What a pleasure it would be to introduce her to a life she’d never had.
    On top of it all, he was physically attracted to her. She was an untarnished, unbiased, unassuming, untouched, intelligent beauty. He wanted her more than anything.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 11
     
    It was nearly dark when Richard parked the car on the street by Amanda’s cottage. He hurried around and opened the car door and reached for her hand as she stepped out of the Caddy onto the curb.
    “I’ve had a real good time, Richard. Thank you. I’m glad I went with y’all.”
    He reached across her back and gripped her shoulder as they began walking toward her front door. “I knew you would enjoy yourself, and as I promised you, you’re home before the witching hour.”
    She laughed. “I thank you for that, too. Although I was having so much fun at Noriega’s talking to the old-timers, I hadn’t noticed how the time had flown. Thank you for getting me out of there.” She reached in her purse for the house key. With key in hand, she turned to face Richard on the first step. “This has been the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
    He couldn’t help but notice the tears welling up in her eyes and couldn’t contain what was welling up inside of him.
    “Amanda, please understand me when I say this … I want to give you all the fun you can handle. Will you let me do that for you? Will you trust me and let me show you things and places you’ve never seen?”
    She hesitated. “How old are you, Richard?”
    He laughed. “Well, I’m nearly twice your age, I’m sure. I’m forty-five, but I feel like I’m twenty-five. Why?”
    “I don’t mean to be nosy, really I don’t. I was just wondering, and I was hoping you weren’t fifty or sixty. Forty-five don’t seem all that old.” Her