Remember the Time by Annette Reynolds Read Free Book Online Page B

“Have you become the silent partner?”
    “No comment.”
    On her thirtieth birthday, Kate’s love of antiques and innate sense of style finally came together.
    “Rise and shine, birthday girl,” Paul whispers in her ear
.
    She mumbles something and burrows deeper under the comforter
.
    “Come on, you lazy woman.”
    “What time is it?”
    “Time to get up.” He rips the covers off the bed, exposing a naked Kate to the brilliant October day
.
    She groans and covers her face with her hand. “Have a heart, Paul. I was up till three.”
    He stands next to the bed. “So was I.”
    “But you didn’t drink a whole bottle of champagne by yourself.” She squints through her fingers at him. “And you’re still mad, aren’t you.”
    “I guess I didn’t know they were holding auditions for the Solid Gold Dancers right here on Frazier Street.”
    Kate groans, remembering the spectacle she’d made of herself at her birthday party. “Why didn’t you stop me?”
    “You were a full three sheets to the wind. There wasn’t much I could do.”
    “I’m sorry,” she says. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
    He finally sits next to her. Runs a hand down her thigh. “I’ve gotta admit, it was pretty sexy.”
    She savors the feel of his fingers on her skin. “I did it for you,” she whispers
.
    “Well.” He bends to kiss her shoulder. “I just wish you’d saved it for later. Good thing I got to you just as you were taking off your jacket.”
    “Thank God for that,” she mutters. The velvet bolero she’d worn not only covered the lacy, sleeveless bodysuit with the lowcut back. It also covered her spine
.
    “You don’t need to be ashamed of it, Kate.” Paul lifts her hair and places his lips on the nape of her neck. “It’s whatmakes you real.” His finger slowly traces the scar that runs, like a pale zipper, down the length of her back
.
    The scar has been a part of her existence since she was twelve years old, and she hates it. It was a product of surgery to correct a curvature of the spine. After the operation, she’d had to live in a body cast for nearly a year. She’d been subjected to ferocious teasing because of it. The only good thing about it, as far as Kate was concerned, was her perfect posture. Other than that, the scar meant nothing but humiliation. But Paul sees what she refuses to see—that it has made her strong
.
    “I just don’t want the whole world to know about it. Is that all right with you?” She’s turned over, only to get caught in the gaze of his hazel eyes
.
    He smiles. “Your secret’s safe with me. And if you don’t get up right now and get dressed, you won’t get your present until tomorrow.”
    “Why tomorrow?”
    “ ’Cause that’s when I’ll be done making love to you.”
    “Is that a threat?” Her hand travels up his hard thigh until she can feel the start of his erection through his jeans. “Or a promise?”
    Some twenty minutes later, as Kate lies listening to the slowing of her husband’s heartbeat, she hears voices and the slamming of a car door outside. She’s forgotten that Mike and his current girlfriend have stayed the night, not wanting to drive back to Richmond after the party. All Kate wants to do is spend the day in bed with Paul, a rare occurrence these days. “Shit,” she murmurs under her breath
.
    “Not your usual reaction.” Paul slowly lifts himself away from her. “By the way, Mike’s already up.”
    Kate closes her eyes in embarrassment. “I can’t face him.”
    “He took it pretty well,” Paul says, yawning. “It’s Sandra, or Susan, or whatever her name is, that seemed a little bent out of shape. But what can you expect from a theology professor?”
    Kate reaches for Paul’s arm. “I thought you were going to make love to me until tomorrow.” But he’s already pulling on his underwear
.
    “Don’t you think you’d better say bye to Mike?”
    Kate slowly sits up, her head pounding, and wonders how much time