The Body in the Boudoir by Katherine Hall Page Read Free Book Online Page A

time that evening. What was happening to her?
    Back at the apartment, where he already seemed quite at home, Tom loosened his tie and watched as she ground the beans and made coffee in a French press.
    â€œYou’re the real deal. You’ve probably never had instant in your life, and that’s all I know how to make.”
    She shuddered slightly. The thought . . .
    He took his coffee the same way she did—strong and black. She offered to make more. He refused. The room was very quiet. So quiet she could hear cars outside on Central Park West, a siren in the distance.
    â€œI don’t want to leave you, Faith,” he said, taking her in his arms.
    â€œI don’t want you to go either, but it’s a long drive.” She stroked his hair, such nice hair.
    â€œI mean I don’t want to leave you ever. The French call it coup de foudre —love at first sight. I never believed in it until I saw you at Phil’s wedding. I literally felt as if lightning had struck. You said when I got here tonight that I was insane and I think I am a little bit—blissfully mad. I can’t stop thinking about you. Well, what I’m trying to say . . .”
    He kissed her, a long, hard kiss that left her breathless. She felt herself giving in to a passion she had never felt before for anyone. She was falling, tumbling, the room was spinning—and she didn’t want it to stop.
    â€œHere,” Tom said. “This is for you.”
    He took a small box from his inside jacket pocket.
    â€œGo ahead. Open it.”
    She sat up and took off the lid. It wasn’t wrapped. Inside there was a watch.
    â€œTry it on. I hope it fits—and I hope you like it; it’s an old one.”
    The watch was an elegant gold Longines on a mesh bracelet.
    â€œOh, Tom, it’s beautiful. You shouldn’t have . . .”
    â€œYes, I should have, now put it on. It’s wound.”
    Faith turned the watch over, examining the craftsmanship, and then as she realized there was something more, much more, she brought it closer to her eyes, reading the words engraved on the back.
    WILL YOU MARRY ME?
    â€œI think I’m engaged,” Faith whispered. Tom was sound asleep.
    After lying awake for what seemed like hours, she’d called her sister, who, like the city, never slept.
    â€œWhat do you mean you think you are? How can you not be sure? And why are you whispering?”
    â€œI have company. Is Phelps there?”
    â€œNope. He wanted to put in some time at the office after dinner, but back up. It’s the guy from Massachusetts, right? I mean there and the being-engaged stuff.”
    After meeting him last month, Faith had given Hope a few brief facts, omitting the most important entry in Tom’s CV.
    â€œYes to both.”
    â€œOkay, has he passed the food test?”
    It was Hope’s friend who had created it.
    â€œWith flying colors.”
    â€œGood. But, sweetie, isn’t this all a little sudden?”
    Faith looked over at Tom. Light from the window streaked across his face. Coup de foudre, he’d said. This wasn’t first sight for her, but second or third or whatever sight—one she had started to realize that she never wanted to lose.
    â€œIt’s hard to explain. I know it sounds like I’m rushing into this, but I’m pretty sure he’s the one.”
    â€œThen what you have to ask yourself is whether you can imagine being with him every day for the rest of your life and its corollary, not being able to imagine being with anyone else.”
    There it was. The thought that had been keeping her up, tossing in the wee hours, despite her physical fatigue from the full workday. The thought that she’d phrased in any number of ways ever since he’d given her the watch. Yes, she could imagine being with Tom forever, and no, she didn’t want anyone else. All the other men in her life paled in comparison, receding into