The Last Time I Saw Paris by Elizabeth Adler Read Free Book Online Page A

The dog shook himself vigorously, spattering ice-cold drops over her, and she shrieked again, laughing. “Race you to the house,” she yelled, pounding up the steep sandy slope.
    Dex got there first and Lara was puffing and panting, dripping seawater as she climbed the wooden steps to the deck. And looked directly into Dan Holland’s deep-blue eyes.
    â€œSorry if I startled you, Ms. Lewis,” he apologized. “I just came by to drop off the lumber. When no one answered the bell, I guessed you were out and came in by the side gate. I hope you don’t mind.”
    No man had looked into her eyes like that in years. For ever. Certainly not Bill. It took her breath away. She glanced at the pile of lumber stacked neatly on the deck. “Oh, no. No, of course not. Any time I’m not here, please feel free.”
    â€œGreat, thanks. I’ll be back around four-thirty, then.” Lara was still standing on the top step as he turned away.
    He paused with his hand on the wooden gate at the side of the deck. “Mind if I ask you something?”
    She shook her head.
    â€œDo you always wear a diamond necklace when you go swimming?”
    There was a bemused look on his face and Lara laughed. “Always,” she replied demurely, touching her hand to the lover’s knot.
    She could hear Dan Holland laughing too as he closed the gate and went on his way.

CHAPTER 7
    H e let himself in by the side gate at 4:52 precisely. Lara didn’t bother to check the seconds on her old watch but she knew to the minute what the time was. Of course, she told herself she hadn’t really been waiting for him, and to prove it, she whistled to Dexter and took off immediately for a walk along the beach. To her astonishment Dan’s black Lab appeared out of nowhere, loping along beside her.
    â€œSorry about that,” Dan yelled from the deck. Shading her eyes with her hand, she looked up at him. “You whistle, he’ll come,” he shouted. “I guess he’s anybody’s when there’s a walk going.”
    â€œIs it okay if he comes along?”
    â€œYeah, if you’re sure you don’t mind.”
    â€œI don’t and Dex certainly doesn’t.” The two dogs were rapidly disappearing into the distance. She sprinted down the sand yelling for Dex but the dog took no notice, he was having too good a time. Lucky Dex, make the most of it, she thought. Happiness is fleeting, even in dogland.
    The sun was low in the sky when she returned and half the boards on her deck were gone.
    â€œYou’ll have to be careful until I get them replaced,” Dan warned. “Keep an eye on the dog too; we don’t want him to break a leg.”
    â€œI’ll be careful.” He had taken off his shirt while he worked and beads of sweat trickled down his chest.His body was so lean and hard Lara could have counted his ribs, had she cared to. Feeling suddenly pale and plump, she said quickly, “Can I get you a cold drink? A beer, maybe?”
    â€œBeer would be great.” He wiped his neck with a dusty cloth and began shifting the lumber closer to the area where he would begin to replace the boards the next day.
    Aware of his eyes on her and wishing her butt looked smaller in the white linen shorts, Lara hurried into the house. Foolish woman, she silently chided herself, what do you care anyhow?
    I care,
someone inside her cried. I
care. I want to be thirty again, I want to be slender and beautiful with long blond hair and an uncreased white doctor’s coat, nobly saving the lives of small children. . . .
    Dan took the beer from her with a polite smile. “I left a corner where you can still sit,” he said. “I’ll finish it up as soon as I can, I promise.”
    â€œNo problem.” She sank into the chaise and put her feet up. “Sit down, why don’t you. And tell me about yourself.”
    He took a seat. “What would you like to