Read Online Right Before His Eyes by Wendy Etherington - Free Book Online Page B

“Are you okay?”
    Sighing, she linked their fingers and dug deep for a smile. “I’m great.”
    But, really, she wasn’t.
    Their weekend was ending, as it had to. Back to real life where Gil was megarich NASCAR team owner, and she was plain ole Sheila, serving meat loaf and mashed potatoes all day and night.
    Guilt was also eating a hole through her happy fantasy.
    How long could she really expect to keep lying to him? How long before he demanded answers about the bad stuff in her past? He was an astute man, who knew another man had betrayed her. How could she reveal the extent of that betrayal, and the consequences she’d paid as a result?
    Raised in his perfect, privileged world, he’d never understand how she could have gone to such a dark place in her life.
    â€œI need to go to the diner when we get back,” she said once they were airborne and the worst of her flying nerves had settled.
    â€œI’ll take you.”
    She shook her head. “I need my car. I’m staying till closing. Mellie needs a break.”
    â€œThen I’ll come back to get you at midnight. I don’t like you driving by yourself so late.”
    No way was she surrendering everything for him. He wasn’t going to be around long enough to rely on, even if she was tempted to yield control of her life. Which she wasn’t. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, Gil. I don’t need your protection.”
    â€œDon’t need or don’t want?” he asked, seeming undaunted by her angry tone.
    â€œBoth.”
    â€œBut I like taking care of you.”
    â€œI’ve made a mistake in letting you. That’s not me.”
    â€œIt could be, if you trusted me more.”
    She looked away from the longing in his eyes. How could she trust him when she couldn’t offer him the same courtesy?
    â€œHow about a compromise?” he asked. “I’ll take you to your apartment so you can get your car, but I’ll still come back to the diner later and follow you home.”
    How much longer would she have him? How much longer would he care? Time ticked relentlessly away on their bond, and she couldn’t have denied the opportunity to be with him any more than she could having willingly stopped breathing.
    â€œThat would be nice,” she said finally, watching brightness fade from the sky and hoping that wasn’t an omen.
    He gripped her hand, pressing his lips to her knuckles. “Hey, I’m not losing you, am I?”
    â€œNo.” She turned back to him. “I’m just fading a little. We didn’t get much sleep last night.”
    â€œAnd any time you want to not get sleep again, you just let me know.”
    She smiled. “Guaranteed. But I’m going to need coffee.”
    Naturally, he got her a cup of coffee.
    By the time he dropped her off at her apartment with a lingering kiss and promise to see her later, it was after 9:00 p.m.
    She was welcomed back at the diner as if she’d been gone three months instead of three days, which she supposed was fair. She’d never left her business for so long.
    Mellie was sure she had a tan, no matter how often Sheila told her she’d diligently worn sunscreen every day. Privately, she didn’t want to acknowledge the glow Mellie noticed.
    The glow was Gil.
    Somehow, saying aloud how much things had changed between them seemed like a jinx. But as she fell into the rhythm of serving customers, the surreal quality of the trip fell away, regardless of how much she wanted to hold on to the dream.
    The diner was where she belonged. Not in private jets, luxury hotel suites or a plush bed with an attentive lover.
    Yet when that lover showed up at midnight, following her home to make sure she was tucked in safely, she invited him to do the tucking personally.
    Maybe surrender wasn’t such a lousy idea after all.
    Â 
    G IL MIGHT HAVE LOST THE BET over the Texas race, but he won