Read Online The Adulterer's Unofficial Guide to Family Vacations, A Novel by Leslie Langtry - Free Book Online

lagoon and the dancing colored lights that played upon its surface.Alan pulled out a chair for me and I could feel my body warming.I gave silent thanks for dimly lit restaurants.Within moments we had our menus and a bottle of wine.
    A few butterflies flew through my stomach and I looked around surreptitiously.The thought that Mike and Susan had hired a Mike Hammer-esque private eye skipped through my mind.Nope.Not a fedora or trench coat in the room.Of course, there was no one there I knew and the atmosphere was such that conversations at the surrounding table merely sounded like unintelligible mumbles.
    Alan poured the wine and raised his glass in a toast, melting me with his dazzling smile.Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
    “To us.” The glasses clinked, “We have spent every moment on the kids and now, a night to do what we want.”
    “You mean no riding every ride twenty times in a row?” Sarcasm?From me?
    Alan laughed, “That’s right.And absolutely no pictures with seven-foot tall dogs or chipmunks.”
    “I think I would strangle them with my bare hands if they came up to me right now.” I was surprised to discover that I actually meant it.Wait, maybe I could do that if we get busted to throw Mike Hammer off the scent.
    “It isn’t easy handling two kids alone, and four is tough for both of us.”Alan sipped his wine, looking thoughtful, “I’m really glad you’re here, Laura.I don’t think I could have pulled this trip off without you.”Our eyes met and a shock passed through me, almost imperceptibly.
    There was an unmistakable glimpse of recognition in those glowing green eyes that made me remember how much I used to love gazing into them.For some reason, we could not look away from each other.Something passed between us in code, something beyond the camaraderie of two single parents braving the Magic Kingdom together.Something older and more primitive.
    “May I take your order?”The waitress interrupted us, pad in hand, pen poised in mid-air as if taking our order was the most brilliant thing she’d ever done.I gave her the once over, wondering if she was a spy.
    Okay, so I was feeling guilty.Nothing had even happened and I was afraid I was being watched.The weird part was that I wondered if Mike would even care that I was on a date with another man.
    Alan spoke first and I realized I hadn’t looked at the menu yet.Suddenly, I wasn’t even hungry.“I’ll have the salmon, and the lady will have the petit filet mignon.” He snapped his menu shut and smiled at me, “You ordered that for my fraternity’s spring formal, remember?”The waitress nodded as if she heard that every day and left.
    “How could you remember that?I barely remember that!”
    “I guess I remember more than I knew.”Again, the charming smile.Damn him and his full lips . . . white teeth . . . succulent tongue . . . (succulent tongue???)
    A tingling sensation began in my heart and I turned away.Old emotions were having their way with me like the wenches on the Pirates ride.
    Alan studied me for a moment then reached for my hand, “Laura,” he spoke so quietly, yet it resounded in my ears, “Let’s pretend, just for tonight, that there are no kids, no spouses, and no world outside this one.Pretend we are having a reunion of sorts.”Did I imagine it or did his thumb gently stroke my hand?
    In college, he would stroke my hands, driving me into his bed effortlessly.I knew my arousal was beginning to show.Don’t look down, I cautioned myself.The dress was thin and there was no doubt certain parts of me were on display.
    I didn’t remove my hand, instead gripping his firmly, and took a deep breath, “That sounds like a good idea.”
    The food was excellent, but the conversation was better.Funny, I didn’t remember the things we had talked about all those years ago – he was not the sparkling conversationalist he now appeared to be.We talked about ourselves, carefully avoiding the subjects of family.To my surprise,