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

the dusk and Lara was amazed how powerful the music sounded outdoors, lifting over the ocean. “I’ve never listened to it like this,” she said.
    â€œIt’s the only way. And you have the advantage of no near neighbors to complain.”
    â€œI like my solitude.”
    â€œIs that why you were alone in the bar last night?” He heard her sharp intake of breath and he laughed. “Lady, if you want to go to a bar alone, don’t leave your dog outside. It’s a dead giveaway.”
    Despite herself, Lara laughed. “I’d had some bad news,” she explained.
    â€œThe doc’s not coming back for a while, huh?”
    She glared haughtily at him. “What are you, clairvoyant? I told you he was in Beijing. Now he has to go on to Delhi. He’s an important man in his field.”
    He nodded. “Sure. I understand. My brother’s planning on being a neurosurgeon. It’s all he thinks about.”
    â€œPity his poor wife.” Lara’s face was a mask, but he caught the tone of bitterness. He took a sip of the beer. “Troy’s not planning marriage just yet.”
    â€œAre you going to marry Britt?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhy not?” She was standing with her back to him, gazing at the incoming tide.
    â€œBecause I don’t love her.”
    â€œOh?” She swung around. “And how do you know what love is?”
    â€œLara, I don’t know. I’m just hoping one day I’ll be lucky enough to find out.”
    The sun had set and a mist was rolling in. She was wearing only old gray sweatpants and a T-shirt, and she rubbed her arms, chilled.
    â€œTime to go,” he said, not looking at his watch.
    â€œYes. Of course. You must have things to do. … It’s late.”
    â€œI hadn’t noticed.”
    He was still sitting, still smiling that knowing little smile. There was something in his eyes, an expression she couldn’t fathom.
    â€œDid anyone ever tell you you’re a beautiful woman, Ms. Lewis?”
    Lara stared at him. Confused, she took a step back, ran her hands nervously over the baggy sweatpants. “I. . . no . . . well. . .” She felt the heat of the blush sting her cheeks.
    He looked at her for a long minute, then he turned and made his way into her kitchen. He put the empty beer bottle on the counter.
    â€œThen they should,” he called over his shoulder. She heard him whistle for his dog, and they were gone.
    Stunned, she dropped into a chair.
Fool,
she told herself angrily.
A man pays you a compliment and you go into shock. That’s how pathetic you’ve become.
    â€œFuck you, Bill.” She pounded a fist on the arm of the chair. “I’ll go to Paris without you. I’ll spend all your money on expensive French clothes and champagne. I’ll have myself a ball.”
    She took a deep, shaky breath. For once she had made a decision about her own life. She was not justthe mother, not just the good friend. Not just Melissa Kenney’s rival for her husband’s affections.
    She was Lara Lewis, forty-five years old, a woman in her own right and on her way to Paris.
    Her heart sank at the thought.

CHAPTER 9
    V annie called an hour later and when Lara told her of her decision, she said worriedly, “I’ll have to discuss this with the other girls. I mean, Lara—you . . . alone . . . in Paris. Somehow it just doesn’t seem right.”
    â€œIt’s better than me alone in Carmel,” Lara retorted, sounding more confident than she felt. “And it’s also better than sitting and waiting to see if Dr. Melissa Kenney is going to allow me to have my husband back. Which, anyhow, I somehow doubt.”
    â€œWouldn’t you want him back?”
    Vannie sounded wistful, as though she were already contemplating the loss of the first of the Girlfriends’ husbands. Lara knew exactly how she felt. They had always