Read Autumn Getaway (Seasons of Love) for Free Online

Elizabeth I she’d set down. But she couldn't concentrate. She closed the book yet again.
    Raising her face to the bright blue sky, she inhaled a deep cleansing breath of crisp autumn air and looked around. She was happy to be sitting outside on such a beautiful day, just relaxing, just being. And sitting with a friendly, attractive stranger didn’t hurt too much, either. Especially one who liked to read and could make her smile. Again, she shook her head at herself in mild reproach, and went back to reading her book.
    * * *
    Ten minutes later, Sam trudged across with a friendly grin on his face and a bottle of water in each hand. “I thought you might like one,” he said, offering her a bottle.
    “Thank you,” she said. “That was thoughtful.”
    “You’re welcome.” He retook his seat on the bench he’d vacated. They both drank in silence for a minute. When she lifted the bottle to her mouth, the sun glinted and sparkled off the ring on her left hand. Sam saw immediately that it wasn’t a wedding ring or a diamond engagement ring; it was a round, bluish-purple stone, flanked by swirls of tiny diamonds on either side. She couldn’t be single. That would be too… too good , he admitted to himself.
    “That’s a beautiful ring,” he said. “May I?”
    She frowned at first, then realized what he was talking about and held out her left hand to him. He didn’t touch her fingers, sensing her quiet ambivalence, and just leaned in to examine the ring more closely. “Tanzanite?”
    “Yes,” she said, obviously impressed that he’d recognized the gemstone properly. “It’s my favorite stone.”
    “The setting is lovely,” he told her. “I couldn’t help but notice it.”
    “Thank you.” Lydia took another sip of water. “My sister gave it to me, actually,” she blurted out.
    Sam’s eyes fastened on hers. “Really? Well, that’s nice. But why would your sister give you such a lavish gift? Did you have a big birthday or something?”
    “My sister is very generous, she married well, and she likes to give extravagant gifts simply because she can,” Lydia said as she withdrew her hand. She looked down at the ring, and her brows furrowed a bit.
    “So what was this for?” Sam prompted. “Now I'm curious, I admit it.”
    Lydia pressed her lips together, looking over at the flowers for a minute, obviously debating on what to tell him. She decided on the truth. “It’s a freedom ring,” she murmured, again staring at the trinket on her hand.
    “A what?” he asked politely.
    Lydia cleared her throat, lifted her eyes to his, and said in a stronger voice, “Jane calls it my ‘freedom ring’. She didn’t want my hand to be naked after I took off my old rings, and wanted to celebrate my impending freedom because she hates my now ex-husband. So she got me this.” She let out a humorless chuckle as she added, “I actually just signed the divorce papers earlier this week. Melanie wants to celebrate, but I told her no way. This weekend is her celebration, not mine.”
    Sam assessed her with an even look. He could tell she hadn’t been sure if she wanted to reveal all of that to him or not. He nodded and said, “I see.”
    They were both silent for a moment.
    “I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
    Her brows furrowed hard as she looked back up at him. “For what?” she asked.
    “Well, that you just got divorced. And for prying. I didn’t mean to.”
    She looked directly into his eyes and said in a firm voice, “You weren’t prying, so that’s fine. And don’t be sorry I’m divorced, because I’m certainly not.”
    He met her gaze and said simply, “Okay then.”
    She took another swallow of her water. “Can we change the subject?” she said.
    “Sure,” he said, forcing lightness into his tone. “So. You decided to make a three-day weekend out of your friend’s wedding?”
    “I did. I needed a break. A little getaway. You did too, apparently.”
    He smirked. “Yes, I did. Work’s been