Read Forever Spring for Free Online

about your ex-husband.” “Oh, Paul,” she sighed.*
    “You started it, now finish.” His tone was unrelenting. “What did you mean when you said he told you about the other women?”
    “Exactly that.” Karen’s shoulders moved in an uncomfortable shrug. “After over ten years of marriage, Charles came to me requesting—no,
    demanding—a more modern, civilized relationship.” Her voice betrayed her tightening throat. Even after five years, the memory had the power to infuriate her. “Continue.”
    Paul’s terse tone pierced the haze of anger in Karen’s mind. She exhaled sharply. “I didn’t, truly didn’t, understand what he was talking about. Charles was happy to enlighten me.” A shudder rippled through her body, and Karen felt grateful for the weight of Paul’s arm around her shoulder, tightening to steady her. “He said that a modern, civilized marriage should never include the restrictive bonds of fidelity.”
    Paul was quiet, too quiet. Karen could feel the tension tautening his muscles, but before she could question him he again nudged her into speech.
    “Finish. Get it out of your system.”
    “There isn’t much more. He suggested we stay together, as a family, but that we both—” her voice went flat and hard “—share the wealth, as it were.”
    At any other time, the viciousness of Paul’s curse might have shocked Karen, but on a dark beach, in a darker frame of mind, she endorsed the expletive.
    “Since you’re here, alone, I’m assuming you told him no.”
    “I told him to go to hell.”
    “Bravo.”
    Paul’s one word of approval and praise warmed Karen throughout the hour they trudged through the sand in companionable silence. She didn’t know why his commendation warmed her; she only knew that it did.
    “And your sons?” Paul broke the unstrained silence as they were shrugging out of their jackets. “How did they react?”
    Karen blamed her shiver on the chilly wind and managed a faint smile. “Who ever knows with children? There are moments 1 tell myself that they are handling it all very well.” She lost the smile. “And then there are other times I feel positive they are blaming me because I left their father.” Feeling the sting of incipient tears, she swung away, heading for the kitchen. “How about a cup of hot chocolate?” The subject was closed; Paul accepted her decision. “I’d prefer tea,” he said easily, strolling into the room behind her. “Less calories, you know.” His teasing ploy worked, drawing a genuine smile from her.
    “Tea it is.” Karen started for the stove, then paused to glance at him over her shoulder. “And, Paul, thanks for insisting on the walk. It helped.”
    “Feeling better? Less disoriented?”
    “Yes.” She actually laughed. “If a little foolish.” “Not necessary.” He crossed the brick-tiled floor, coming to a stop mere inches away from her. “We’re all allowed our weak moments.”
    Karen lowered her eyes. “But perhaps we should have them when we’re alone.”
    “I’ll never tell.” He raised her chin with the tip of one finger. His smile was heartwarmingly tender. “How about that tea?”
    Karen felt amazingly good the next morning. Humming to herself as she prepared breakfast, she reiterated her last thought before sleep had caught up to her the previous night: Paul Vanzant was a very nice man... and darned sexy, too!
    Smiling, she turned away from the stove, intending to dash up the stairs and knock on his bedroom door to tell him that breakfast was almost ready. Paul strode through the back door before she could take the first step.
    “Something smells good.” He smiled and inhaled deeply. “No, everything smells good.”
    Karen laughed. “I thought you were still asleep. 1 was just going to rouse you.”
    “I’ve been up for hours,” he said, shrugging out of his jacket as he went toward the hall closet. And I’ve been aroused ever since I got here! Paul kept the thought to himself, savoring