Read Listed: Volume V for Free Online

chest, deciding she could come up with a
suitable explanation for bringing it with her.
    She
found Paul in the entry hall, talking on the phone. He was talking to Jack
Martin.
    He
smiled at her absently and gestured her toward the door. She was actually
relieved that he continued the phone conversation all the way down the elevator
and out to the car. That would mean less time for her to hide from his
searching eyes.
    He
didn’t seem to be talking about anything new—mostly just rehearsing what they
already knew. Emily realized suddenly that Paul had been talking to Jack Martin
when she overheard him on the phone at the inn on PEI.
    When
he’d said it was the most important thing, Paul had been talking about her.
    It
hurt. So badly.
    After
settling into the backseat of the car, Emily opened up her Shakespeare and
pretended to read as Paul finished his conversation.
    She
glanced up with a smile when she heard him disconnect the call. “Everything all
right?”
    “Yes.
Nothing new.” He looked tired, but he smiled at her anyway. “Getting into Measure
For Measure ?”
    “It’s
really pretty good,” she told him, forcing her voice to sound perky, even
though she felt anything but. “But I’m mostly getting excited about getting to
the end. I only have six more plays to read.”
    “That’s
impressive,” he murmured. “Almost done.”
    Paul’s
eyes were soft on her face. She couldn’t help but smile at him, even though it
felt achingly bittersweet. The emotion in his expression seemed so obvious to
her now. He wasn’t even trying to hide how he felt.
    She
couldn’t believe she hadn’t known yesterday that he loved her.
    She
couldn’t believe she was leaving him today.
    She
almost strangled on the swell of painful emotion but masked it by pretending to
cough.
    Paul
eyed her with his characteristic observation but didn’t appear unduly worried.
    When
they got to the restaurant, Emily stumbled as she got out of the car, feeling
way too hot and dizzy. She managed to smile and even laugh a little, as if she
were amused by her clumsiness.
    She
just had to make it a few minutes longer.
    “Are
you sure you feel all right?” Paul asked, peering at her as they walked in. His
hand even reached out to feel her forehead.
    She
swatted his hand away before he touched her. He would know in an instant if he
felt her face. “I’m fine. Don’t fuss. It’s just a little headache. Maybe this
is what a hangover feels like.”
    He
chuckled. “But you still feel like waffles? Why aren’t I surprised?”
    She
liked his fond, teasing tone, even as it threatened to rip her heart out.
    The
restaurant was packed, but the hostess still managed to secure them an
immediate table, much to Emily’s relief. She stuffed Shakespeare into her bag
before she dropped the bag on the floor next to her chair.
    Their
server brought over two big glasses of fresh-squeezed orange juice before
they’d even asked for it. Emily gulped hers down gratefully, her mouth feeling
hot and dry. They put in their orders, and then Emily figured she’d waited long
enough.
    “I’m
going to run to the restroom,” she said casually. “Too much coffee.”
    Paul
raised his eyebrows but didn’t question her statement. Emily managed to keep
her legs steady as she made it across the large room and then down the hallway
to the ladies room.
    She’d
chosen this restaurant for a very particular reason. There was a window to the
outside in the women’s restroom.
    It
wasn’t very large, but it was large enough for her to crawl through.
    There
was someone else in the restroom, but she just hid in a stall until the other
woman left. Then she came out and stared at her pale face and overly bright
eyes in the mirror. She pulled off her engagement ring and wedding band and
placed them on the counter next to the sink.
    It
was a risk, but Paul was likely to come look for her after not too long. At
least, when he saw the rings, he would know she hadn’t been kidnapped.