Out of Character. Diana Miller

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ of him.”

      Jillian got to her feet. “You’re absolutely right. Let’s go get something to eat.”

      * * * *

      “How could I have been so stupid?”

      Jillian and Kristen had gone to an Italian restaurant in nearby Dillon for dinner. Jillian had been determined not to mention Mark, but by the time their waiter brought the salads, she’d given up.

      “You weren’t stupid. You made a mistake,” Kristen said. “Every woman’s judgment goes to hell when it comes to men and sex.”

      The warm sympathy in Kristen’s eyes nearly made Jillian break down. She shifted romaine, radicchio, and olives around her plate until she’d regained her control. “It wasn’t just about sex. I thought we connected in other ways. We seemed to think the same way. We liked the same kinds of movies and music and books. We both went to Harvard, although at different times and different schools.”

      She dropped her fork onto her plate and studied her rearranged salad. “I can’t believe the personal things I told him, about how I grew up, about my family, even about Andy. About you and your family and everything you all did for me.” She looked up. “Things I didn’t tell Andy for months.”

      “I understand why you’re always cautious and keep your life and feelings under control.” Kristen twirled her wine glass. “But it’s possible to be too cautious and controlled about some things. Like love.” Her eyes were on her swirling wine. “In the almost fifteen years I’ve known you, you’ve never let yourself fall madly in love.”

      “I loved Andy.”

      “You were still holding a part of yourself back with Andy, being cautious.” Kristen set down her wine. “This time you weren’t. For once you let yourself fall for a guy without analyzing it to death first, and I’ll bet you were happier while it lasted than you’ve been in a long time.”

      Jillian rolled her eyes. “For two whole days.”

      “It didn’t work out, but you’ll survive. And you haven’t turned into your mother.”

      “Except for the picking the wrong man part, but at least I didn’t give him any money,” Jillian said. “Although I still might blow my next paycheck on Nordstrom’s shoe sale or Powerball tickets.”

      “No way,” Kristen said. “What you should do is try letting go again, but with someone who deserves it.”

      A candle flickered inside a red glass cylinder against the wall, the flame nearly as mesmerizing as Mark’s eyes. Jillian dragged her gaze away, picked up her fork, and speared a slice of roasted red pepper. “How could I have been so wrong about him?”

      “Because he’s either an accomplished liar who cheats all the time or a basically good guy who cheated this once because he couldn’t resist you,” Kristen said. “Recognizing either of those types as jerks is tough.”

      Jillian set down her fork, the red pepper slice still impaled on it, guilt and sadness a cold, heavy pressure against her chest. “I really liked him.”

      “I know.” Kristen reached across the table and squeezed Jillian’s hand. “But you’ll find someone new you like even better, or maybe you’ll decide it’s worth giving Andy a second chance. It will happen because you’re a wonderful person, and you deserve it.”

      “I appreciate how you’re always there for me.” Jillian blinked away the moisture Kristen’s words had triggered. “Even when you were in Denver, and I was in Boston, I could call you, and you’d make me feel better.”

      “You’ve done the same for me, more times than I can count.”

      “You know what else?” Jillian lifted her chin. “Mark might have hurt me by running off, but he also used me and probably lied about being married. That makes me mad.”

      “Good. You’re not going to let him ruin any more of your vacation,” Kristen said. “What you’re going to do is have fun. Then when we get back to Denver, you’re going to get Mark’s phone number and leave him a nasty message. And hope his wife intercepts it.”

      “I’m so lucky to have you for a friend.”

      “Damn right,” Kristen said as their waiter approached with enormous plates of pasta. “I’m going to make sure you enjoy the rest of this vacation.”

      * * * *

      To her surprise, Jillian did have fun the next day, primarily because Kristen was on a mission from God to keep her from moping. They took the shuttle to the ski area, avoiding the parking hassles inevitable on a sunny Sunday with nine inches of fresh powder, and spent the day skiing with some law school friends of Kristen’s, including two attractive males she swore were single and straight. Neither was Jillian’s type, but she still enjoyed herself enough to agree to join the group for dinner. She hadn’t been able to resist scanning every lift line and ski slope on the off chance Mark hadn’t left, but she’d managed not to let her failure to spot him ruin the day.

      He wasn’t going to ruin her evening either. Jillian refused to check for messages when she and Kristen got back to the townhouse. Instead, she took a shower. Despite her resolve, she remembered another shower. The one she’d taken at Mark’s townhouse.

      She’d finished wetting her hair when he’d stepped into the stall. To be honest, she’d been expecting him, considering how insistent he’d been that she showered before she left.

      Silently, he slipped behind her.

      “What are you doing?” she asked.

      “Washing your hair.” He aimed the nozzle so the water flowed down her back then rubbed in shampoo, the hint of coconut reminding her of him.

      He massaged her scalp for several luxurious minutes then positioned her hair back under the shower spray. When he’d rinsed out all the shampoo, he kissed the top of her head. “Your hair sparkles.” He combed his fingers through her dripping locks. “And it feels like silk.” He ran his fingers through her hair once more then picked up the shampoo bottle.

      “That was wonderful, but I usually don’t soap it twice,” she admitted.

      He squirted shampoo onto his fingers. “It’s not for your head.”

      Within seconds, Jillian’s knees had turned to shower gel, and she was leaning against him, her breath coming in gasps.

      “I love the way you respond whenever I touch you,” he said as he fingered her clit, his other hand soaping her nipple. “I can’t seem to get enough of you.” His erection was conducting its own massage against Jillian’s back.

      The water had turned icy before they’d finally left the shower.

      Damn him. Jillian turned off the water, angrily wiping a few tears with the back of her hand. Obviously, that last time he’d finally managed to get enough of her. She dried off, dressed in jeans, a sweater, and running shoes, and pulled her wet hair into a ponytail. Then she went into the living room.

      “Why aren’t you ready?” Kristen asked. “We’ll be late.”

      “I СКАЧАТЬ