A Dream Weekend: A Tale From Blythe Cove Manor Read Online Free

inside Paige softened. “Well, okay. What did you have in mind?”
    “I don’t have a lot of money, but I could afford to take you to dinner at a real restaurant—not just fast food. I know a place that has the best beef on weck sandwiches. The horse radish will clear your sinuses and may even extend your life.”
    “I do love kimmels,” Paige admitted, referring to the caraway seeds on the buns.
    “Then please give me a second chance.”
    Alex had the prettiest blue eyes. “Well, okay,” she said.
    His smile widened.
----
    “ P aige ? Wake up, Paige.”
    Alex watched as his wife opened her eyes, blinking to focus on the heavy cotton golf shirt before her. Her gaze tilted upward to take in his face.
    “You’ve slept for almost three hours. It’s getting late. If we want to get some dinner, we need to get going.”
    Paige sat up and swung her legs off the bed. “What time is it?” she asked and rubbed her eyes.
    “Just past seven. I would have woken you sooner, but I fell asleep, too.”
    Paige’s stomach rumbled.
    “See, you’re as hungry as I am. I’m sure Ms. Calvert can give us a recommendation. How about seafood?”
    “I guess.” Still, she didn’t seem in a hurry to get going.
    Alex offered her his hand.
    She looked at it for a long time before she raised her own and let him pull her to her feet. They stood together, too close, just staring at one another for a long moment, and Alex fought the urge to kiss her. He’d tried on other occasions and she’d turned from him. She didn’t want comfort—she wanted to blame him for everything that had gone wrong. Still….
    The moment passed and Paige dodged around him, heading for her suitcase. “My clothes are rumpled. I’d better change.”
    “You look fine. Just as pretty as the day we met.”
    Paige whirled around. “What did you say?”
    Alex shrugged. “That you look as pretty as the day we met.”
    Paige just stood there, staring at him, her expression incredulous.
    “What?” he asked at last, puzzled.
    She shook her head and turned back for the suitcase. “Let me get my sweater, fix my face, and I’ll be ready to go.”
    Alex watched as Paige headed for the bathroom and shut the door, then stared long afterward. Why had she looked at him so quizzically? Because he’d mentioned the first time they’d met? Funny, he hadn’t thought of that day for a long, long time. The truth was he’d suppressed far too many such thoughts during the past fifteen months. Perhaps if he hadn’t, things might be different between them.
    He shrugged, turning away. They just had to get through the weekend. And who knew…maybe one day they might actually be more than just civil to one another.
----
    T he lights were ablaze inside Blythe Cove Manor when they returned and Alex pulled the van to a halt in front of the inviting entrance. Not exactly like a Thomas Kinkade painting, but just as inviting. Alex cut the engine and Paige turned back to face him.
    “Dinner was nice,” she said. “I haven’t had lobster in years.”
    “Me, either.” He shook his head, a wry smile touching his lips. “For a lot of years, we couldn’t afford lobster.”
    Paige caught herself before she, too, smiled, by averting her gaze. Suddenly it felt awkward to be together … sort of like a couple who’d gone out on a first date. In fact, that was how the evening had gone. A stroll down the street to the restaurant—although they didn’t hold hands—and then they’d been seated by a window that overlooked the sea. They’d watched the sky darken and the clouds take on a lovely peach-colored huge before the sea engulfed the last light of day and the moon shone on the rippling water. And their conversation had been light, not tense like it had been for more than a year. She didn’t want to think about those dark times.
    “I guess we should go in. Didn’t Blythe say something about sherry?”
    “Yes, she did.”
    “Why don’t you park the car and I’ll look for it